Package Details - Planning Your Machu Picchu Vacation
The high tourist season is between June and September (winter) with July and August being the busiest months. This is because these months coincides with summer holidays in Europe, North America, Canada etc. Book your Vacation to Machu Picchu well in advance. This is also the dry season in the sierra and jungle regions (Cusco, Machu Picchu, Titicaca Lake, Puerto Maldonado, Amazon jungle) with days being typically sunny and warm with little chance of rain.
Because of the proximity to the equator and the high altitude, the sun is very intense, bring good sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses and a hat. The temperature can drastically drop when the sun goes down. Always have a sweater or jacket and long pants at hand. Temperature at nights can drop to below freezing (27°F/-3°C) in August.
The summer months in Peru from December to March, offer daytime temperatures to 85°F/30°C, milder nights (typically to 45°F/8°C) and plenty of rain. Waterproof clothing is highly recommended for this time of the year.
Festivals you might want to attend:
Peru celebrates some 3,000 festivals a year. Most of them are held in homage to a patron saint and are part of the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar adopted in colonial times, although they have blended with the magical beliefs of ancient forms of worship. The most important festivals in Peru are:
New Year / January 1st.
Feast of the Virgen de la Candelaria (Virgin of the Candles), Puno / February 2nd
Virgin of Chapi, Arequipa / May 1st
Anniversary of Cotahuasi, Arequipa / May 4th
Inti Raymi, Cusco / June 24th
Anniversary of Huaraz / July 25th
Independence Day July / 28th
Anniversary of the city of Arequipa / August 15th
Peruvian Pace Horse National Contest, Trujillo / September 29th.
Clothing
The golden rules for your trip to Cusco are to travel light and to pack for a variety of conditions. Expect a wide range of temperature and precipitation, be prepared to deal with inclement weather, intense heat of the high altitude, cold Andean nights and humidity during the unique jungle transition area. We recommend to dress using several layers to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection rather than one thick and heavy jumper, this way you can add or remove a layer to remain comfortable as conditions change throughout the day. At all times, carry rain-gear in your day-pack.
Basic clothing list: underwear, thermal underwear (tops and bottoms), wool socks, lightweight hiking boots, sneakers for around camp, convertible hiking pants are useful, T-shirts, long-sleeved shirt, light rain gear (waterproof jacket or rain poncho), sun hat, bathing suit, gloves and ski-type hat.
Optional: Walking sticks with rounded and rubber end, sewing kit, pocket knife, camera and film, binoculars, snacks and/or energy bars.
Other Expenses
* When leaving Lima you will need to pay a $30.25 airport tax for the International flight and $6.05 for the domestic flight in cash at an airport counter.
Social and Environmental Responsibility
At Inca Trail Reservations we firmly believe that responsible tourism is the only way of guaranteeing the sustainable development of this activity for present and future generations. We support the efforts of the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary Authority (UGM) to protect the environment within the park by measures which include limiting the daily capacity of the route, and enforcing a policy of 100% carry in/carry out.
As a result of this belief ever since we started, we involved the local communities and worked with them as suppliers of goods and services, helping them by contributing with medicines, school materials and sanitary issues. Tied in with this, was our commitment to the environment trying to minimize footprint and respecting the traditional way of life of the peoples through whose territory we passed.
Annually review our quantifiable goals to reduce to the maximum possible levels the generation of solid waste, pollution of water courses, the risks of fire and the disturbance of wildlife caused by our activities, products and services.
Rationally use tourist attractions and the surrounding natural resources preventing their unnecessary abuse and/or consumption minimizing impacts caused to the lifestyle of communities in harmony with the landscape, flora and fauna. Hire, whenever possible, local employees and suppliers, purchasing local and environmentally friendly products for our operations.
|
Although the details of its past may never be clarified, it is believed that its main functions were those of religious activities dedicated to the gods upon whom its inhabitants believed their existence depended: The God of Water and Mother Earth, or Pachamama. 
