you can walk up that elevation without any altitude issues except sucking wind I bet. maybe feeling a bit crappy. fatty sofa riding tourists go up to machu picchu all the time and loaf about without dying
Yea but they're not doing the inca trail which is a multi day hike and about 26 miles i believe.
yeah but the trail goes up there to finish right? I don't know about the distance but if you're worried about that its another problem. walking uphill is just done slower. the altitude there is 2400m I think... does your hike go above that? I went through a couple passes in Peru at +4000 hiking and felt it a bit but not in a way that's worrying... just a bit less breath. about 4500m I've felt altitude and about 5000m hiking up hill was slow go and I felt like shit.
what's the highest you been?
you live at sea level?
I'm not worried about distance at all, I've done tons of hiking. I currently live in georgia, before that connecticut. I've gone up to 2300. When i go camping, backpacking, hiking i usually do a minimum of 10 miles a day.
Jhay - Has anyone hiked Machu Picchu, specifically the Inca Trail?
I'm looking to go this spring and wanted to hear some feedback from those who have done it. The more information you can give me the better, when you went, how much you spent, how you liked it, etc.
I'm looking to book it through REI, and from what I found online May seems to be a good month to go, so I was planning on doing May 14-22nd. REI's itinerary summary is below
Day 1 - Meet in Cusco for a walking tour of the city's highlights. Day 2 - Visit Sacsayhuaman fortress, ruins at Pisac, and the town of Chinchero. Day 3 - Marvel at an Inca crop laboratory and visit ancient salt mines. Day 4 - On the Inca Trail, hike from the trailhead to our first campsite. Day 5 - Superb mountain views await crossing the high pass of Warmiwanusca. Day 6 - Our trail leads past Inca ruins and over high Andean passes. Day 7 - Arrive at the Sun Gate and enjoy the first views of Machu Picchu. Day 8 - Guided tour of Machu Picchu; free time to explore or hike Huayna Picchu. Day 9 - Depart Cusco for home with wonderful memories of your Inca adventure.
How much would this cost for two people?
Go to rei.com and go to travel and you'll see everything. In 2016 it's 3800 per person. You only need to pay for airfare, sleeping bag, and a few meals aren't covered. They list everything that's included when you go to the specific trip
$3800 PER PERSON to hike something??? Wtf. I just want to walk to the stuff--I can carry my own shit. And THEN plane tickets?????? Oh Lord Jesus Lord help me
Jhay - Has anyone hiked Machu Picchu, specifically the Inca Trail?
I'm looking to go this spring and wanted to hear some feedback from those who have done it. The more information you can give me the better, when you went, how much you spent, how you liked it, etc.
I'm looking to book it through REI, and from what I found online May seems to be a good month to go, so I was planning on doing May 14-22nd. REI's itinerary summary is below
Day 1 - Meet in Cusco for a walking tour of the city's highlights. Day 2 - Visit Sacsayhuaman fortress, ruins at Pisac, and the town of Chinchero. Day 3 - Marvel at an Inca crop laboratory and visit ancient salt mines. Day 4 - On the Inca Trail, hike from the trailhead to our first campsite. Day 5 - Superb mountain views await crossing the high pass of Warmiwanusca. Day 6 - Our trail leads past Inca ruins and over high Andean passes. Day 7 - Arrive at the Sun Gate and enjoy the first views of Machu Picchu. Day 8 - Guided tour of Machu Picchu; free time to explore or hike Huayna Picchu. Day 9 - Depart Cusco for home with wonderful memories of your Inca adventure.
How much would this cost for two people?
Go to rei.com and go to travel and you'll see everything. In 2016 it's 3800 per person. You only need to pay for airfare, sleeping bag, and a few meals aren't covered. They list everything that's included when you go to the specific trip
$3800 PER PERSON to hike something??? Wtf. I just want to walk to the stuff--I can carry my own shit. And THEN plane tickets?????? Oh Lord Jesus Lord help me
They might have cheaper options. But the one i did is 9 days overall, with a 3 day hike. It's other stuff than just machi picchu. I'll probably spend 5000-5500 on the trip
Anthony - I was in Costa Rica a few days ago, and I was dying at 3k above sea level. I can't imagine that hike, we talked about doing it.
Highest I've done is around 2300, machu picchu is about 8000. I also did the 2300 having not ate for days and no water lol, didn't even notice anything in regards the breathing. I'm not too worried about the hike, I've done a lot of hiking with weight and I'm in pretty good shape. I'll increase my cardio a month or so before I go just to make sure.
It's a huge difference Jhay. But if your cardio and lung capacity is already good, shouldn't too bad. My buddy who did it a few months back said, "How hard can it be? I saw there were old people hiking it". W
I suggest you take 2 full days in Cuzco city to get your body ready.
Then do the 4 day inca trail (the 6-7 day trail is just as good but honestly it can be done in 3 days so 4 days should be Ok).
What you really need to do is that big mountain (called HuaynaPicchu) in front of Macchu Picchu, that shit is a thrill. You need to get up really early (like 6-7 am) and its gonna take you most of the day, it is pretty dangerous but you can do it fully guided.
I did the 4 day, thing kicked my ass! I packed too much stuff though and was dying on the day with the giant climb. The trail itself was awesome at some points, these ancient walkways and such. Cool part was at the end you get to enter Machu Pichu before the people from the town make it up, so it's quiet and pretty epic.
I did it last year. Cusco was cool. The hostels have people that love to party from all over the world. The altitude didn't get to me, but I saw some people get off the plane and started huffing and puffing just carrying their backpacks. Travel and pack light. Don't over pack. I took a regular sized backpack for 8 days. Machu was amazing. Really amazing to see and feel it. Being on top of that mountain you look down and see cloud below you. And thinking how much work it took to put all this structures together is mind boggling. I never had to use my mosquito repellent but I swatted one off me the side of a half dollar. I'd say seeing it is great, the hike is ok. It's ok to say you did it if that's your thing. But I wouldn't do it again. I'd get there on the train. Hike up the mountain at dawn and hike back down when I was done. I wouldn't spend that time walking the trail. Just my opinion. I say that to leave more time to explore and have fun in cusco or anywhere in Peru.
I did a 3 day ayahuasca ceremony in the mountains near cusco. Amazing. I didn't get all enlightened like you hear on Joe Rogan. But the experience with the shaman and the ayahuasca was unforgettable. Off my bucket list. Good luck brother..
PaulieB0Y - I did it last year. Cusco was cool. The hostels have people that love to party from all over the world. The altitude didn't get to me, but I saw some people get off the plane and started huffing and puffing just carrying their backpacks. Travel and pack light. Don't over pack. I took a regular sized backpack for 8 days. Machu was amazing. Really amazing to see and feel it. Being on top of that mountain you look down and see cloud below you. And thinking how much work it took to put all this structures together is mind boggling. I never had to use my mosquito repellent but I swatted one off me the side of a half dollar. I'd say seeing it is great, the hike is ok. It's ok to say you did it if that's your thing. But I wouldn't do it again. I'd get there on the train. Hike up the mountain at dawn and hike back down when I was done. I wouldn't spend that time walking the trail. Just my opinion. I say that to leave more time to explore and have fun in cusco or anywhere in Peru.
I did a 3 day ayahuasca ceremony in the mountains near cusco. Amazing. I didn't get all enlightened like you hear on Joe Rogan. But the experience with the shaman and the ayahuasca was unforgettable. Off my bucket list. Good luck brother..
I'm a big hiker, so the hike is definitely something I want to do. And honestly I'd rather spend my time looking at ruins and in the jungle than hanging out in a town/city. Plus the inca trail is the last part of it, I posted the schedule on the OP, there is more stuff to the trip. I honestly have spent my last few vacations camping and backpacking, I'm not much of a relaxing vacation or just staying in town. i'd rather go out into the wilderness and do shit
Anthony - I was in Costa Rica a few days ago, and I was dying at 3k above sea level. I can't imagine that hike, we talked about doing it.
Highest I've done is around 2300, machu picchu is about 8000. I also did the 2300 having not ate for days and no water lol, didn't even notice anything in regards the breathing. I'm not too worried about the hike, I've done a lot of hiking with weight and I'm in pretty good shape. I'll increase my cardio a month or so before I go just to make sure.
I live at about 15 feet above sea level and have ridden The Death Ride a couple of times which goes up to 8200 iirc....it's bad but not as extreme as I thought it would be.
At a steady pace you'll be fine. Pick it up and you'll suffer lol. You should try it just to see what it's like! It's great.
Jhay - Has anyone hiked Machu Picchu, specifically the Inca Trail?
I'm looking to go this spring and wanted to hear some feedback from those who have done it. The more information you can give me the better, when you went, how much you spent, how you liked it, etc.
I'm looking to book it through REI, and from what I found online May seems to be a good month to go, so I was planning on doing May 14-22nd. REI's itinerary summary is below
Day 1 - Meet in Cusco for a walking tour of the city's highlights. Day 2 - Visit Sacsayhuaman fortress, ruins at Pisac, and the town of Chinchero. Day 3 - Marvel at an Inca crop laboratory and visit ancient salt mines. Day 4 - On the Inca Trail, hike from the trailhead to our first campsite. Day 5 - Superb mountain views await crossing the high pass of Warmiwanusca. Day 6 - Our trail leads past Inca ruins and over high Andean passes. Day 7 - Arrive at the Sun Gate and enjoy the first views of Machu Picchu. Day 8 - Guided tour of Machu Picchu; free time to explore or hike Huayna Picchu. Day 9 - Depart Cusco for home with wonderful memories of your Inca adventure.
Having been there I'm legit confused as to why you would spend two full days in Machu Picchu (7 and 8). It's a really cool place, but you can easily make the morning hike to the Sun Gate to watch the sunrise (and you should because it's really cool) and then hike the remaining 15ish minutes in to Machu Picchu from there and spend all day in the place.
Seriously though, let me talk about the Sun Gate for a second. My guide was amazing and I feel really lucky to have had him for my hike. We arrived at the Sun Gate and he told us to hang out. He said very specifically, "Trust me and stay here. Watch all the other guides lead their groups onward before sun rise." He was completely right, every single hiking group left the Sun Gate before sun rise even hit. They all let themselves be rushed by greedy tour guides and missed what would be the entire reason to go to the sun gate in the first place.
The day before you go to Machu Picchu itself has what was easily the most impressive view I've seen in my life. I had to just sit there for quite awhile to take it all in. As a flatlander midwestern guy it just was just too amazing to see.
As for the ruins itself, definitely hike Huayna. I did not do it and I immediately regretted that decision once I was there. You have to sign up for it in advanced.
^^^ Not sure why they have you do 2 days at Machu Picchu, but like I said I fully trust that REI knows exactly what they're doing, hopefully I'm right in trusting them lol
I did inca trail some years back, awesome experience. I allowed 2 weeks in cusco to acclimatise, had headaches and racey heart etc when I landed. Did full time Spanish lessons 6 hours per day for 12 days it worked out quite good. One of the best experiences of my life.
Domenico - I did inca trail some years back, awesome experience. I allowed 2 weeks in cusco to acclimatise, had headaches and racey heart etc when I landed. Did full time Spanish lessons 6 hours per day for 12 days it worked out quite good. One of the best experiences of my life.
Also, I just flew there and organised everything on the fly. Just get a lets go or lonely planet and you'll be fine.
I went to Peru for my sisters'wedding. We stayed in Lima, I got to train a bit of BJJ, and we stayed at a cool hacienda type place for a few days in Huacachina then had the wedding at a 5 star resort place backed by sand dunes. After we went to Cusco for a few days and did the Inti Raymi festival which was just amazing. After getting acclimatized we trained/bussed it to Agaus Calientes and stayed there for a couple of nights which was beautiful also. From there it is a short bus ride to Machu Pichu. I did a tour with Cosmo, who is very well known there, went to the Sun Gate whilst stopping at certain points to read The Celestine Prophecy which kind of made it more spiritual and mysterious lol, had a blast walking around the ruins and stuff with the family. After that I did the Inca bridge and then told my family that I was going to hike up Machu Pichu mountain. This is a different mountain than the others that you guys are talking about and has an elevation of 2430 metres. You sign in at the bottom and then it is a pretty gruelling hike up. About 60% of the way up I was really struggling but was on a mission to make the top. Towards the end I was walking about 4 steps at a time and stopping. I was a smoker at the time but also in fairly decent shape (training bjj and muay thai a fair amount, and quite active in other sports) but the sheer altitude took its toll. By the time I got to the top it shared an amazing view of the ruins and was a perfect way to finish the tour. Coming down was pure fucking HELL, as my legs were like jelly. Honestly, it was probably one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life, but well worth it. Got a bit hairy at times where there were no rails and some sheer drops, snakes and other shit rustling in the bushes and over the paths, but that just helped me keep moving.
