Extra Information::

• Suggestions of what you need to take:
• Backpack & daypack : ( if you hire personal porter provide a duffle bag )
• -5 c sleeping bag :
• Hiking boots :( runners shoes are not recommended )
• Walking poles: ( very helpful for your knees descending the inca steps)
• Warm clothes : layers for variable temperatures specially at night.
• T-shirts and short pants for a confortable day walks
• Flash light : & batteries
• Camera and extra film & batteries
• Sunprotection : sunscreen : sun hat : sunglasses
• Thermals : wool socks : and woolen hat for cold nights:
• Insect repellent : don`t worry too much, there is no malaria risk but some mean sandflys on the first day and in aguas calientes!
• Rain poncho : a good rain jacket :
• Toiletries / toilet paper / small towel
• Bathing clothes for the hot springs.
• Gloves / scarf : trekking pants or similar.
• 2 liters water bottle : water purifying tabletsoptional :
• Personal medical kit : bentoline spray for asmhatics, etc
• Original passport and original isic student card if applicable : imperative
• Extra money for souvenirs, drinks & tips,etc ( soles or dollars )

Other :

• Sleeping bag rent for 4 days $ 10 hollofill or holofiber weigh 2 kg minus 4 degress celcius
• $ 15 down sleeping bag 1.8 kg minus 10 degress celcius
• Foam pad sleeping mattress included weigh 800gms.( bring your therma-rest mattress as it will be more comfortable )
• $15 single supplement for an individual, for the entire trek, or you can share a tent with other hiker same genre.
• 45 lts confortable back pack to rent for $15 for the entire trek.
• Unless you hire an extra porter you need to carry your back pack, sleeping bag and the mattress. you need to indicate this at the time of booking as porters who carry for the full 4 days require permits in advance in the same manner as trekkers.
  

Porters: to carry up to $45 9kg $90 18 k for the full duration of the tour from cusco to aguas calientes. 60% of trekkers hire an extra porter for the full extent of the trek. regarding porters who carry personal items. you will need to carry with you a daypack with your camera, water bottle, snacks, a fleece or something warm and a poncho in case of rain (unlikely in dry season but as a precaution) and anything you will need before lunch as porters do not walk alongside you.

Please note there are fines if you give an excess of 9 or 18 kgs so try to underpack rather than overpack or pay for an extra 9kgs. on day 2 you can hire a porter from the village of wayllabamba to carry your pack over the pass to the second campsite approximately 50 soles. please pay these porters directly.
Please check carefully your pack and belongings before the 2nd day optional porter leaves the pass.

Tipping of the Porters:
As for all american countries, tipping is normal and it is a tradition on the inca trail. the porters will be much better off if you tip them in cash rather than beers in winaywayna. generally groups prepare a collective tip at dinner on the last night which is shared out between the porters and cook on the last morning at breakfast. the porters protection group state. "please let your group know that 30 soles per porter is a minimum for general porters, and deal separately with porters that carry individuals' bags." a group of 16 generally have approx 19 - 20 general porters. tipping of porters who carry your personal items is separate and you are asked to tip an extra porter directly. again the recommended minimum is $10 for 18kg. a general guideline is $15 tip per treker for the porters but please do not worry if others tip less or more. this does not account for tips for guides and cooks generally $10 - 15 more. most trekkers take approximately $30 to cover the tipping tradition.

Altitude Sickness:
I t´s possible you will feel the effects of altitude on arriving in cusco, ( 3,400 mts - 11,350 feet ) remember in the andes the %of oxygen is less which makes you tired and weak before you adjust to it especially if you flew from sea level, eg lima. it is best to wait at least two days before setting out on the trail, don´t drink alcohol, smoke or take sedatives. drink lots of water and coca tea, catch a good sleep , and eat moderate ligh meals hight in carbohidrates , digestion goes very slow.
We also encourage you to allow at least 2 but even better 3 days in cusco before your trek because apart from there being so much to see and do....it is possible thatyour arrival could be delayed due to transport strikes or cancellation of flights due to poor weather etc and because there is no way to change your permit to another date you could miss out on your inca trail experience altogether or feel the altitude effects more than you would have hoped due to even less time to acclimatise. so please keep this in mind when choosing the date of your trek.

Water: we suggest you take a 2 litres bottle of water on the first day and then you can refill this on the trek.( you can use the same plastic bottle for the entire trek ) we boil water each night which is available after breakfast each morning for your water bottles. we still suggest you take water purification tablets or filters for any unboiled water you take directly from streams or waterfalls etc. you can buy water along the first day, for the first few hours of day 2 and the afternoon of day 3 at the hostal in wiñaywayna.

Temperatures During the day: if you are walking in the sun it is very hot and feels like 26 degrees celcius, but when you walk through the forest or in the shadow of a mountain it can feel like 14 degrees almost immediately. at night on the second night it could get to -5 degrees celcius if you are really unlucky but more likely just freezing ! third night is warmer being at 2700mts considered high jungle.
Main hint for dealing with the temperatures is to try and keep your body temp as regular as possible by using layering of clothes so when you feel cool put on an extra layer before you get cold and if you start to feel warm take off a layer before you perspire which will leave you with a chill later if you don´t take care. the weather from dec through to early march is usually the wettest on the trail.
Some days it may be drizzly all day or you may have a burst of rain and clear skies for the rest of the day or it could be wet off and on all day. you need good rain gear for walking as well as something to protect your pack. we have dining tents for all meals so you are protected at this time.

Hot shower along the trail: unfortunately not yet, but a little hot water will be offered to you every morning for a quick wash, and very important to use this service before meals.
There is a basic (pay 10 soles) timed electric shower at the 3rd night camping in wiñaywayna, please do not expect too much.
Toilets : in each of the campsites there are basic toilets constructed and maintained by the inka trail park control,
Garbage : there are many bins along the trail, at lunch time and campsites our porters will always clean the area. please keep this historical sanctuary clean and cooperate so that we only leave our footprints.
Prohibided : alcohol, drug use, campfires, graffitti, collection of orchids or hummingbirds