All the tour packages of SAM Travel Peru arrive at Machu Picchu Citadel, one of the 7th wonders of the world. You are transported by train through panoramic mountains, rivers and valleys as you pass by ancient cites of the Inca, eventually arriving at Aguas Calientes. There you take the shuttle bus up the mountain to Machu Picchu to begin your guided tour of the natural world and the thriving culture of the Inca people who once resided there. Be sure to allow yourself to take in the mystery and majesty of this mountain citadel.
With SAM Travel Peru you get to choose from various tour packages to Machu Picchu that may include Cusco City, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, or the latest attraction of Rainbow Mountain. You can also choose as a part of you tour to hike to Machu Picchu starting at KM 104 on the last 1/3 if the Inca Trail, arriving to Machu Picchu through the famous Sun Gate. You get to choose your tour that best fits your needs. If needed SAM Travel can even customize your tour for you and your family. If you want a Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu tour or just a simple trip to the ancient citadel via Vistadome train, just let us know your preference.
We advise you to book a tour with us as soon as possible to make sure that you get the date you want. One of the hike options you can choose from is the Inca Trail trek.
This trek is one of the 10 best hikes in the world. The Incas built this path more than 900 years ago to connect Machu Picchu to their capital city of Cusco. This hike provides adventurers with spectacular views of the glacial peaks of the Andes and tropical forests as they journey along the 26-mile historical trail via the Sun Gate to get to the renowned UNESCO heritage site.
Apart from the four-day classic Inca Trail, we provide one-, two- and five-day options to travelers. The one- and two-day treks cover the last third of the Inca trek and pass through the Sun Gate to enter Machu Picchu.
1.MACHU PICCHU CITADEL: All visitors will now be limited to 4 hour visiting sessions. Tickets to Machu Picchu will be divided into three daily sessions: early morning (6AM – 9AM), late morning (9AM – 12PM) and early afternoon (12PM – 3PM). Within these sessions, visitors must choose a specific hour to visit. This is to regulate and reduce visitor traffic within the citadel– each hour will be limited to 600 visitors.
2.HUAYNA PICCHU OR MACHU PICCHU MOUNTAIN: The new regulations have a direct impact on: Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain (not to be confused with the citadel itself). To enjoy your tour of the citadel and hike the additional mountains, you will need to purchase an extra entrance ticket to the ruins extending your time allowed inside. These tickets can sell out 2 to 4 months in advance. Plus, this means that Huayna Picchu tickets will go up from $35 per person to $75 per person.
3.SHORT INCA TRAIL PERMITS: To protect this historical trek, the Peruvian government heavily regulates it. There are only 500 permits issued per day for the short Inca Trail. In past years there were usually enough permits for the short Inca Trail trek, however due to the high demand in the months of May through September, some dates are now selling out.
Booking one of our Machu Picchu tours at the last minute is possible during the off-peak season. However, we discourage you from doing this in the high season. Certain tour options, such as your preferred time of day to enter Machu Picchu and tickets to Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu Mountain, might be unavailable during this time. When it comes to transportation options, you may need to take an early or late train, as other tourists may take up the best time slots. If your Machu Picchu trip involves traversing the short Inca trail, the permits you need may not be available with a last-minute booking.
Remember that you need to be flexible with your dates and times if you book at the last minute. If you have set dates for great treks, such as the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu journey, we advise you to book with us as soon as you can. Feel free to get in touch with our expert staff for assistance. They’ll inform you of the available schedules for your journey to Machu Picchu.
We’ll need your full name, date of birth, gender, nationality and passport number. All your personal details must match what’s on your passport. After booking, send us a copy of your passport. You may also provide us with a copy of your driver’s license.
If you’re renewing your passport, you can book with your driver’s license number or old passport number. We’ll make the updates once you have your new passport.
If you’re in the process of getting a passport for the first time, you can use the information found on your driver’s license to book with us. Then email us a photo of both your driver’s license and your new passport. We’ll take care of updating the permit information at the government office. Also, please bring these two documents when you come to Peru.
If you have an expiring passport, you can use your current passport to book the tour. Once you get your renewed passport, email a picture of both your old and new passport. We’ll update the details for you. When you visit Peru, please bring your old passport as well as your new one.
Yes, it is possible to do some tours without a tour provider. However, purchasing tickets and entrances have become much more complicated due to new regulations for Machu Picchu Citadel and the increased tourist traffic. It has become very complicated to coordinate all the entrance times, trains, and transfers required to be able to experience a hazzle free tour. If you wish to trek the short Inca Trail as a part of your tour, please note that the government of Peru strictly controls the Inca Trail. This hike can only be booked by a fully licensed tour operator. SAM Travel Peru Alpaca is a 100% licensed Inca Trail tour operator by the government here in Cusco, Peru. (Not all tour operators can do the Inca Trail)
SAM Travel specializes in small intimate groups of 2 to 8 persons! We want to guarantee the best possible experience for all our clients who choose to tour with us. Small groups allow you to get to know better the individuals touring with you and to receive lots of individual attention from your guide. We want you enjoy your touring experience and make memories that will last a life time. Also, unlike other tour companies, if 2 persons book we guarantee you go even if no other people book. You book, pay your deposit, you go!
YES, you absolutely can book a private tour at an additional cost! The cost varies depending on the size of your private group. A private tour means that you will have your own personal guide, van, driver and only the members of your group will be part of the entire tour group. Of course there will be other tour groups from SAM Travel and other travel agencies at the sites you visit or on the Inca Trail.
Booking with SAM Travel is easy. All you need to do is click on the BOOK NOW link and follow the instructions. If you have questions, please chat with us or give us a call using the phone numbers on the top of the main page for the Peru office or the USA office.
As soon as we receive your completed booking form and your $200 deposit per person, we will email you a confirmation.
SAM Travel Peru is a socially responsible tour operator concerned about the environment. Our Plant A Tree campaign creates awareness to local communities and the citizens of the city of Cusco that deforestation issue in the Andes Mountains is a serious one. As each year, many mountain slopes are void of trees and that causes a huge decline in the wildlife.
December of 2017, SAM Travel Peru fulfilled the dreams of 36 children and their parents from the indigenous community of Pampamarca way up in the Andean mountains in the south of Cusco. They got to tour Cusco City, Sacred Valley and the Citadel of Machu Picchu all paid for by SAM Travel Peru. These are children do not have the resources nor ability for many reasons to be able to experience the historical sites of their Inca heritage. Sam Travel Peru wants to give them a once in a lifetime experience up close and in person of their heritage and restore their pride in their culture, history and Inca heritage.
We kick off our annual Christmas social project focused on helping communities surrounding the imperial city of Cusco and the Sacred Valley. We journeyed towards the community of Pacchanta, located within the district of Ocongate (home to Ausangate Mountain). This quaint and isolated community is home to about 400 people or so. SAM Travel Peru was able to complete this project successfully with the help of its dedicated team members!
We are ISO 9001 certified, which ensures that all our customers get consistent, good quality services and products. Sam Travel honors and is committed to these principles.
ISO 14001 sets an internationally agreed upon standard for Environmental sustainability. They encourage organizations to protect the environment through the efficient use of resources and reduction of waste. Sam travel adopts a holistic approach to environmental sustainability and management.
We are honored to have been chosen by our travelers as their travelers’ choice of 2022. Trust us to plan your travel, for an unforgettable, once in a lifetime experience. We are humbled and proud to provide the best tours to Machu Picchu, trekking the Inca trail and other tours and treks throughout the Cusco region and beyond.