Hiker’s Journey to Machu Picchu

Peru's mountain trails can be a bit rugged, not the well-maintained trails you may be accustomed to in the United States. A hiking pole is recommended. The altitudes are high, but our first hotel night is in Cusco at 11,200 feet, our second and third overnights are in the Sacred Valley of the Incas at 9,700 feet. These first days will help your altitude acclimatization

Note on optional hike up Huayna Picchu on Day 8: At Machu Picchu, you will have the option to climb Huayna Picchu, the spectacular peak rising from the ruins. This hike is quite rewarding but not for the faint of heart or those with a fear of heights. It is steep, a bit of a scramble, and can be slippery. It's suitable for very fit hikers who like a challenge. Think stairmaster at the highest level!

We recommend you make a special effort to get in good physical condition for this trip. The better condition you are in, the more you will enjoy your experience. We suggest you begin training several months before departure. Start gradually by doing hikes, running, using a Stairmaster, or riding bikes. The object is to improve your overall aerobic capacity and get your hiking muscles limbered up. Even a brisk 30-45 minute walk every other day over moderately steep terrain can do wonders for your conditioning, and it's a great way to break in your hiking boots.

Being so close to the equator, Peru has only two climate seasons: a dry season from April to October, and a wet season from December to March. Altitude is the main factor controlling the climate. In the mountains, you'll encounter sunny days with daytime temperatures ranging between 65°F and 70°F, dropping to the 40s°F and lower at night. The sun is very strong at high altitude and it can often be warm enough to hike in shorts and a t-shirt. However, it can also get extremely cold; if you're familiar with mountain weather, you know how suddenly it can get cold even in the daytime if the sun slips behind a cloud. Nighttime temperatures can drop to below freezing. Rain should not be a problem on our treks, but always keep in mind that mountain weather is unpredictable and sudden storms can occur, especially on high mountain passes.

Lima lies in a coastal desert where rainfall is rare and temperatures are usually warm (70s°F and 80s°F). Days are overcast most of the year due to the Humboldt current that comes up from Antarctica and meets the warm, tropical El Niño current from the north to create the garua, or coastal fog/mist.

The climate in the Amazon Basin is generally warm and humid throughout the year but can also be unexpectedly cool (usually 60s°F) due to the breezes that blow down from the Andes.

Our accommodations are generally in small family-run lodges with private bathrooms. They have been chosen for their ambiance and history as much as possible and are delightful for the local color and dining that they offer. While they are well-located, clean, and comfortable, they are rustic and can be more basic due to their remote location. Since they are often in historic buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.

We'll fuel our hikes with hearty Peruvian cuisine. Our lunches will often be packed lunches. Most evenings we have dinner at our hotels. Cusco's cuisine has long been based on corn, potatoes, rice, and indigenous animals. Typical dishes include cuy chactado (fried guinea pig), lomo saltado (stir-fried beef), and anticuchos (skewers of marinated, grilled meat). You'll also find dishes from other parts of Peru, including ceviche (raw fish) and empanadas (meat turnovers). Peru is home to more than 3,000 types of potatoes, developed over millennia by Incan agricultural practices, and you'll find many potato-based dishes. The most popular local soup is made with quinoa and vegetables, and other soup, chairo, is made with lamb and vegetables. The new "Novoandino" cuisine of Peru combines the food of pre-Hispanic Peru with modern techniques and trends from different parts of the world, often including indigenous root vegetables such as maca, achira, arracacha, and yacon.

Our bus will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need during the day (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transferring that day).

We will be going to high elevation on this trip. It is not uncommon to experience headache, nausea, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, shortness of breath, and fatigue at altitude. These can occur when you first arrive at higher elevations and usually decrease in severity with time. We have designed this itinerary to allow for appropriate rest and acclimatization, but for your own enjoyment, we recommend that you make a special effort to be in good physical condition. While on trip, be sure to drink plenty of water, even if you don't feel thirsty, and avoid pushing yourself too hard, however physically fit you may be or feel. You may want to consult with your physician about bringing medication to prevent altitude sickness, such as Diamox. You can learn more about altitude and how to prepare for it in our video linked here.