What is Altitude sickness ?
What Causes Altitude Illness ?
The primary cause of altitude illnesses is going too high too quickly. Given time, your body can adapt to the decrease in oxygen at specific altitudes. This is known as acclimatization and generally takes 1 to 3 days at a given altitude.
What About Altitud Sickness ?
In general if you take regular exercise and spend a few days in Cusco, or better, in the Sacred Valley, acclimatizing to the altitude you shouldn't have to suffer too much.
Prevention of Altitude Ilness.-
Prevention of altitude illnesses falls into two categories, proper acclimatization and preventive medications. Below are a few basic guidelines for proper acclimatization. Start below 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) and walk up. • Do not over-exert yourself or move higher for the first 24 hours.
• If you go above 10,000 feet (3,048 meters), only increase your altitude by 1,000 feet (305 meters) per day and for every 3,000 feet (915 meters) of elevation gained, take a rest day.
• If you begin to show symptoms of moderate altitude illness, don't go higher until symptoms decrease
• If symptoms increase, go down, down, down!
• Keep in mind that different people will acclimatize at different rates.
• Stay properly hydrated.
• Take it easy; don't over-exert yourself when you first get up to altitude.
• Avoid tabacco, alcohol and other depressant drugs including, barbiturates, tranquilizers, and sleeping pills.
• Eat a high carbohydrate diet while at altitude.
Preventive Medications (requiring prescriptions).-
• Altitude sickness is also an experience... don't ever panic!
• Get High Feel Fine ahd know how to beat the altitud sickness…
* Diamox (Acetazolamide) allows you to breathe faster so that you metabolize more oxygen, thereby minimizing the symptoms caused by poor oxygenation.
* Dexamethasone (a steroid) is a drug that decreases brain and other swelling, helping to reverse the effects.
Other recommendations to help your body acclimatise are :
• Avoid over-exerting yourself when you first arrive (however, some gentle activity during the day is better than sleeping)
• Eat lots of carbohydrates
• Drink lots of fluids (water no beer)
• Avoid cigarettes and alcohol
• Avoid taking sleeping pills
• Drink coca (ancient traditional leaf) tea
How do I obtain an Inca Trail permit ?
• Book with a reputable agency.-
that does not farm you out to another operator! You can make sure an agency has their INCA TRAIL LICENCE by going onto the website of the INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL CULTURE (INC) on this page:http://www.inc-cusco.gob.pe (click on "Ingresar como Invitado).
• All Operators will ask you for a deposit which is generally NON-REFUNDABLE.
-It is non-refundable simply because the INC does not give back the agencies any money when a passenger cancels or changes a date. The agency then has to re-apply for a new permit if passengers change dates. Agencies have different payment methods. Very few accept credit cards - mostly Western Union Money Transfer Company is used or Peru/Foreign Banking accounts. In general if you have checked the agency is reputable with a licence it should be safe to send your funds.
• There is no such thing as a WAITLIST / CANCELLATIONS LIST.
-If any agency tells you that they can do this, they are simply not telling the truth and are operating illegally! Its as simple as if a passenger cancels their space is not given to anybody else - period!....
• Apart from the deposit.-
you will be required to give your current passport details of all the persons travelling with you on the trail. You will need to give your FULL NAME & SURNAME / PASSPORT NUMBER / DATE OF BIRTH / NATIONALITY. If this information is not supplied no agency can take out permits for you/others. The important part of this information is that you give the same passport details that you will be travelling with to PERU. There are various check points on the trail and they will check the agency documentation against your passport ; if its does not match you will not be allowed entrance!.If you are renewing your passport, you need to keep 2 x photocopies of your old passport that you are going to hand in for renewal and you can apply with this information as long as you bring the photocopies with you or if you are able to keep your old passport, then travel with your old & new passport.
• How do you know if there is availability? .-
Well, its very easy, just go to the INC website and check out this link: http://www.inc-cusco.gob.pe (click on ingresar como invitado) or http://www.incatrailreservations.com On the drop-down menu select the month you want to travel in and you will see how many spaces are still available. The trail is regulated to 500 persons per day. Support staff like guides & porters are also included into this allowance, so really only half of the 500 is for tourists. The high season generally runs from MAY TO SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER. Each year it varies, but you are advised that if you are travelling in the high season that you need to start booking your permits at least 5 months in advance. BOOK EARLY .
• Personal Porters ?.-
The agency that you book with will ask you if you want the help of a personal porter to carry your extra luggage. This is a good idea if you are not used to hiking. It helps you enjoy the trail more! Rates vary from agency to agency. You can then walk with just your daypack carrying whatever you need for the day like sunblock, rain jacket, camera, snacks, etc. Keep it light!
• Students ? .-
If you are a student with a valid ISIC (international students card) then you are entitled to a discount. Again this may vary from agency to agency, but should be around $30 discount! In order to claim this discount you need to provide the agency with a scanned in copy of your card and travel with the card on the trail. If you do not have your card with you on the trail you will be obliged to pay the full fare.
Inca Trail questions
Do you need to book ahead ?
YES! It is recommended that you make a reservation for the Inca Trail and pay for your entrance fee well in advance. Bookings should be done : Dec,Jan,Mar : 3-5 weeks in advance April,Oct,Nov :6-8 weeks in advance May,Sep : 2-3 months in advance Jun, Jul, Aug : 3-4 months in advance In Feb, the trek is closed.You can still visit MP. The number of trek permits is limited to 500 per day (about 200 tourists and 300 trekking staff) This includes the 2 and 4 day treks as well as the Salkantay 7 day trek. The estimate is 160 trekkers per day on the 4 day trek, 25 on the 2 day trek and 15 on the 7 day trek.
• Is it possible to do without an Agency ?.-
Since June 2002 trekking independently on the Inca Trail has been prohibited. Regulations state that each trekker must be accompanied by a professionally qualified guide. The UGM (Unidad de Gestion Machu Picchu) is the regulatory body responsible for controlling access to MP and the Inca Trail. Companies must meet certain basic requirements proving that they have professional guides and good camping equipment,radio communications and emergency first aid including oxygen.Their license is renewed each year in early March.
• Is it possible to enter with different name ?.-No, you need to carry your valid ID (passport) to enter the trek park.
Are there alternative routes ?
-If any agency tells you that they can do this, they are simply not telling the truth and are operating illegally! Its as simple as if a passenger cancels their space is not given to anybody else - period!
Yes, there are many alternatives of treks such as below:
1. Short 2 day Inca Trail - easy to moderate
2. Mollepata-Salkantay-MP 7 day trek-moderate to difficult.
3. Mollepata-Salkantay-Santa Teresa-MP 5 day trek - moderate to difficult
4. Ausangate 6 to 7 day trek -moderate to difficult
5. Lares Valley 4 day trek - moderate
6. Choquequirao 4 to 5 day trek - moderate
7. Vilcabamba 7 day trek – moderate
8. 3D/2N or 2D/1N Huchuy Qosqo Valley with Machupicchu.to get more further information of each trek check our web page www.southadventureperutours.com
Are numbers of day visitors to Machupicchu also limited , like those doing the Inca Trail hike ?Or can just buy the Bus / Train and entrance ticket on the day we want to go ?
No limit to MP number of visitors,everyone can visit the ruins .You can stay overnight in Aquas Calientes and take the first bus up to the ruins ,this way you see MP before the 1500 visitors of the train arrive.The trains are normally full so make your reservations in advance.
How Is the 2 days Inca trail ?
The shorter Inca Trail is for those trekkers with limited time on their hands or who just want to take things a little bit easier. This trail starts at km104 and ascends to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna before continuing on to MP. Since you don't have much time at MP on the first day most people spend the night at the town of Aguas Calientes and return to MP again the following day. This trail is subject to the Inca Trail regulations and trek permits must be reserved.
What is the price of the Trail and where to book ?
Prices for the 4 day group service Inca trail trek generally range between USA$300 and $400 per person including entrance fees and return on train (You can almost double these figures if you buy the trek with a tour agency outside Peru even though the service is the same). This price includes Peruvian sales tax known as IGV which is currently at 19%. A $30 discount is offered to students who have valid ISIC cards and to children under 16 years old. This is the standard service offered by most tour operators in Cusco and offers the most economic way of hiking the Inca Trail as part of an organized group.
1 person: $1000 I 2 persons: $650 I 3 persons: $550 I 4 persons: $450 I 5 persons: $400,
6-9 persons: $350 I 10-12 persons: $325 I 13-16 persons: $300
These costs include entrance fees and return on the basic backpackers train from Aguas Calientes to Piscacucho then transport back to Cusco. Prices can vary considerably from company to company depending on the quality of the service.
What is the Cost of an extra porter and how much should you tip ?
Porters to carry your personal items can be hired separately for between $80 and $100 for the 4 day trek. Generally speaking if all the group have been pleased with the service .then try to ensure that :
• each porter takes home an extra $6,
• the cook $10,
• the guide $20
• assistant guide about $15.
A typical group of 14 persons with 12 porters (12 x 6 = $72), 1 cook ($10), 1 guide ($25) and 1 assistant $15) would receive a total of $122, which works out at a tip of about $9 per person. If you have employed a personal porter then you will have to pay his tip yourself. Remember the above figures are just a guide line. If the food that the cook served up was inedible and you couldn't understand what the guide was talking about then don't tip them. They'll soon get the message and hopefully improve their services. Don't, however, take you dissatisfaction out on the porters who were probably working hard throughout the trek.
Weather on the Trail and What to bring?
MxTemp°C 19 19 19 20 20 20 19 20 20 21 21 21
MnTemp°C 7 7 6 5 3 0 0 2 4 6 6 6
RainDays 18 13 11 8 3 2 2 2 7 8 12 16
You should bring :
• 02 pair of trekking shoes and plenty socks
• Insect repellent
• Sun block
• Dark glasses (shades)
• Rain coat or rain poncho
• Light clothing for the day and warm for the night.
• Trekking pants (the ones you unzip for shorts)
• Hat or sun cap
• Water Bottle
• Sleeping bag (unless you rent one from the company)
Just how tough is it ? How fit do you have to be ?
You have to be fit. It is a common misconception that because many people do the Inca Trail then it must be easy ... it isn't. The trail is 45km (26 miles) long and involves great physical exertion to complete. On the second day you climb nearly 1200m (about 4000 ft) in the morning. Combined with high altitude (lack of oxygen) and extreme weather (you can easily burn in the high altitude sun during the day and temperatures can drop to below freezing at night) the trek can be hard work. However all this suffering can make the final arrival at MP all the more enjoyable.
How many people in the Groups ?.-
The maximum allowed group size is 16 persons and minimun 8 paxs. Normally the group tours are between 12 and 16 persons.
What does the trail look like in the peak season?.
-It could get a little bit crowded, but with the regulations in place, you have enough space for everyone.
Are there toilets on the trail ?
Toilets have improved a lot in the last couple of years and all of the larger campsites have toilet blocks with flush toilets and running water. On the whole they are kept pretty clean. If you do need to go to the toilet between campsites then defecate well away from the trail and water supplies; dig a hole, or cover your faeces with a rock, and take the paper with you in a bag to deposit in one of the several bins along the way. There are hot shower facilities are Wiñay Wayna on day 3, although they are usually pretty unclean...
