Blogs from Machu Picchu, Cusco, Peru, South America - page 83

I did the Classic Inca Trail, 4 days 3 nights with a Peruvian company called Q´ente. The trek starts at Kilometre 82 we then walk the 36Km to Macchu Picchu (the full Inca Trail actually starts in Cusco). Day 1 Early start and I get to meet the other people in the group, Katharine and Laura both Brits. So in total we 3 Trekkers, 1 Guide (Himay), 1 Chef and 8 Porters!! Yes we do feel like we’re lording it a little with all those Porters. The bus drops us at Piskacucho, Km82 and we start the trek in picturesque green Andean valleys. We arrived at a camp site for lunch to find bowls & towels to spruce up with and a three course meal ready in the dining tent. Fantastic. The afternoon walking was a ... read more

Day 1 We were picked up and loaded on a bus where we met the rest of the group trekking with us. All seemed very nice. There were the Canadians, 4 Germans, 2 Dutch, 5 Puerto-ricans and a guy from Uragauy ( who got very excited when he found out we were Australian because of the world cup play off and we have to play them next month) We stopped in a town to get some supplies ie water, walking poles, before we started our walk. then we began we first had to pass a check-point. This is because they have a set number (500) of people allowed on the trail at any time. You usually need to register in advance and give your passport details. We had done this a couple of months ago. However ... read more

When Ella announced she was staying in Cusco to learn Spanish, Salsa and Peruvian cookery instead of doing the Inca Trail I spent the next 2 days dithering (not like me I know!) about whether I really wanted to camp for 3 nights probably in the rain, with very limited facilities. But everyone said I couldn´t come to Peru and not do it, so suddenly I found myself equipped with walking pole, poncho and coco leaves (for the altitude sickness), waving goodbye to our tour guide. No going back now!! We spent the night before the trek at Ollataytambo, eating, drinking (to steady my nerves of course), dancing and learning to play the panpipes. Then at 8am the next morning we set off with Fredy, our guide and his two side kicks Alex and Jose. The ... read more

Well we did it and managed what is arguably one of the hardest treks we have yet undertaken. It was a very long hard 8 days and 7 nights, even with the help of 7 mules, 2 mule drivers, a cook, a guide just to support 4 people. We ended up with the organizer a great lady from US and then SJ and me. Day 1 and 2 - Were ONLY!!! 7 hour walking days to get to the first set of ruins named Choquequirao. This is supposed to be one of the final stands for the Incas as their empire was being pulled apart. After getting to Machu Picchu we found this far more interesting as it was not completely restored. You are walking though primary cloud forest and stumble across doors and walls covered ... read more

alright, I did the one thing that everyone does - machu picchu yesterday. i must admit, it was a nice place, unbelievable views. though i think tikal in Guatemala is more grand. well maybe, ah who knows. ok here is how it went. machu picchu is expensive, no and or buts about it. the train from cusco is $69, so we took a bus from cusco to orubamba (sp) for $2 and then took the train from there to agua calientes, the starting point for machu picchu. you cant get to auga calientes by bus. ok, there were seven of us - me, 3 ausies (Australians for you gringos), a Brit, Italian and one Irish guy. i will use names later on - if i remember. anyway the train got into agua calientes a little after ... read more