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Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 day 2008 Standard Group Service (IT401)

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, This is our most popular trek and offers visitors the most economical method to trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. A pool service is basically a group that you can just join. You'll be trekking with like-minded hikers from all over the world, a great chance to meet new friends and travel companions.
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, starts at km 82 of the city of Ollantaytambo way to Machu Picchu,
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is part of the system of road network of roads to the Inca, with more than 30,000 km of roads.

Click here for Inca Trail Map (24KB)

Inca Trail To Machu Picchu

Inca Trail Departure Dates 2008

Price per person 2008: US$420, ( March – December )

Students Price: US$380 *There is now no age limit for students.
(17 to 120 years........)

***We strongly recommend that you make your trek booking as soon as possible

We offer a US$40 discount to students with a valid International Student Identity Card ISIC and children under the age of 16 years old. (University ID or Youth Travel cards NOT valid)

Children under 08 years old receive a US$70 discount.

SAE members: $10 discount per person, it will be discount at the time of your final balance payment.(ask it to our office crew once you are in Cusco)

Group Size: Typical group size 04-10, Maximum 16 persons.

VERY IMPORTANT GENERAL NOTE: (NO SPACES ON THE INCA TRAIL DURING THE MONTHS OF AUGUST AND OCTOBER 2008, NO PROBLEM):
We don't need any permit for these alternative hikes to Machu Picchu and we can organize those treks just with a minimum size group of 02 people, leaving any day of the week.
As you do not find spaces on to your right departure date to start your trip escape to Machu Picchu, So you should TAKE AND JOIN One of the two best Alternative Inca Trails ending at Machu Picchu. We do have already confirmed departure Groups, So you just need to join to one of then, please find below Our programs and Departure Dates: SEE MORE DETAILS AT THE RED LINKS BELOW:

LARES TREK, 4 DAYS/ 3 NIGHTS: http://www.andeanlife.com/lares_valley_to_machu_picchu_4_day_trek.htm

SALKANTAY TREK, 5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS: http://www.andeanlife.com/salkantay_to_machu_picchu_5d.htm

Inca Trail Departures Dates 2008:

August to October 2008	INCA TRAIL DEPARTURES: Sorry to Inform that there are 00 spaces during the months of August to October 2008!!) Note:The information shown is taken directly from the government trek permit database and shows the real-time availability of trek permits for the Inca Trail. Please check to Our Alternative Inca Trail hikes to Machu Picchu, we do have confirmed group departures, then find the right One for your plans, they are great ones, becoming very popular and very flexible in terms of dates of departure as well !! Remember with those options you can depart on any date during the months of April, May, June, July, August and September as well. Example Salkantay Trek is been considered as one of the best 15 hikes of the world!! ALTERNATIVE TREKS 2008: SEE MORE DETAILS AND CHECK CONFIRMED DEPARTURES GROUPS, AT THE LINKS BELOW: LARES TREK, 4 DAYS/ 3 NIGHTS: http://www.andeanlife.com/lares_valley_to_machu_picchu_4_day_trek.htm SALKANTAY TREK, 5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS: http://www.andeanlife.com/salkantay_to_machu_picchu_5d.htm CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK, 4 DAYS/3 NIGHTS: http://andeanlife.com/choquequirao_4_day_private_trek.htm
October 2008	INCA TRAIL DEPARTURES: 31. Below are the Dangerous dates as spaces are running off very quickly, so you better make your booking As Soon As Possible if planning to depart on one of the dates below: (Note: The information shown below is taken directly from the government trek permit database and shows the real-time availability of trek permits for the Inca Trail) October 31 - there are only 22 spots left
November 2008	INCA TRAIL DEPARTURES: 01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. Below are the Dangerous dates as spaces are running off very quickly, so you better make your booking As Soon As Possible if planning to depart on one of the dates below: (Note: The information shown below is taken directly from the government trek permit database and shows the real-time availability of trek permits for the Inca Trail) November 02 - there are 00 spots left (initally they were 500 spots) November 04 - there are 08 spots left (initally they were 500 spots) November 05 - there are 127 spots left (initally they were 500 spots) November 12 - there are 157 spots left (initally they were 500 spots)
December 2008	INCA TRAIL DEPARTURES: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,31. * Special Departure on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21, as departing on those dates you will return on day before or at least on the same evening of Chrismas eve and of course join to enjoy chrismas eve with the friendly and great local people, big festival at the Main square of Cusco city, buy in advance your fire works!! * Special Departure on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28, as departing on those dates you will return on day before or at least on the Evening of Chrismas eve and of course join to enjoy New years eve with the friendly and great local people, bigger festival at the Main square of Cusco city, buy in advance your fire works and be careful with the happy drunk guys around the square!!!

Itinerary: Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.>>>

Note: If you would like to leave on another dates, please take our Inca trail 4 day Private Service, IT403, as with this option you can depart on any day of the week that suits you best including Sundays.

What is included:

Collection from your hotel in the morning of trek departure
Private bus from your hotel to the start of the trail
Inca Trail & Machu Picchu entrance fees (value US$73)
English speaking professional guide (two guides for groups over 9 persons)
Igloo tents - 2 persons in each 3-person capacity tent with plenty of space for your backpacks
Double thickness foam mattress
Cook and Cooking equipment
Meals (03B,03L,03D) - food includes pancakes, omelets, soups, fresh fruit, avocado, pasta, chicken, fish, meat, rice, all rich in carbohydrates and suitable for trekking, hot drinks including coca leaf tea which is excellent for the altitude.
Teatime everyday (tea, coffee, biscuits, popcorn)
Porters (to carry the tents, food, and cooking equipment)
Dining tent with camp tables and chairs
Kitchen tent
Accommodation for our porters and cooks
First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
Bus from Machu Picchu ruins down to the village of Aguas Calientes (value US$7)
Train ticket (Backpackers service) from Aguas Calientes to Cusco (value US$48, 2008)
Transfer from the train station to your hotel.
All Sales Taxes IGV (19%)

What is not included:

Breakfast on the first morning. Some hotels offer an early morning breakfast service. If not, we stop at the town of Urubamba on the way to the start on the trek where you’ll have the opportunity to have breakfast,
Meal in restaurant in Aguas Calientes on day 4 of the trek.
Entrance to the thermal springs in Aguas Calientes US$3.50
Sleeping bags can be hired in our office for US$15 for the 4 day trek.
Tips for the guide, cook and porters

What you need to bring/carry:

Backpack,
Sleeping bag (can be hired from our office for US$15 for the 4 day trek)
Sleeping mattress (we will provide you with this)
Rain jacket or poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco for a few dollars)
Strong, comfortable footwear
One complete change of clothing (you can afford to carry more changes of clothing if you hire a personal porters, see options below)
Sweater and jacket (something warm)
Water bottle and purification tablets (Micropur are recommended and can be bought in local pharmacies in Cusco)
Flashlight and batteries
Hat or cap to protect you from the sun
Sun block (sun protection cream)
Insect repellent
Toiletries, towel and toilet paper
Selection of small snacks, chocolate, dried fruit, biscuits etc,
Camera, plenty of film and spare batteries
Swimsuit (if you plan on visiting the hot springs at Aguas Calientes after the trek - entrance not included in price)
You also need to bring your original passport on the trail and your student ISIC card (if claiming a student discount)

Options:

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

(1) Personal porters can be hired to help carry your personal items such as clothes, sleeping bag etc. They can be hired for US$100 for all 4 days and will carry up to a maximum of 18kg (usually 01 porter between 2 persons is more than sufficient). You can hire the services of a half a porter to carry up to 9kg for US$50. However, even with a personal porter, you will still need to bring a day pack for essential items.
About 30% of the group usually have personal porters to help them. If you hire a porter we will provide you with a sack to put your items in to give to the porter. This extra porter will help you carry: duffle bag or sack (we will provide you with this), sleeping bag, mattress (we will provide you with this), clothing, sweater, jacket, woolly hat, scarf, gloves (something warm for at night), flashlight and batteries, toiletries. Your personal porter, however, will not walk at your side so you will still need to bring a day pack for essential items. You will meet up with your porter at lunch time and at the campsite late in the afternoon. Equipment to be carried by yourselves: small day pack, water bottle and sterilizing tablets, warm sweater, broad-brim or peaked cap, sun protection cream, insect repellent, toilet paper, selection of small snacks for the day etc, camera, lightweight plastic poncho just in case of rain (can be bought in Cusco for US$2)
Important note: You must decide if you want to hire the services of a personal porter in advance when making your trek reservation since we need to purchase the porter's trekking permit. You cannot decide to hire an additional porter at a later date or once you arrive in Cusco.

(2) An extra night in Aguas Calientes can easily be arranged. We can change the date of your train ticket to the following day. Hotels costs and costs associated with returning to Machu Picchu the following day are additional to trek costs. To make your hotel booking directly, you can find information and contact details at www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/hotels/machupicchu . You need to advise us at least 1 month prior to your trek date.
(3) Vegetarian Meals. We can provide vegetarian meals or cater for special diets with no extra cost. Just let us know at least 2 days prior to trek departure.
(4) Sleeping bag hire. If you haven't got a sleeping bag or you don't want the hassle of bringing one all the way to Peru with you, then we have standard sleeping bags in our office for rent. The price is US$15 per person for the 4 day trek.

Exchange Rate Fluctuations

The Inca Trail trek price of US$420 is based on the exchange rate of January 1st 2008, which was 1 USD = 2.95 Peruvian soles.
Although we accept payment for the trek in US dollars, as you can imagine, the majority of our expenses are in Peruvian soles (trekking permits, wages, supplies, taxes).
Given the rapidly falling value of the US dollar against the Peruvian national currency, Andean Life will undertake to absorb any change in costs due to exchange rate fluctuation of up to 15 points below the rate of 1 USD = 2.95 Peruvian soles (i.e. if the exchange rate falls to 2.80 we will not ask you to pay a surcharge).
If, however, the value of the US dollar falls below 2.80 we will unfortunately be obliged to ask you to pay a US$15 surcharge.
If the exchange rate falls below 2.70 we will ask you to pay a US$20 surcharge, below 2.60 we will ask you to pay a US$25 surcharge, etc.,etc.
We are sure that our clients will understand that we are a local company and as such we are subject to local costs (wages, food and supplies for the trail, taxes, etc.), as well as local conditions (the current fall in the value of the dollar against our local currency).

Of course, exchange rates can go both up and down, and if the value of the US dollar increases against the Peruvian sol we will refund you the following amounts: exchange rate greater than 3.10 soles we will refund US$10; greater than 3.20 we will refund US$15; greater than 3.30 we will refund US$20, etc, etc.
Andean Life will be obliged to justify in writing any calculations to clearly justify such surcharges.
Thank you for your comprehension,
Andean Life, Tour Operator
If any of the third party costs listed above change to increase the cost of the trek we will immediately update the trek price listed on our website (apart from the exchange rate which can continue to go up and down throughout the year so the website will not be updated to reflect these cost changes). Clients will be liable for paying any increased cost of the Inca Trail trek upon arrival in Cusco.

Payment details: We will require a non-refundable trek deposit of US$175.00 per person payable within 05 days of Andean Life confirming your trek booking. The deposit is to be paid by Our VISA Payment On-Line, Western Union money transfer and Mail Order System, these are our fastest & most secure form of payments in Peru. Further details of how to send the deposit are included with our trek booking confirmation email. The remaining balance is to be paid in our office at least two days prior to your trek departure date. Payment can be made only in cash US$, local currency (Peruvian Soles), or American Express Travel Cheques (3%).
For a trek deposit Payment On-line by Amex and Master Credit Cards, please let Us know by email and we will send ASAP further details about how to proceed with it, thanks.

Other information: (1) Luggage storage. When you go on the trek it is best to leave any luggage that you are not going to need behind in Cusco. Nearly all the hotels in Cusco provide a secure luggage deposit. Put any valuables in their safe. Very rarely do hotels charge for this service especially if you are returning to the same hotel after the trek. If there are any problems with your hotel we can arrange to store your luggage at our office.
(2) Time of arrival in Cusco after returning from the trek. Unless you plan to stay an extra night in Aguas Calientes, you will return to your hotel in Cusco for approximately 8:30pm on the 4th day of the trek, it is subject to availability of peru rail.
(3) Trek Itinerary: For a detailed description of our 4 day trekking itinerary click here

To Make an Inca Trail 4 day Group Trek Reservation CLICK HERE

Andean Life Tour Operator

Main Office N° 1 : Calle Santa Teresa 381, Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Peru
Office N° 2 : Calle Plateros 372, Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Peru
(Both ones located just half block from the main square of Cusco City)
Office Telephones: 00-51-84-261269, 00-51-84-221491
Emergency Mobil Phone: 00-51-84-984-973544

Licensed Inca Trail tour operator, specialists in trekking in the Andes (Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and other treks)
©Andean Life 1999 - 2005. All material within this web site is original work and subject to national and international copyright laws and cannot be reproduced without the written permission of the copyright holder. All rights reserved.

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