How to Prepare for Hiking the Inca Trail
For hikers looking to follow in the footsteps of ancient societies, famous explorers and avid climbing enthusiasts, the Inca Trail in Peru is one of your best bets. This trail, known to hikers everywhere for its magnificent scenery, is 26 miles of lush forest, foggy valleys, broken stone and pulse-pounding adventure. As you make this challenging, beautiful hike from the foothills to the "lost city" of Machu Picchu, you can benefit from these tips.
First: Dress in layers
By packing a wide selection of clothing styles, fabrics and designs, you can ensure that you meet the Inca Trail with the proper apparel. If you dress in layers, you can easily shed clothing on a hot afternoon. This is sure to prove far more efficient than unpacking and re-dressing several times during your hike.
Second: Prepare for the altitude
The Inca Trail often ascends as high as 300 meters above sea level as it scales the deep green, Peruvian mountains. To avoid altitude sickness, heart conditions, fainting and other maladies, make sure to prepare beforehand. Before attempting the trail, train for a few weeks to make sure your physical condition is strong enough. After that, prepare your body for the hike by avoiding alcohol and rich foods, which tend to sit in your stomach and dehydrate you.
Third: Take plenty of water
Whether you simply bring a good water bottle or outfit yourself with an advanced water-carrying device, hydration is essential to reaching your destination. Your body requires clean water at regular intervals during times of strenuous exercise; make sure you bring all the water you need.