Inca Trail: Best and cheapest guides

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wanttotrek01
wanttotrek01

Hi guys,

I'll be backpacking through south america in the coming months (August onwards) before attempting Aconcagua in late November. Before then I would like to knock off the Inca Trail before heading to Sucre or La Paz to start training and acclimatizing.

I would like to get this forum's thoughts on:

  1. The best time to go to avoid the massive herds of trekkers

  2. How much I should budget for the trek and what it should include, and;

  3. If anyone has any guides they can recommend.

Earlier this year I did the EBC + Kala Patthar trek without a porter and do not want to take one on this trek either, hopefully this will help protect my bank balance somewhat!

Many thanks

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HappyHaddock
HappyHaddock
In response to #0

Hi, I would highly recommend the Footprint guide book to South America. Packed with tons of useful information.It is very descriptive but only downside not many colour photos. It provides some interesting tips, accommodation recommendations, regions and best times to go. I hiked the 4day Inca Trail (early october) weather was fine and I booked with Exodus who were fantastic and very well organised, however there are loads of other tour guides out there. You will most certainly need a porter on the Inca Trail - dead woman's pass on the 2nd day is rather arduous! The weather is very changeable, raining hard one min, then sunny and warm so pack a variety of layers plus at night it gets cold! Enjoy!

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petrus
petrus

Only 500 people, which includes porters, guides and cooks, are allowed to enter Inca Trail each day. Permits are usually taken up at least half a year in advance, so you might not get much choice when you can go. I am not sure if it is actually possible to hike the trail without a guide at least.

The trail permit website shows the permit situation in real time, google it up, and there are also informative pages detailing the different possibilities of hiking the Inca Trail.

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tryfan
tryfan

I am also under the impression that you have to have an official guide on the Inca trail.

Better training for Aconcagua would be the Huayhuash and Ausangate circuits.

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deezeee2
deezeee2

We trekked to Machu Picchu in June - awesome! As 62+ year olds, we were the elders, it was hard --- and worth every drop of sweat. You probably have all the answers by now, and probably already hooked up with a guide, etc. But if not……. go with OneSeed Expeditions! Small groups, you can also arrange private trek - quality company. They really did an amazing job of getting us there and making if fun and educational along the way. Great food, excellent guides, mule support (no lugging around my tent or sleeping bag - nice!) … I could go on and on.

And however you arrange it, with whomever, you're in for an unimaginable treat! (I'd go back in a flash!!!)

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