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Inca Trail
- There are many companies that offer Inca Trail expeditions many of which are located in the Plaza de Armas in Cuzco . I've noticed that the cheaper ones tend to have bad food. The difference in pricing seem to be the difference in food. If you want good food, you should pay more. If you can eat almost anything then go with the cheapest I recommend.
A big factor in the pricing of the treks is more importantly how much they pay the porters and how well they are treated. The porters on the trail are notoriously terribly treated so paying a bit more for your trek should mean you all get a fairer deal.
The Inca Trail is amazing, but demanding and a bit expensive. Around $300 US dollars or more, I highly recommend booking around a month or two before you leave. You may get lucky if you go around november which is the low season, but if you have your heart set on the Inca trail, I'd say book early. Remember to bear in mind that the Inca Trail is CLOSED EVERY YEAR FOR THE WHOLE OF FEBRUARY for maintenance. The Inca trail is a very popular and they limit the amount of people per day to about 500 including guides and porters. The 2nd day is tough and is basically walking up a staircase for 4-6 hours at altitude. Get to Cuzco, the city where most of the inca trail companies are located, at least 2-3 days before to avoid altitude sickness (called "el soroche" in Peru). Also, many of the locals chew coca leaves or drink coca tea and say that it relieves some symptoms of altitude sickness. Its definitely worth trying. Also, I highly recommend getting 2 cheap walking sticks. They will try and sell them to you before you start and they definitely come in handy, and also make fun souveniers. The hotsprings at Agua Calientes afterwards are good, but the water is a bit nasty looking. If the high price of the Inca trail is out of budget, check out other treks.
Macchu Picchu
If you aren't in the mood for Hiking, there is a train that runs from Cuzco to Macchu Picchu and back. Check Train Schedule/Ticketing for more information
General Advice/Warnings
Altitude Sickness can be a problem for some. The guides are require to bring pills and oxygen just in case. Your best bet is to arrive in Cuzco at least 2-3 days before and drink lots of water.
symptoms include:
* Headache
* Lack of appetite, nausea, or vomiting
* Fatigue or weakness
* Dizziness or light-headedness
* Insomnia
