Hiking The Inca Trail, 4 WHICH COMPANY TO CHOOSE

I went with Wayki Trek and really liked them. 

The only note I have was about day two. We got breakfast at 6am, walked uphill all day and didn’t get anything to eat before 3pm when we reached base camp.

Their explanation was that we’d get sick by eating in the altitude since we were walking up all day. But personally, I’d rather feel nauseate than hungry and disoriented when walking up a mountain in 30 degrees.  All the other groups got dinner halfway up.

This is the only less positive thing I have to say about Wayki, though. Apart from that, they were wonderful and they even put up a private toilet for us at the base camp. Overall, they were all very nice, considerate and hardworking people. I will highly recommend them, but make sure to ask them about meals on day two – or at least bring your own food or snacks.

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Hiking The Inca Trail 3 – What Did It Cost?

I went with Wayki Trek and really liked them.

They were professional, and our guide Jose was very attentive and fun.
Plus, the food was the best we had in Peru and Bolivia together.
I was quite surprised the chef was able to make such great meals. He certainly knew was he was doing!

Wayki trek

$565 - 4 days trek with everything included + train back to Cusco

Pers. porter - $65 For 8 kg. (Sleeping matress and bag takes up 3kg)

Tips - $55 In total. Porters, cook and guide are tipped seperately

Walk. sticks - $15 Rent two walking sticks. One is not enough

In total, I paid $700 for my 4 day Inca trail trek.

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Inca Trail 2. Prepare Yourself – It’s Genuinely Difficult

I’m no athlete, but I consider myself in decent shape… and seriously I’ve never been so psychically challenged in my life. It’s not only challenging to walk uphill, but the thin air makes it harder to breathe. I had to stop every five steps to catch my breath and eventually just accept the fact that I felt like an 80-year-old with asthma.

Here are some basic hiking tips I picked up along the way:

Walk in zig zag when going up the steps. Head for the small stones!

Take small steps. Deep breaths.

In rain, take it easy down the steps. They’re steep, and you can hurt yourself badly.

Stay positive.

Drink coca tea or chew coca leaves. They help you adjust to the altitude.

Rent hiking poles. End of discussion.

Bring snacks for heaven’s sake.

The porters expect to get tipped 75 soles in addition to the price you already paid.

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Tips for hiking the Inca Trail, Peru

Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu has always been on my to-do list. Not because I’m a huge fan of hiking or pressuring myself psychically, but because I wanted to walk in the footsteps of the Incas, enjoy the view – and obviously: to see if I could.

We hiked the Inca Trail with Wayki Trek. While the high season is from June to August, you can also hike in the low season, except from February where they restore the trails. Just be prepared that the weather might not cooperate. We booked three months in advance, but the recommendation is six months in the high season.

1. How To Prevent Altitude Sickness

While a lucky few wont feel a thing, most people experience the altitude one way or the other. Maybe you find it hard to breathe, your heart is beating harder, or you get sick with headaches and nausea. Personally, I felt like I was hangover and car sick at the same time. 

You should allow yourself to acclimatize in Cusco for at least 2 days before hiking the Inca Trail. Sleep a lot, drink coca tea and bring some medicine. I brought Diamox and it took the edge off.

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Peru 11 Paracas, Huaraz

13 See penguins in Paracas – Paracas is in the south of Peru, and is sometimes called the “Poor Man’s Galapagos” for its impressive wildlife: thousands of birds, as well as large sea lion and penguin populations live along the water. You can visit the Paracas National Reserve via an organized boat tour.

14 Walk through the White City – Arequipa is a beautiful city with a historical centre that was constructed primarily from volcanic ash from the nearby volcanoes. Come to visit the gorgeous Santa Catalina Monastery, see a frozen Inca mummy, or just to take in the city’s architecture over a glass of wine in the main square.

15 Hike in Huaraz – Not to be confused with Juarez in Mexico, Peru’s Huaraz is a great (and perfectly safe) destination for adventure-seekers. The mountains here are stunning, and there are fantastic multi-day trek options for those looking for some outdoor activity.

Peru 10 Iquitos, Huacachina

Sand Board in Huacachina – This little town is a desert oasis and a welcome relief after hiking through Machu Picchu. It’s very affordable for travelers looking to relax and are running out of funds. Hostels offer great deals for sandboarding and sandbuggies around the dunes that surround this idyllic town. In the center, there is a lagoon surrounded by palm trees and full of paddlers. 

Get Your Amazon Fix in Iquitos – Accessible only by boat or plane, jungle-locked Iquitos is the largest city within the Peruvian rainforest. The city sits at the mouth of the Amazon and so is the perfect destination for fans of eco-tourism. The nearby Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is Peru’s largest Reverse and at two million hectares, it is home to a huge range of nearly 1000 birds, mammals, fish and reptiles. 

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Peru 9 Titicaca, Cuzco

Relax at Lake Titicaca 

– Titicaca is one of the most famous bodies of water in the world.  The lake covers over 3,000 square miles and sits at 12,500 feet above sea level and as such is considered the world’s largest high altitude lake. The towns surrounding the lake are tourist friendly and a mix of colonial architecture and bustling markets, while the islands dotted around the lake are largely off the radar for most travelers.

Discover Cuzco 

– This colonial city is a major tourist destination and sits on Inca-built stone foundations not far from Peru’s major attraction of Machu Picchu. The area is popular with trail walkers, history lovers, and party-goers who come to enjoy the city’s many colorful festivals. Cuzco is the undisputed archaeological capital of the Americas and an essential part of your trip to Peru.

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Peru 8 Nasca Lines, Batán Grande

7 Fly Over the Nasca Lines – The Nasca Lines are a series of ancient geoglyphs that dominate the San José desert and in particular, the Nasca Valley. There are over 10,000 lines and 300 different plant and animal figures depicted. No one really knows how they got there (maybe aliens?). Without a doubt the best way to view the lines is by a helicopter or plane tour which costs around 415 PEN.

8 Step back through time at Batán Grande – Batán Grande is an archaeological site comprised of 50 pyramids and tombs, which are thought to date back to between 100-1000 AD. This site was once the Sicán capital and has had its fair share of impressive pre-Columbian artifacts recovered over the years – for example, a gold Tumi weighing almost seven pounds which was recovered from one of the royal tombs.

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Peru 7 Colca Canyon, Máncora Beach

5 Hike the Colca Canyon – Colca Canyon is the deepest canyon in the world and is thought to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon at certain parts. This is a great place to spot Andean condors and unlike the Grand Canyon, Colca is habitable. A trip here isn’t complete unless you visit one of the small agricultural villages for a taste of daily life.

6 Surf at Máncora Beach – Seafood, watersports, horse riding and relaxation are the order of the day at this popular beach resort. Máncora is one of the finest beaches in South America and its year-round sunshine and huge waves also makes it Peru’s surfing Mecca. Prices here can be expensive December to March so it’s best to book in advance.

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Peru 6 Inca Trail, Titicaca

3 Hike the Inca Trail – Getting to Machu Picchu is best via the famed Inca Trail. This multi-day hike allows you to see the mountains, jungles, and follow the route of the Incas. Book in advance, as it fills up months ahead of time during peak season.

4 Visit the Islas Flotantes de los Uros – The Floating Islands of the Uros may sound like an Indiana Jones title but it is actually the name of the group of handmade islands in Lake Titicaca. The Islands are home to the indigenous Uros people who have built their own houses, islands and boats from the tortora reeds which grow along the banks of the lake. This is an extremely touristy site, and is a bit exploited as such, so it’s not for everyone.

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Peru 5 Lima, Machu Picchu

1 Check out Lima – Chances are your trip will begin and end in Peru’s capital city, Lima, and this is no bad thing as the city is a must-see. The Plaza Mayor is popular and you’ll want to bring a camera to catch its colonial beauty. At night, head to the Barranco district for the hottest parties in peñas– Afro-Peruvian clubs which bounce to the beat of cajón drums.

2 Explore Machu Picchu – This legendary “lost city of the Incas” is one of the most-visited tourist attractions in all of South America and one of the best historical sites in the world. The ruins are high up in the Andes and are regularly obscured by cloud cover, which adds to the mystery of the place! Aqueducts, granite and limestone temples and other forms of Inca architecture are all beautifully preserved at this essential tourist attraction. You can get here by the Inca Trail (see below) or by taking the train.

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Peru Travel Tips 4 Almuerzo & collectivos

Eat "Almuerzo"- the meal of the day – These are set meals and are a bit like the ‘meal of the day’, which you can get for 9 PEN.

Travel off-season – For a low-cost trip, the best times to visit Peru are the fringe months of April and May or September and October.

Take the collectivos – These are cheap buses. They cost around 1-2 PEN for a ride. They are a bit confusing, but there is always a door person (usually a young man) whom you can quickly ask if the bus is going to your location. There are not always marked bus stops, so look for gathering crowds

Book last minute – If you are looking to do the Inca Trail and have a bit of extra time to wait for a deal, showing up in Cusco or booking a last minute tour can save you lots of money. Booking months in advance gets you the premium price but wait and you’ll find your patience rewarded. This normally works for Inca Trail tours on the Salktantay, Inca Jungle or Lares tours, the classic Inca Trail is normally fully-booked months in advance. I wouldn’t recommend trying to get on that one last-minute if you have your heart set on doing it.

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Peru 3: Money Saving Tips

Activities – Trip to archaeological sites are likely to be your biggest expense with a day trip to Machu Picchu costing around 190 PEN. The Nasca Lines helicopter tour is relatively expensive at 415 PEN for 35 minutes in the air. You can catch a plane ride from USD 40.
Multi-day trips up the Inca Trail cost hundreds of dollars. However, entrances to museums outside of the major sites are under 38 PEN.

Hospedajes – These are family run hotels and are the cheapest accommodation you can find. They will be a great deal.

Public transportation – Lima’s new intra-city buses is definitely a great alternative to taxis, especially if you’re staying in the beautiful tourist suburb of Miraflores. It’s easy to access and will get to downtown museums quickly.

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