This link has been bookmarked by 15 people . It was first bookmarked on 18 Apr 2008, by someone privately.
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04 Apr 12
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03 May 09
joe gurdAndean Travel Web - the most comprehensive trekking guide to Peru. Info on the Inca Trail and the various companies offering this classic trek. Photos and prices.
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23 Jan 09
Dene Cornettcost and value
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but in the high season (May to September) it is recommended that you book at least 4 months in advance to guarantee a place.
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The main difference between the various Inca Trail services are the number of people in the group, the level of comfort that you can expect, the quality of the guide, food and camping equipment, how well they treat their porters and whether the company will actually guarantee their departure date, even if they can't find anyone else to fill up the group. The prices quoted below are to be used as a guide only and may vary considerably from company to company .
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Prices for the 4 day group service Inca trail trek generally range between US$450 and US$550 per person including entrance fees and return on train (You can almost double these figures if you buy the trek with a tour agency outside Peru even though the service is the same).
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Group sizes tend to be between 12 and 14 persons
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generally speaking the following services are included: Bus to the start of the trek, bilingual guide, assistant guide for groups of 9 and over, entrance fees (248 Peruvian Soles (about US$80), tent, sleeping mattress, cooking equipment, cook, meals, porters (to carry the tents, food and cooking equipment only) and return to Ollantaytambo on the Backpackers train service (currently US$35) and bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco The following items are not usually included: Breakfast on day 1, snacks along the trail, tourist bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes (US$7), meals on the final day apart from breakfast, porters to carry your personal items (can be hired separately for between US$80 and US$120 for the 4 day trek), entrance to the thermal springs in Aguas Calientes (US$3), any tips for the porters or guide.
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Competition amongst trekking companies is fierce in Cusco and many companies offer the 4 day Inca Trail trek for below US$450. Simple arithmetic shows that it is not possible to provide a quality service and guarantee departures with small groups for this price. Most of the cheapest trekking companies join together to form large groups of 16 persons, use inexperienced guides and use poor quality equipment. At the end of the day you usually get what you pay for.
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The advantage of a private service is that you have more control of your trek itinerary. With a small group you can usually make better progress each day and camp at some of the less well used campsites. If you are fit then you may try to complete the trek in three days rather than the usual four. On the other hand you may opt for taking things easy and taking five days to get to Machu Picchu. With a private service you can also choose your day of departure.
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A private group and is generally similar to the group service but usually slightly more comfortable. Additional items such as porters to carry your personal items are usually included in this service. Typical costs per person provided by a medium range tour operator are: 1 person: US$1400, 2 persons: US$775, 3 persons: US$640, 4 persons: US$590, 5 persons: US$540, 6 persons: US$500,
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These costs include entrance fees and return on the basic backpackers train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco.
Prices can vary considerably from company to company depending on the quality of the service and what is included.
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