Risks and Conditions to Consider on the Hike
The Inca Trail Network in the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary (SHM) presents various risks and special conditions due to its geography, climate, and regulations that all visitors and operators should be aware of:
1. Geographical and Climatic Conditions:
- Altitude: Some routes reach altitudes over 4,200 meters above sea level (such as the Warmiwañuska Pass). This can cause altitude sickness or “soroche” in visitors, leading to symptoms like headaches, nausea, and fatigue.
- Variable Weather: The weather in the area is unpredictable, with sudden changes. The routes are exposed to heavy rains, especially during the rainy season (November to March). These conditions increase the risk of landslides, slips, and muddy paths.
- Rugged Terrain: Some parts of the trail feature stone steps, steep slopes, and narrow sections. The technical and physical difficulty of the routes requires good physical preparation and appropriate footwear.
2. Natural Risks:
- Landslides and Avalanches: During the rainy season, the paths can be exposed to landslides or rockfalls, which can pose a risk to visitor safety.
- Risk of Falls: In some sections, the trails are narrow and border cliffs. Wet conditions or the wear of stones can increase the risk of falls.
3. Health and Safety Conditions:
- Limited Access to Medical Services: The remote nature of the Inca Trail means that medical care in case of an emergency is limited. Campsites and some sections of the trail lack immediate access to medical services.
- Strict Regulation: Access to the Inca Trail Network is regulated by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Environment of Peru. There is a limited number of daily permits to enter the Inca Trail, and it is mandatory to hire an authorized tour operator. This ensures the safety and conservation of the route but also means that planning ahead is necessary.
4. Restrictions and Regulations:
- Designated Campsites: Visitors can only camp in designated areas, which must be reserved in advance. Camping outside these sites is not allowed due to conservation regulations.
- Load Conditions: Porters have strictly regulated load limits (a maximum of 20 kg plus 5 kg of personal items) to prevent overloading and labor exploitation.
- Penalties for Non-Compliance: There are fines and penalties for those who do not follow the Inca Trail rules, such as littering, damaging flora and fauna, or accessing restricted areas.
5. Risks to the Environment and Cultural Heritage:
Ecological Impact: Tourist influx can affect the local flora and fauna, so there are strict regulations to minimize the impact. Visitors must be mindful not to leave waste, avoid direct contact with wildlife, flora, and cultural heritage, and respect conservation signs.
To reduce these risks, visitors are recommended to be physically well-prepared, bring appropriate gear, hire authorized tour operators, and follow the established rules and regulations for the conservation of the Inca Trail and everyone’s safety.
Prohibitions:
- Entry of unauthorized independent tourists and/or service providers.
- Traveling by railway and/or unauthorized routes.
- Entry of minors not listed in the annex, as well as relatives of guides and/or support staff.
- Altering or contaminating the natural and/or cultural landscape, as well as archaeological monuments. Climbing on walls, marking dirt floors, and/or scratching archaeological monuments. Creating any type of graffiti. Consuming food inside archaeological monuments. Making bonfires on the Inca Trail Network, at archaeological monuments, and/or in the surrounding natural areas.
- Entering and/or using elements that threaten the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, as well as public-use property.
- Conducting overflights and/or using airspace without prior authorization from DDC-CUSCO and JSHM-SERNANP (drones or any type of small aircraft and professional filming equipment for commercial purposes).
- Placing political and commercial advertisements on the Inca Trail Network.
- Traveling and working under the influence of alcohol or other narcotics (drugs, among others).
- Transferring tourists from one group to another. Abandoning the tourist group by the tour guide and/or licensed tourism professional.
- Obscene acts contrary to morality.
Prohibited Items:
- Firearms, compressed air guns, bows and arrows, hunting and fishing implements, axes, machetes, and knives with a blade length exceeding 7 cm, picks, shovels, or other tools.
- Any type of trap for capturing or collecting specimens of wild fauna and flora.
- Fossil fuels such as petroleum, diesel, gasoline.
- Alcoholic beverages, psychotropic stimulants, narcotics, and other drugs not permitted by national legislation.
- Sound equipment and other noise-generating devices (musical instruments).
- Domestic and exotic animals.
- Transport vehicles such as bicycles, tricycles, or others.
- Products in glass packaging and/or single-use plastic.
- Metal-tipped walking sticks without a rubber protector; also, wooden sticks made from native species.
Solid Waste Management
Travel and tourism agencies are responsible for the management, source segregation, transportation, and final disposal of waste, complying with safety and health regulations. In this regard, they must:
Properly manage solid waste through a protocol, which must be prepared by the right holder in accordance with the current technical standard (Peruvian Technical Standard 0900-058-2019).
- Comply with Presidential Resolution No. 140-2023-SERNANP, which establishes the prohibition of single-use plastic, Styrofoam, and straws in the Natural Protected Areas (NPAs). Exception: If more water is needed for human consumption, bottles larger than 2.5 liters should be used.
- Carry biodegradable bags according to the type of waste:
- Green bag: Organic waste.
- Red bag: Inorganic waste.
- White bag: Plastic waste.
- Black bag: Sanitary waste (to be removed from the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary by tour operators).
Travel and tourism agencies are required to train support staff (cooks and porters) and tour guides to develop good environmental practices during their stay in the Inca Trail Network, in accordance with Annex F of the Sustainable Tourism Use Regulations of the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary.
Additionally, the following articles from the “Safety Regulations for the Provision of Adventure Tourism Services” should be considered:
Article 12 – Information and Orientation Talk Provided to Tourists:
The travel and tourism agency offering adventure tourism services is recommended to provide tourists, prior to the activity, with an information and orientation talk, which should include at a minimum:
a. Minimum physical conditions necessary to participate in the activity, considering the minimum age required for the type of adventure tourism.
b. Risks that may arise during the activity.
c. Conditions under which the adventure tourism activity will take place (weather, schedules, etc.).
d. Expected behavior during the activity.
e. Safety measures that will be enforced while providing the service.
f. Information about the location where the activity will take place.
g. Information about the specialized personnel who will provide the service.
h. Details about the necessary and authorized equipment for the activity.
i. Information on the recording of incidents and/or accidents.
j. Development of the Risk Management and Emergency Response Program.
Article 17 – Conditions for the Provision of the Service
17.1 Before formalizing the service contract, the authorized Travel and Tourism Agency providing adventure tourism services must provide the tourist with the following forms: a. A form that states the tourist has been informed of and accepts the risks involved in the adventure tourism activity to be undertaken. b. A form confirming that the tourist is in suitable physical and health condition to carry out the planned adventure tourism activity.
17.2 The forms must be signed by the tourist. In the case of minors, these documents must be filled out and signed by the parent, guardian, or legal representative.
17.3 The aforementioned forms will be designed and approved by the Vice-Ministry of Tourism.
Article 19 – Declaration of Receipt of the Information and Orientation Talk
19.1 It is suggested that the Travel and Tourism Agency providing adventure tourism services deliver a form to the tourist to confirm that they received the Information and Orientation Talk as established in Article 12 of the Regulations.
19.2 In the case of minor tourists, the form must be filled out and signed by the parent, guardian, or legal representative.
19.3 If the signed form is not provided, the service cannot be offered.
19.4 The form will be designed and approved by the Vice-Ministry of Tourism.
Risks and Conditions to Consider on the Hike
The Inca Trail Network in the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary (SHM) presents various risks and special conditions due to its geography, climate, and regulations that all visitors and operators should be aware of:
1. Geographical and Climatic Conditions:
2. Natural Risks:
3. Health and Safety Conditions:
4. Restrictions and Regulations:
5. Risks to the Environment and Cultural Heritage:
Ecological Impact: Tourist influx can affect the local flora and fauna, so there are strict regulations to minimize the impact. Visitors must be mindful not to leave waste, avoid direct contact with wildlife, flora, and cultural heritage, and respect conservation signs.
To reduce these risks, visitors are recommended to be physically well-prepared, bring appropriate gear, hire authorized tour operators, and follow the established rules and regulations for the conservation of the Inca Trail and everyone’s safety.
Prohibitions:
Prohibited Items:
Solid Waste Management
Travel and tourism agencies are responsible for the management, source segregation, transportation, and final disposal of waste, complying with safety and health regulations. In this regard, they must:
Properly manage solid waste through a protocol, which must be prepared by the right holder in accordance with the current technical standard (Peruvian Technical Standard 0900-058-2019).
Travel and tourism agencies are required to train support staff (cooks and porters) and tour guides to develop good environmental practices during their stay in the Inca Trail Network, in accordance with Annex F of the Sustainable Tourism Use Regulations of the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary.
Additionally, the following articles from the “Safety Regulations for the Provision of Adventure Tourism Services” should be considered:
Article 12 – Information and Orientation Talk Provided to Tourists:
The travel and tourism agency offering adventure tourism services is recommended to provide tourists, prior to the activity, with an information and orientation talk, which should include at a minimum:
a. Minimum physical conditions necessary to participate in the activity, considering the minimum age required for the type of adventure tourism.
b. Risks that may arise during the activity.
c. Conditions under which the adventure tourism activity will take place (weather, schedules, etc.).
d. Expected behavior during the activity.
e. Safety measures that will be enforced while providing the service.
f. Information about the location where the activity will take place.
g. Information about the specialized personnel who will provide the service.
h. Details about the necessary and authorized equipment for the activity.
i. Information on the recording of incidents and/or accidents.
j. Development of the Risk Management and Emergency Response Program.
Article 17 – Conditions for the Provision of the Service
17.1 Before formalizing the service contract, the authorized Travel and Tourism Agency providing adventure tourism services must provide the tourist with the following forms: a. A form that states the tourist has been informed of and accepts the risks involved in the adventure tourism activity to be undertaken. b. A form confirming that the tourist is in suitable physical and health condition to carry out the planned adventure tourism activity.
17.2 The forms must be signed by the tourist. In the case of minors, these documents must be filled out and signed by the parent, guardian, or legal representative.
17.3 The aforementioned forms will be designed and approved by the Vice-Ministry of Tourism.
Article 19 – Declaration of Receipt of the Information and Orientation Talk
19.1 It is suggested that the Travel and Tourism Agency providing adventure tourism services deliver a form to the tourist to confirm that they received the Information and Orientation Talk as established in Article 12 of the Regulations.
19.2 In the case of minor tourists, the form must be filled out and signed by the parent, guardian, or legal representative.
19.3 If the signed form is not provided, the service cannot be offered.
19.4 The form will be designed and approved by the Vice-Ministry of Tourism.
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