Most Inspirational Moment
The Inca Trail is inspirational and the homestay is a wonderful experience.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our guide Fabrizzio was top notch and he really made the trip extra special. He was very attentive, knowledgeable and friendly, always willing to answer questions and go the extra mile. In our group we had vegetarians, and I have a nut allergy; Fabrizzio ensured we were all catered for throughout, including on the Inca Trail.
Advice for Potential Travellers
As well as your main luggage item remember to pack a spare duffle bag or other smaller soft bag which you will need twice on the trip. Pre travel, Exodus provided us with a complimentary duffle bag which we used for this purpose.
When you go into the Amazon you won’t need to take your entire luggage with you, the bulk of your belongings will be stored safely by Exodus and you will take a duffle bag containing what you need for the jungle with you. Exodus will provide a small bag for you to use for this purpose in Peru.
However, before you start the Inca Trail, in Cuzco you will be asked to pack your luggage for the trip (strictly limited to 7kg) into a soft duffle bag. Whilst you can borrow bags from Exodus out in Peru, it was much more convenient to have our complimentary Exodus duffle bag to use for this purpose. Your main luggage item(s) are again safely stored for you by Exodus until you return from the trek.
A similar system of storing your main luggage will also be used when you visit Amantani Island.
The need for a separate duffle type bag is detailed in the trip notes but not all members of our group had realised they needed a spare bag.
The trip notes are fairly accurate in terms of the cost of food and drinks. If you avoid buying water from the hotels you can purchase it cheaper in local stores but on Amantani Island and in the jungle this is not always possible. As a couple, overall for food, drinks and some souvenirs we spent around $600.00. We changed some money at the airport, but you can exchange for a slightly better rate in Lima city (Fabrizzio showed our group the best place to exchange), and you will also have chance to exchange more currency into Sols in Cuzco. We were able to pay for items in US dollars in Lima and Cuzco.
The quality of food throughout the trip exceeded our expectations and this was especially so on the Inca Trail where we were supplied with 3 full meals a day plus snacks and fresh drinking water; an amazing achievement considering the location and equipment available, our compliments go out to all of our support staff on the trail.
I would recommend taking some snacks with you; we took cereal bars and some sweets just to keep us going on the long walks. This will also save you having to spend money when you are out in Peru buying snacks which tended to be quite highly priced. If you prefer fresh snacks you can pick up fruit at the local shops in Cuzco.
The sun in Peru is very strong so hat, sun-glasses and sun cream are a must; you will find that you are out on excursions for full days most if not all of the time so make sure you take these items with you to top up during the day. Also remember insect repellent!
In the jungle the accommodation was clean but as you can understand, quite basic. You don’t need to take bed linen but there is no electricity in the rooms so if you have a head torch take it; you will also need a touch for the night jungle walk and for getting around the resort. It gets dark in Peru at around 6.30pm.
There is plenty of food, and hot drinks are available at the lodge. We were provided with wholesome packed lunches during the day. You can however purchase soft drinks or a beer at the resort (very welcome after a day in the heat!).
The jungle is hot and very humid, but you may want to avoid talking shorts and short sleeved t-shirts in order to avoid being bitten, our group found it virtually impossible to avoid bites even with strong deet so covering up with clothing is the best way to go if you can. I would recommend taking no less than 50% deet repellent.
After we left the jungle our guide arranged for our dirty clothes to be laundered in Cuzco before we set out on the Inca Trail, this was particularly useful and you could ask your guide about the service. Be careful about washing delicate or light coloured items though and check your washed items before paying.
For the Inca Trail, you will need a warm sleeping bag – I took a four season High Gear one which was perfect, I wasn’t cold, even when we camped at 3850m. You will need layers, it is hot during the day in the sunshine, but the cloud can soon roll in cooling things off and it does get cold at night. The trip notes provide guidance and I would follow that; given the weight restriction lightweight kit such as down jackets are best for keeping warm. If you can, take walking poles because they really help on the steep sections of the trail which are stepped.
Day two of the trek is by far the hardest, you climb over 1000m that day at altitude, the remainder of the walks are more manageable but you should be prepared for walking all day (we set off usually around 8am and reached the final camp for the evening at around 3.30pm).
The trip notes mention the option of having a hotel on the final night of the trek, we didn’t opt for this but in hindsight I would have done. The camp site in the town on the final night is a little noisy and having to walk back from the lovely town to the prospect of a final night in a tent wasn’t that appealing, so if you can, it would be worth treating yourself to the hotel option.
Again back in Cuzco our ever attentive guide organised a laundry service to clean our dirty items before we moved on the following day to Puno.
The coach trip is broken up with stops along the way including a lovely buffet lunch and a visit to an Inca site. At the Inca site there is a small local market where you can pick up gifts and souvenirs at more favourable prices than in the towns but choice is not as wide.
There is also further opportunity to buy locally made souvenirs on the floating reed islands at Lake Titicaca.
The homestay on Amantani Island is an experience you won’t forget, the locals are so friendly and eager to please. Our family was very accommodating and we were well cared for throughout the stay. We had a get together in the evening involving local musicians, traditional dress and lots of dancing, it was brilliant.
