When we say Peru is one of our favorite places to travel to, we aren't exaggerating. So join us on this incredible retreat where you will experience the pinnacle of Peruvian culture. Explore the city of Lima, hike the Inca trail, enjoy fantastic food, and more!

We will be staying at 5-star hotels when not hiking on the Inca Trail. When hiking, we will be tent camping. We will have porters carrying our things and setting up our tents for us.

Walker Wellness Retreats is aware of political protests currently occurring in Peru that have immobilized the country and closed access to Machu Picchu. While we believe the unrest will end by June 2023, we are continuing to actively monitor the situation as it unfolds. As always, we recommend guests purchase travel insurance to cover any unforeseen events. If unrest continues and we are unable to host our retreat, all guests will be given a full refund of any deposits or payments made.

Luggage & Porters on the Inca Trail

Any extra luggage you have with you will be left safely in Cusco at our hotel while you trek. Make sure your bags have tags on them, so they are easy to locate. The trek includes porters, who are responsible for carrying and setting up all equipment. They will also carry the duffel bag you receive at your briefing the night before your trek. Each duffel bag can not exceed 7kg/14lbs and must include your sleeping bag and air mat. The porters are all provided a proper uniform, salary, and insurance.

Altitude on the Inca Trail

As soon as people book their trip to Peru, specifically Cusco, they start wondering about altitude sickness. The air at high altitudes contains less oxygen than at sea level and forces your body to work harder to get the oxygen it needs. Over several days at high altitudes, your body adjusts to the lower amount of oxygen in the air. For this reason, we spend two days in Cusco before beginning. Cusco is a marvelous city with lots to do, so if you have more time to acclimate, you won´t be bored.

With altitude sickness, you may first feel like you have the flu or a hangover. You may have a headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, trouble breathing during exercise. If any of these effects become severe, please contact our office, and we will help you get to a doctor.

Most of the time, these symptoms will be mild. We always recommend easing into activity slowly, allowing your body to adjust. Drink plenty of fluids such as water or coca tea. Coca tea has been used since ancient times to help prevent altitude sickness. Leaves from the Coca Plant contain alkaloids that help bring oxygen into your blood, helping your body avoid the effects of altitude sickness. Avoid drinking a lot of alcohol and coffee, since they will cause you to urinate more often and become dehydrated. Avoid smoking. Smoking makes it more difficult for your body to get oxygen. Avoid sleeping pills. They may cause shallow breathing at night, making it more difficult for your body to absorb oxygen while you sleep.

Remember, the trek to Machu Picchu is not a race. Even those in the best shape will suffer from altitude sickness if they race to the top of the mountain too quickly. Go slow, and it will give your body time to adjust to the elevation. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medication such as Acetazolamide and Dexamethasone to help prevent altitude sickness. Start the medicine two days before you get to high altitude, and continue to take it while you are at high altitude. You must remember that this is your holiday and you do not want to stress out about the possibility of getting sick from the mountains. Do everything slowly and drink lots of water, and enjoy the coca tea. If anything does happen and you, unfortunately, get sick, let your guide know right away. Alpaca Expedition guides are trained to help you get through it.

First Aid on the Inca Trail

Our trekking guide has received training in first aid from a physician. The trekking company conducts mandatory training every February, and every single guide attends. When guiding you, they will have with them a first aid kit for basic medical situations (traveler’s diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) and oxygen. They will take good care of you. In case something unexpected happens, and you feel you can no longer complete the trek, they will figure out the safest and quickest way off the trail and to a clinic. You will never be left alone; you will have a member of the team escort you every step of the way until safely with a doctor. When you are feeling up to it, we will make sure that you still have the chance to visit Machu Picchu and reconnect with your group, traveling by train comfortably.

Environmental Impact

During the trek, we will use biodegradable soap and transport all our garbage back to Cusco. The luggage porters are trained to look after the trail and pick up any waste from other groups as well. We also use chemical environmentally-friendly portable toilets that allow us to pack waste out. We believe in leaving no footprint behind. 

Other Tips

· Get to know the crew. Most of the porters on the trail are local farmers and other local residents. They can be a great source of info your guide won't be sharing with you. Strike up a conversation and bring some pictures from home to share with the typically warm and inviting Peruvians who will be carrying the bulk of your gear, and all of your shelter and food.

· Bring enough batteries for your headlamp and camera. There will not be any opportunities to charge unless you bring a solar panel.

· Ponchos, while seemingly goofy in appearance, are a good thing. If the rain doesn't let up for a day or two, pack covers can get soaked through, leading to a soaked pack. A poncho does a better job of keeping rain off you and your pack. Cheap ones are available locally.

· Prepare your feet before you arrive. Buying a new pair of boots or trail shoes right before arriving in country might seem like a good idea, but 15 miles into your hike is not a good time to discover the fit isn't perfect. Do your best to break in your footwear before departing.

· Prepare your body before you arrive. You don't need to be in Ironman Triathlon shape before catching your flight to Peru, but it will help if you work your body before leaving. Cardiovascular work will help most while trekking. Get out and walk briskly, at a pace where a conversation becomes hard to hold, to work your lungs and legs. Be kind to your knees while attempting hills if you have them nearby. Lots of swimming can also be good. I would highly recommend hiking steep inclines. The Inca trail has a lot of steps!

· Just keep going! The list of people older than you, more out of shape than you, and heavier than you that have completed the Inca Trail and arrived at Machu Picchu is long and storied. They all have one thing in common: mental toughness. The trek is a mental game, and you need a positive attitude more than you need the latest hiking gear.

Of course, the weather is unpredictable. Typically the dry season in Cusco is from April through October, but this does not stop rain from falling in June or the sun from coming out in December, so just be prepared. No matter what month you are doing the trek, make sure that you have rain gear that includes a waterproof jacket, pants, poncho, and waterproof gloves. Many people forget about gloves, but being cold and wet makes hiking very unpleasant.

Also, be ready for four seasons. Trekking in the Andes involves various microclimates, and you will need to be prepared. Layers are always essential since they are easy to adjust to different temperature changes. Be prepared with a warm packable down jacket since the evening will be cold.

For the Inca trail, your main suitcase will be left in storage in your Cusco hotel. We will get your suitcase when we return from the Inca Trail. The Inca Trail tour guide will meet with us the day before the retreat to go over the trail details and provide you will a small duffle bag that you will fill with only the items you will need for the 4-day trail. You will be provided with a bag weighing up to 6kg that our porters will carry for you. This bag will be provided by the tour company and will include your clothing, toiletries and sleeping bag. We have also arranged the mattress pad, sleeping bag, tent, and hiking poles for your trek. 

Essentials:

· Passport

· Immigration Card (given on the plane as you enter Peru)

· Good daypack (the smaller, the better)

· Water storage (water reservoirs like Camelbaks are encouraged – but enough for at least 2-3 liters)

· Comfortable hiking boots (lightweight with good soles)

Daypack:

You will need a small daypack that you will use to carry daily essentials such as a jacket, camera, water, and sunscreen. Please bring waterproof jacket, poncho, and shoes. 

· Water: we supply clean water at each meal. You are responsible for your first morning of water only as we won’t have time to filter water until your first lunch.

· Sunhat

· Rain gear

· Fleece

· Camera

· Music (IPhone)

· Handsanitizer

· Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste

· Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips

· Earplugs

Duffel Bag:

Porters will carry up to 7 kg of your personal items. This must include your sleeping bag and air mat which weigh approx. 3.5 kg. 

· 2-3 wicking t-shirts

· 2-3 hiking pants

· 4 sets of undergarments

· 4 sets of hiking socks

· 1 fleece

· 1 warm, down jacket: gets very cold at night

· 1 rain jacket and pants

· 1 sun hat

· 1 wool hat

· Headlamp (essential)

· Waterproof gloves (even if they are ski gloves, take them)

· Comfortable shoes for camp

· Walking boots

· Waterproof jacket/rain poncho

· Quick-dry towel (we provide small ones, you might enjoy something a little larger)

· Small bottle of soap (we provide warm water each day to clean – might make you feel fresh if you had a little soap)

· Battery charger (there is no place to plug in while trekking)

· Large plastic bags (to help organize and keep clean from dirty)

Toiletries

· Sunscreen

· Face moisturizer

· Bug spray

· Handsanitizer

· Wet wipes

· Toothbrush and paste

· Toiletpaper

· Personal medication

· First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.

Since 2019, Drew Roberts has been supporting Walker Wellness Retreats guests at retreats in Zion National Park and around the world! An IT professional by trade, he left the tech industry to join our team full-time as General Manager. He has visited 6 of 7 continents and plans to continue exploring the world as a digital nomad over the upcoming years. 

When he's not hosting retreats with Walker Wellness Retreats, Drew enjoys hiking, trying new food, taking photos, and learning languages. He is fluent in both English and Spanish and is currently learning Japanese.  始めまして (Nice to meet you!)

To meet more of the Walker Wellness Retreats team, visit the About Us page on our website.

Questions about refunds or cancellations? Click here to view our payment and cancellation policy.

The deadline to book an international retreat is 30 days before the retreat begins; however, some exceptions can be made based on availability. Email us at contact@walkerwellnessretreats.com to inquire about booking after the deadline has passed.

Consider evacuation insurance even if it's not required. This is more than just travel insurance, which covers loss or cancellations in most cases. Evacuation insurance will pay for expensive medical or emergency evacuations. The cost of a helicopter in the middle of the night can set you back thousands of dollars without this insurance. You can also pay more for insurance that allows you to cancel for any reason. Most travel insurance does not cover the cancellation of your trip if you decide not to travel due to COVID. It will cover you if you cannot enter the country due to COVID-related border closures or if you have COVID and cannot travel, but most other reasons are not accepted.