Your questions about trekking in Peru

Cruz del Sur, Oltursa and Movil Tours run comfortable tourist coaches between Lima and Huaraz — around 8 hours on good paved road, with both day and overnight services. There's also one morning flight a day on LC Peru.

There's no direct flight from Cusco. You fly Cusco to Lima first, then take the coach or flight on to Huaraz. We're glad to buy your bus or flight tickets for you — just ask.

Please keep the trek bag carried by donkey to 15kg maximum. Each donkey carries up to 30kg — two bags, one per person. Anything you don't need on the trail stays safely behind in town.

You don't need to be super-fit for trekking, but you should be a regular walker in generally good shape, able to climb steadily uphill for 2 to 2½ hours to reach a pass. For climbing you need solid aerobic fitness, real strength to carry your gear to high camp, and to be well acclimatised first.

Huaraz sits at 3090m and the trekking is all above 4000m, so the first few days can leave you breathless or a little off. We always recommend two full days in Huaraz to acclimatise, with a day hike to around 4000m. On the trail our guides walk slowly to keep your breathing steady — with good acclimatisation, most of our clients have few or no problems.

No need. On every trek and climb our crew boils all your drinking water, so it's safe straight away. There's an unlimited supply in camp for hot drinks and refilling bottles, plus a flask of boiled water for the lunch stop. In town, stick to boiled or bottled water.

Better than you'd expect at 4000m — each of our cooks has their own specialities. Dinner is always three courses: a hearty Peruvian soup, a main of meat or a vegetarian dish with vegetables, and a dessert. We happily cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free diets, and any special requests.

Our guides and porters are trained in mountain first aid and altitude illness. We always travel with enough crew that one person can take a sick or injured client out by horse to the nearest road, while the rest of the group carries on. Our guides hold the company evacuation plan, and on remote routes and climbs we carry a satellite phone for emergencies.

Citizens of some countries do need a tourist visa to enter Peru, and it's your responsibility to check. Confirm what applies to you with the Peruvian embassy or consulate in your own country, or with your travel agent.