Once you've purchased your voucher, please reach out to Valencia Travel to provide your personal travel information and secure your desired dates. Departures are available almost daily, however please request at least two departure date options with Valencia Travel, as all departures are subject to availability at the time. Your date is not guaranteed until you have provided your information (each date also requires a minimum of two participants in order to run). Please do not make travel arrangements or book airfare until you have received confirmation from Valencia Travel. Voucher is valid for travel through December 31, 2021.

Yes, we have private departures available on this trip! Private departures offer more flexibility to travel when it suits your group. Additional costs may apply depending on your group size. Please contact our Adventures Team to explore pricing and check on availability.

Fly into Cusco, Peru (CUZ), where you’ll be met by a representative from Valencia Travel and transferred to your Cusco hotel.

You'll be staying in a Cusco hotel for three nights, one night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes, and camping for three nights. Pricing is based on double occupancy accommodations in a shared room and four-person tent size.

Solo travelers or the odd-numbered person in your group may opt to share with another person of the same gender (if available). If this option is not available, or if you would like to have your own room, you'll need to pay a single supplement of $400 directly to Valencia Travel.

Daily breakfast will be included, along with all meals while on the Salkantay Trail (four breakfasts, four lunches, four dinners, and snacks throughout). Meals will be served buffet-style with an array of offerings. Snacks and hot drinks will also be provided. Vegetarian diets will happily be accommodated.

Be sure to bring clothing for rain and cold as well as sun protection. Temperatures will typically fall into the low 40s at night, but be prepared for colder depending on the month. A detailed packing list will be provided by the operator. You should bring your own sleeping bag, but you may also rent one directly from the operator if you prefer.

Most of your costs are covered by the trip fees, but plan on bringing at least $350 for those meals not included as well as other personal expenses.

Horses or mules with horsemen will carry all the cooking equipment, camping equipment, and up to 11 pounds of your personal belongings. Other than that, be ready to carry any extra belongings you may have.

The Inca Trail is certainly the more famous option, though the Salkantay gains in popularity each year. In efforts to control the numbers on the Inca Trail, the government restricts access by awarding only 500 non-transferrable permits per day (with up to 300 going to guides and porters). The Salkantay currently has no such restriction, making last minute trips much more of a possibility. Permits for the Inca Trail during peak season (May – September) are often sold out months in advance. Below is a breakdown of both treks:

Inca Trail
Days trekking: 3+ (4th day is 3 miles and time in Machu Picchu)
Distance: 26 miles
Highest elevation: 13,800 ft / 4,200 m
Overall difficulty: challenging
Average number of trekkers per day: 180
Highlights: Incan archeological sites, trekking directly to Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate (Inti Punku)
Permit availability: Permits for the year go on sale between September - January, high season dates sell out months in advance

Salkantay Trek
Days trekking: 4
Distance: 40 miles
Highest elevation: 15,200 ft / 4,633 m
Overall difficulty: very challenging
Average number of trekkers per day: 50
Highlights: Fewer trekkers, better chance at viewing wildlife, fantastic views of Salkantay and Humantay peaks, Llactapata archeological site
Permit availability: Permits are easily obtainable throughout the year
Note: You will visit Machu Picchu via bus. The Salkantay trek doesn't reach Machu Picchu by foot. On the 4th day you'll arrive in Aguas Calientes where you'll spend the night before visiting Machu Picchu the next day.

The price to change a travel date is $150, payable directly to Valencia Travel. If you do need to change your dates at any point, please let Valencia know as soon as possible.

Travel insurance is required for this adventure. It allows you to seek reimbursement if you are forced to cancel your trip for unforeseeable reasons, or if you need to cover medical help, emergency transport, and/or theft or accidental damage while traveling. For travel insurance, we recommend VisitorsCoverage.

We recommend you visit the local government websites where you plan to travel and review the required documentation for entry, current restrictions, and general recommendations for travel within the area. We encourage you to also visit your home country's embassy website if you are traveling to a foreign country. Requirements can change rapidly. Please be sure you stay abreast of the requirements and restrictions for anywhere you plan to visit. You can also enroll in the U.S. government’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and you will be sent updates if the situation in your destination changes. You can find the program link at https://step.state.gov/.

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