Way To Go Travel Dream Trips - Machu Picchu

10/08/2023

This might come in handy - bear in mind this info hasn't come from our supplier, so isn't compulsory, but it will give us ideas of things we might need to pack.

Duffel bags will be provided for our 5kilos for the porters to carry. And this list suggests we bring a rucksack that's 30litres for our day pack. There's no way I'm carrying that much with me on the trek. I'm going with the smallest rucksack I can find - mine has a 2litre water bladder in it, so I don't need to carry water bottles.

The most important things we need to think about are keeping warm, dry and comfortable. And the less we can get away with carrying, the better!

05/08/2023

THINGS TO CONSIDER PACKING FOR OUR PORTERS TO CARRY -
(Limit of 5 kilos)

We will be provided with bags for the things we wish the porters to carry - our suitcases etc will stay at the hotel we start the tour from.

Here's a video showing items you may wish to include in your porter's bag.

Are you ready to experience the magic of the Inca Trail? Whether you're a first-time backpacker or an experienced hiker, this video will show you how to pack...

05/08/2023

WHAT TO PACK FOR YOUR DAY BACKPACK

As recommended by Amy, here's a video of things you may wish to pack for your day rucksack. This is what you will carry each day.

Our porters will be carrying a further 5 kilos of luggage for us and these bags will be provided for us to pack before we set out on the trail. There is another video of what to pack for the porters to carry, I'll drop that link in another post.

If you're thinking of going on the Inca Trail hike, then you'll want to pack the right gear. In this video, we'll show you how to pack a day pack for the hik...

01/08/2023

Well folks, it's 1st August. We can officially say we're going to Peru next month! Eek!

21/07/2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYa9A3sHU7U

The Inca Trail is an amazing journey that takes you through some of the most beautiful and stunning parts of Peru. If you're planning a trip to Machu Picchu,...

21/07/2023

https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/inca-trail-hike/

HIKING THE INCA TRAIL in 2023! The best tours, an itinerary, length... difficulty... it's an all-in-one super guide!

10/07/2023

For those wondering about what money to take and how much, here's the information from the Intrepid essential notes, I'll drop the link below too.

Money matters:

When it comes to money matters on the trip, every traveller is a little different. You know your spending habits better than we do, so please budget a sensible amount for things like drinks, shopping, optional activities, tipping and laundry. It’s always better to bring a little more than you think you’ll need. Also make sure you’ve read your trip details thoroughly so you know what’s included in the trip price and what isn’t. This should make budgeting a little easier. You’ll find this info in the Inclusions section of your Essential Trip Information (that’s this document).

The recommended amounts are listed in USD for the relatability of universal travellers, however the local currency is needed in the countries you are visiting.

CONTINGENCY FUNDS:
We try to plan for every eventuality, but there are still some things beyond our control. Please make sure you have access to the equivalent of an extra US$500 for emergencies (e.g. severe weather, natural disasters, civil unrest) or other events that result in unavoidable changes to the itinerary (e.g. transport strikes or cancellations, airport closures). Sometimes these things necessitate last minute changes to enable our trips to continue to run, and as a result there may be some extra costs involved.

MEALS NOT INCLUDED:
For this trip we recommend between USD 25 to 50 per day. How do we work this out?

Breakfast - If breakfast is not included, you can expect to pay between USD5 to USD10 at a local café.

Lunch - If you are happy with a quick snack on the go, you may get away with as little as USD5 to USD10 for a set menu at a local eatery or a sandwich and a drink at a café. On the other hand, a lunch meal at a more tourist restaurant can cost between USD10 to USD15.

Dinner - At dinner time, your leader will normally recommend restaurants where you can safely try the local specialties of the region. Expect meals to cost between USD12 to USD25 for a main.

These are indicative prices only. If you are in a tight budget, are happy to eat just local food and are not afraid of an upset tummy every now and then, you can eat cheaper than this. If you want to try just the finest food at the finest restaurants, then you can expect meals to cost as much as in western countries.

CREDIT CARDS & ATMs:
ATMs are widely available in major towns and cities across Latin America. Credit cards are generally available in tourist shops and restaurants. Visa and Mastercard are generally preferred over American Express, Diners, etc. Smaller venues take cash only.

Check with your bank before departure that your card is accepted in the countries you are travelling to and what their fees and charges are. Also ensure your bank is aware of your travel plans as - suspecting fraud - they may cancel your cards after the first few international transactions. Be aware that your withdrawing limit may vary from country to country (regardless of your withdrawing limit in your home country) and it can be as low as the equivalent to USD100 per day. If bringing over cash, please note USD100 bills with serial number CB or BE and any other USD bills that are old, torn, written or stamped on will not be accepted by local banks or currency exchange.

TIPPING:
Gratuities aren’t compulsory on your trip, but they can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry. We suggest carrying small notes of local currency around as you go. It’ll make tipping easier. The recommended tipping amounts are listed in USD for the relatability of universal travellers.

Usually around USD5 – USD10 a day to cover tips is fine, but your leader might raise the idea of a group tip kitty. Each traveller contributes an equal amount to the pool, and your leader can pay the tips as you go.

SOUTH AMERICA - General Tipping Guide:
To give you a bit of guidance, we’ve put together the following tipping notes. These are just suggestions, based on feedback from past travellers and our staff on the ground.

- Restaurants: Local markets and basic restaurants - round your bill up to the nearest USD1. More up-market restaurants we suggest 10% to 15% of your bill.

- Local guides: There might be times during the trip where you’ll have a specialist local guide alongside your trip leader. We suggest tipping these guides about USD2 – USD3 per day.

- Drivers: You may have a range of drivers on your trip. Some may be with you for a short journey while others may be with you for several days. We suggest USD1-USD2 per day for drivers.

- Your Tour Leader: You may also consider tipping your tour leader for outstanding service throughout your trip. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline USD2-USD4 per person, per day can be used. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

PERU TREKKING - General Tipping Guide:
We recommend you carry the below suggested amounts with you during the trek and that you carry small bills as this makes splitting the tip an easier process. The last day of the trek the tipping will be broken down into envelopes – one per porter, assistant guides and guide.

Inca Trail: we suggest a total tipping amount of PEN120 to PEN180 per person (approximately USD 37 to USD 55). This is generally the tipping breakdown:
Porters, cook and assistants PEN 80 to PEN 120
Assistant guide: PEN 12 to PEN 20
Guide: PEN 27 to PEN 40

Quarry Trail: the suggested total tipping amount per person is PEN 120 to PEN 135 (approximately USD 37 to USD 42). This is generally the tipping breakdown:
Porters, cook and assistants PEN 90
Assistant guide: PEN 9 to PEN 15
Guide: PEN 20 to PEN 30

This trip visits places that are at high altitude, and as a result some people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Medical and Health Information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more detail.

02/07/2023

Looks like mosquitoes are unlikely to be an issue.

Can’t say the same re midges unfortunately therefore I shall be wearing my incredibly fetching Safari hat with mesh - I may look an idiot - but I won’t be being bothered by midges! It also serves as a sun hat! 😜

I’ll drop the link for that in the comments should you decide you also want to look like a Wally but not be much bothered by midges! 😂

https://www.adiosadventuretravel.com/blog/2017/10/machu-picchu-guide-to-mosquitoes-and-biting-insects/ #:~:text=The%20majority%20of%20most%20multi,perhaps%20more%20annoying%20than%20mosquitoes.

What should travelers going to Machu Picchu know about biting insects? Although Machu Picchu (8000 ft) is well above the 6500 foot altitude threshold for exposure to mosquitoes, it's still possible for a few of the little buggers to pop up and annoy you. But possibly more bothersome are tiny "midges...

02/07/2023

It looks like I'm going to have to have the Yellow Fever vaccination after all as I'm travelling to Botswana in November and they require a Yellow Fever certificate if you've visited a country with potential risk... Peru is on that list! There's no getting out of it it seems!
😫

An exception to this rule is when an individual country identifies and lists within their certificate requirements, specific additional countries. The TravelHealthPro Country Information page certificate requirements section should be reviewed for full details of individual country requirements.

02/07/2023

Just been reading a bit about Vinicunca aka Rainbow Mountain.

According to the attached link we should be able to book a trip from Cusco for a better price than we can by booking ahead. That would also give us time for us to learn how our bodies feel about being at altitude.

For those that want to walk it, it would seem horses are available along the way should we be struggling.

There is still the option to quad bike for those that would prefer it too... I'm undecided as yet!

As I mentioned before, we don't have to all do the same thing, we can each do what we want so don't feel you have to conform with the group - this is YOUR holiday!

Rainbow Mountain has become a hotspot on South America's Gr**go Trail. Here's why, plus everything you need to know to trek this otherworldly natural wonder. 

02/07/2023

10 weeks to go and counting!

I've packed my new sleeping bag and air mattress in my suitcase and now have no room to put anything else! 🤣

14/06/2023

Here's some info on vaccine considerations for Peru. Your body is your own, I am not advising for or against having vaccines. You don't HAVE to have them to visit Peru.

https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/177/peru

If you look at the recommendations, you'll see that Hepatitis can only be caught from bodily fluids so no snogging the locals!

TB most of us are already vaccinated for.

Yellow Fever, due to us being at altitude, there aren't really any mosquitoes so it's not advised to have the yellow fever vaccination.

Rabies is the only one really to consider. I am happy to chat to you about the pros and cons should you wish to pop me a message.

13/06/2023

Essential Trip Information for those coming on this incredible adventure with us!

This trip visits places that are at high altitude, and as a result some people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Medical and Health Information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more detail.

28/04/2023

Ok ladies and gentlemen. I've been looking into the trip to 'Vinicunca' - Rainbow Mountain and it's not an easy climb, but apparently very much worth it.

So it's been recommended we acclimatise for a day or two before attempting any climbing. Hence, the safest bet would be to do it on our last day, which currently has nothing booked.

So the question is, for those of us that want to do Rainbow Mountain, after doing the Inca trail, do we want to do more hiking? Or do we want to quad bike? The other issue is that most of the day trips start with being picked up at silly o'clock in the morning (I'm talking 3.00 or 4.00). The quad biking is one of those. There is one company that will do an afternoon hike up the mountain, but that still entails being picked up at 8.00 on the morning after we get back from Machu Picchu.

This is an optional trip, if you would prefer to have a day off, that's fine too. I will be going one way or another, not sure which yet, but thought I'd throw it out to the crowd.

We can all do different options if we want, we don't have to all go together... Just let me know what your thoughts are!

10/03/2023

Some of the trips we can do before the Inca Trail -

(We're going to leave Rainbow Mountain until after the Inca Trail as it'll be better to acclimatise slowly, so we're planning on doing that the day before we leave).

Open Top Bus Tour
Apukunak Private Tour
Cusco City Four Ruins half day Tour
Horse Riding Tour to the Devil's Balcony
Curious Monkey Cusco- Eat the Streets, Walking Food Tour
Humantay Lake Tour
Cusco Rafting and Zipline Adventure

And more!

10/03/2023

On arrival on the 15th (those who are coming on the flight with me) we'll be staying at the Hotel Monasterio San Pedro.

We have three comfortable nights there before heading off on the Inca Trail on the 18th. I am going to look for things to do locally over that couple of days, but that will be totally optional. If you prefer to relax and read or go for a walk, or whatever takes your fancy, that's perfectly fine!

Located directly across the famous San Pedro Market and only a 10-minute walk from the main square, Hotel San Pedro offers accommodations in Cusco. A daily breakfast and free WiFi are provided for guests' enjoyment.

Rooms at Hotel Monasterio San Pedro feature private bathrooms and cable TV. Room service is available.

Guests will be greeted at Hotel Monasterio San Pedro with a complimentary coca tea, and will have unlimited access to it, and other infusions, throughout their stay.

Hotel Monasterio San Pedro has a 4000 m2 garden. Additionally there is a 24-hour front desk which can arrange laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services, as well as massage sessions for an extra fee.

Hotel Monasterio San Pedro is 50 yards from San Pedro Train Station and 1.9 miles from Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport.

10/03/2023

Things are really starting to come together now everyone! Please take a look at the trip notes below and familiarise yourselves with what is to come and what you may need to bring with you. I'll try and make a list a few weeks before we leave of things that might come in useful!

This trip visits places that are at high altitude, and as a result some people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Medical and Health Information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more detail.

06/03/2023

That's one more place gone! Only one more place left!

21/02/2023

Several of us are travelling to Peru on the 14th and staying for a few days to acclimatise before doing anything at altitude - we're also going to leave doing Rainbow Mountain until the day after the Inca Trail rather than doing it beforehand, to give ourselves time to take it easy and get used to being at altitude rather than jumping straight in. Having read a few reviews they all say take it easy for the first couple of days, so that's what we're going to do! I'll have a look for things we can do that don't involve climbing mountains for the first couple of days!

Also, just as something to think about. I've purchased altitude sickness tablets from boots pharmacy online. This is not compulsory by any means, but I thought rather than find out I'm the person affected by altitude sickness, if there's something I can do to prevent it then I'm going to give it a go! The medication is prescription only so you will need to talk to a health professional in order to order some. I think it cost me £20 for a pack of 28.

Like I said, I am in no way peddling medication or suggesting people take meds that they may not need, but I wanted to give you the same information I have and then you can make your own decision as to whether or not you may want to purchase some.

Our original planned flight was cancelled - which may have been a blessing as we were going to have to navigate from one airport to another in New York, now we're travelling on a different route, so not only do we not have to dash across New York in an evening, we also get to stop and see Madrid on the way home! Of course, anyone joining us does not have to travel on the same flights as us, we can book you whatever your choice of flight may be, whatever the airport and dates to boot. You may wish to visit somewhere on the way, or on the way back, we can do that too! Just let me know!

Want to come and wish you'd put your name down? It's not too late! There are two remaining places, just pop me a message and you can join us for the adventure of a lifetime!

14/02/2023

If you’re thinking of coming along and you’re dragging your heels, just bear the following in mind -

500 per day…

The maximum number of Inca Trail permits is 500 per day. Support staff is included in the five hundred, meaning that only about 200 permits are allocated for tourists and 300 for cooks, porters and guides, each day.

If you want to come with us, be quick, there may well not be any permits available. April and May are already selling fast!

14/02/2023

Update re Machu Picchu!

In Cusco & the Sacred Valley:

In Cusco and the Sacred Valley pulic transport is operating as normal, as are private cars and taxis.

Airports are open as usual, although only travelers with tickets will be able to enter the aiport itself. There is also a security presence in the airport to prevent any protestors from entering.

MACHU PICCHU HAS REOPENED! While the official opening date is on the 15th, a couple of tourists who found their way to Aguas Calientes have been permitted early entry to the citadel.

The Inca Trail, as it does every February, remains closed. It will reopen in March after the worst of the rainy season is open and it is safe to hike once again.

12/02/2023

Just a little update from the people on the ground in Peru -

Update: 10th February
In the spirit of a new wave of protests, some old roadblocks have been reinstated.

Between Puno and Cusco, the Checacupi to Marangani route in the Canchis province is closed.

Between Cusco and Arequipa, the area of Condoroma is closed, around Km 90.

Between Cusco and Puerto Maldonado, the road in Ccaccta, at km24 is blocked.

IN CUSCO AND THE SACRED VALLEY:

In Cusco and the Sacred Valley public transport is operating as normal, as are private cars and taxis.

Airports are open as usual, although only travellers with tickets will be able to enter the airport itself. There is also military presence in the airport to prevent any protestors from entering.

Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail remain closed as a precaution, although the train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town) has reopened. Please read more about this in the section below.

IS MACHU PICCHU REALLY CLOSED INDEFINITELY? WHEN WILL MACHU PICCHU REOPEN?

On Friday, the 20th of January, following a threat from the protestors to storm Machu Picchu and stage a protest in the ruins themselves, the government took the extraordinary decision to close both Machu Picchu, and the network of Inca trails leading to Machu Picchu.

All the tourists who were in Machu Picchu and the surrounding area were safely evacuated.

This decision was made in order to preserve the monument from any potential structural damage that a protest could cause, and also to safeguard any tourists who might find themselves stuck, either in or en route to Machu Picchu.

An ‘indefinite’ closure was announced as in these circumstances it is often difficult to tell when things will become normal. It does not mean that Machu Picchu is going to be closed for months.

The most recent indefinite closure was in December with the start of the protests. This lasted for just one week before everything was running smoothly again. The local train to Aguas Calientes is already back up and running, with rumours of everything opening back up on the 15th of February.

It is worth noting that the Inca Trail and the one day KM104 Inca Trail are closed every year for the entirety of February, so don’t expect either to reopen until March at the earliest.

02/02/2023

I’m by no means pushing anyone to buy anything, but I’ve had these sock liners recommended to me by someone who does a lot of epic hikes. He was saying blisters are the last thing you need when hiking for days and recommended these liners to go under socks. They do socks with toes too…

I’m not sure about having anything between my toes, but I also don’t want blisters… I think I’m going to give the liners a go whilst I’m training and see how I get on. 🤷‍♀️

Again, these are absolutely not required for the trek, but thought I’d mention it because I’m no walker and if it helps someone then it’s worth it!

Injinji Liner Crew Amethyst L

01/02/2023

Hi all,

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to be involved in a zoom call with 6 people who are currently living and working in different areas around Peru, each giving a report about the current situation in their local areas.

They were talking about how the British press have taken things out of all proportion. Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely protests and road blocks going on, and these are more organised than protests that have been seen previously.

However…

The protests and road blocks are lessening day by day. The protesters are slowly starting to get a bit fed up and are starting to struggle for money. They need to go back to work. Many of them work with tourism, so are wanting tourism to return so they can earn a wage.

Machu Picchu is currently closed ‘indefinitely’ as the press state. However, this has happened many times over the years due to protests, it is closed to protect the site and to stop protesters from damaging the historic city. They were saying although Machu Picchu may be closed today, there’s nothing to stop it from being open tomorrow.

The airport at Cuzco is open and operating without issue, and the roads around Cuzco and the public transport are all functioning as they should.

There is currently some damage to the railway and trains in Ollantaytambo, however they are quite used to repairing the railway almost overnight from protests in previous years, so they are just waiting for everything to settle down before going ahead and getting everything back on track.

They finished by saying that they were pretty confident that things would be back to normal by about Easter. And although nobody can see into the future, it’s looking like things should be good well before the time we go!

31/01/2023

This lady did the Inca Trail a few years ago, she has a few handy tips re things we might not have thought about...

Tips on the 4 day Inca trek to Machu Picchu in Peru.Mentioned in this video:incatrailsreservation.com Follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/heyjen...

30/01/2023

I know some people are anxious - here's an update on the protests re Peru:

AS OF 30TH JANUARY

Many of the roadblocks throughout Peru have been removed, and transport can now move freely around the country. There are just two major roadblocks remaining:

Between Puno and Cusco, the Checacupi to Marangani route in the Canchis province is closed.
Between Cusco and Abancay, the Ancahuasi route in the Anta province is closed.

Public transportation and taxis are moving normally throughout the major cities, and airports are open and functioning normally. It is still relatively common to see police or army presence close to airports and government buildings just in case of a breakout protest.

Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail remain closed as a precaution. Please read more about this in the section below.

IS MACHU PICCHU REALLY CLOSED INDEFINITELY? WHEN WILL MACHU PICCHU REOPEN?

On Friday, the 20th of January, following a threat from the protestors to storm Machu Picchu and stage a protest in the ruins themselves, the government took the extraordinary decision to close both Machu Picchu, and the network of Inca trails leading to Machu Picchu.

All the tourists who were in Machu Picchu and the surrounding area have safely been evacuated.

They did this to preserve the monument from any potential structural damage that a protest could cause, and also to safeguard any tourists who might find themselves stuck, either in or en route to Machu Picchu.

Also as a precaution, the train to and from Machu Picchu has been suspended The protestors had already damaged train tracks and train carriages in and nearby Ollantaytambo station, so it was impossible to travel there by train any way. This is being fixed as we speak.

With the amalgamation of waning support for the protests combined with all routes to Machu Picchu being closed off, it seems likely that threats of protest in the citadel will be fruitless.

An ‘indefinite’ closure was announced as in these circumstances it is often difficult to tell when things will become normal. It does not mean that Machu Picchu is going to be closed for months. The most recent indefinite closure was in December with the start of the protests. This lasted for just one week before everything was running smoothly again.

I AM ON A CALL WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM ACROSS PERU TOMORROW AFTERNOON TO GET THE LATEST FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH. I'LL UPDATE YOU WITH INFO TOMORROW EVENING.

26/01/2023

Just to be 100% certain, those who have booked so far - you are booked on to hike the Inca trail which involves 3 and a half days of hiking, including some steep climbs,
and 3 nights of basic camping and toilet facilities.

If you prefer to do the Quarry trail or see Machu Picchu via train, please let me know ASAP and I will update your booking!

25/01/2023

10 places now gone! Only two left! 😮

24/01/2023

8 places now gone! Four left! 🤩

23/01/2023

7 places now gone! Only 5 left!