Originally Posted by
GazFish35
It was amazing. Best thing I've done.
You can't do the trail without being on an organised tour.
They limit the numbers on the trail to try and protect it so it's not something you can leave to that's minute usually.
We went with GAP and they were great, 12 travellers from all over the world, 4 Aussies, 2 Irish, 2 Japanese, a German, a yank and two Canadians..... We saw Gecko groups that were packed with Aussies, we shared a long boat in the amazon with one gecko group, and while I was talking football, beer and daily life with the German and the Japanese bloke in our group, the all Aussie Gecko group were arguing about state of origin....**** me drunk.
Go with GAP.
We did the trail as part of a three week tour, and GAP work by meeting you at the hotel in Lima, and a local guide takes you around the country handing you over to experts in the areas you visit.... And they don't over schedule you, you can ditch the group and do your own thing, so long as you are at breakfast the next morning..... They chuck you in taxi's ride local buses, donkeys etc, not in an air conditioned tourist bus, so you get to feel like your not actually on a tour.
Back on the trail.....
Usually you meet up with your trail guide in Cuzco... Amazing city.... If the football season is on get to to a game, we missed it as we were there between the open and close seasons... Cuzco is the Incan capital, but has a lot of Spanish influence, absolutely beautiful city.
From Cuzco You spend a night in Olantytambo (spelling horrendous) and then get amino-bus to the the start of the trail where you meet your porters who carry all your gear except for your day pack.... Water and chocolate bars mainly...... You walk for about 4 hours then stop for lunch, then walk for another few hours before making camp...... The porters have already passed you on the trail and they set your tent up, cook dinner etc.
Day 1... Pretty easy going, scenery is breathtaking
Day2..... Harder work. You go over "dead woman's pass" highest point on trek. altitude is breath taking, and scenery gobsmacking
Day 3..... Adrenaline gets pumping, views are amazing, trail is mesmerising, last few Klm hurt as there's actually a lot of down hill steps. There's a bar and hot shower at camp that night!
Day 4..... Get up before the sun to get to the sungate and watch the lost city appear out of the clouds..... Breathtaking.
Fitness levels are hard to predict, I managed, and didn't really do any prep, I was 27 and in off season, the altitude particularly going up dead woman's pass slows you down.... We had one bloke turn crook, but he was a heavy smoker, and we had one 65 yr old lady beat us all into camp every night....and she was a heavy smoker too.... Altitude gets people in different measures.... I'd not want to be carry too much extra kegs round the middle though, anything you can trim off before you go has got to help. If your "average fitness" you can do it.
Safety.... We never felt unsafe in Peru, but took the usual precautions 1. Made sure people knew we weren't American, 2. Didn't flash cash, 3. Listened to local guides and avoided 'the wrong side of the tracks'
We loved our Peru trip, we still make Ceviche when we get fresh fish.
We went in jan2008
Somebody else on here picked my brain about the trail a few years ago, I think it was pv4
