In short
Book first whatever has quotas (Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail, mountain routes such as Waynapicchu), then whatever depends on it (train, nearby nights), then festival dates and long journeys. Keep some flexibility for meals and local outings. Before paying, identify the actual provider, have what is included and the cancellation conditions put in writing, and keep a record of every payment.
Four reasons to book, four strategies
| Reason | Examples | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Quota: a number of places set each day | Machu Picchu and its mountain routes, the Inca Trail, some nature reserves | Book first, as soon as the dates are certain |
| Festival or high season: everyone wants the same date | Candelaria in Puno, Inti Raymi, Holy Week, July and August, Fiestas Patrias | Book accommodation and transport early, at a changeable fare |
| Weather: the activity may be cancelled | Ballestas Islands, Nazca flight, rafting, trek | Book with clear rescheduling conditions and a day in hand |
| Preference: a hotel or a table you really want | A restaurant for an occasion, a particular room | Book if useful, otherwise keep your flexibility |
Before paying, ask yourself what would happen if you waited: would you miss an essential stop, or would you simply keep several options open?
Machu Picchu: a tree of dependencies
Everything starts from the entry ticket, because that is what has a quota and a fixed time:
- The entry ticket (circuit, route, date, time), on the state platform tuboleto.cultura.pe. If you are aiming for a mountain route (Waynapicchu, Machupicchu mountain), it sells out first.
- The outbound train, chosen so that you reach Machu Picchu Pueblo at least two hours before your entry time, and the return train, after the maximum length of the visit.
- The night before, in Machu Picchu Pueblo if your entry is early, or in Ollantaytambo if your entry is late in the morning.
- The shuttle (or walking up), and a guide if you want one.
- The nights before and after in Cusco or in the Valley.
If the ticket is no longer available for the date you want, everything else slides: that is why you keep the train and hotels changeable until you have bought the ticket. For the Inca Trail, it is the registered agencies that buy the places. Details on our Machu Picchu page.
Comparing two offers line by line
A fictitious example, to show the method: two travellers want to go to the same coloured mountain from Cusco. The amounts are invented for the illustration; for real references, see the prices recorded.
| Offer A: shared excursion | Offer B: private vehicle | |
|---|---|---|
| Price shown | 90 soles per person | 600 soles per vehicle, up to 4 people |
| For two travellers | 180 soles | 600 soles |
| Departure and return | Pick-up at 4:00 in the centre, back around 17:00 | At the time you choose, from the hotel |
| Group | Up to 20 people | Just you |
| Guide | Included, Spanish and English | Not included |
| Meals | Simple breakfast and lunch | Not included |
| Community entry fee | Not included: 20 soles per person | Not included: 20 soles per person |
| Weather cancellation | Can be rescheduled, no refund | Refund if cancelled the day before |
| Real total for two | 220 soles | 640 soles, plus a guide if you want one |
Offer A is not “the scam” and B “the right one”: they do not sell the same thing. A suits those who accept a group and a set timetable; B those who want their own pace, or are travelling as four (150 soles per person, plus the entry fee). A higher price deserves an explanation, not an accusation; a very low price also deserves knowing the total.
What to obtain for each offer:
| To obtain | Why |
|---|---|
| The provider’s name and the date of the quote | A price with no date or author cannot be compared |
| Price per person or per vehicle, minimum number of participants | The price may change if the group is not full |
| Currency and payment fees | A dollar equivalent is not the dollar price actually charged |
| The exact place visited | Two “coloured mountains” are not the same outing |
| Departure and return times | Time on the spot counts as much as the price |
| Shared or private, group size | The price does not tell you whether the group suits you |
| Transport, meals, guide and language | “Transport included” does not mean “all-inclusive” |
| Entry fees, equipment and extras | An extra can change the total budget |
| Cancellation and rescheduling | Especially for activities that depend on the weather |
Who is the actual provider?
An online agency, a reseller or a hotel often sells someone else’s service. Before paying, ask:
- who actually organises it (the name of the company, not just of a social media page);
- who collects the money, and under what name the payment will appear;
- who to contact on the day, with a number you can reach;
- for outings in a protected area (Huascarán, Tambopata, Pacaya Samiria, Manu), whether the operator is authorised by SERNANP.
Paying and keeping a record
- Deposit and balance: write down the amount of the deposit, the amount of the balance, the date and the means of paying the balance.
- The means of payment: a bank card leaves a record and, depending on your bank, the possibility of disputing a charge; a bank transfer or a payment by app, much less so. Avoid paying everything in advance to a stranger.
- Proof of payment: ask for a boleta (receipt) or a factura: it is your proof of payment. Indecopi points out the right to clear information on prices and to proof of payment.
If something goes wrong: the libro de reclamaciones
Indecopi, the Peruvian consumer protection authority, points out that businesses must keep a libro de reclamaciones, a paper or online register in which a complaint is recorded. In practice: ask for it on the spot, describe the facts and what you are asking for, keep a copy. Attach the written exchanges and the proof of payment.
Cancellation and a budget margin
The cancellation conditions are part of the price. A refundable fare often costs more; a promotional fare cannot be refunded. PeruRail, for example, accepts a change or cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, with a 10% fee, except on promotional fares.
Build a margin for the unexpected into the budget: an extra day because of a road closure, a flight to buy again, an activity cancelled without a refund. See the budget calculator.
A confirmation template
For each booking, ask for a written summary, even on WhatsApp. A template to adapt:
Hello, I am confirming the following booking: the service, the date, the number of people and their names; the pick-up time and address; the total price and its currency, the deposit paid (date and means of payment), the balance to pay (when and how); what is included and what is not; the cancellation conditions; the name and number of the contact on the day. Please confirm these details.
Replace each item with the real information before sending the message.
In Spanish, the key sentence is: “¿Me puede confirmar por escrito el precio total, lo que incluye y las condiciones de cancelación?” (Can you confirm in writing the total price, what is included and the cancellation conditions?)
Your travel table must stay readable
For each booking, keep: the provider, the date, the place, the amount paid, any balance due, what is included, cancellation and the contact. Add the travellers’ names and a copy of the confirmation, offline. A message saying “all good” without a summary is not a comfortable basis for several weeks on the move.
If SwissLima is involved, the same principle applies: an introduction is not a booking confirmation. You need to know when your service has been accepted, and by whom.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book everything from Switzerland?
No. Plan ahead for whatever has quotas and whatever depends on it (Machu Picchu, train, nearby nights), festival dates and domestic flights. The rest, meals, local outings and a lot of accommodation outside the high season, can be decided during the trip.
Is it always cheaper with a local contact?
No. The price depends on the service, the group, the language, what is included and the conditions. A more expensive option may be better if it gives you what you need.
What should you do in a dispute with a provider in Peru?
Ask for the “libro de reclamaciones”: businesses must keep one, on paper or online. Keep the proof of payment and the written exchanges. Indecopi is the consumer protection authority.
Sources and dates
4 sources
Prices, opening hours and rules change: every piece of information cited links to its source, with the date it was consulted.
Sources consulted
- Ministry of Culture: buying tickets for Machu Picchu (new tab) (consulted on 25 September 2026)
- Indecopi, rights of users of tourist services (new tab) (consulted on 2 October 2026)
- PeruRail, frequently asked questions (changes and cancellations) (new tab) (consulted on 2 October 2026)
- Andina, rules for visiting Machu Picchu (12 September 2026) (new tab) (consulted on 2 October 2026)
How we choose and date our information: our method. Has something changed? Let us know.