Buy my Inca Trail walking boots in advance and carry them round South America with me, or buy them once I'm there?
Hi. I will soon be backpacking in South America for 3 and a half months. At some point in the middle I will hopefully do a trek in Peru. Do you recommend I pack my boots back home and drag them round with me in my bag, or should I wait 'til I get to Peru and buy them there?
Also, I haven't booked an Inca trail yet, cos Ideally I don't wanna be tied down to a date. Do you reccomend I book an Inca trail, or wait til I'm there (even if that means doing an alternative trek)?
Reply to this Hello Yaakovdov. I did not have time to do the Inca trail, so can't speak to whether it would be best to book ahead or wait. I did want to offer my own thoughts on the boots. My thought would be to purchase them and break them in at home. This way if they cause blisters or hurt your feet you won't be up in the mountains with nothing to do but continue wearing them.
Again, this is only my thought, so it is not the right or wrong way to do it.
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Another vote for buying boots back home and taking them with you.
When I did the Inca Trail I booked months ahead, and glad I did. Once Trail permits are sold they can't be reallocated to another hiker if someone cancels. If you're thinking of a trek a month and a half to two months after you arrive, it's a risk that you'll miss out on the Trail, but you'd probably get on an alternative ok. For me it was worth doing the organising that far in advance.
What time of year will you be there?
Reply to this Hi there, Vote number 3 for bringing your own boots. You really don't have to carry them everywhere since you can wear them most of the time if you want. Also, you could put the trail at the beginning of the trip and then mail them home or leave them at a place where you may trust and them pick them back up. I live in Cuzco and as to the trail. You MUST book in advance if you want to do the Inca trail. I actually doubt there are any permits for the upcoming month or so but you can look into it. Good news is that there are two other cool treks and they can lead you to Macchu Picchu as well. Salkantay and Choquiquerao.
Where will you stay in Cuzco? We have an airbnb you can check out and you can leave your boots with us for a time if you plan on passing back through.
Nicole
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[Edited: 2014 Mar 20 22:58 - Jo Trouble:16935 - Advertising url removed.]
Reply to this I have done a lot of research on the trail and it would be advisable to bring your own boots as there is not much of a market for hiking boots/shoes in Peru.
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