Sacred Valley--Trekking Fees

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By John Howison

The cost of trekking in the Sacred Valley has risen sharply in recent years (especially on the Inca Trail), mostly due to the enforcement of minimum pay standards for guides and porters. However, there is still quite a bit of variation for the prices of similar tours. The higher-priced options generally offer better tents, sleeping bags and meals.

By far the most popular trek in the Sacred Valley (and in all of Peru) is the Inca Trail. The 2007 fee for four days on the Trail is $73, over four times what it was in 2000. For the shorter, two-day version the fees are $25 for adults and $15 for students. Porters also now have to pay to enter as well, but this fee will be included in your overall tour price. More information is available in our Inca Trail section.

The fee to enter Machu Picchu is $40 for foreign-tourist adults and $20 for foreign-tourist students with a valid International Student Identification Card (ISIC) card. The ISIC card is the only form of student identification that is accepted.

The Lares Valley Trek is a popular alternative to the Inca Trail because it also finishes at Machu Picchu. Depending on your group size, the four-day trek costs between $260 and $420. There is no trail fee for the Lares Valley Trek, but your entrance to Machu Picchu at the end is included.

There is also a 6-day Salcantay trek leading into the Inca Trail that costs about $450-650 depending on group size. Included in this are both the fees for the Inca Trail as well as Machu Picchu.

In order to save money, book a tour with a local operator. Although booking through an agency in your home country may seem easier, many of the local operators have extensive websites and booking through an agency in Cusco can sometimes cost half the price of foreign agencies.

Nearly all tours include the train ride back to Cusco from Aguas Calientes. There are two prices: one is about $46 while the cheaper option costs $15. Most companies include the train ride back and if your company has you booked for the $46 ticket you can save a few bucks by asking them to remove it from your package. The catch is that the cheaper ticket can only be bought in person, in Aguas Calientes, one day in advance. The train will take you to Ollantaytambo where you can catch a bus (about $3) to Cusco. Be warned, however, that this option is a bit risky in the high season, as tickets are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The 'fees' associated with Sacred Valley treks are mostly in relation to the Inca Trail. Aside from outfitter costs, there are no trail fees for the other Sacred Valley treks. Guided hikes of the other major trails in the Sacred Valley cost approximately the same per day as the Inca Trail. The majority of tours offer discounts to those carrying valid ISIC cards and some give discounts to members of South American Explorers, so ask around.

The following are approximate prices for some of the more popular hikes in the Sacred Valley. The price variations are due to changes in price between low and high season.

Vilcabamba--$700 for 7 days

Choquequirao--$545 for 3 days, 4 nights

Salcantay--$450-650 for 6 days

Lares Valley--$260-450 for 4 days