Husband and I are planning to spend 4 days total seeing the Sacred Valley sites, staying in both Ollantaytambo and Cusco. We're also doing the 4-day Inca Trail hike. Any opinions on which of these options is better? Peru Treks says they'd prefer people to stay in Cusco for two days prior to the hike, as an FYI.

A. Stay in Ollantaytambo for 2 nights (touring Sacred Valley during the day) -> Hike Inca Trail -> Stay in Cusco for 2 nights

B. Stay in Ollantaytambo for 2 nights -> Stay in Cusco for 2 nights -> Hike Inca Trail

In case this factors in... we're both 26-year-olds in good health, exercise daily, no health issues (asthma, etc).

mdtravelhealth.com Peru will explain altitude illness issues

Always best for me to go first to ollantaytambo.org 8500 ft

adjust for a couple of days then head back up to Cusco after

I have adjusted do my trek then spend a couple of days touring

Cusco maybe some titicacaperu.com if time...

Diamox is wise as a preventive if you are flying trekking

quickly altitude illness is #1 caus of trail poop.

Altitude illness has NOTHING to do with allergies and fitness

last year sadly a young Brit female athlete took poor advice

not to take preventive from one of the TripAdvetizer "expert"

Touts decided to trek quickly at high altitude...

The decision was sadly fatal so rarely it can kill.

Always wise for me to respect the altitude adjust slowly

and insuremytrip.com

Happy Travels!

Cusco is at 11ooo ft perutreks.com is excellent

You should be just fine good hotels for me by personal

experience www.casa-andina.com SV and any in Cusco

Classic at the Plaza best value from $100 for me in the past

7:00AM BST 01 Jun 2010





Former public schoolgirl Katrina Jacks, 23, was hiking near Lake Titicaca when she fell ill as the air thinned.


Straight-A student Katrina was travelling on her gap year between university and starting a job with an engineering consultancy when the tragedy happened.


Her devastated parents Alasdair (corr) and Susanna, who are both GPs, said yesterday(mon): "Katrina will be very sadly missed by her family, boyfriend Jon and all her many friends.

"Her loss will be immeasurable."

Miss Jacks had won medals for rowing - including silver at the 2007 Commonwealth Championships.

RIP Katrina...

the best thing you can do is stay in the sacred valley and then back to Cusco city to start your trek

You really should try to spend a couple of days in Cusco before the hike. I'd go with Option B. That'll let you move from 8,500 to 11,000 to the loftier heights of the Inca Trail more gradually.

Option B - BTW your health, age etc. will have little or no bearing on how you cope with the altitude. Take it very easy on arrival, drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol etc. Coca tea helped me alot as did chewing coca leaves on the trek.

Thank you, Qwovadis for this important information and confirmation of what Jeff_Costa, Crellston and others have noted.

Even in the relatively low altitude of the Salt Flats in Argentina, rapid altitude changes can become problematic.

Thanks for all the advice! We're definitely planning on bringing Diamox, and I'll be having a physical and asking my physician when they recommend I start it. Better safe than sorry! Also planning to have some rest days where we don't do anything too strenuous, as well as coca tea/leaves and minimal alcohol. (Saving the pisco sours for after we complete the hike!)

We'll be doing the Gringo Trail before (total of 8 days), so Nazca -> Arequipa -> Puno/Lake Titicaca -> Sacred Valley. I've heard that doing this will help us adjust to the altitude before the hike.

So now it'll be:
Nazca -> Arequipa -> Puno/Lake Titicaca -> Ollantaytambo -> Cusco -> Inca Trail / Machu Picchu

Still sound good?

If you've done Puno then that is higher there isn't any reason to chose Ollantaytambo vs Cusco as far as altitude. Does your Inca Trail provider require you to check in at Cusco before the start, if so I might stay in Cusco at the start.

You can ask IT provider about adjusting your train to allow another night or two in Ollantaytambo after the trek.

Thanks, mlbg! I'll ask our Inca Trail provider and see if they have an opinion.

I wanted to split up the Sacred Valley days just so we weren't immediately heading home after the Trail. But it seems we could do either. Have to figure it out!

First of all Cusco is 10,800ft. You should stay in Cusco and acclimatize to the altitude by doing a city tour visiting the surrounding city ruins. Also, I recommend doing a nice 4 to 5hr trek off the beaten path from temple of the moon ending in rumi wasi ruins. you can contact [email protected]
Also, a nice Sacred Valley visit is good way to acclimatize.

I've been there 4 times, 3 times arrived in Cusco, once in Puno. I get altitude sickness every time. But improves greatly after first day. Also hiked the Inca Trail 3 times. There is more to do in Cusco, than Ollantaytambo, which is a good reason to hang out there. You will be OK to start hike. I have used oxygen tank at hotels on the first day. Sometimes it helps, sometimes not. You'll know within 2-3 minutes. In order to visit Sacred Valley, requires hiring transport. If you want flexibility, stay in Cusco before you hike. Sacred Valley tour is great, but can be done the day before the hike with overnight in Ollantaytambo. Or do it after the hike on the way back to Cusco.