Machu Picchu: Doing it alone?

Question

Hi, I am thinking of going to Peru next year to visit Machu Picchu, and I know that recently there has been a great deal of restrictions placed on the Incan trail in regards to the number of people who are allowed to travel it.

So I am wondering are you able to do it by yourself (with a friend or two)? Without a tour group/company? Where can you get a permit without going through a $400 + tour group?

Also, same question, but just for machu picchu not the Incan trail.

Answer 1

The Inca Trail alone is impossible. Current regulations require that you do the Inca Trail with a registered guide and, as you can guess, all registered guides work with tour agencies. Also, the INC (local National Institute of Culture) sells tickets for every day that a person is on the trail (no more than 500 people are allowed on the trail at one time) and all these tickets are purchased by tour agencies.

If you are not doing the trail, you can go alone to Machu Picchu. Just buy a train ticket and go. You can purchase the ticket on-line (I'm enclosing the web page). There is only one train operator, so you will not find it cheaper elsewhere.

Answer 2

Once you've seen that country you'll realize that going off on your own on some side trail is probably a bit chancey. There is plenty of other places to hike in Peru.  I went the year that the railroad flooded out and the trail was under water, etc. The only way in was by helicopter at $500 per person.  We took the train to Lake Titicaca and then the bus down to Arequipa and side hikes everywhere. No tourists except for us and we had some great walks.