What is Trekking?

Zephyr defines trekking as "multi-day hiking without having to carry your gear."  In Peru, our gear is carried by porters (and by llama or horse, depending on the trip) and we have a full camp staff to assist you.  This means you hike unencumbered, free to click photos like crazy or run up a hillside to get a better view and not be weighted down with the responsibilities of cooking or setting up camp.  Our trekking philosophy allows average hikers – like you – to get to extraordinary places on your vacation.

 

Which Trek is Right For You?  

The amazing thing about "the Inca Trail" is there are actually many Inca trails, including two separate trails leading from the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu. In addition, with Zephyr Adventures you can choose to join one of our group trips or do a private trek on your own. After reading about some of the considerations below, see this comparison chart of all our treks.

PRIVATE TREK vs. GROUP TREK
The first and perhaps most important consideration is whether you want to travel with your own private group on a departure date of your choosing or if you want to join a group of people on a tour with a fixed departure date. We offer both. Private Treks offer you the ability to travel with your own group of friends or family (minimum two people) and have flexible departure dates.   Group Treks allow you to visit Peru on your own, yet experience all it offers with a group of like-minded people.  On a Group Trek, all your travel logistics (except your transportation to Peru) are taken care of for you. On a Private Trek, you can choose between an airport-to-airport option or reserving the trek alone.

AIRPORT-TO-AIRPORT vs. ALA CARTE
The main advantage of booking an "airport-to-airport" trek is that we plan your entire trip for you, saving you countless hours, if not days and weeks, of research and planning.  You generally just need to choose your trip and purchase your airfare to Lima and back home.  We meet you at the airport in Lima and your vacation begins from there!  At the end of the tour, we transport you back to Lima, where you can catch your flight home (or extend your trip on your own).  This is a great option for those who have limited time for planning a vacation and beneficial for those who are nervous about traveling in a foreign country on their own.  All our group treks are airport-to-airport and you have the option to reserve this on our Classic Inca Trail, Royal Inca Trail, and Cachiccata private treks.

Our "ala carte" treks include just the trek itself, starting and ending in Cusco. They are good for those who are comfortable with the logistics of traveling on their own in a foreign country or those who will be arriving in Cusco on their own. This can be a more economical choice, because you aren't paying for the extra days for guides, lodging and meals included in the "airport-to-airport" option. All private treks can be reserved on an Ala Carte basis.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL
The treks vary considerably in difficulty, including a stark contrast between the difficult Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and the much easier Royal Inca Trail alternative. See this explanation of difficulty levels to help determine which trip is the best for you, keeping in mind everyone's perception of "difficult" or "easy" is relative!  We've had people complete a trek and say it was easy, while another person on the very same trek found it to be one of the most challenging (yet rewarding) physical feats they'd ever accomplished.  There are many factors that influence your perception, including your overall fitness level and your attitude about traveling and camping in a foreign country. The elevations at which our treks take place add a layer of difficulty in and of themselves. Because we offer ala carte options, you need to be sure you schedule time for proper acclimatization prior to your trek. (We will provide more information about this once you book a trip.)  If you are unsure which trip is best for you, please contact us so we can assist you.

TIMING: WHEN TO TRAVEL and WHEN TO BOOK
The dry season, which is important when hiking, runs from mid-April through October or mid-November. This is the best time to visit the area. The tourist season, when the area is most crowded, runs from June through August (correlating to the North American summer) and might make getting Inca Trail passes more difficult. The number of trekkers on the Inca Trail (including porters and guides) is limited to only 500 people per day. Consider a trek such as the Lares Trek, Cachiccata Trek, or Sacred Valley Trek during the summer season, since none requires a trail pass. Depending on when you go, you should try to plan your trip six months or more in advance.