Adventure travel specialist World Expeditions is urging travellers to secure 2017 Inca Trail permits by booking their trips without delay.
Having been released earlier than in previous years, the trekking permits are already sold out for May, most of April and many other dates in spring and early summer.
The permit system protects the Inca Trail from erosion and overuse by limiting the number of people allowed on the trail to 500 per day. Since the quota also includes guides, porters and cooks, only a fraction of those available remain for travellers. This makes advanced booking necessary and, with the Inca Trail consistently listed as one of the world’s greatest walks, permits for peak season dates can sell out within days.
World Expeditions groups travel in self-sufficient fully serviced camp-style, using campsites that less than 5% of the Inca Trail trekkers use. Likewise, the company is committed to responsible tourism in Peru by ensuring groups observe the Leave No Trace policy, leaving a positive environmental impact through its 10 Pieces initiative, supporting its porters and mule drivers and giving back to local communities.
World Expeditions offers 10 adventures that include trekking the full four-day Inca Trail.