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Inca Trail & Machu Picchu Latest News
Information updated 28 March 2010
Heavy rains in the Cusco region during
mid-January 2010 caused floods and several landslides along the
valley between Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu. Several sections of
the railway track were washed away completely leading to the
suspension of train services to and from Machu Picchu as
from 25 January 2010. There was also a lot of damage to the
alternative access road to Machu Picchu, known as the "Backdoor to
Machu Picchu" that runs between Hidro-Electrica and Santa Maria
(see map below).
Peru Rail and various ministers from
the Peruvian Government have confirmed that the Inca Trail and
Machu Picchu will remain closed throughout March as repairs are
undertaken to the railway line. It has been confirmed that the
Inca Trail and Machu Picchu will be open as from 01 April 2010. However only a limited train service will operate between Km82 and
Aguas Calientes. Visitors will have to take the bus for the
journey between Cusco and Km82. It is not expected that a full
train service between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes will be
established until early June.
It is expected that the train service
available to visitors to Machu Picchu will be very limited during
the months of April and May until the track is fully repaired.
This is because Peru Rail only has 2 trains running in the section
of track between Aguas Calientes and Km82 (A locomotive pulling 4
backpacker class wagons and an Autowagon train with just 2 wagons
- the Autowagon train is an independently propelled wagon and
doesn't need a locomotive). We suspect that only the Autowagon service will be allowed to operate during April due to
its much lighter weight! The majority of trains
and wagons are still stuck near Ollantaytambo and the track
between Ollantaytambo and Km82 won't be passable until June at the
earliest!! It
is estimated that only 800 people per day will be able to visit
Machu Picchu during these months rather than the usual 3000 or
more.
The INC (National Institute of
Culture) in Cusco, the government authorities who control the
entry to the Inca Trail & Machu Picchu have confirmed that
trekkers won't be able to start the trek unless they have a return
train ticket in their hands at the check point at the start of the
trek.
Under normal conditions we give Peru
Rail a list of all of our client names and train ticket booking
requirements several months in advance and actually pay for the
tickets 5 days before departure. Peru Rail have confirmed that
they have now cancelled all of our previous train ticket
reservations and will do their best to try to accommodate our
clients on other available services. On 24 March Peru Rail started a new
booking system with new prices and timetable. The distribution of
these new tickets is chaotic with only a
proportion of tickets released each day, some directly to the
trekking companies, some directly to the public and many through
unofficial agents charging high commissions. Peru Rail is obviously not
keen to sell tickets only from Aguas Calientes to Km82 (i.e. the
train tickets we normally purchase for our clients), they would
prefer to sell the round-trip tickets Km82 - Aguas Calientes -
Km82.
Peru Treks will do our best to obtain
train tickets for all of our clients at convenient times and for
the cheapest price possible. However we
will have to purchase train tickets as and when they become
available. At the moment we are having to buy our train tickets
from a mix of various sources. Peru Treks has experienced staff
and is better placed than most companies in obtaining tickets for
our clients. However it is highly likely that our groups
will return from Machu Picchu at various times, on various
services with tickets costing various amounts. It is possible that
some friends may not be seated together. We have tried to answer
any questions that you may have about our Inca Trail service
below. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.
All clients with Inca Trail trek
bookings with us in March have been contacted and informed of the
situation and various cancellation options have been offered. For
more info about trek bookings in March please visit our
Frequently
Asked Questions relating to the closure of the Inca Trail and
Machu Picchu in March.
Frequently Asked Questions about our Inca
Trail to Machu Picchu service in APRIL & MAY 2010
Q1: Will the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
be open as from 01 April 2010?
A1: The Peruvian government,
Peru Rail and the INC (National Institute of Culture) have all
confirmed that the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu will be open as
from the 01 April 2010. Our Inca Trail trek departure on the 02
April is scheduled to take place as planned.
Q2: Has Peru Treks bought the trek
permits for the group ?
A2: Yes, all Inca Trail trek
permits have been bought for all of our groups in April & May.
These permits include entrance to Machu Picchu. We have managed to
obtain the Wiñay Wayna campsite as the campsite on the 3rd night
for all of our groups in April & May. Wiñay Wayna is the campsite
closest to Machu Picchu meaning that all groups should arrive at
Machu Picchu at around 7:30am on the 4th day of the trek.
Q3: How will we return to Cusco after
the Inca Trail?
A3: After visiting Machu Picchu
the group will take a short bus ride (30 mins) from Machu Picchu
down to the town of Aguas Calientes where the group will have
lunch in a local restaurant. From Aguas Calientes you will take a
train to Km82. At Km82 you will get off the train and Peru Rail
staff will arrange to take you by bus back to Ollantaytambo. The
bus will be provided by Peru Rail and is included in the price of
the train ticket. In Ollantaytambo you will change buses to return
to Cusco. This bus may be either provided by Peru Treks (included
in the price of the trek) or if the group returns on several
different train services at different times then clients will have
to take one of the many tourist buses waiting in Ollantaytambo to
take them directly back to Cusco (approx cost US$5). If Peru Treks
does not provide the bus trip from Ollantaytambo back to Cusco we
will refund you the US$5 for this journey.
Approximate journey times:
Train from Aguas Calientes to Km82: 1 hr
30 mins
Bus from Km82 to Ollantaytambo: 30 mins
Bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco 2 hrs
Total trip time 4 hrs 30 mins (estimated time
only allowing for transfers)
Q4: Is the return by train and bus
included in the price of the trek?
A4: As stated on our website
and in your trek confirmation email the following items are
included in the price of the trek: Bus from Machu Picchu ruins
down to the village of Aguas Calientes US$7 (many companies don't
include this), tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
(Backpacker Cerojo US$31), Bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco (value
US$5).
Q5: Has Peru Treks already bought the
train tickets for the group?
A5:
Previous train ticket reservations that we had with Peru Rail were
cancelled in mid-March. As soon as the new tickets became
available to trekking companies on the 24 March we re-submitted
the list of our client train ticket requirements. We are currently
in the process of buying train tickets for our groups in April and
May. We have purchased train tickets for about 75% of our clients but we still have many gaps to fill before we manage to
obtain tickets for all clients. Due to the limited number of train
tickets this is a very difficult job so we are having to purchase
tickets from a number of different sources.
Q6: What time will the train depart
Aguas Calientes?
A6:
We will buy your train ticket subject to availability. The Peru
Rail website currently shows the following timetable:
|
FROM MACHU PICCHU |
|
TRAIN + BUS |
Machu Picchu Station |
Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) |
Wanchaq
(Cusco) |
Price |
|
Departure |
Arrival |
|
09:56 |
12:09 |
|
US$ 43.00 |
S/. 124.70 |
|
10:37 |
13:10 |
|
US$ 53.00 |
S/. 153.70 |
|
15:20 |
|
19:00 |
US$ 71.00 |
S/. 205.90 |
|
17:50 |
19:57 |
|
US$ 60.00 |
S/. 174.00 |
|
21:30 |
23:37 |
|
US$ 34.00 |
S/. 98.60 |
Our preference will to purchase
tickets for our group on the train that departs Machu Picchu
station at 21:30 (US$34) since this is the most economic service.
However if this service is not available we will have to purchase
tickets on the 17:50 (US$60), or the 15:20 (US$71). In the worst
case scenario we may even have to purchase tickets on the 10:37 service (US$53) although obviously this wouldn't give
the group much time to visit Machu Picchu so this would be the
very last resort. If clients have asked to spend an extra night in
Aguas Calientes after the trek then we will try to purchase
tickets to return to Ollantaytambo at 09:56 in the morning
(US$43). Due to the difficulty in obtaining the train tickets our
staff will purchase the tickets in accordance with the above
mentioned preference. We cannot buy train tickets to suit the
individual needs of each client and requests by email to buy
tickets for certain departure times cannot be accommodated. We
currently have a team of three persons dedicated to obtaining your
train tickets. Most of these members of staff have been standing
in queues all day since 24 March to obtain your train ticket and
are likely to continue doing so for the next few weeks until we
have bought train tickets for all of our clients. You will not be able to change your return date
at this stage.
Q7: How much will the train ticket
cost?
A7:
The price of the train ticket is shown in the above table
(taken from the Peru Rail website
www.perurail.com)
Peru Rail reserve the right to change the price of the train
ticket at any time. Included in the price of the train ticket is
the train from Aguas Calientes to Km82 and the bus from Km82 to
Ollantaytambo.
Q8: Will we have to pay a surcharge if
the train ticket is more expensive than planned?
A8:
Yes, sorry about that.
We have included for a US$31 train ticket in the price of our
trek. Clients will be asked to pay the difference in price between
the
US$31 and the actual price of their train ticket. The price of the
train ticket will be shown on the ticket. If clients return on the
21:30 train they will have to pay an extra US$3 per person, if
clients return on the 17:50 train clients will have to pay an
extra US$29 per person etc. Please note that the prices shown
above are more expensive than the original train ticket because
the only train currently be offered by Peru Rail will be the
superior Vistadome service and not the backpacker service.
The surcharge is NOT voluntary, it
forms part of our trek terms and conditions that you have agreed
to prior to by sending us your trek deposit (see extract of trek
terms and conditions below). Failure to pay the surcharge will
result in cancellation of your trek booking.
CLAUSE 3: PRICES AND SURCHARGES
http://www.perutreks.com/inca_trail_04d_terms_and_conditions_2010.html
As we publish our prices well in advance, we may occasionally be
faced with significant cost increases due to factors over which we
have no control. As such we reserve the right to impose surcharges
(or price decreases) up to 2 days before departure due to
increases in Inca Trail trek permits (entrance fee), unfavourable
exchange rates, increases in train fares or other transport costs,
taxes, or if government action should require us to do so.
Our Inca Trail trek prices are based upon the following third
party costs which are outside of our control:
1: Inca Trail entrance fee is 248 Peruvian Soles per person,
(about US$80) and 42 Peruvian Soles for each of our porters. The
price paid for the entrance fee is clearly marked on the trek
permit.
2: Included in the price of the trek is the return on the train
from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. We purchase tickets in the
Backpacker Cerojo tourist train which currently costs US$31 per
person. Peru Rail have not yet published their prices for 2010.
(details of service and price can be checked on the Peru Rail
website www.perurail.com). The Peru Rail website states that they
reserve the right to change the price at anytime. There is also
the possibility that Peru Rail will no longer sell a one-way
ticket and will only sell return tickets i.e. Ollantaytambo -
Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo. If this is the case it is
possible that the price of the ticket could double!! However this
is unlikely. We will try to do everything in our control to keep
the price of the ticket to as low as possible but clients must be
prepared for such increases in the price of the train ticket. Peru
Rail currently runs a monopoly service so we don't have an
alternative (Peru Rail is 50% owned by Orient Express, a British
company which is registered in Bermuda and listed in the NY stock
exchange). The price paid for the train ticket is clearly marked
on the ticket.
4. Local sales taxes known as IGV are included in the price of the
Inca Trail trek. The currently rate of IGV is 19%. It is not
anticipated that this rate will increase during 2010
5. Exchange Rate. The Inca Trail trek price for 2010 is based on
an exchange rate of 1 USD = 3.05 Peruvian Soles. Although we
accept payment for the trek in US dollars the majority of our
expenses are in Peruvian Soles (trek permits, wages, food, taxes).
Peru Treks will absorb any change in costs up to 15 points
difference from 2.90. i.e. if the exchange rate falls to 2.90 we
will not ask you to pay any additional surcharge. If however the
value of the US dollar falls below 2.90 we will ask you to pay a
US$15 surcharge, if the value falls below 2.80 we will ask you to
pay a US$20 surcharge, below 2.70 we will ask you to pay a US$25
surcharge etc etc. Peru Treks will have to show any calculations
to clearly justify such surcharges.
If any of the third party costs listed above change to increase
the cost of the trek we will immediately update the trek price
listed on our website (apart from the exchange rate which can
continue to go up and down throughout the year so the website will
not be updated to reflect these cost changes). Clients will be
liable for paying any increased cost of the Inca Trail trek upon
arrival in Cusco.
Q9: Will everyone in the group return
on the same train and pay the same amount?
A9:
Ideally all of our group will return
together on the same train service, each paying the same amount
for their ticket. However, due to the shortage of tickets, most of
our groups have had to be divided up and will return on various
train services paying different prices for their tickets. We do
not anticipate that friends / family / partners booking together
will be separated. We are well aware that
clients within the same trek group may end up paying different
prices for their trek depending upon the type of train ticket we
purchase for them. We do understand that many people may consider
this to be unfair. However we have given thought to the matter and
we feel that this is the fairest system. After consideration we
rejected the option to average out the price of the tickets
between all group members. This was because the prices charged by
Peru Rail reflect demand for the tickets and more expensive
tickets bring clients back to Cusco at what is considered to be a
more convenient time.
Q10: What happens if Peru Treks can't
obtain train tickets for the group?
A10:
Obviously this is not a situation that we
want to occur and hope will not occur. However we cannot 100% guarantee that we will be
able to obtain a train ticket for you in time to start the trek.
Current regulations require all trekkers on the Inca Trail to show
their train tickets at the checkpoint at the start of the trail
(proof of ability to return from Machu Picchu). If any client is
prevented from starting the trek due to lack of return train
ticket we will consider the situation a trek cancellation due to
Force Majeure in accordance with our trek terms and conditions.
Clients may forfeit their trek deposit, however given the
situation Peru Treks will try to be as fair as possible and
alternative refund offers may be made. Hopefully we won't have
this situation and our cancellation policy won't be tested in this
instance.
Q11: When will things get back to
normal again?
A11:
Peru Rail have indicated that the railway between Km82 and
Ollantaytambo will be completely repaired by the beginning of
June. Services and visitors numbers to Machu Picchu should then
return to normal levels.
Q12: Are there any other issues that
we should be informed about?
A12:
Yes lots!! I have tried to keep the information above as simple
and clear as possible. Please try not to get angry about the
increased cost of the train ticket, we're not happy about them
either. Peru Treks makes no commission from train ticket sales, in
fact we have had to obtain many of your tickets through third
parties on a "grey" market and have had to pay between US$5 &
US$15 per ticket just to be able to guarantee your return. Since
we don't receive receipts for these fees we are unable to ask you
to pay them, Peru Treks will have to accept these additional
costs. We are expecting some clients to be unhappy about the price
of their train tickets or unhappy about the time of their return
train ticket. Our staff have worked very hard just to get any
ticket at all for you. Please do not be abusive to any of our
office staff. Remember that English is not their first language so
please be as patient and understanding as possible. We will
normally have a team of guides in our office on hand to help and
answer any questions.
Please remember that many visitors to
Cusco will be in the unfortunate situation of not being able to
visit Machu Picchu because they cannot obtain a train ticket
(hopefully this won't happen to any Peru Treks' clients). All
trekking companies are struggling to get tickets for their clients
and Peru Treks is in a much stronger position than most to provide
a professional service.
We are also concerned that Peru Rail,
the INC and the Peruvian government have not allowed for the
transportation for our porters to return to Cusco with our
equipment after the trek. Train tickets for local people have not
been currently made available. Priority has been given to
tourists. Shops and restaurants in Aguas Calientes have been
closed since the end of January and are currently empty with
residents finding it impossible to transport goods by train to
Aguas Calientes. However we are sure that these issues will be
resolved during the first few days of April.
Finally despite all of the problems we
hope that you enjoy your visit to Peru and have a great time on
the trek.
The above
information is given in good faith based on the information
currently available to us. The above information does not
supersede any part of our original trek terms and conditions and
Peru Treks reserves the right to withdraw any addition
compensation options at any time.
Georgina Gonzalez
Owner / Manager
Peru Treks
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