South America Trekking Tours 2022/2023

“The 4-day 3-night trek was amazing. Completely exceeded my expectations. Pretty sure the chef Walter is a magician, the way he was able to cook full meals (appetizers, main course, sides, all delicious) out of a tent. The porters took care of all of the work involved in camping, it was relaxing. Lucio our guide was intensely knowledgeable, patient, and kind. The trail itself was a lot of fun to hike and see all the sights along the way. I recommend a baseline physical ability, but any active person should have no problem and be able to enjoy the views and experience.”

“I just returned from an incredible 4-day trek on the Inca trail with excellent Alpaca hosts. Big thanks to these wonderful people who made it such an amazing experience:

Isao:
Best guide - EVER - make sure to request him! With the perfect balance of professionalism and fun, Isao tailored the journey to suit our particular mix of trekkers. He took special care of each of us, and made sure we all got to maximize whatever part of the trip was most important to us individually – while also creating a warm sense of family and group experience. I can't wait to trek with him again and am already planning my next trip back.

Moises:
Part chef and part magician. I don't know how he was able to serve such lavish and delicious meals on the trail – I was in awe after each one. After reading previous reviews, I had very high expectations and they were exceeded. I loved the soups in particular, and all the dish presentations were delightful!

Juan & Porter Crew:
These people are top-level athletes and world-class hosts. They took care of all the gear and logistics, which allowed us to be carefree and enjoy the beauty of each moment. They broke down our camp each day after we had already set out on the trail – but managed to pass us carrying all our gear and had everything set up again long before we arrived at the next camp. In addition, they offered us so many thoughtful kindnesses throughout the trip; they greeted us with bowls of warm water to wash up with (morning, afternoon and evening). They woke us up with hot tea. They cheered us on as we pushed ourselves up and down the mountain.

All in all, I can't say enough good things about Alpaca and highly recommend them the Inca trail trek! You will have a fantastic time!

Additional thoughts & unsolicited advice:
ALTITUDE: Unless you live at 14,000 feet, absolutely spend 3 days acclimating in Cusco or the Sacred Valley. There is plenty to do and it makes a massive difference.

FITNESS: Think 5+ hours of stair climbing every day of the trek. There can be long stretches of going downstairs - make sure to train for that too. If you have difficulty with your knees or back I'd recommend the 1 or 2-day trek, which Alpaca also offers.

GEAR: You need far less than you think you do. If I did it again, I'd only bring two pairs of wicking quick-dry leggings, and I'd leave the rain pants at home (I was way too hot hiking in them). The rain poncho they give you covers most of you, and I probably would have been fine without my raincoat. Just make sure to bring waterproof gloves - those are small and make a big difference. Instead of long-sleeved shirts, I am a big fan of arm warmers paired with a T-shirt or tank - so you don't have to take off your pack every time you want to add or shed a layer.

BUGS: I didn't have a problem with them until we were actually in Machu Picchu - and then I got eaten alive. Make sure to put on the DEET and cover your legs and ankles on the last morning before you set out for the sun gate.

HYDRATION: Alpaca provides purified (filtered/boiled) water for your pack morning, noon and night. You can also buy drinks at various places on the trail (though I never did). I highly advise using a pack with a CamelBack like system. This will increase your water intake and keep you better hydrated because you don't have to stop moving to sip. It's also lighter weight than most bottles.

SNACKS: I was really worried I'd be hungry, so 1/2 my allotted duffel bag weight went to snacks. This was totally unnecessary. Alpaca feeds you VERY VERY WELL! They also give you a few trail snacks - but I was always too full to eat them. (There are also snack options along the trail.)”

“Firstly, I rarely take the time to write reviews. I was extremely impressed by every aspect of my trek with Alpaca, from pre-hike information and briefings to every aspect of the 4day 3night Inca Trail hike. The guide, Rolando, was incredibly knowledgable, flexible, patient, kind, and encouraging. He allowed hikers to go at their own pace, making sure porters were there to keep an eye on those who weren't directly in his site. The meals were enormous and delicious! I'd never done a multi-day trek before and Alpaca definitely spoiled us...waking us up with coca tea, providing us with warm water to wash up, and a tent set up with a table and chairs for meals. The entire staff was excellent. I should note two situations that arose that Alpaca managed perfectly. The first is that I sprained my ankle just 2 weeks before the hike. The staff was quick with their communication and creative with providing alternative experiences to still be able to see Machu Picchu. Luckily, in the end I was still able to do the hike. When the hike was over, we sat down for lunch and were notified that the train personnel was striking so we'd either have to wait until tomorrow to hopefully catch a train then or hike another 2 hours to another town where the Alpaca minivan would have access to pick us up. We were very thankful that we were with such a great reputable company because they provided us with a solution to get back the same day, which other hikers did not have. All in all, I can't say enough positive things about this company. They are really top notch.”