The Inca Trail: Peru Trekking Holiday

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 79 reviews.

Elizabeth Sadler

THE INCA TRAIL

Written October 2011
This was all that I expected it to be.........and more.It pushed me to the limits,but left a wonderful sense of acheivement.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Getting to the top of dead woman's pass.......I did'nt think that I would make it.3 people almost did'nt,but were given all the help and encouragement they needed to get to the top.

Arriving at the sun gate was a bit of a let down, after all the hyp;what was this funny little pile of ruins?.........then I saw Machu Picchu and it all fell into place.When we walked to the city I found myself keep turning towards that gate,and thought about that insignificant entrance to such a wonderful panorama.How I would love to be there at the solstice, to see the sun shine through the gate and into the city.
What did you think of your group leader?
Disnarda was quite exceptional.........she worked so hard attending to our every need.Nothing was too much trouble:she was out 2 nights running,sorting out a doctor and collecting medicine for one of our number who was ill.Disnarda knew the best places to eat,and when we had a meal together on the last night,and I received change in soles(which I did'nt want as I was returning to the UK the next day)she had it changed to dollars.Disnarda did not abandon us at the airport,ensuring that we all knew where to go when we had checked in our baggage ,and she was incredibly sensitive to our needs when walking,giving us time to rest and reminding us to drink.She also arranged for porters to return along the trail to carry the backpacks of those who were struggling.She was always available.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
You do need to be fit,and I am glad that I went for long walks before going.The toilet tent may well be difficult for some........it was not easy in the middle of the night struggling with the entrance zip, and slipping around in thick black mud in the dark,because the rains had arrived.
Be prepared to be breathless with the altitude.......all of us struggled at times.
You also need plenty of 'Deet" for the mosquitoes.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This is an amazing trip and there is lots to see......not just on the trail.The Sacred Valley is worth visiting,and in Cusco visit the Chocolate Museum and the Weaving Museum;entrance to both is free.You can have around half a pint of the most incredibe fair trade chocolate drink for about £2 at the former,and you can even make your own chocolate bars.You will certainly buy bars to bring home........try the one flavoured with salt from the Sacred Valley.At the weaving museum you will see a very up to date exhibition of this highly technical skill.......and see people doing it.Two of us visited, and we each bought bags,individually woven,and labelled with the weaver's name.£20-£30 was a very reasonable price to pay for such an individual piece of craftmenship.And make sure that you try a Pisco Sour!!
Sally Ward

THE INCA TRAIL

Written October 2011
This is an active but very rewarding trip. The scenery was amazing, the food fantastic - I felt a great sense of achievement as well as having a great time.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I found the group leader quite inspirational (see below!). My favourite day was the 2nd day of the trek - 6 hours uphill then 2 hours downhill! It was hard work but we took it at a steady pace and the views at the top were incredible. The 3rd day afternoon was also fantastic - the scenery and vegetation were beautiful. The camp site that evening was amazing, it really felt like we were on top of the world!
What did you think of your group leader?
"Dis" was the best group leader that I've met (I've been on a few Exodus trips, plus some with similar companies). She had great English and a good sense of humour. She had amazing knowledge of the local areas and the Inca civilisation. She set an excellent pace for the trek. She also coped brilliantly with sick and drunk clients! She was an amazing ambassador for the company, for the Andes and the Incas, for Peru and for women (working in a very male dominated field).
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I'd not used walking poles before and bought some as a last minute thought just 24 hours before travelling! They were very useful and I would recommend them, although they're not essential (several people were fine without them, but I do feel they made my trek easier). A trip to the hot springs in Aguascalientes is well worthwhile - it was a great way to relax after the trek and the place had a really fun atmosphere (you can be served with cocktails from the bar at the poolside!). The Sacred Valley trip is a long day but it is a good way to get out walking in the mountains and acclimatise to the altitude.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Cuzco is a small but very interesting town, although your time there does feel a little like killing time. The Cocoa museum just off the main square is well worth a visit, as is the Centre for Traditional textiles on Avenida del Sol. And Cafe Cappuchino does serve a great coffee! The whole trip was very well organised and Peru was much more developed and civilised than I'd expected (embarrassingly, I knew so little about the country before my visit!).
Mike Peachey

THE INCA TRAIL

Written September 2011
Really good trip, well organised, guides were well informed, porters extremely helpful and we were really lucky with the group of people. Trekking was very demanding and normal altitude problems (headaches, loss of appetite) but no more than expected and no complaining by the group. Scenery was great, not much animal or bird life to mention but Inca ruins were stunning. Machu Picchu surpassed all expectations.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Macchu Picchu surpassed all expectations. I could have spent much longer there.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader (Flamina) and the assistant leader (David) were excellent. Knowlegeable not just about Inca history and artefacts but also the local flora and other subjects. I was also impressed by the cooks and the porters. I couldn't do justice to the food, one of the effects of altitude is loss of appetite, but in very restricted conditions the cooks produced wholesome food which with limited tableware they made a real effort to present well.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The Inca Trail is physically very demanding, possibly the most demanding activity some peaople will ever do. The camping and toilet facilities are also basic. If you are prepared to accept a little (possibly a lot) of discomfort this is a very rewarding holiday.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I was as interested in Peru today as Peru 500 years ago. I found the visit to the Rainbow Centre for children with special education needs extremely rewarding. I was also delighted to talk to the guide and assistant guide about their families, education and home life.
Colin Buckley

THE INCA TRAIL

Written September 2011
I was initaily rather worried that The Inca Trail would be full of hikers and that you wouldn't be able to see Machu Picchu because of the tourists bussed up there each day. I was totaly wrong, it was everything I hoped the trip would be!
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The whole trip was inspirational, but I think the openly friendly people that we met in Cusco and on the trail will stay with me the longest.
What did you think of your group leader?
Flaminia was super! The whole group from the hotel to the porters where actualy great, but Flaminia managed to keep a very diverse group ranging in age from 21 to 60+ entertained and interactive
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take a Hip flask along. On the last night camping there is nothing like a little "Tipple" to toast and share with your comrades at the meal and congratulate yourself on a great trip.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Keep your pack light! Those steps are very looooong!
Robert Goacher

THE INCA TRAIL

Written September 2011
Exodus couldn't have arranged a better trip - our time in Peru was brilliant, start to finish, and our guide was fantastic. Exodus blew us away.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
After three days of solid trekking, and a LOT of uphill, we finally breached over the mountaintop and through the 'Sun Gate' looking down over Machu Piccu. The sun was shining brightly on the ruin; lighting them up as if it was still a bustling Inca town. The scene was wonderful.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader/guide was phenomenal. An intelligent guy with a wonderful sense of humour and fluent in English. He joined in with all our activities (including a rather messy trip to a bar in Cuzco on our last night), taught us about the Incas, answered all our questions, and took care of us when we needed him. Top guy!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't underestimate the fitness required to do this trip. While the trek is short, it can be very strenuous at times, as the Inca Trail has a LOT of steep and high steps that you must traverse. Furthermore, at one point you will ascend to 4,200 metres, so be careful of Acute Mountain Sickness.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Trust Exodus. They will absolutely do you right.
Jennifer Durrant

THE INCA TRAIL

Written September 2011
I was really nervous about doing this and thought about backing out so many times. I'm so glad I went through with it! It was truly amazing and the sense of achievement was immense! Don't get me wrong, I found it hard but it is an experience I will always cherish!
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Getting up to 'Dead Womans Pass' is hard work but getting to the top and seeing the view of the valley, it was worth it. Obviously getting to the Sungate and seeing the clouds clear and reveal the icing on the cake brought a tear to my eye, not only was it beautiful but, I did it! The rainbows, ruins and snow capped mountains were also magical.

What did you think of your group leader?
Disnarda, was a great guide. Her and Orlando made sure that as a group we were fine and despite feeling like the weakest link in the group they did not make me feel as though I was holding anyone back. Be warned, they may be vertically challenged but they move like the wind along that trail with endless energy and enthusiasm.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Make sure you have a good mechanism for keeping your kit dry, we weren't in the wet season but it rained and hard. Don't worry about taking too many snacks, you get given stuff daily. Toilet roll is always a good one. Take a good sleeping bag and pack some thermals, high altitude camping can get cold. Metal water bottles are good as they can act as hot water bottles when it is really cold but 'plats' are good whilst trekking. If you don't like things flying in your face get a face mosi net (I was so jealous of those that had the common sense to take them). Trip to the hot baths on the last day, I'd skip it if I were you, the 'hike' to get up there, in my opinion, is not worth it, better off sharing the cost of a hotel room and getting a good hot shower that way.
Day pack rules for Machu Picchu seemed a bit 'changeable'. I had a 35 ltr pack but we told that the limit for day packs for the following 1 day entry would be 20ltrs. Luckily we were allowed in with our packs but I think it is one of those 'fickle' policies and walking poles are not allowed during your day at Machu Picchu.
Final day, before train ride back to Cusco, get something to eat, you will be on the train for several hours, they serve drinks but that is about it.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
My natural habitat is the city. I like the outdoors but camping has never been my thing, despite being very organised and practical. Doing the Inca Trail is a very personal thing and you need a lot of determination. I did quite a bit of training for this but the altitude is something else, you just can't plan for (and I did not do the 'High Alt' trek). To that end, all I can say is, get as fit as you can and keep at it. You will not be left behind and you will not feel as if you are letting anyone down. I did it with a friend who was a god send. We were lucky we had a good group who wouldn't leave anyone behind but ultimately it is the guides who help you succeed. Be nice to them, they deserve it, especially when you see how some of the other guides (non Exodus) are treated along the way. Above all else take the time to take in what is around you, it is an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life!!! I did it and didn't break a nail, I'm sure you can!!!!
Les Turner
THE INCA TRAIL

Written August 2011
A truly unforgettable and magical trip which surpassed all of my expectations. If you're going to take one Exodus trip, this should be it!
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were so many inspirational moments, but to name a few:
Finding stunning and incredible views around every new corner.
Watching the sun rise over the mountains at the third campsite, hugging mugs of warm tea whilst taking in the panoramic scenery.
Walking through the sun gate to marvel our first glimpse of Macchu Picchu; not to mention basking in the magnificence of the lost city itself.
Getting the hang of bartering at the market in Macchu Picchu - the selling pitches are much less aggressive here than in Cusco.
Sipping nice cold Inca Kola in Macchu Picchu after our 4 day trek.
Sitting in the main Plaza in Cusco, watching people go about their daily business.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader, Juan, was absolutely incredible; his enthusiasm was infectious and his infinite knowledge, his friendly yet professional manner were second to none. He made an already amazing trip absolutely unforgettable; nothing was too much trouble and he genuinely wanted to ensure that everyone had the holiday of a lifetime. What a star!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take a warm sleeping bag! I used a 3 season bag and was freezing on a couple of nights.
Take stuff sacks - the weight limit of 7KG of equipment meant that our clothes were pretty smelly by the end of the trip; being able to seal them away in stuff sacks prevented the whole bag smelling rotten!

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Book it now!

| | | | | | | |

The Inca Trail

Our Clients’ Reviews

THE INCA TRAIL

THE INCA TRAIL

THE INCA TRAIL

THE INCA TRAIL

THE INCA TRAIL

THE INCA TRAIL

THE INCA TRAIL