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.

(to be continued)

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.

(to be continued)