Can anyone recommend a good trekking tour for Machu Picchu?
I'm planning on heading to Peru to visit Machu Picchu next year. I heard there are some amazing and beautiful "long way around" treks that take you up and around to Machu Picchu the long way through the Andes as an alternative to going the direct and crowded tourist route. It's a multi-day trek where you have to sleep in tents along the way.
Has anyone taken a trek like this, and if so, how long was it, how much did it cost (approx), and if you know the tour company/website that would also aid in my research and trip planning!
Best Answer
Gap Adventures has tonnes of Machu Picchu trips (80 in the search) that go around and trek through Machu Picchu. They're not overly expensive (21 days is only $2800). Gap always have very experience guides.
Contiki Tours also have a few trips through Machu Picchu. I haven't been on one of their trips so I can't vouch for them. Contiki looks a little more expensive.
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Which trail is best for Machu Picchu?
Classic Inca Trail Along its course, the Inca Trail passes through an area known as the Sacred Valley for its wealth of ancient sites, temple complexes and other ruins. There are multiple versions of this Machu Picchu trek, but the most popular is the Classic Inca Trail.Do you need a guide Machu Picchu?
You only have to book online and in advance the entrance tickets, train and bus to Machu Picchu. The tourist guide service, the food, the hotel and other expenses are paid by the visitor. The trip to Machu Picchu on your own is the most economical way to know the Wonder of the World.How difficult is Machu Picchu hike?
The Classic Inca Trail Route is a moderate 26 mile hike. The hike typically takes 4 days to complete while reaching a maximum elevation of 13,828 feet (4,215 meters). The trek is challenging, but with a good fitness routine prior to the hike most hikers complete the trek.Is hiking Machu Picchu scary?
It's not particujay difficult to visit and certainly not scary. You are not walking along cliffs or ledges. It's like walking around an old city. Up and down some staircases is all.Why You should RECONSIDER The Inca Trail to MACHU PICCHU | Peru
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Answer 2
I trekked part of the Lares for 3 days and 2 nights at the end of February. We crossed 2 passes of around 4000m high during this excursion.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Leave Ollantaytambo at 7am by van and we reach our destination around 10am. You also climb your first pass before the end of the day.
Day 2: Wake up early at 5am and leave camp at 7am for your 2nd pass. By 4pm, we have climbed down the mountains to a much warmer spot.
Day 3: The van picked us up from camp before 10am and we headed to the train station to catch the next train to Aguas Caliente which is the closest town to Machu Picchu.
Prior to reaching Ollantaytambo, I left the majority of my luggage in Cuzco. Since there were mules and horses to carry our stuffs, we were limited to around 5Kg per person. The hike itself was pleasant with a regular backpack.
I will recommend you spend a few days in Cuzco or other higher altitude area in Peru before you start your hike. Some hikers who starts hiking within 1 or 2 days of landing in Lima tend to have altitude sickness on the hike which is not pleasant at all. I already got my altitude sickness a couple of days before the hike in Puno and I was ready to hike by the time I reached Cuzco.
Answer 3
I'd be worried about a tour operator that only charged $200 for the Inca Trail. Some of the cheap operators underpay their porters. Since their the ones doing all of the hard work, it's worth putting in some effort to find an operator that treats the porters well. We went with SAS Travel in December of 2010. It was significantly off season so it rained quite a bit but the bonus was that there weren't many people on the trail. Our group of about 15 hikers (plus another dozen+ porters and guides) and one other group about the same size were really all we saw the whole time. Our guide was pretty good. It turns out he was an archaeology grad student so he had some good info about the Incans.
Answer 4
There are many alternatives to get Machu Picchu. Starting with Classic Inca Trail 4 days, Short Inca Trail 2 days these two routes has several archaeological sites on the route and beautiful landscape. On the other hand the alternative routes they don't have archaeological sites on the route however have beautiful views across the valley, snowy mountains. The alternatives routes are: - Salkantay Trek 5 days - Lares Trek 4 days - Choquequirao Trek 8 days
Good Luck!
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