colduphere--That makes a lot of sense. So many guide companies downplay what it is, just because it is not a technical climb. These guys are always up for an adventure, which is good and bad

Hello Colduphere,

Maybe a silly questions, but as we going next week to do the Inca Trail and the Amazon I wondered if we are going to need a special electrical adapter for charging the camera.

Hey kej8166,

Jumping on to answer this just in case. I did the Inca Trail in April 14, solo, but with a small group. Low season. Fewer people.

First things first:: get extra batteries. You're going to be in a tent. There are no places to recharge. I had an Olympus beat the crap out of it camera (I'm an adventure traveler, it' s necessary). Whether I"m doing the Everest Base Camp or an African Safari or the Inca Trail, ASSUME you will not have access to electricity. Unless you carry your own solar power (and I did that once, up the Everest Base Camp trail) it is extremely unlikely that you're going to have access to power. I went online, bought cheapo versions of the batteries for my camera, charged them before I went, and they worked just fine. I pack them in mini plastic ziploc bags you can get for fifteen cents apiece at REI. I took eight. Every so often I go through the entire lot of them. You end up being entranced by one spot and then you land in Macchu Picchu with enough for give pics? Don't do that. I've done it, once. After that is when I bought eight batteries. I swear by this, because where I go, there are no plugs.

Depending on where you are from, and forgive me for I am in Thailand and my Lonely Planet for Peru is on my bookshelf at home, you are going to need an adapter for all your electrical devices in Peru. There are some heavy, clumsy bulky all in ones but I have never found them to either travel well or work very well. I assume you're smart enough to leave your hair dryer at home, so we're talking your every day devices, a set of plugs. You can go to Best Buy, you can go to REI, you can check out a slew of places, and if you have Apple, they have adaptors for their lightning plugs that can also be fitted to international plugs. About $25, they work just fine. I also found that a standard two prong plug adapted for a USB port was priceless, so much so that I bought a second one before I left on this trip. They are twenty bucks at Best Buy.

PS, take walking poles. People totally forget how important they are for this trek. The stones get slippery, they are uneven, and you're going for miles and miles. If you make the mistake (like I did) of trying to look at the gorgeous scenery AND walk downhill at the same time, you will go butt over teakettle. Very funny for observers, not for your ankles or knees. Remember that untold millions of people have walked these stones and steps and they show the wear. Use your very best hiking boots with ankle support, good treads and poles. Poles have little to do with age and everything to do with stability. You get two extra legs which can be damned important when one of yours heads skyward on a moss covered rock.

Hope this helps. BTW I'm 62, I did Kilimanjaro, the Inca Trail and the Everest Base Camp between November 2013 and May 2014. Have a load of fun, take the time to photograph the orchids (there are many along the way) and make sure you tell your guide what you are interested in. They want to be tipped so will get you what you want. Macchu Picchu is nice, and crowded. The Inca Trail is amazing- and the journey is the whole point. It's a perfect life analogy. I watched hundreds of people in a huge hurry miss the vistas, the mountains, the mists, the beauty. Stop. Breathe, SEE. Macchu Picchu will be there when you get there.

Travel safe.

Thank you for your reply. I did get walking poles, but my daughter did not. No hairdryer for us. I have a big camera, but do not want to take it, so am now looking for a good compact camera, bad idea at the last minute, so any suggestions on half decent one is appreciated. So many things to think of.

<i>I did get walking poles, but my daughter did not.</i>

From someone who'd never used poles before, I strongly second the recommendation to use poles for the Inca Trail.

colduphere, it was fun to go back and read this. Our Inca Trail trek was almost exactly a year ago.

I previously always hiked with one pole. For the Salkantay/Inca trek, I used two. Two women in our group arrived without poles, and after day one, they borrowed walking sticks from the lodge we were staying at. They are a necessity, no matter what level of fitness and what your age (those two women were 22 and 54 respectively, our group ranged from 22 to 63)

I got an Olympus Tough- right now the markings have already worn off (I"m rough on it) but if you google them they will show up. They run about $350 or so, they will stand up to being dropped about six feet, deep cold and taken underwater. An excellent all around camera, they do videos, just a terrific little guy.

Another suggestion: load up on bath wipes at REI or other camping spot. Showers are limited, what there is, is icy, and I found that those treated sheets did wonders for making me feel relatively clean from toes to top of the head. It usually took three to do me (I"m 5'8" and 117 lbs) so plan accordingly. They're light, easy to pack, and moisturizing. I never travel without.

DO NOT rent their sleeping bags. I did. I own a one pounder zero rated bag - had I taken it I'd have save myself $150 and the cost of a second porter. That's how heavy their sleeping bags and mats are. I found that mistake uttelry hilarious and am happy to pass that wisdom along. What we think might be a convenience ends up being very expensive because they don't have uber light gear.

DO track down a very light, super windproof jacket like an Arcteryx or slmilar. If you do your due diligence you can sometimes fine these on sale on line, I've even found them at TJ Maxx. They weigh ounces, they are priceless. They are waterproof, bombproof and worth their weight in gold, they breathe and you'll wear them forever. Patagonia, Mountain Hardware, Cloudveil all make similar for a bit less than Arcteryx which is the industry standard. Let me know if you need more suggestions here, I could go on and on but you are leaving soon and may already be set.

DO bring or buy chocolate and other goodies for the guides. This is so very much appreciated. Small gifts and a recognition for their efforts is genuinely valued. DO take the time to tip and thank the cook, who (as you see above) always does something amazing for you if you are on a guided tour.

DO take a small journal and pencils and pens. Pencils (and a sharpener) because as an author, I guarantee you even pens will break down. Write down all your impressions. You will treasure them later, and thank yourself over and over for remembering to write down the details when you first saw them. It will bring the whole trip back to life in some ways even more than the photos. Take the time to express your feelings on paper. It will be a love letter to yourself and your family for years to come.

Happy travels. Gotta go ride today- it's going to be about 105, so I'm going early!

I hope riding was fun, thanks again for all the info. Off today to buy the last needed things.

Ms Go I actually show people your pictures when talking about our trip lol. I don't know how you and/or Mr Go got the depth you did in many of your pictures.

Sorry to miss your question Kej8166. We were cycling around New York City. It's looks like you have received some great advice. Have fun.

(I do give you credit for the pictures. Everyone knows it sure wasn't me who took them. I hope you don't mind if I provide the link.)

http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...cusco-lima.cfm

Thanks, cold. It was one of the best adventures of our lives, and we are both glad that our pictures are being put to good use!

The direct link to our photos, for anyone interested, is here...
http://onelittleworld.zenfolio.com/peru2014

Also, about the walking poles... I used a single collapsable staff and it worked out perfectly for me.

Mr_go and all the others,

I have looked at your pictures and I can't help but feel butterflies in my stomach when thinking that I only have 3 more sleeps till our advenutre begins! I have taken note of the walking poles and I think we are ready to roll.

I am both excited and scared, it will be an exciting adventure.

There's nothing to be scared about! Have a great trip!

Hi Coldie,

Don't know if you ever check in here, but wanted to let you know my daughter and I are headed home from Lima in the morning. We had a good trip to MP, Ollantay, and Cusco. We didn't hike up MP Mountain although it was on our itinerary. I confess that the walk down Ollantay was about as steep as I care for and the view from the end of the Sungate Trail high enough at MP for me! Not to mention I felt 1000 years old climbing those steps at that altitude. Fortunately it was a downpour the day of our MPM hike so we had a good excuse

Anyway, I'm in awe of what you did with the heights in light of the acrophobia and wanted to thank you for inspiring me to go to this beautiful place in spite of my being a scaredy cat.

You are missed - hope you and your family are well.

Way to go Gruezi (and daughter)! That's fantastic. A great experience and shared memory with your daughter.

I check in periodically to see if I can answer any questions about hiking in Jordan, Norway and/or the IT. I sympathize with your comment about feeling 1000 years old. Hiking is getting tougher, even at sea level. I may soon drop hiking and focus on curling (just got home from a tension filled curling match).

I hope your husband and other daughter are well. Everyone is good here.

Our flight home from Peru got a little screwed up. Here's hoping you have a smooth trip. I'll check the Lima departure site in the morning. Thanks for thinking of me.

cold - the Lounge isn't the same without you. Curling commentary has been slashed. Take care.

Great to hear from you Yes, all the gruezis are well. You jinxed me - I flew just fine to Lima and then to D.C. But from D.C. onward United just couldn't pull it together. I would have gladly been evicted from that tin can they had us stuffed into for hours. I should have hiked home.

(It was really something the boost in energy I felt in Lima! I guess I'm someone who IS affected by altitude.)

Will the Colds be doing any travel this summer???

Elizabeth I hope you have purchased your condo/townhouse. At this rate of appreciation you'll be in the $2M cost range soon. We appealed our property tax assessment for the first time this year. I can see them giggling at our little complaint. Appreciation on our house has been in the 4% range, apparently.

Gruezi - if we travel it will be brief. Daughter has a full time job. One son has a job for the summer. The other son will go on a minimalist canoe trip for three weeks and then prepare to go away to university. Windows need replacing. Driveway needs replacing. Who knew houses get old too?

It is a good thing when they are employable and employed. New driveways. Sigh. That can suck up a lot of travel $.

Cold, you have to come back to the lounge! No one can make us laugh like you!