Machu Picchu Trekking

Yes, you need a tourist visa to visit Peru, unless you're a citizen of one of these countries:

For those of you who do need a visa, you can purchase one for 30 days or more.

Please note that everyone visiting Peru needs to provide certain documentation, such as proof of onward travel. We explain what's needed and how to obtain a visa in What to know about Peru's visa requirements and entry procedures.

There are no compulsory vaccinations for visiting Peru.

That said, the usual standard childhood vaccinations like polio and typhoid might be a good idea. Also, you might wish to talk to your GP about malaria prevention as parts of Peru have a low risk for malaria infection.

You can learn more in Follow these 8 tips to stay healthy and safe when travelling in Peru.

Peru is ranked #101 on the 2022 Global Peace Index. So it's middling when it comes to overall safety. That said, as with most countries, Peru can be a safe country to visit depending where within its borders you travel and the precautions you take while there.

You greatly improve your chances of a safe and incident-free holiday if you travel with a reputable tour operator like Follow Alice where you have a local guide accompanying you throughout your stay.

For more details about how to stay safe while travelling in Peru, please read 8 tips to stay healthy and safe when travelling in Peru.

The Inca Trail isn't easy. It's a high-altitude multiday trek with many steep ascents and descents, so you need to be fit to manage it comfortably.

That said, it's not as tough as many comparably famous high-altitude treks like the Everest Base Camp trail. This is because it only lasts four or five days, and doesn't go much above 4,000 asl. Consequently, the Inca Trail has a middling ranking when compared with other high-altitude multiday treks.

To learn more, please read How should I train for trekking to Machu Picchu?

Yes and no. Nobody can trek the Inca Trail on their own. To trek the Inca Trail you must book with a tour operator that will buy your permit for you and accompany you on the trek, setting up camp and cooking for you.

At Follow Alice, we encourage solo travellers to sign up for one of our group departures so that we can put you in a small group with other travellers whom you get to know and likely befriend during your shared adventure!

Everyone trekking the Inca Trail sleeps in tents provided by their tour operator.

At Follow Alice, we place two people per sleeping tent unless you request and pay a little extra for a tent of your own.

For the answers to similar questions, like where you go to the toilet, please read 22 quick things to know before trekking the Inca Trail.