Current as of: August 31, 2024 - 04:47
Current as of: August 31, 2024 - 04:47
4 out of 7 - Moderate & Challenging
The Moonstone Trek starts in a quiet, rural valley between Cuzco and the Sacred Valley and finishes in Ollantaytambo. It passes through seldom‐visited Andean villages, Inca and pre‐Inca ruins, and heads onto a beautiful altiplano plateau surrounded by glaciated peaks. Most groups won’t encounter any other tourists for the entire trek and the combination of stunning mountain scenery and wildlife, fascinating relics and real isolation is truly rewarding. We then embark on the one-day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Highlights
This trip is graded Activity Level 4 (Moderate & Challenging). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
There are five days of walking with full porterage, at a maximum altitude of 15,090ft (4,600m), average 11,810ft (3,600m). A little higher and tougher than the Inca Trail, the Moonstone Trek is remote and on some fairly rough paths, some sections of which present mild exposure. Anyone of reasonable fitness and with prior walking experience should find no real difficulties, except for a satisfying challenge in ascending the high pass (about 2,625ft/800m of ascent to about 15,090ft/4,600m). No experience of trekking at altitude is required.
Please note, it is essential you read the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu regulations in the Important Information section of the Trip Notes before you book this trip.
As this trip spends considerable time at altitude, we ask you to refer to the altitude warning in the Trip Notes. All our itineraries have built-in acclimatisation days before starting the trek.
Walking hours stated within the itinerary are given as approximates only. Timings stated include lunch and photo stops and vary depending on the group’s pace.
This itinerary includes the One-Day Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu – a permit is required for this trek. We need your full passport details at the time of booking to purchase and process your permit.
On the Moonstone Trek, there is a full-trek crew including horsemen, cooks and assistant guides.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 4
Max group size: 16
The overnight group flights to Cuzco leave London this evening.
Set amidst hills in the altiplano, the imperial city of the Incas, Cuzco, was the geographical, cultural and political centre of a vast empire which, at its peak, stretched from present day Quito in Ecuador to Santiago, Chile. After the Spanish conquistadores invaded the city, they started building on top of the Incan structures, resulting in unique architecture, a fusion of the Incan and Spanish colonial styles.
Depending on group flight arrival, there will be time for a short orientation tour of the city or free time to wander the cobbled streets admiring the old houses, visiting its interesting museums, churches and pre-Columbian buildings, or to sit in a café and sample a coca tea.
It is recommended to take it easy upon arrival into Cuzco and to drink plenty of water to allow your body time to acclimatise to the altitude (11,155ft/3,400m).
There will be a welcome briefing in the hotel lobby this afternoon/evening.
Accommodation: MamaSara Hotel (or similar)
In the altiplano hills, Cuzco, the imperial city of the Incas, was the geographic, cultural and political centre of a vast empire which, at its peak, stretched from present-day Quito in Ecuador to Santiago, Chile. After Spanish conquistadores invaded the city, they built on top of Inca structures, resulting in unique architecture, a fusion of the Inca and Spanish colonial styles.
There may be time for a short orientation tour of the city or free time to wander the cobbled streets, admiring the old houses, visiting interesting museums, churches and pre-Columbian buildings, or to sit in a cafe and sample a coca tea.
Take it easy upon arrival into Cuzco and drink plenty of water to allow your body to acclimatise to the altitude (11,155ft/3,400m).
There is a welcome briefing in the hotel lobby this afternoon/evening.
Accommodation: MamaSara Hotel (or similar)
Today has been left free for exploring Cuzco, one of the most beautiful cities in South America. The Plaza de Armas, a fantastic spot for people watching, and Qorikancha (the Sun Temple) in the Santo Domingo church and monastery are worth a visit. The Mercado San Pedro is the place to try local produce and there are many handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs, such as alpaca jumpers and scarves.
Outside the town are more Inca ruins, notably the fortress of Sacsayhuaman where the Inca armies made their last stand against the Conquistadores. Cuzco is also the gateway to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and, should you wish to visit the sites, your leader can help organise an excursion, including Pisac Market (optional).
If you would like something more active, there is an array of other optional activities available, including paddleboarding on a lake, mountain biking, or a combination of via ferrata and zip-lining in the Sacred Valley.
Accommodation: MamaSara Hotel (or similar)
We have an early start as it’s a very busy day! We take a private minibus to the trailhead, stopping first to explore the nearby ruins that the trek was named after. This is a large site with several distinct Inca remnants, clearly of religious importance. As with the rest of the trek, we are most likely to have the site completely to ourselves. The Moonstone itself is a large carving on an enormous boulder and its significance is not yet understood.
The trailhead is in a quiet, dusty valley and we soon climb high enough from the floor to enjoy great views. Around lunchtime, we stop to explore the imposing pre‐Inca fortress of Wata, which straddles the trail. The ruin has not yet been accurately dated and pottery can often still be found lying on the ground. The path then traverses along a green side valley as we head above a few tiny villages before entering the village of Chillipawa, where we camp.
Accommodation: Full‐service camping: Chillipawa Camp
A long, steady climb with plenty of rest stops to aid acclimatisation takes us above the villages and into the high pampas – rugged meadows of long grass. We normally stop for lunch shortly before the crest of the Accoccosa Pass (where the very rare Andean flicker is sometimes seen, and often heard). The last leg of the pass is on loose red scree, but the view from the top makes it all worthwhile: a broad, hidden valley surrounded by snowy peaks, the Huayanay range on the left, the Urubamba range straight ahead and beautiful, triangular Mount Veronica (19,030ft/5,800m) to the right. We have time to explore this plateau and experience walking in the altiplano before returning to our camp for a well‐deserved hot dinner. The isolation of the camp, well away from any settlements, results in spectacular night skies when clear.
Accommodation: Full‐service camping: High Pass Camp
We start after breakfast by following the stream into a narrow canyon. Rare polylepis trees grow here and we pass through a small grove as we leave the canyon. Our path then turns north and traverses very high above a deep, steep valley separating us from the Huayanay mountains. This is probably the most spectacular section of the trek and we roughly follow a (now-defunct) Inca aqueduct spectacularly carved out of the cliffs to take water from the hidden valley of our campsite to the Sacred Valley several miles away. At the end of the traverse, we have a short but steep climb up to our lunch spot: a flat, ridgetop meadow facing straight across the Sacred Valley to the snowy Urubamba range.
After lunch, we walk down to Huayrapunku. Meaning Gate of the Wind, this is a ridgetop Inca shrine oriented to Mount Veronica, of which it has an incredible view. A short walk brings us to our final campsite, among the granite stones of the Cachicata Quarry. It was here that huge blocks were cut from the rose‐coloured granite before being dragged down the mountainside and across the river to the Sun Temple at Ollantaytambo.
Accommodation: Full‐service camping: Cachicata Camp
Wake before dawn to watch the sun rise over the Sacred Valley from our campsite high above it, the sun’s first rays catching the glaciers of Mount Veronica. This is our last day on trek and we descend from the pampas into the lush valley floor along the enormous stone ramps on which the Incas dragged the stones. We cross the river and explore the huge Sun Temple complex to see where the stones ended and what use they were put to.
Accommodation: Tunupa Lodge (or similar)
We wake early for a scenic train journey through the Urubamba River valley (approximately 1hr 20min) to Km104 where we disembark, cross the river, and start our full-day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. Our uphill efforts are rewarded with spectacular views and access to the attractive ruins of Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young), where we enjoy our box lunch. From here, a relatively flat trail takes us past wild orchids to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), where we get our first full sight of Machu Picchu, one of the New Wonders of the World. Our afternoon arrival usually yields great photo opportunities as we descend into the ruins complex. With our full tour tomorrow, we exit the site and board the bus to Aguas Calientes to enjoy a well-earned meal, shower and a comfortable bed for the night in preparation for our early return to Machu Picchu.
Accommodation: Inti Punku Machu Picchu (or similar)
We start early to beat the day-trippers from Cuzco and reach the ruins as early as possible; buses return us up the winding road to the Machu Picchu entrance. During high season (May to October), there may be a bit of a wait.
Machu Picchu is one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the ancient world and what makes it all the more dramatic is the staggering mountain backdrop. The Spaniards never found it, the Incas left no records of it, and so Machu Picchu remained an enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. Your guided tour highlights the history, culture, architecture and mysteries that Machu Picchu still holds to this day.
This afternoon, we catch the train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30min) and continue by private bus to Cuzco (1hr 30min).
Accommodation: MamaSara Hotel (or similar)
The adventure ends in Cuzco and we begin our return journeys home after breakfast. However, if you’re not ready for the adventure to end, you can always book onto our Lake Titicaca extension, where you explore the sky-high waters by boat, visit an indigenous community and explore the pre‐Inca site of Sillustani. Alternatively, journey into the wilds on our Amazon Rainforest extension and explore lakes, rivers and jungle trails in search of the abundant wildlife that lives there.
Those travelling on the group flights will be taken to Cuzco airport to catch the overnight flight back to London. But if you’re not ready for the adventure to end, you can always book onto our Lake Titicaca extension, where you’ll explore the sky-high waters by boat, visit an indigenous community and explore the pre‐Incan site of Sillustani. Alternatively, journey into the wilds on our Amazon Rainforest extension and explore lakes, rivers and jungle trails in search of the abundant wildlife that lives there.
The group flights arrive into London this afternoon.
Easily accessible via a short flight to Puerto Maldonado from Cuzco, the Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world and home to an astonishing array of wildlife, plus countless plant species. Spending three nights at a lodge in the incredibly rich Tambopata Reserve, we use motorised canoes to explore lakes and rivers, and follow jungle trails to navigate dense forests. The detailed itinerary can be found here.
Please ask your sales representative for more details. Prices listed are starting prices.
Price per person
£ 699
Mandatory Single Supplement
£ 135
Journey across the spectacular altiplano to Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable freshwater lake in the world at 12,467ft (3,800m). Explore the waters by boat and visit the indigenous Uros community who live on floating reed islands and produce fine textiles. Back on the mainland, we visit the pre‐Inca site of Sillustani, composed of burial towers with fantastic views over the region. The Lake Titicaca extension is only available after your main tour as we do not recommend arriving straight into Puno due to the altitude. The detailed itinerary can be found here.
Please ask your sales representative for more details. Prices listed are starting prices.
Price per person
£ 349
Mandatory Single Supplement
£ 150
Altitude warning
This trip includes one or more nights over 11,480ft (3,500m) above sea level, where there is a genuine risk of being affected by acute mountain sickness (AMS). If left untreated, AMS can be life-threatening. We expect most clients to experience some mild symptoms of altitude sickness, such as headaches, shortness of breath while walking or sleeplessness. Our leaders are trained to identify symptoms of severe AMS and if a client requires extra care, arrangements such as rapid descent, will be made immediately.
On some days, this trip climbs faster than commonly published ascent-rate recommendations. Based upon an assessment by our external safety and medical advisors and our risk-assessment process, we consider the ascent rate acceptable due to the additional safety measures in place for our customers. All our trips operating at high altitude meet our internal altitude-safety standards, which minimise the risk of serious incidents occurring while travelling at altitude.
Several medical conditions or medications can reduce your body’s ability to acclimatise. This may affect your performance and make you more susceptible to AMS. If you are worried about any pre-existing conditions, such as heart conditions, or your overall physical ability, you must seek medical advice prior to booking. The drug Diamox (also known as acetazolamide and normally only available on prescription) has been shown to aid acclimatisation in some individuals, and therefore may reduce the risk of AMS. Clients considering using Diamox should speak to their doctor about the drug, its side-effects and a prescription. While we endeavour to assist all our clients in achieving their goals, there may be times when your leader decides to delay or stop your ascent based on your overall condition or the onset of AMS.
If you are not taking out Exodus Travel Insurance, make sure your policy covers you up to the maximum altitude on this trip (if trekking in the Himalaya your policy should also cover the use of a helicopter for emergency medical evacuation).
Ascents, descents and distances: All ascents, descents and distances listed in the daily itinerary have been measured by our local partners or tour leaders, in many cases with satellite-based mapping software. However, different GPS measuring devices can give differing results, particularly on winding paths or in mountainous terrain. Measurements stated throughout these Trips Notes are given to help you understand the types of terrain and distances you will encounter. Timings stated will vary depending on the pace of your group.
We use three-star hotels for this Andean trip, which feature an excellent blend of quality and comfort and are within an easy walk of the attractions in Cuzco, the Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes. On trek, we have three nights of full-service camping with full porterage, meaning our camp staff put up and take down the tents, cook, and do all the camp chores. You need only carry your backpack for the day and enjoy your time passing mountains and Inca ruins.
Below are the hotels typically used on this trip.
Cuzco: MamaSara (nights 1-2 and 8)
Just a few blocks from the historic centre, MamaSara is well located for our adventures in the one-time Inca capital of Cuzco. The design of the rooms pays homage to the city with locally sourced furniture and artwork, while the restaurant serves Peruvian Andean cuisine.
Moonstone Trail: Full-service camping (nights 3-5)
For three nights, we sleep among Andean peaks and wake to mountain views. It’ll be the adventure of a lifetime for some, but not one without comforts. We sleep and dine in good-quality four-season tents. We also have a toilet tent set up both in camp and during lunch stops. Boiled and filtered drinking water is provided in the mornings, at lunch and dinner so we can refill our water bottles. Additionally, a bowl of warm water is provided each morning and evening for washing. Camp staff will set up, break down and transport all camp equipment necessary.
Ollantaytambo: Tunupa Lodge (night 6)
Tunupa Lodge is located in Ollantaytambo, a town in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It has comfortable and cosy rooms, plus a bar and restaurant that serves delicious local and international cuisine, plus a variety of drinks. The hotel also has a lovely garden and is a great place to relax and reflect on your amazing trek to Machu Picchu.
Aguas Calientes: Inti Punku Machu Picchu Hotel (night 7)
The Inti Punku is centrally located in Aguas Calientes, a small town alongside the Urubamba River. It offers clean, contemporary rooms with private baths and hot water, making it a perfect place to relax and take in this unique setting far below the ruins of Machu Picchu.
Single supplement from £ 300
All breakfasts, five lunches and three dinners are included in the price of the tour.
Peruvian cuisine has developed a reputation for its flavours and originality and it’s well worth trying a few of the local delicacies. Among these are ceviche (seafood or fish marinated in lime juice), lomo saltado (a Peruvian take on a beef stir-fry) and various hearty soups such as the delicious quinoa soup. Other dishes include roasted cuy (guinea pig), alpaca steak and, to drink, the national beverage: pisco sour.
Drinking water is included throughout the trip as the tap water in Peru is not safe to drink; boiled and filtered drinking water is provided on the trek and elsewhere your leader buys large water containers from which you can refill your bottle.
Hotel breakfasts are normally simple buffets, usually including bread/toast and jam, cereal, sometimes eggs or cooked dishes, sometimes fruit, tea/coffee and fruit juice. We cannot guarantee that wheat-/gluten-free products are available for breakfast in all locations – if you have an intolerance you may wish to bring your own breakfast food.
Where lunch and dinner are not included in Cuzco/Aguas Calientes, we visit a variety of cafes and restaurants.
During the Moonstone Trek, hearty breakfasts are served and good-quality cooked lunches and dinners are provided, and usually consist of soup or a starter, a main course with meat/fish and some form of carbohydrates, followed by dessert. Some snacks between meals are also provided. Bed tea/coffee is brought to your tent each morning and juice or hot drinks are provided with all meals during the trek.
A variety of transport is used during this tour and vehicle types may vary depending on group size: travel is by bus and by train. Airport transfers are by private car or minibus. All main road journeys are by private minibus or coach with heating/air conditioning.
We travel by train (with Peru Rail/Inca Rail) between Aguas Calientes (the town below Machu Picchu) and Ollantaytambo in expedition/executive class. Seating is four seats to a table, the carriages have panoramic windows and there is air conditioning/heating.
On Day 7 (for the guided tour of Machu Picchu), we take the public bus for the short journey between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. This is the only transport option available on this route as private vehicles are not permitted. Queues can be very long first thing in the morning, especially during the peak summer months.
This point-to-point trekking trip requires you to walk between each overnight stay under your own steam. Other forms of transport may be available along the route (horses, 4x4s etc) but Exodus is not able to take responsibility for the safety or the cost of any transport that customers choose to take even if provided with the assistance of our leader or staff.
The diverse geography of Peru results in a very varied climate between different regions and seasons.
Cuzco and the Andes have a temperate climate. December to March is the rainy season in Cuzco/the Andes and April to November is the dry season, characterised by clear skies and strong sunshine in the mornings, sometimes clouding over as the day progresses. Daytime temperatures are usually pleasant (20C/68F on average) but night times are lower (7C/44F), except for May, June, July and August when days are cooler and nights are often close to, or a few degrees below, freezing. In the Andes, anything is possible at any time of year, including cloud, rain or even snow, with rapid and unexpected changes.
Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are in the cloud forest and experience large amounts of precipitation all year as clouds move up from the Amazon Basin. Rain here can be heavy but is seldom prolonged. Cold fronts sometimes occur from July to August.
Peru is affected by El Niño, a weather phenomenon where warming of Pacific Ocean surface water off South America drives a shift in the atmospheric circulation, resulting in abnormally high levels of rainfall over parts of South America. These events occur at irregular intervals of two to seven years, and last nine months to two years.
Start hotel: Koyllur Inn, Pumapaccha 243, Cuzco 08003
Phone: +51 84 245118
Recommended arrival time: By 3pm at the start hotel to check in for our orientation tour
Airport: Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ)
Our Cuzco hotel is approximately 20 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers.
Collecting baggage in Lima
If you are flying via Lima, you need to collect your baggage in Lima, even if your bag has been checked all the way through to Cuzco (and even if you are told you do not need to pick it up). After collecting the bag, you are required to clear customs, and you should then drop it off at the bag drop for the onward flight. If you do not pick up your bag, there is a chance it may not reach Cuzco for the start of the trek. This is a requirement of Lima airport and also applies to your return flight.
Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) from the end hotel.
Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Cuzco
Location end: Cuzco
In Cuzco, we provide a sleeping mat for the duration of the trek. The mat is full length and approximately 1.6in (4cm) thick when inflated.
A sleeping bag is not included but is required for the trek – these can be hired locally through your leader in Cuzco from 66 soles (US$20).
Moonstone Trek baggage
While any type of normal luggage or suitcase can be used for this trip, a soft kitbag (measuring approximately 27in x 12in / 70cm x 30cm) is needed for the trek portion, since the horses cannot carry hard suitcases or bags with wheels.
Exodus kitbag: If you book this trip, we provide an Exodus kitbag to pack your luggage in while on trek. Once you have booked, you will be sent instructions on how to claim your free bag (they are not sent automatically). There are also details on how to claim for another item from the Exodus shop should you already have one of these. Please note, if you book less than three weeks before the departure date, we cannot guarantee your kitbag will arrive before your trip starts. If this is the case, please contact us on customerops@exodus.co.uk (or customeroperations@exodustravels.com if you’re based in the US or Canada). See www.exodus.co.uk/kitbags for full T&Cs.
As the kitbags do not have wheels, you may prefer to pack it inside your own wheelie case for ease of travelling to, and moving through, the airport. Your suitcase can then be left in Cuzco with anything not needed for the trek, while the kitbag is carried by a horse on trek. If, however, you can’t fit the Exodus kitbag in your main luggage (or do not receive one in time) then our local partners will provide a soft kitbag in Cuzco (this should be returned to your leader after the trek).
On the Moonstone Trek, please try to keep your kitbag to a maximum of about 15lb (7kg) so as not to overload the pack animals.
Donations for porters
The porters we work with are mostly from rural farming communities. If you have any old walking gear you no longer need, or any unwanted warm children’s clothing, these would be much appreciated by the porters and their families. Please leave any donations with your leader in Cuzco or you can give items directly to your porters on the last night of the trek.
Environmental considerations: We believe in reducing our negative environmental impact wherever possible, even when nature calls. If no facilities are available, you may need to go behind a tree, bush or rock. To avoid leaving toilet paper behind, we recommend taking biodegradable bags with you. Once you have done your business, put the used paper in the bag and dispose when appropriate facilities are available.
Water included
Plastic bottles are a big issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet widely available; they often end up in landfill or get burned. Both processes are harmful to the environment and we would like to reduce our impact here. For your trip, we provide an alternative to single-use plastic bottles to reduce the plastic used. This means that safe drinking water will be available throughout; all you need to do is bring a bottle to refill along the way. Please add this to your packing list.
We strongly recommend taking trekking poles for the Moonstone Trek as the number of steps can be hard on the knees. Please note, due to recent environmental legislation, poles must have a plastic tip or protector fitted on the end. Walking poles with rubber tips can be hired through your leader in Cuzco from 33 soles (US$10) per pole. Walking poles are not permitted inside Machu Picchu without a medical certificate detailing their necessity.
We also recommend:
We strongly recommend storing electronics (cameras etc) in a sealed waterproof bag to prevent damage during rain.
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Peru. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
If you are travelling via the USA and are eligible to transit under the Visa Waiver Program, you are required to register in advance for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). There is a US$21 charge, which is only payable online. Please see our website www.exodus.co.uk/usvisa for further information.
Please note, not all nationalities have the same eligibility for travel to or transit via the USA, and you may not be covered by the visa waiver program. Regulations stipulate that any person who has travelled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since March 2011, or have dual nationalities of these countries, may no longer qualify. In addition, if you have travelled to Cuba since 12 January 2021 you will not be eligible for the visa waiver program and should instead apply for a visa.
If you are in doubt of your eligibility, please check the visa requirements with your local US embassy.
There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid, tuberculosis and yellow fever. Additionally, Zika fever, a mosquito‐borne viral disease, is a known risk in Peru. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so you should take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Please check all vaccination recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.
Amazon: If you are travelling to the Tambopata reserve in the Amazon rainforest, the risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice. We also strongly recommend that you obtain a yellow fever vaccination. Additionally, dengue fever and chikungunya are known risks in the Amazon region. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Peru's time zone: America/Lima (UTC -05:00)
Peru’s electricity: Plug types A (two flat pins), B (three pins: two flat, one round) and C (two round pins) – 220V, 60Hz.
There are no charging facilities on the Inca Trail or Moonstone Trek, so we recommend you take spare batteries or a solar charger with you.
Peru's currency: Peruvian nuevo sol (PEN)
ATMs are available in the larger cities and towns and are particularly recommended since they often allow you to withdraw either US dollars or soles and exchange rates are generally good. Most international credit and debit cards are accepted, but you should inform your bank you are travelling to Peru and check if your card will work in the local ATMs. There are some ATMs in Aguas Calientes, but they do sometimes run out of cash so it is a good idea to take your spending money for Machu Picchu with you on the trek itself. Credit card acceptance is increasing, but generally they can be used only at the large (and more expensive) restaurants and shops. Check with your card provider to ensure your card can be used in Peru.
We recommend either taking cash with you to change into sol locally or using local ATMs to withdraw money in Peru as you go, so you are not left with excess at the end of your trip. It is a good idea to change a small amount into sol at the counters in the baggage hall upon arrival. Change is often in short supply, so ask for small denomination banknotes and try to break up any large notes at the earliest opportunity. It is possible to obtain Peruvian sol before you travel but exchange rates can be lower than exchanging money locally in Peru. Some larger establishments and hotels accept US dollars, but the vast majority of places will only accept sol.
Food, drinks and similar incidentals can vary in price enormously in Peru and are relatively expensive compared to other developing nations. Allow about US$15-US$20 per meal to eat at tourist-class restaurants. Cheaper food is abundant at small local cafes, although sanitary conditions at these places cannot be guaranteed. Bottled water and soft drinks are readily available for around US$1‐US$2 each.
Worth knowing
Peruvian passport or Identity Card holders
The cost of Exodus trips in Peru is based on the assumption you do not hold a Peruvian passport or residents card. If you are officially resident in Peru or a Peruvian passport holder, you are liable to an additional 18 percent tax on most services, and this extra sum will be payable locally to our local partner.
Other nationalities are exempt from this tax. Please notify us at the time of booking if you are legally resident in Peru or hold a Peruvian passport so we can advise you of the total cost of these taxes.
Optional excursions
Your tour leader can tell you about the full range of optional excursions available throughout your trip; however, the most popular ones are listed below:
A partial tourist ticket (BTG) is required for entrance to the sites in and around Cuzco and the Sacred Valley – this is not included in the excursion prices below but can be purchased locally from approximately US$21.
Prices of excursions vary depending on the number of people taking part. The prices given within these Trip Notes are based on four participants and are intended as a guideline only. All tours use private transport and there will be an English-speaking guide. Please note, cash is the preferred method of payment for any of the optional activities.
For some activities, a minimum number of participants may be required. Some activities may not always be possible due to weather, seasonality, national holidays, or unforeseen circumstances.
It is customary in Peru for local staff to receive tips. Whether to tip and how much to tip should be a personal decision; however, we have included some guidelines below. Please note that Peruvian sol is the preferred currency for tips.
Tipping kitty: We recommend running a tipping kitty on this trip. A tipping kitty means we tip as a group, and individuals don’t need to worry about giving out small tips to various people who have helped during the trip (ie drivers, local guides, boatmen, hotel staff). The tipping kitty excludes tips for Moonstone Trek crew and the tour leader. The contribution we suggest is 150 soles (US$50) per person.
Tour leader: Leaders are fairly paid for their role but are always grateful for recognition of their skills and hard work. Tips for your leader should be based on their performance and engagement with the group. If you’re happy with the leader’s work, we recommend somewhere around 25 soles (US$6) per person per day, but customers are encouraged to contribute what they feel happy giving – either less or more than the amount suggested above.
Tipping of your trekking crew: The trekking crew is made of guides, cooks, kitchen staff and horsemen. Tips are best arranged on a group basis, and a volunteer from the group should gather the money and split the total collected into smaller amounts for each person. This is normally done on the last night of the trek. Your leader i happy to assist as needed. The recommended contribution per group member is 140-190 soles (US$38-US$51) or 160-210 soles (US$43-US$57) per person for small groups of six or less. Around 200-300 soles (US$54-US$81) of the total collection would normally be allocated to the main trek guide.
Based on the above distributions, tips for absolutely everyone (inclusive of a tipping kitty and a tip for your trekking crew and tour leader) for the whole tour duration should amount to a total of approximately 445-515 soles (US$145-US$165) per person, depending on the group size.
We work hard to create trips that improve life for the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.
Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:
People
How this trip helps improve life for local communities.
Places
How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.
Planet
How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.
Tips for sustainable travel on this trip
Water safety
This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.
Machu Picchu regulations
Please note, we visit Machu Picchu in the morning or afternoon to avoid the peak entry time (10am to midday).
Inca Trail regulations
There are several important Inca Trail regulations we would like to make you aware of:
Please note: While your departure date may be ‘Guaranteed’, your Inca Trail permit itself will initially be ‘On Request’. If you’re travelling within the current year, we try to purchase your permit immediately upon receiving your booking. If travelling next year, we will apply for your permit as soon as they are released for sale. If we are unable to get your permit, we will contact you to discuss your options.
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
Licensing
Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.