Peru Backpacking

“Hey Y'All,
I'm pretty much a lurker on this site (though jerBear ,pamster,skiracer and few others of you I have met at the first ECT/Lost Cove/titanium chef trips).
I was wondering if anybody has been to Peru, what was your experience, and where did you go? I leave Friday, I'm planning on doing the Inca Trail(Macchu Picchu)and the Ausangante Circuit (6 days). I hear Cuzco/Huaraz are one of the backpacking capitals of the world (Kathmandu), quite stoked to go. I would appreciate any info/perspective. Cheers”

“No advice, but please post pics when you get back. It sounds like a trip of a lifetime.”

“My friend just returned a week or so ago. I hope he doesn't mind me posting a link to the photos. He got some fantasic shots (Don't mind the French captions).

Martin's Photos

I haven't had a chance to hear about the trip yet. I won't see him until I'm in the Rockies next month.”

“I have been twice. First time was to Ica 4 hours by bus south of Lime in the desert. That was for my brother's wedding. He married a wonderful woman from Ica. They now live in Fort Lauderdale.

Second time was to Cuzco and Macchu Picchu. Cuzco is actually higher (12,000-13,000 feet) than M.P. (8,000 feet). I got altitude sickness that went to pneumonia. So be careful about acclmatization. I spent friday noon to Sunday 6AM (when I left to go to the airport and fly home) in a (private) clinic in Cuzco hooked up to IV antibiotics. The care was actually quite good. I really enjoyed both trips. Be sure to take a tour of the sacred valley and see more Inca ruins than just M.P.

Have a great trip.”

“WOW Hodgeman, those pictures are incredible! That has to be my next destination. WOW again, thanks for the link!”

“Now, thats what I'm talkin bout...worth braggin about thats for sure.”

“om my goodness....the picture with the lit up tents and the huge peak coming up over the horizon with the starry starry night!!!
how can i get over that???

for those who have hiked to Macchu Pichu....
give me 3 good reasons for not hiking the inca trail to MP during their winter.
I am pretty sure at this point that I am going to Ecuador with a group of vet students for an animal health education exchange project in July...first week in July.
A few of us are going to extend our stay...since we are down there on another continent and take a side trip to Peru and will have about 4 full days to spend backpacking/hiking...is that realistically long enough to do any sort of walking trip to MP? if not, where else would you recommend in that time frame...keep in mind that i have no desire for 10 mile days in unfamiliar territory....( heh, make that anywhere! 5-6 is maximum ...for really stopping to experience and merge with the landscape for me ~~the path is the goal~~~....) nor are these kids....anyway, i havent consulted any maps yet...just wanted to see if anyone that has been there has any thoughts on what they would do in the Andes/peru/cuzco vicintity if given 4 days....”

“My wife and I are to leave for Peru a week from today. We will fly to Cuzco and take the train to Macchu Picchu. She is not a hiker. We were supposed to take a cruise there, today in fact: it was cancelled for some reason. We are to cruise back from Peru through the canal and end up in Puerto Rico.”