Considered one of the most popular bucket list items for the
intrepid traveller; Machu Picchu is the holy grail of South America’s tourist
hotspots. The iconic footsteps to the
top of the mountain hold so much regard that our trip to South America would
have been incomplete without it. In fact, our trip to South America may not
have happened if it wasn’t for it.
There are a number of trekking routes you can take to Machu
Picchu, the traditional Inca Trail (4D/3N in a tent and walking up a lot of Inca steps), the Inca Jungle (4D/3N for the adventure seekers who fancy some biking and ziplining added into the mix) and our
preferred option, the Lares (4D/3N; two nights in a tent and one night in a hotel). You can read about these and a few other routes in more detail here.
In the days leading up to our four day expedition to the
Incan summit, there were a few shopping trips required to ensure we had sufficient
supplies packed into our backpacks and 6kg duffel bags in order to ‘survive’
three nights in the Peruvian wilderness. So, with that in mind, if you do find
yourself on a flight to Cusco, here are my top packing tips before you depart…
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| This backpack comes Absolutely everyBear with me. |
The most obvious one, but if I haven’t raved enough about
Absolutely Bear all over Instagram… well, then you’re clearly not following me
because I’ve raved LOADS! It’s my pride and joy that arrived only a few hours
before our departure from the UK and has been with me everywhere ever since.
This trek was going to be no different so I made sure it was lined with a
plastic bag in case of a downpour and stocked with my most essential items to
carry on route.
Mr A has his trusty GoPro Seeker backpack fitted with all
the ‘gear’ to ensure the GoPro can capture every moment without getting a dead
arm or having it strapped to his head (imagine the dodgy tan lines). Instead,
Mr A was arm-free as the backpack did all the hard work capturing our journey.
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| As you can see, it's no catwalk. |
Maximise space and chuck out the wardrobe options. Believe
me, no part of your experience is going to be a fashion show. Pick your favourite
walking leggings and layer upwards. I love H&M’s sports leggings for
aeration, warmth and a degree of making my bum look good. Nike’s range of sports leggings are also a perfect option if you’re happy to spend a
little bit more. Include waterproof trousers, something preferably fleece-lined
for the evening, several pairs of socks and a couple of tops of varying
sleeve-length. To put it into perspective, as the sun sets and the temperature
plummets to below zero, I was wearing two pairs of trousers, three pairs of
socks, a sports bra (that never came off the entirety of the trek), a cami top,
flannel shirt, my Lorna Jane ‘Katie’ jumper (my pride & joy) and a hoodie.
The partridge in the pair tree/cherry on top/final straw(!) was the fleece lined
woolly hat, scarf and llama-made gloves. And
I was still cold. So, one thing you certainly will not be inclined to do is
strip off in your freezing cold tent unless absolutely necessary; I’m talking a
wet-wipe wash > new pants > back into the same stuff. Our entire group rocked out both mornings in
the same kit as the day before and guess what? Nobody cares… It’s
what you sign up for after all!
WET-WIPES (and lots of them!)
If you opt for the Lares Trek, there is a shower block at
the campsite on night one but hot water isn’t one of the luxuries included. At the
risk of getting hypothermia, I opted for a full-body wet-wiping session and
several applications of deodorant to assist with Mission Impossible: Rogue Smell. It’s alarming how much dirt you
accumulate across your sock line! Sandy paths, wobbly rocks over
fast-flowing streams and falling ankle-deep in muddy puddles* are all part of
the ‘fun’.
*Luckily you won’t be following in Mr A’s footsteps like I was…He has a wider stride than me as the evidence suggested when, trying to follow him and jump a stream, I landed literally six inches deep and had to be pulled out!)
*Luckily you won’t be following in Mr A’s footsteps like I was…He has a wider stride than me as the evidence suggested when, trying to follow him and jump a stream, I landed literally six inches deep and had to be pulled out!)
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| Our horses did most of the legwork (they do have four so a slight advantage) |
This is a ‘magic’ liquid that will clear your nose quicker
than I can say Olbus Oil. And it costs less than £1. Find it in any one of the twenty-odd
minimarkets in Ollantaytambo when you’re stocking up on snacks. I discovered
this little potion thanks to our G Adventures tour guide, Karina, whilst I was
having an allergic reaction to a horse up at 5,200m on Rainbow Mountain. The
symptoms? A completely blocked nose, tight-chest and gasping for oxygen (the altitude
played a part role in that). Pour 1-2 teaspoons worth into the palm of your
hands, rub together and hold over your nose and mouth and inhale. And *poof*
suddenly you can breath. Mr A seemed sceptical at first, but now he ‘nose’ it
really does work!
BANDANA OBVS.
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| The local Quechua children who know the art of layering! |
I spent most of my time trekking with a bandana draped over
my face (to keep my nose warm), hanging over my head (to shield from the
sunlight) or over my mouth when the horses (transporting the tents and food)
walked past - allergies are a [bleep]! For £4 / 20 soles this was the best
money I spent in Peru. With several options of how to wear it (as listed above
just 3 of 20), you get you money’s worth and sometimes you just need something
other than a woolly hat or a cap to keep you warm in the early mornings or from
sunstroke from midday onwards. On that note, the weather changes rather quickly
in Peru; as soon as the fresh morning fog has cleared, you’ll be stripping down
to bask in the midday rays – but beware, at that altitude the sun is so much
stronger, so cream-up!
Yes, a camera is an obvious one if you’re visiting a Wonder of
the World but hear me out! People get nervous taking their expensive cameras
into the wilderness, worried they may be lost, broken or for a lack of packing
space. There were times I wanted to punch Mr A in the face for flashing a big camera
lens before my red, puffy face as I caught my breath. But whilst I was focusing
on not passing out, looking back I am so grateful he had the initiative to
capture footage of the trek. Much to my mother’s approval, I had a few
‘mindfulness’ moments on the trek (notably on the way down). There was a
particularly magical part of the trek that took us down a steep valley, along a
stream and a full coverage of trees overhead – felt like a scene out of The Secret Garden or a Tim Burton film.
But whilst I can revisit that in my mind’s eye, I have 10GBs worth of
photographs of the stunning view and a victorious grin at the summit. Thank
you, Canon / Mr A.
If you didn’t want to take your hefty/expensive D-SLR, why not take a disposable Kodak with you! This way, you can happily snap
away with the knowledge that you wouldn’t be throwing away hundreds of pounds
if it was lost or broken. Plus, it fits nicely into your shorts or jacket
pocket… And if not, well, there’s normally about 10 other people next to you
along the route or at the summit taking the exact same shot and uploading to
Facebook or Instagram which you can claim as your own!
You’ll most likely be renting a sleeping bag, sticks and
padded mat (that’s your mattress for the next two nights) for approx. 110 soles
depending on your travel company. If you’re not a fan of hopping into a
sleeping bag that has most likely had the Peruvian standard of cleaning (Febreeze
sells well here), I highly recommend a silk liner. I had one tucked into the depths
of my backpack and it was the most satisfying treat at the end of an exhausting
day to not have to think about whether I had the same sleeping bag as the night
before or how many people had slept in it since it was last cleaned. Or you can
be a real smarty pants if space is not an issue and pack your own sleeping bag
for your entire trip, as a couple did. I would have felt very smug if I was them
but for a fraction of the space and cost, my silk liner did just the job for a
peaceful and reassuringly cleaner night’s sleep.
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| (Bath)room with a view! |
A SENSE OF HUMOUR, OH, AND LOADS OF TOILET PAPER!
If, like me, you wouldn’t put yourself in the bracket of a
‘happy camper’, you’re reading the right blog. Whilst many a childhood family
holiday was spent walking up and down Snowdon in North Wales, my motivation as
I grew older was more focused upon the hot chocolate and sausage roll I could
get from the café at the summit. Not to mention the flushing toilet and option
of catching a train down if I got a blister. Apparently this little tourist
moneymaking idea hasn’t reached as far as Peru yet so, whilst you’re in for a
treat of unspoilt areas, stunning scenery and interesting wildlife, there’s nothing
much man-made! Time to limber up and get ready to squat in ‘nature’s bathroom’.
Tips? Always carry toilet paper in your pocket, get a buddy to guard your
privacy from other trekkers and… enjoy the view! I wouldn’t recommend dehydration
or an Imodium overdose, though I believe a few tried that in our group and it didn’t
end well for them.
ALARM CLOCK & HEAD TORCH
If you do the Inca Trail, on the final morning you’ll be
rising from your tents at a harsh 3:30am to begin the final ascent. If like us,
you choose to do the Lares trek or have made your own way to the small town of
Aguas Calientes (final stop before Machu Picchu and where the train from
Ollaytaytambo ends up), you’ll have the option to rise early and climb the
steps or catch an early bus up to the entrance gates. If you choose to do the
hour walk/climb (like Mr A), you’ll need to leave at around 4am to get in line
for the initial bridge crossing/gate control to the stairs which opens at
around 5:15am – there is normally a pretty big queue of people who all have the
same idea so leave early! Alternatively, the first bus up to Machu Picchu is
around 5:30am from the town centre and takes about half an hour but, again,
beware that queues start from the very early hours so be prepared to wait a
while! Either way, make sure your alarm clock is set and you have a head torch
at the ready. The earlier you arrive, the more beautiful (and less populated)
the Machu Picchu site is… And if you’re really lucky, you’ll catch the sun
rising above the mountains – which makes a cracking picture!
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| And we made it! |
SO…
Aside from feeling sufficiently cool enough during the trek
and warm enough at night, everything else is pretty much a luxury. We carried a
couple of cans of Coca-Cola, which felt like Champagne at the end of an
exhausting day. A few sugar hits for the daytime are also advisable – Nature
Valley bars are always a good option and extremely popular in Peru. Other than
that (!), enjoy being at one with nature (and if not, it’s only four days) but
trust me, the reward of Machu Picchu mountain at the end of it is well worth
all the effort!
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