Get Insured to take on the Inca Trail!

Trekking the Inca Trail in Peru is an activity that is on the bucket-list of many a backpacker, and it is regarded by many to be one of the Top 5 treks in the world.  Based in Peru, it is a 26 mile trek that manages to pack in a stunning variety of Andean landscapes, including awe-inspiring mountains, dreamy cloud-forests, subtropical jungle and best of all – Incan ruins, paving stones and tunnels.  This unique combination makes the trek very popular – and the piece de resistance after the arduous hike, is that the trail culminates in the spectacular Sun Gate at Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and although in ruins, retains its allure as the ‘lost city of the Incas’.

Due to concern about erosion to the site, the number of visitors allowed on the trek has been restricted by the Peruvian government, so it is imperative that you book in advance. You can find out more details about obtaining a permit to trek the Inca Trail here. If you’re doing it with an organised tour operator, then they will organise this when you provide them with the information required, when booking a tour with them.

It is recommended that you book an Inca Trail trek at least 5 months before you travel, as demand is high, and access is restricted. The Trail is closed for the entire month of February, for maintenance and repair, which further reduces the opportunities to undertake the trek.

It is obviously recommended that you take out travel insurance for any of your travel plans, but it is especially important if you plan to undertake any kind of sporting or adventurous activity. You may have lots of experience, be fit and well, and think that your planned itinerary presents few problems, but any activity of this kind runs the risk of injury of some kind.

The two longer routes to the Inca Trail require an ascent to above 4, 200 metres, which is a considerable altitude to be exposing your body to. Even if you have become acclimatised to being at high altitude in the locale of the Inca Trail, you can’t predict the effects of altitude sickness as you actually undertake the Trek.

You may be tempted to take out travel insurance for your time away from the UK, but not let your insurer know that you are doing the Inca Trail, as it only makes up a small portion of your entire time away.

This is a false economy as, if you do an activity that isn’t covered by your travel insurance policy, then you wouldn’t be covered for any injury, illness or loss sustained while you do the trek. Similarly, if you later suffer from an injury that originated from doing the trek, then you wouldn’t be covered for the related treatment costs.

It is best to be upfront with your travel insurer and give them all the details that they need to make an informed decision about the risks posed by all of your planned activities in the time that you are away, and apply an enhanced premium if necessary. This reduces the potential to be left high and dry without cover, away from the UK, and facing a large financial outlay as a result of needing medical treatment.

We offer cover for a wide range of sporting and adventurous activities under our Activity Packs. Lots of lower-risk pursuits are covered as standard under Activity Pack 1. If you’re planning something a bit more extreme, or specialist, then we may be able to cover it under a higher activity pack. Take a look at our Activity Packs here.

We are able to cover a trek on the Inca Trail, as long as it is part of an organised tour. It depends which policy that you’re taking out, which Activity Pack that you’ll need to add.

If you’d like us to provide a quote for your unique plans, either give us a call on 01424 223964 or complete a quote request form, and we’ll email a quote over to you: http://go-walkabout.co.uk/quote_request.php

Good Luck on your epic expedition – enjoy your trek!