Dan Bergloff-Howes
commented over 5 years ago
I've done this and it is a experience of a lifetime.Below is a few helpful tips.
1. Try to get fit before you go...Its harder than you you think and a walking up huge steps at high altitude. Get Diamox and take BEFORE you get to cusco and stop BEFORE you start your walk. Try the coca leaves, try and sneak some back for me...kidding maybe
2. Rent 2 walking poles. I am a outdoors guy, I would have been buggered without them mainly for going up and down steps as hard on your knees-You have been warned
3.Take OSM Bars-there are times you will need these along the trail.
4 Take a roll off toilet tissue, sanitizing hand wipes you can thank me later
5 Take merino everything-T shirts,socks etc
6 Take a power bank and spare SD Card- Upload photos to cloud when you can.
7 Take money on the trail, The porters and chef ask for a tip, and you can buy water etc along the way
8 Don't overpack, I took a carryon pack with 7kg for 40 days in south america easy peasy.
9 learn basic spanish, manners goes a long way
Emma from GrabOne Escapes
commented over 5 years ago
Thanks so much for taking the time to post this feedback Dan!
I'm sure it'll be very helpful for anyone else looking to take this trip of a lifetime :)
mary yap
commented over 5 years ago
HI. Do I fly to Lima and take a domestic flight to Cusco to be picked up by tour guide but at the end of tour, i will be dropped off at Lima airport? Any other extra expanses beside tipping porter and chef? Thanks Dan for great infos.
Emma from GrabOne Escapes
commented over 5 years ago
Hey Mary! It's so good to see you are looking at this offer from our friends at Inkayni Peru Tours.
They'll be online as soon as they can to provide some more details for you :)
Alex from Inkayni Peru Tours
commented over 5 years ago
Greetings from Cusco,
Thanks for your message,
About your questions:
1.- Our tour starts and finish in Cusco airport, we do not includes anything in Lima.
2.- There no extras.
Please feel free to ask any questions,
Sincerely,
Alex Huaman.
mary yap
commented over 5 years ago
Thanks Alex. I am really keen and trying to get 9-10 people to join. How much to tip porter and chef? What is the best time to go to avoid raining season and extra hot? Do you think a 70 years old man (no health problem so far) can join the trek and able to complete the trek? Thanks for your patient.
Dan Bergloff-Howes
commented over 5 years ago
Hi Mary,
We had a elderly couple in our group who were fine. However as I mentioned it's the big steep steps up and down that's the challenge. I would get your friend to walk up and down a stairwell in a tall building, say at least 10 floors with no time limit just to see. It's yours knees that is affected the most. You can hire a personal porter that might be useful. I think is cheaper to sort the porter before the start. Alex may correct me on that. Lima is a cool place, visit the Huaca Pucllana it's amazing. See if you can ask the hotel to organise a van and driver for the day to take you around the sites including pick up and drop off to the airport. we had a driver and car for the day and it was cheap and very convenient. cheers
Emma from GrabOne Escapes
commented over 5 years ago
Thanks for that Dan! :)
Alex will also be back soon Mary to help you further :)
mary yap
commented over 5 years ago
Thanks so much Dan. Yes, for now it's definetely on for us. We are looking at June/July.
Emma from GrabOne Escapes
commented over 5 years ago
Hey Mary; it's great to see you are now looking to grab this offer.
The Inkayni Peru Tour Team will be back soon to help you further :)
Alex from Inkayni Peru Tours
commented over 5 years ago
I apologize for the delay,
Abut your questions:
The tip for porter and chefs are optional, not mandatory, it is dependsa of you.
Good tip is between US$25 for each porter, and double for chef.
2.-The best time is in the dry season (May to September), the rest of the year is raining season.
3.-He need to send us their doctor authorization and also sign proof of disclaimer. also we recomend that he must to do training before the tour.
Please feel free to ask any questions,
Sincerely,
Alex Huaman.
nick taylor
commented over 5 years ago
This is twin share, there is 3 of us so how does that work?
Alex from Inkayni Peru Tours
commented over 5 years ago
Dear Nick,
Greetings for your message and many thanks for your message,
About your questions:
The price is based in double occupation, for 3 people we can give you an triple room, but if the third person wants private room, he or she must to pay the single supplement.
Please feel free to ask any questions,
Sincerely,
Alex.
mary yap
commented over 5 years ago
Hi. I done lots of hiking and stayed at huts before, sorry to ask, what's the toilet like? Thanks.
Emma from GrabOne Escapes
commented over 5 years ago
All good Mary! Alex will be back soon to help you :)
Alex from Inkayni Peru Tours
commented over 5 years ago
Dear Mary,
Thanks for your message,
About your question:
Are there toilets on the Inca Trail?
Toilets have been built along the Inca trail including all of the major campsites. This has helped a lot to improve sanitary conditions on the trail although conditions are still not always perfect. Each toilet block has cold running water. We recommend that you bring hand-sanitizer to use after visiting the public toilets. Every evening we will provide you with a bowl of warm water to wash with. There is a S/.1 charge to use the toilets in the Wayllabamba district (1 day of trek) as these toilets have been built on land owned by the community. However these toilets are usually much better maintained than the government ones.
Sincerely,
Alex Huaman.
Dan Bergloff-Howes
commented over 5 years ago
Hi Marry,
I can confirm the running water, however I have to disagree with alex with the conditions of the toilets. The toilets are used by many people and very unsanitary. Don't let it put you off going its a amazing experience , however please be aware and prepared. Toilet paper doesn't go down the "hole" it was put to one side or a bin that gets overfilled. It's a extremely unpleasant experience for us to use the toilets on the 2nd and third nights however its only four days and the first toilet was good as alex mentioned..taking hand-sanitizer and a roll of paper is compulsory, and not just for the trail.hand wipes are good however if you care about the environment that's a consideration as they have to be disposed of. One more thing the early bird gets the clean toilet.
1. Try to get fit before you go...Its harder than you you think and a walking up huge steps at high altitude. Get Diamox and take BEFORE you get to cusco and stop BEFORE you start your walk. Try the coca leaves, try and sneak some back for me...kidding maybe
2. Rent 2 walking poles. I am a outdoors guy, I would have been buggered without them mainly for going up and down steps as hard on your knees-You have been warned
3.Take OSM Bars-there are times you will need these along the trail.
4 Take a roll off toilet tissue, sanitizing hand wipes you can thank me later
5 Take merino everything-T shirts,socks etc
6 Take a power bank and spare SD Card- Upload photos to cloud when you can.
7 Take money on the trail, The porters and chef ask for a tip, and you can buy water etc along the way
8 Don't overpack, I took a carryon pack with 7kg for 40 days in south america easy peasy.
9 learn basic spanish, manners goes a long way