|
Many people who visit Peru make it a high priority while there to hike the Inca Trail. Hikers who take on this challenge will be richly rewarded. This very popular route offers incredibly diverse natural attractions, from forests teeming with rare wildlife to mountain views so beautiful they seem almost unreal. In addition to the natural beauty, you’ll also witness breathtaking Inca ruins. For many, though, all that is just a secondary benefit. For them, the crowning jewel on their hike of the Inca Trail is a visit to Machu Picchu. Indeed, trekking through the lush Andes is a spiritual experience, and the arrival at Machu Picchu at daybreak on the final day of the trek completes an unforgettable spiritual journey. As you plan your trek, figure that you’ll need four days to hike the Inca Trail all the way to the end. It is possible to do it in three, and other people go slower and take five days, but four is the most popular. You’ll cover 45 km during this time, which may sound difficult. However, it is a feat that most moderately fit people have no trouble achieving. One potential problem, though, is the altitude. It is advisable to spend 2-3 days in the departure city of Cusco in order to become accustomed to the altitude. In Cusco, there are hundreds of tour companies vying for your business. Be careful as you choose one, though. The first thing to look for is a government license to operate on the trail. This certification will ensure that the company can legally guide you on the trail. However, just a license to conduct expeditions isn’t sufficient to ensure a tour operator is reputable. Another good indication of the quality of the company is price. You can anticipate paying about $500 per trekker. Some operators will try to compete on price and offer a rate much lower than this, but the truth is that there isn’t really a lot of room to cut costs and still conduct an enjoyable tour. More than likely, operators advertising prices below approximately $450 are cutting corners. Unfortunately, this usually means that they are underpaying (below the legal minimum) or overworking their staff (by requiring that they carry more than the legal maximum load). For this reason, it is advisable that “good” trekking companies will charge a fair price. One final piece of advice here is to consider the busy season for such a trek, and book your trek far enough in advance to accommodate high demand if necessary. May through September are the busiest months, and a trek during this time frame should be booked at least four months in advance. The rest of the year is less busy, with the low point coming in December and January. During this time, you might be able to secure arrangements as little as one week in advance, although a little more buffer time is still advised to ensure you can depart on the date you prefer. Hopefully you won’t be put off by these finer points of planning your trip. Once you get past the necessary planning, you’re sure to have an unforgettable time as you hike the Inca Trail and visit Machu Picchu. Use care when deciding on your tour operator, reserve your spot well in advance, and then look forward to an amazing holiday in Peru. And while you are awaiting your travel, take a quick look at these interesting Machu Picchu facts: http://hubpages.com/hub/Peru-Vacation-Info-Machu-Picchu-Facts
Related Articles -
machu picchu, machu picchu trips, picchu trips, lares trek, inca trek, peru visit, inca trail, hiking machu picchu, hiking inca trail,
|
