The airport in Cusco currently is only for domestic flights, so all international travelers must disembark in Lima and go through Customs there. Even if your flight to Cusco is the same day by the same airline carrier, you must disembark in Lima, grab your bags, go through Customs, and check back in again.
Flying to Cusco can be tricky. Delays occur often and it is not uncommon for flights to be cancelled. Please make sure to arrive within the Cuzco city a minimum of 2 days before your trek begin date. LAN Peru is the most reliable airline. Avianca and Peruvian Airlines are acceptable companies, as well. You will not return from your trek until around 8:30 p.m. on the last day, so be sure your flight out of Cusco is not until the following day.
Any extra luggage can be stored safely in Cusco at your hotel. They will return once you are back in Cusco. Make sure your luggage have some kind of identification on them so that they are simple to find. We recommend packing lightly for your excursion.
As soon as folks book their trip to South American country, specifically Cusco Peru, they begin wondering about altitude sickness.
The air at high altitudes contains less oxygen than sea level and forces your body to figure tougher to induce the oxygen it needs. Over many days at high altitude, your body adjusts to the lower quantity of oxygen within the air. This is why we continuously recommend spending a minimum of 2 days in Cusco before starting any hike. If you have more time, even better. Cusco is an amazing city with a lot to do, so 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 those effects become severe, please contact our office and that we can assist you get a doctor.
Most of the time, these symptoms will be mild. We perpetually recommend easing into activity slowly, permitting your body to adjust. Drink lots of fluids like water or coca tea. Coca tea has been used since ancient times to assist prevent altitude sickness. Leaves from the Coca Plant contain alkaloids that helps bring O into your blood, helping your body avoid the consequences of altitude sickness.
Avoid drinking a lot of alcohol and coffee. 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 respiratory at nighttime, creating it tougher for your body to absorb oxygen whereas you sleep.
Remember the trek to Machu Picchu isn’t a race. Even those in the best form can suffer from altitude sickness once they race to the highest of the mountain too quickly. Go slowly, it’ll give your body time to adjust to the mountain.
Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicines, such as acetazolamide and dexamethasone, to help prevent altitude sickness. Start the medicine 2 days before you arrive to high altitude. Continue taking 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. Drink lots of water. And enjoy the coca tea. If anything does happen and you unfortunately get sick, let your guide know right away – all True Mountain Traveler guides are trained in how to help you get through it.
Of course weather is unpredictable, just be prepared. No matter what month you’re doing the trek, please make sure you have rain gear that features a water-proof jacket, pants, poncho and waterproof gloves. Many people ignore gloves, however being cold and wet makes hiking terribly unpleasant.
Many of the treks through the mountain range involve several micro-climates and you may ought to be ready for all seasons. Layers are always key as they’re simple to adjust to the various temperatures. And evenings can always be cold, therefore please be prepared with a warm winter-weight jacket.
There are generally only two seasons in the highlands – wet and dry
Dry: May to October
Wet: November to April
To protect your travel investment, we highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance before you leave home This is a great way to protect yourself while visiting Peru. Most people need one or two days to adjust to the high altitude in the mountains In case you have a hard time adjusting to the altitude, it is best to have insurance if you miss your tour.
All of our treks embrace porters, who are chargeable for carrying and setting up all equipment. They will conjointly carry your personal duffel, that you may receive at your briefing the night before your trek. This duffel can not exceed 7 kg/14 lbs, and must include your sleeping bag(2kg) and an air mattress(1kg) if you choose to rent these from us.
Although tipping may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travel We hope that every trip we lead is exceptional, but tipping should be based completely on you satisfaction.
If you feel like your guide, porters and chef have done an amazing job for you choose to give a tip, we have some general guidelines on how much to give. Generally teams offer collective tips that are shared between the cook and all porters. This tip is customarily presented on the last nigh of the trek, after your final dinner We recommend that each porter receives about $25 and your cook double or more. That way they will end up with a great tip. The tip for your guide is done personally at the end of your trek.
There are not ATMs on the trek so we recommend bringing enough cash when you leave Cusco.