Vona
06-20-2007, 11:44 AM
Hola Mis Amigos,
A proper photo essay will follow "soon. For those of you who are interested in hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, here are 25 items I learned that may be helpful to you as you plan.
1) There are a zillion liscenced guides that will take you on the tour. I went with Llama Path (http://www.llamapath.com). I strongly recommend this outfit. Their all-inclusive package includes everything so you don't feel nickel and dimed like some of the others do. Also, as these hikes are necessarily assisted, the Llama Path porters are treated much better than the porters of some of the other big names like SAS and GAP. Llama Path porters have proper outfits, proper backpacks, proper shoes. We saw SAS and GAP porters walking in flip flops carrying 60lbs of stuff wrapped up in a tarp that is strapped to their shoulders with rope....
2) Lima is a dump, a hole, an armpit. Fly there and then fly to Cusco as quick as you can
3) Casa Andina, Portal Espinar, Cusco is very conveniently located. However, at about $95/night it is probably not the best value to be had in Cusco.
4) Coca leaves and coca leaf tea didn't do a damned thing for me other than taste like crap.
5) You can get by with minimal Spanish. ?Cuanto para es? ?Donde los banos?
6) Spend a day in Cusco before the trip to acclimate. Cusco is at 11,xxx feet. My first day, I couldn't keep my standard pace. When I went up 4 flights of stairs I had to gasp for air. On your second day of the hike you will be at 13,650feet in Dead Woman's Pass so acclimating can help.
7) It is a real bargain as a tourist place. Dinner in 5 star restaurant, superb meal, is about $17. 4 Course lunch with a drink, $2.65.
8) Peruvian craft work is beautiful and cheap. I got a full sized, ornate, Alpaca wool blanket for $28. I did not bargain. That was the asking price.
9) Read a substantial book on Inca history BEFORE you go. This makes everything much more meaningful.
10) The hike is simply beautiful. If you do the standard 4 day/3 night trip, expect the second day to be long but not brutal.
11) Book early. 8-10 weeks in advance. If you can arrive at Machu Piccu to see the sunrise on the winter solstice (June) than you will have seen an awesome thing.
12) The municipal water is unfit for drinking which is a drag. Bring your MIOX to purify your water to brush your teeth.
13) You need to bring clothes that are good for hot/humid as well as cold/dry if you go in June
14) Walking on stone-paved paths generally sucks. A trekking pole is good. Ankle supporting boots are good.
15) If you want to do serious photography, consider doing the 5 day/4 night option
16) The bar/restaraunt/hostel at Winay Wana has one outlet in the common area, two outlets in the cashier's area, and two in the kitchen. These can be used to charge ipod batteries, etc.
17) Expect to be surrounded by British people on this trip. I now know what "Richard" means in ********************ney and what a "tosser" is.
18) Lan Peru is a good airline from Cusco to Lima
19) Expect to be constantly harassed in Cusco by people offering to shine your shoes, sell you postcards/paintings/dolls/finger puppets/massages, etc. Note, they even offer to shine your shoes when you are wearing sandals and wool socks.
20) You can bring snack food and drink mix with you on the trail or you can just bring $. All day on the first day and half of the second day you can buy drinks and snacks from people who set up little shops along the trail. Then, again, you can buy stuff at the third campsite. I just brought some Crystal Light drink mix things and a couple cliff bars to supplement the meals and I was fine.
21) Aguas Calientes is a characterless tourist dump. Its only redemption is the craft market is fantastic.
22) Two, 1 liter bottles are adequate. The cook will fill you up in the morning and at night with boiled water.
23) There are generally 2 porters for every person in a group. So, imagine a group of 6 trekkers, that means a camp full of 18 people. At least 17 of them will snore.
24) 100% DEET doesn't keep biting things off of you. Biting insects seem to be prevelant the first and fourth days. Unfortunately, those are the days you want to wear shorts the most.
25) Try to find out which campsite you will hike to on the first day. There are three choices: 1A, 1B, and 1C. You want 1B. Stopping at 1A will means your second day will be brutal. Continuing on to 1C means your first day will be brutal.
26) Get some familiarity with southern hemisphere astronomy and enjoy incredible night skies.
A proper photo essay will follow "soon. For those of you who are interested in hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, here are 25 items I learned that may be helpful to you as you plan.
1) There are a zillion liscenced guides that will take you on the tour. I went with Llama Path (http://www.llamapath.com). I strongly recommend this outfit. Their all-inclusive package includes everything so you don't feel nickel and dimed like some of the others do. Also, as these hikes are necessarily assisted, the Llama Path porters are treated much better than the porters of some of the other big names like SAS and GAP. Llama Path porters have proper outfits, proper backpacks, proper shoes. We saw SAS and GAP porters walking in flip flops carrying 60lbs of stuff wrapped up in a tarp that is strapped to their shoulders with rope....
2) Lima is a dump, a hole, an armpit. Fly there and then fly to Cusco as quick as you can
3) Casa Andina, Portal Espinar, Cusco is very conveniently located. However, at about $95/night it is probably not the best value to be had in Cusco.
4) Coca leaves and coca leaf tea didn't do a damned thing for me other than taste like crap.
5) You can get by with minimal Spanish. ?Cuanto para es? ?Donde los banos?
6) Spend a day in Cusco before the trip to acclimate. Cusco is at 11,xxx feet. My first day, I couldn't keep my standard pace. When I went up 4 flights of stairs I had to gasp for air. On your second day of the hike you will be at 13,650feet in Dead Woman's Pass so acclimating can help.
7) It is a real bargain as a tourist place. Dinner in 5 star restaurant, superb meal, is about $17. 4 Course lunch with a drink, $2.65.
8) Peruvian craft work is beautiful and cheap. I got a full sized, ornate, Alpaca wool blanket for $28. I did not bargain. That was the asking price.
9) Read a substantial book on Inca history BEFORE you go. This makes everything much more meaningful.
10) The hike is simply beautiful. If you do the standard 4 day/3 night trip, expect the second day to be long but not brutal.
11) Book early. 8-10 weeks in advance. If you can arrive at Machu Piccu to see the sunrise on the winter solstice (June) than you will have seen an awesome thing.
12) The municipal water is unfit for drinking which is a drag. Bring your MIOX to purify your water to brush your teeth.
13) You need to bring clothes that are good for hot/humid as well as cold/dry if you go in June
14) Walking on stone-paved paths generally sucks. A trekking pole is good. Ankle supporting boots are good.
15) If you want to do serious photography, consider doing the 5 day/4 night option
16) The bar/restaraunt/hostel at Winay Wana has one outlet in the common area, two outlets in the cashier's area, and two in the kitchen. These can be used to charge ipod batteries, etc.
17) Expect to be surrounded by British people on this trip. I now know what "Richard" means in ********************ney and what a "tosser" is.
18) Lan Peru is a good airline from Cusco to Lima
19) Expect to be constantly harassed in Cusco by people offering to shine your shoes, sell you postcards/paintings/dolls/finger puppets/massages, etc. Note, they even offer to shine your shoes when you are wearing sandals and wool socks.
20) You can bring snack food and drink mix with you on the trail or you can just bring $. All day on the first day and half of the second day you can buy drinks and snacks from people who set up little shops along the trail. Then, again, you can buy stuff at the third campsite. I just brought some Crystal Light drink mix things and a couple cliff bars to supplement the meals and I was fine.
21) Aguas Calientes is a characterless tourist dump. Its only redemption is the craft market is fantastic.
22) Two, 1 liter bottles are adequate. The cook will fill you up in the morning and at night with boiled water.
23) There are generally 2 porters for every person in a group. So, imagine a group of 6 trekkers, that means a camp full of 18 people. At least 17 of them will snore.
24) 100% DEET doesn't keep biting things off of you. Biting insects seem to be prevelant the first and fourth days. Unfortunately, those are the days you want to wear shorts the most.
25) Try to find out which campsite you will hike to on the first day. There are three choices: 1A, 1B, and 1C. You want 1B. Stopping at 1A will means your second day will be brutal. Continuing on to 1C means your first day will be brutal.
26) Get some familiarity with southern hemisphere astronomy and enjoy incredible night skies.