Inca Entertainment

Advantages: Stunning location views and history, friendly llamas
Disadvantages: Altitude sickness, hypothermia, food poisoning, exhaustion, terrible food

...Machu Picchu in Peru is one of those views that you just have to see once in your life. Everyone has seen the classic photo, always apparently taken from exactly the same place on the descent down a mountain towards the ancient site. My trip there, however, was rather eventful and almost a disaster, but I have very fond memories despite something going wrong at almost every stage. I set off with two school friends, now all grown-up and sensible, with our rucksacks on our backs, with the intention of walking the Inca Trail. The "classic" student way to see Machu Picchu is a four-day journey, three days of walking over undulating mountains and camping at high altitude, finishing on the morning of the fourth day descending into Machu Picchu at sunrise. The alternative route is a fairly short train journey which can all be done in one day...

AndrewPo 23.07.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Inca Trail - Peru

Inca trail - iconic world-class Peruvian hiking trail

Advantages: Stunning views, sense of achievement
Disadvantages: Unbelievably exhausting! Very expensive.

...During the peak of the Inca Empire, many steep paved routes were built as a system of highways throughout the empire for the chasqui runners of its ruler (the eponymous Inca) to travel on. If people mention "the" Inca trail, they are referring to the most famous one of all - the paved path leading to the famous Machu Picchu, an Incan city perched on a mountain top high in the Peruvian Andes. Since I was a child and heard of Machu Picchu, I wanted to hike along its famous and difficult trail. The city has a mysterious appeal to it - having remained hidden from the Spanish conquistadores, it was unknown to Europeans (though not to locals!) until 1911 when Hiram Bingham "discovered" it. Even today, the city (and its neighbouring modern town Aguas Calientes) are extremely isolated - you arrive there by train or on foot, not by road...

beckyXX 14.11.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Inca Trail - Peru

An Inca Trail through the heart of Inca Peru

Advantages: Beautiful scenery and wildlife, interesting history
Disadvantages: Very busy, expensive, still a few scars to the environment around the track

...Two summers ago I was lucky enough to visit the wonderful country of Peru, and to walk the famous Inca Trail to the lost Andean city of Machu Picchu. Yesterday, while procrastinating writing an essay, I chanced upon some pictures of Peru and reminded of this magical experience: and I hope that this review might be useful to anyone considering their own visit. What? The kingdom of the Incas, one of the great ancient kingdoms of South America, sprawled over a vast part of that continent between 1200 and the mid 1400s. Like any large country, infrastructure and communication were crucial for the Inca rulers in maintaining control ? a problem exacerbated by the mountainous nature of much of the Inca terrain. To solve this problem, the Incas built a huge network of trails, over which chasquis (messengers) would carry information or goods...

silverbird55 19.10.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Inca Trail - Peru

walking the Inca Trail before you die

Advantages: A must see, one of The Seven Wonders of The World
Disadvantages: It will always be expensive

...Walking the Inca Trail is one of those 'do before you die' experiences so although it is not the cheapest of holidays, if its something you have always wanted to do then don't put it of any longer. I walked it in July 2007, the company I went with was Llama travel who were fantastic and I would highly recommend. We were taken to the start of the trail by coach after spending 3 days in Cusco getting used to the altitude, which is a must, although neither my friend or I had a problem other than being a bit breathless on the first day. After getting your passport stamped and receiveing your entrance ticket (only 500 people a day are allowed on the trail including guides and porters] you then cross a wobbly bridge over the Urubamba river and your adventure starts!. The first day breaks you in gentley although it is still a good walk...

flyflitflo 22.10.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Inca Trail - Peru

Cusco - Libertador hotel - an Inca Palace

Advantages: Lovely hotel in excellent position
Disadvantages: rooms a little dark

...This is a large busy hotel just five minutes walk from the main square and next to the Inca Temple of the Sun . It is a traditional 16th century Pizzarro Palace with Spanish colonial additions beautifully decorated in Spanish/Peruvian style. The lobby is large and airy with many areas for sitting comfortably in groups to share a cup of the complimentary coca tea which is on tap 24 hours a day. The coca tea was essential to avoid altitude sickness and I found I needed several of the little cups in the day and when I woke in the morning if I didn't have a cup fairly quickly I did feel a little wobbly and shaky particularly the first morning after our arrival. There was also oxygen available if you needed it but I wasn't that bad and I found the tea, lots of water and fresh air helped me. We didn't eat meals other than breakfast in...

catsholiday 08.12.2008 (23.07.2009) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Libertador Palacio Del Inka Cusco, Koricancha

Sleevie up the Andes

Advantages: An unforgettable experience. Wonderful place, wonderful people.
Disadvantages: Tough walking. Not for the faint of heart or vertigo sufferers.

...I woke up this morning with a feeling of smug satisfaction. Fact of the matter is?I've been waking up with this same feeling for a few days now. Can't seem to shake it. Every time I think I've finally managed to get some sense of proportion, and I can go about my normal business I'm tempted to take a look at the photographs I took in Peru and?there it is again! Smug? Satisfaction. You see, I didn't just GO to Peru. I plotted and schemed, fundraised, event planned and spent myself stupid to go to Peru, raising money for a damned fine cause while I was about it. O.K. Loads of people go to Peru. I know this. Loads of people trek the Inca Trail. I know this too?goodness knows I met enough of them! But how many people wake up on the morning of their 49th birthday to a view of dawn breaking over distant mountain peaks...

stevethesleeve 02.11.2005 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Inca Trail - Peru

  Rarely Is Hype So Deserved

Advantages: Unrivaled scenery, an enjoyable challenge, an unforgettable experience
Disadvantages: Hard work (but well worth it)

...For many people, Macchu Picchu is the sole reason for visiting Peru - the citadel features on most every "to see" list, every dream trip. Discovered in 1911 by American Hiram Bingham, it sits astride a soaring outcrop of rock within a lush Andean mountain valley to the north of Cusco. It is the image which defines South America, as famous as the Grand Canyon, as iconic as the Eiffel Tower. And as such, a sceptical part of me expected to be just a fraction disappointed. However, on this occasion, the hype was wholly justified. Myself and a friend, as part of a month in Peru, managed to pick up places on a four-day trek of the Inca Trail at the last minute, the culmination of which would be rising at 4 a.m. to walk the last few miles, arriving at the Sun Gate at sunrise. I wouldn't advise this approach however - especially in the summer...

Puggers 30.03.2005 (22.04.2005) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Inca Trail - Peru

The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu

Advantages: The scenery, location, experience... need I go on
Disadvantages: A physically demanding hike and not that cheap

...When most people think of South America, images of the bright, vibrant flamboyance of Rio?s world famous Carnivale, the fluid grace of the great Latino dances of the Samba and the Tango, the mesmeric skills of a South American footballer and, at least for some, the mystic of the Inca Trail all come to mind. My plans for my month in South America were at the best vague, well to be totally honest, non-existent really, bar my arrival in the Argentinean capital of Buenos Aries and a homeward bound flight from the extravagant Rio de Janeiro. After what can only be described as less than exhaustive research I decided that a trip into Peru to walk the Inca Trail should definitely be included in my tentative itinerary and, having now completed it, I am more than glad that I did. Cusco Cusco is the starting point for a trip to...

Mercury 03.07.2002 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Cuzco

One of a larger range

Advantages: Smooth, manly and cleansing
Disadvantages: None

...Lynx have been making mens grooming products for years now. To think it all started off with those deodorants that were all the rage at school. Since then, they have expanded their range to Shower Gels, razors, aftershaves and even shampoo. The shampoo is very nice as it comes in the matching fragrances of the deodorants. They are made by Lever Faberge and the entire range takes in many different names and smells to form an attractive smell for nearly all noses. The 2 main Shampoos are Pheonix and Inca. Inca, as reviewed here is my favourite and is a very spicy/ oriental smelling shampoo. It is in the form of a blue gel much like the shower gel that they also make in this fragrance. What I like about the shampoo is how gentle it is on my hair. It does not leave it feeling dry or raw but instead makes it feel revitalised...

buzzplane 26.02.2002 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Lynx Inca

The walk of your life

Advantages: fantastic scenery, amazing experience, great sense of personal accomplishment
Disadvantages: Porters poorly paid

...I walked the Inca Trail in June 2005, and it really was one of the best things I have ever done. When I decided I was going to travel to Peru, the Inca Trail was at the forefront of my mind as one of THE things that had to be done. I've never been much of a walker (I've been on lots of walks but never really through personal choice), but I wanted to do the Inca Trail for the personal challenge and amazing scenery, besides I felt that turning up at Macchu Picchu all fresh and clean, having got off a bus was a bit of a cop out! The first day of the trail is relatively easy. Our group didn't start until about 2pm (we had to walk 5km to the start as the road was blocked), but still got to the scheduled campsite before nightfall. There are a couple of difficult climbs on this day that really take it out of you, but these are...

LucyOCS 10.12.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Inca Trail - Peru