 Inca Trail - Is it the best hike to Machu Picchu? |
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| Looking for comments and tips on Peru hikes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dan NZ Dan Mumford Post Count: 12 Msg: #1 10 weeks ago, October 13th 2009 | Hi | I\'m looking at doing the 4 day Inca Trail hike that end at Machu Picchu in late Jan 2009. Has any been that can let me know if it was worth it? It costs around $700 USD for 4 days (from my travel agent). If I go, I\'ll need to book soon as the numbers are limited and apparently they sell out months in advance. Are there other equally as worthwhile hikes in or around Machu Picchu? Any commentsor recommendations are helpful. Cheers  Jo Trouble Jo McCarthy Post Count: 3138 Msg: #2 10 weeks ago, October 13th 2009 | Hi Dan, | After a fair bit of homework I did the Inca Trail with Peru Treks and Adventure - was more than happy with them right from initial inquiry to the end of the trip. It was very much worth what it cost. The photos are in one of my early entries if you're interested. I didn't do any other treks around MP, so can't offer advise on alternatives sorry. Jo Trouble Jo McCarthy Post Count: 3138 Msg: #3 10 weeks ago, October 13th 2009 | Btw, I just checked Peru Treks' site - their current price is $US450. | What is included in the one you were quoted? Dave0881 Dave Morgan Post Count: 12 Msg: #4 9 weeks ago, October 14th 2009 | Hi there, | I did the Inca trail around 6 years ago and if I remember rightly it was $150 and available everywhere in Cusco. I also did a trek called the Salkantay a couple of months back. This trek also leads to Machu Picchu, it costs around $250 and it takes 5 days, not 4. Itīs slightly harder and goes to a higher altitude so you have to be in reasonable shape but I would say itīs probably more spectacular and rewarding than the Inca trail itself. There are advantages to both. If you do the Inca trail youīll get the photo looking down on Machu Picchu at sun rise as you come round the side of the mountain however when I did it, it was cloudy and not a great shot. The down side to this is there are only 800 tickets for people to climb Wanapicchu (sp?) the mountain overlooking the site. It only takes about an hour but is tough and rewarding. If you do the trail itself I donīt think it will be possible for you to climb this as before sun rise there are loads of people queing to get in and you wonīt be near the front. If you do another Trek you will have the option (if you decide to get up early) but you will also end up in a toursit town at the end of your trek, not Pachu Picchu itself, I donīt think itīs an anti-climax but itīs not the perfect end to the walk I guess. Only about the 1st 2 bus loads of people will get tickets and you have to be up VERY early to get them. I would say the pros and cons of the difference between the end of the treks offset against each other. Iīd make my decision based on the walk itself (which for me, was the best part). Of course if you do the Inca trail you can tick the box but in terms of value I would suggest that alternative treks are the way forward. I was VERY impressed with the Salkantay trek. For less than half the price we did a longer trek, had 6 horses for our stuff and 1 in case someone couldnīt make the pass, and got there early enough to get the most out of the site itslef (i.e. climb wanapicchu). Of course we had the cooks n guide etc too. There is a "jungle trek" thatīs popular, where I believe you start with a long downhill bikride. It sounds pretty cool but itīs the easiest of the 3. For me I think the least appealing but Iīm sure people who chose it will tell you differently. Itīs also the cheapest! So if you want more of a challenge and I would say a more spectacular trek, go with the Salkantay. If you want to say that you "bought the t-shirt" and have the shot at sunrise, go with the genuine trek. I havenīt mentioned the amount of walkers on the trek itself, because it may well have changed since I did it 6 years ago, but parts of the walk were congested, which is certainly not the case for the Salkantay. I think now part of the reason the price is so much higher is because they are regulating the amount of people on the walk so it may be less congested, or it may be more, I honestly donīt know. Donīt take this too seriously, there are also quiet parts and I was actually surprised it wasnīt more busy but in the Salkantay, really thereīs just you, your group and the scenery. You might see a few others but theyīre few and far between. I think thatīs about all the help I can give :) Enjoy which ever you choose!! Dan NZ Dan Mumford Post Count: 12 Msg: #5 9 weeks ago, October 19th 2009 | Thanks Jo and Dave | Jo - Peru Treks look pretty good and it's good to have a fellow traveller recommend this. Dave - Thanks for all the detail. I'll have a think and do a bit more reading before I choose. Cheers! Jo Trouble Jo McCarthy Post Count: 3138 Msg: #6 9 weeks ago, October 19th 2009 | When I was there in 2006 the Huayna Picchu climb was restricted to 400 people. Definitely worth doing though if you get a chance. They will also stamp your passport at the Huayna Picchu gate, so along with the one you pick up for entering the Inca Trail proper - a nice souvenir :-) |  Wanderly Wagon Wanderly Wagon Post Count: 70 Msg: #7 9 weeks ago, October 19th 2009 | I went with Llama Path. They seem to treat their porters the best and pay them properly. Peru Treks were the only other company that seemed to do this as well. I know the alternative treks can be more challenging and I haven't done one but the feeling you get as you arrive at the sun gate overlooking Machu Picchu is amazing. If the sun happens to shine that morning its even better. It did for us. The whole sun rise over Machu Picchu is a bit of a myth as it is normally covered in low lying clouds at that time. I'm 7 months traveling and The Inca Trail is still my highlight. Its not that physically hard but still very rewarding! | Number of Users: 4 | Number of Posts: 7 | |||||||||||||||
