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Machu Picchu........anyone trekked the Inca Trail?

7 replies

Kellamity · 28/04/2012 22:36

I am going to do in Sept 2013. So excited! Tell me about your adventures. All advice and top tips gratefully received Smile

OP posts:
HerRoyalNotness · 28/04/2012 22:46

I did it about 11yrs ago now, in my late 20s. Fitness is key. You also need time in country to acclimatise to the altitude. We did it through GAP adventures so the porters and equipment were all organised. We just had to carry our clothes, personals. The porters would set up the camp and do all the meals, breakdown the camp and they'd still beat us to the lunch spot and we'd get there to find hot meal cooked! They were amazing and we tipped generously. Keep it lightweight and take immodium. The facilities on the last night were rank and a few of us got ill. My mum was in late 40s and did struggle with the altitude, so don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. It was one of the most amazing things I've done, I'd love to go again with my kids. I hope you enjoy it!

Kellamity · 28/04/2012 22:49

Thanks for the tips. My fitness is not great but I have 17 months to sort that out starting next week now my DD has started pre school. We have 4 days before we start the trek to acclimatise, hope I won't be too affected but I guess you don't know until you get there!

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PeriPathetic · 28/04/2012 23:05

Oh! I went with GAP too! In 96. They were fabulous. But I took the train... I cope very badly at altitude.

Whichever way you do it, Macchu Picchu is incredible. Enjoy your trip, you'll remember it forever.

greyhairsahead · 28/04/2012 23:07

DH and I did it 7yrs ago and it was fab. We did it with a company called SAS who seemed to have the best track record for looking after their porters (they are amazing men who can get treated like shite by some tour operators). Make sure you have cash to tip them at the end.

We'd been at altitude for a good while when we started the trip. One guy had flown in the day before and went off sick after about two hours! But, you really never know how the altitude will affect you, so just make sure you follow the advice give to you by your company. We chewed coca leaves but they just tasted horrid and I'm sure did nothing to help!

We had most of our gear carried for us, we just had basics we needed to get us through the day in our backpacks. We hired extra warm sleeping bags and bought alpaca longjohns at the local market as it gets very cold at night, and we were toasty warm in bed. We also bought cheap walking poles from the market too which were very much needed on the second half of the trek which is pretty much all downhill and plays havoc on your knees!

Fitness-wise I didn't find it as hard as I was expecting. I'm not particulary fit, but it was ok, I've done harder treks. But it is a good idea to get fit before as it's a long way and there are some steep climbs so every little helps.

On our last night on the trail we were given the option of paying to have a shower, or visiting Huinay Huayna. Only a few of us skipped the shower to go to the ruins, which were breathtaking. Showers can wait!

You'll love it. Peru is an amazing country with so much to see, and Macchu Picchu is one of the new Wonders of the World for a reason Smile

threeleftfeet · 29/04/2012 00:00

Yes, me!

Are you doing the 4 day or the 2 day trek?

I'm shockingly unfit- as was my travelling companion, but the guides were great and very patient with us struggling along. I think the 4 day would probably have been too much for us, as you go over a mountain and down again before starting the climb where we joined it for the two day trek. And we managed it.

I don't really remember it being hard work (although it must have been!). What I remember is the beautifully stunning landscape, and Machu Pichu itself. Definitely worth doing the trek rather than catching the train as you get there before the masses arrive (although there will be a fair few walking up too).

As the others said, definitely get to Cusco (I assume that's where you're staying?) a few days before so you can acclimatise. If you fly straight in to that altitude you may well get sick, and altitude sickness is no joke.

We had the coco leaves on the walk and they definitely helped. They were subtle, but took away our tiredness and appetite. Which was exactly what we needed!

Peru is amazing, and Machu Pichu is just stunning. I'd love to go back one day.

threeleftfeet · 29/04/2012 00:01

Are you travelling round Peru or just focusing on Macchu Picchu?

threeleftfeet · 29/04/2012 00:03

We did zero training. Actually I didn't know until this thread that people did train for Macchu Picchu. (Might have put me off if I had known!)

I mean being fit would certainly have helped - I'm not trying to put you off!

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