we support responsible, sustainable and ethical tourism...

Trek pricing
We try to price our treks as affordably as possible, but need to include the following entry fees and costs:  

The price of our trek prices as listed on our website are based on the following costs, which are correct as at January 2009. Please note that The government reserves the right to increase the entrance fee at any time and may only give us one or two weeks notice.

• Inca Trail entrance fee is 244 Peruvian Soles, about US$80 (US$30 discount for students with ISIC cards and children <16yrs) and 41 Soles, about US$14 for all of our porters. The price paid for the entrance fee is clearly marked on the trek permit. This price includes entrance to Machu Picchu.
• Machu Picchu entrance fee is 127 Peruvian Soles (approx US$42) per visitor. (US$20 discount for students with ISIC cards and children <16yrs)
• The entry to the Salkantay trek is 141 Peruvian Soles (approx $47). Please note: We feel that this is an exorbitant charge as  the government does not offer any infrastructure or services  (as offered on the Classic Inca trail in the form of trail maintenance and security, the installation of toilets and running water, monitoring of safe rubbish disposal etc) This entrance fee does not offer clients good value for money especially since the entrance fee to Machu Picchu is not included in the fee (US$42 extra). (The Peruvian government is actually charging trekkers on the Salkantay trek more than entry to the Traditional or Classic Inca trail. Many companies are not including this excessive fee in their tours, hiding the need to pay it in the fine print of the tours, and then asking for cash after the tour is booked. We are being upfront – this high and unfair fee is included in your tour. If, by any chance it is revoked, our Salkantay trek prices will decrease immediately by US $47)
• Return on tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo Backpacker Cerojo (US $35 approx). Note: Peru Rail has a monopoly, seats on services are limited but we will do our best to get a reasonable timetable for clients. The backpacker cerrojo services leaves Aguas Calientes at either 2.30pm or 6pm. If you would like to leave at another time, you need to pay an upgrade to Vistadome service, an extra $25 per person.  The price paid for the train ticket is clearly marked on the ticket.
• The price of the bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes is US$14 per person Round Trip. The price paid for the bus ticket is clearly marked on the ticket.
•  $8 US for train from the Hydroelectric station to Aguas Calientes. In 2008 we did not include this charge, but after feedback from clients are including this charge, whether or not you utilise this service.
• The current rate of Peruvian sales tax (IGV) is 19%
• An increase to any of the above third party costs are completely outside of the control of Apus Peru SAC and will be passed directly on to our clients. As soon as we are aware of any such increase we will immediately update our website and the price of our trek increased accordingly. Clients will be asked to pay any differences to the cost of the trek when paying the trek balance upon arrival in Cusco. We appreciate you understanding in this matter.

Exchange Rate. Trek prices are based on an exchange rate of 1 USD = 3.05 Peruvian Nuevo Soles.(as at 1 January 2009)  We revise our trek prices quarterly if there is a substantial change. Although we accept payment for the trek in US dollars the majority of our expenses are in Peruvian Soles (trek permits, wages, food, taxes). Apus Peru will absorb any change in costs up to 15 points difference from 3.05 PEN. i.e. if the exchange rate falls to 2.80 we will not ask you to pay any additional surcharge. If however the value of the US dollar falls below 2.80 we will ask you to pay a US$15 surcharge, if the value falls below 2.70 we will ask you to pay a US$20 surcharge, below 2.60 we will ask you to pay a US$25 surcharge etc.  Exchange rates can go both up and down so if the value of the US dollar increases against the Peruvian Sol we will refund you the following amounts: exchange rate greater than 3.20 we will refund US$10, greater than 3.30 we will refund US$15, greater than 3.40 we will refund US$20 etc etc. Apus Peru will have to show any calculations to clearly justify such surcharges. 

Inca trail bookings
When to make a trek booking: The government has strictly limited the number of people permitted on the Inca Trail during 2009 (permits are issued to about 200 trekkers per day plus 300 porters). We recommend that you make a trek booking as early as possible. In 2008 the trek permits for some dates sold out more than 4 months in advance !! However don't make a booking until you have all the group details (names, passport numbers, ages etc) and you are sure about your trek departure date since these details cannot be changed after we have bought your trek permit.
  
Important Note: We will buy your Inca Trail trek permit using the names & passport numbers that you send us with your trek booking application. You must bring these same passports with you to Cusco and take them on the Inca Trail. If the name or number in your passport is different from the name and number on the trek permit, the government authorities will not allow you to start the trek and you will not be entitled to a refund. If you make a trek booking at the student price you must send us a copy of your ISIC card at the time you pay the trek deposit. If you fail to bring your ISIC card on the trek the government authorities will not allow you to start the trek. You will not be given the opportunity to pay the extra difference in price

APUS PERU Adventure Travel Specialists - we support sustainable, responsible and ethical tourism...

366 Cuichipunco, Centro Historico, Cusco, Peru- Email: apusperu@westnet.com.au

© A.Svenson 2005-10. The design, content and photographs (except where noted) are 100% original. The majority of our treks were designed by Apus Peru.