Wow!!! This is the most valuable advice I’ve come across in a good long time. I trekked to Machu Picchu in 2002 (was 62 years old at the time). Now I will be accompanying my daughter - she hikes, I take the train. Trying to remember all the items that were on my packing list two decades ago was a bit fuzzy by now and your video brought it all to the forefront. She can literally watch your video and take copious notes following as closely as possible and not go wrong! Thank you for that. :-)
Incredibly useful and helpful. Thank you. I'm doing pack at the ending the 4-day trek in May-June 2022, so thanks. Loved how your dog helped you pack at the end!
So you brought your own down sleeping bag and liner but you also mentioned that the porter will carry your sleeping bag and tent. So you used all of them?
I'm going to Machu Picchu in a few days and I'm a little nervous ! I suppose that in June it will be very cold in the mountains .. so thanks for your advice !!
Thank you :) would you please tell me at what time of year you went on this trail and who with? I'm planning on going in February. Do I need all those things for summer there? Thanks again
The standard porter arrangement is such that they carry your tent, all the food and cooking gear, and extra water for the day. If you hire a "personal porter," they will also carry your sleeping bag, air mat, clothes, personal items, etc. In that case, all you'd have are things like snacks, sunscreen, a light jacket, and other personal items you wanted in your day pack. Without the personal porter, you carry that stuff on your own. My pack was 35-38 lbs depending on how much water I had. In relation to some trips, this is a very small bag, but still a bit much for some people who aren't already in the groove of backpacking. It all depends on how much rigor you want to endure.
+Courtney Clark No, we didn't hike back. The standard trip departs Cuzco with the entire crew in a bus out to Km 82 where you check into the park and start the trail. You hike to Machu Picchu over 4 days, then take the bus down to Aguas Calientes. From there, you take a train back to Ollantaytambo (a very nice train) and finally get back on a bus or other transportation to Cuzco. Most of that should be arranged by your tour company.
Matt ... loved watching all your videos. Wow!! What wonderful adventures!! Excellent info and great advice for trekking either location. Don't know if anyone asked this question already, but what outfitter did you use for your Inca Trail adventure?? Also, are you planning another trek adventure for later this year or 2016?? Thanks in advance for your reply and comments ...
Donald Kullander Matt ... I just noticed that you did answer my question in the comments section of your Day 2 video and explained "why" you didn't recommend them. Again, great job of filming these wonderful videos of your trip!!
Donald Kullander Hi Donald, glad you found the answers. I just went to Ireland for 2 weeks, and will post videos about that in the coming months. No set plans for 2016 yet!
Thanks for the video, great tips. One question though you don't mention trekking poles, so I was wondering if that is a personal preference that you don't use them or they are not recommended on the Inca Trail?
Hi Maitreyee, you're correct that it is my personal preference not to use trekking poles. Perhaps it is a condition of my young age, but I find them an unnecessary distraction while hiking. I don't have any issues with my knees that require shifting my weight from my legs to my arms. I also don't have any balance problems. Even so, I have used trekking poles in the past to try and understand why so many people swear by them, but find them to require me to look down even more than normal. This is because rather than 2 feet to place while walking, I now have 4 appendages that need to be planted firmly on the ground. Looking down occasionally to place my feet (which I'm used to doing after 29 years of practice) is ok, but adding two more items to place forces me to look at the ground all day. It is actually quite a task to place the trekking poles in good spots so they don't slip. Missing the surroundings is a major loss compared to the small advantage of using poles on downhill sections. Therefore, I will never use them unless absolutely necessary.
Thanks for putting this together! It was super helpful. I'm curious - after doing the trail, is there anything you would add/subtract to the packing list you recommend in this video?
Yes - a MUCH warmer jacket was necessary. I rented one at the base, but with all my available layers - the long sleeves, fleece vest, Patagonia down jacket, and heavy rented shell over that, I was still cold.
This video was SUPER helpful. Thank you. I wanted to ask about trekking poles if you used them. Are there any restrictions on the tip? I've heard they have to be rubber or wood, but that seems to go against the concept of a trekking pole.
+fairycandles I'm not aware of any such rules, but I just don't like trekking poles for myself. I find it hard enough to properly place 2 feet on unstable trails, but then adding poles means you've basically got 4 legs to coordinate and place properly. I think it takes my focus off the scenery and is more of a chore than a benefit. However, if it helps with knee issues or balance issues, they can be a necessity.
I would reccomend a small roll of paracord instead of laces. Never had to change my laces on my Meindels shoes which I still have from the army. And besides that, a small roll of paracord has a lot of strenght, and you can use it on a lot of occasions. Even as laces for your shoes. During my hike to Machu Picchu, an adjustment buckle of the carrying system from my backpack broke of, and my backpack got out balance on my back because of this. Not really convenient when carrying about 20kg's around. But I was able to ty it together with a piece of paracord.
No, they weren't particularly useful. They're ideal for hiking in snow as they prevent snow from getting in your boots (or deep mud), but we did not encounter any such problems. Probably ok to leave them at home.
Did the hike 5 years ago. Pro tip - DO NOT overpack. Travel as light as comfortably possible on the trek. You will suffer if you have 20+lbs on ur back
Can anyone give me any insight into the rating of a sleeping back for may time doing the trail, none of the youtube videos even mention It. The temps are supposed to be 67f daytime, 39f nightime. I've heard it can get incredibly cold if your caught out. So anyone got any tips on what bag I should take please?
First of all thank for posting your adventure of the Inca trail. After watching, my wife and I have decided to follow in your footsteps and travel to Machu Picchu next March.. I was wondering if you could recommend a few trekking groups that would give us the best bang for our buck.
Unfortunately, I don't have a specific company to recommend. There are tons of em, so reading reviews and comparing prices is a good approach. Our guide and crew was great, but the company overall was not top-notch.
Thanks for the video. Heading there next month (Dec 2018). Curious how much your pack weighed? As well I have read several blogs and seen people not take actual hiking boots, I myself have water resistant shoes I use for Spartan races with great traction. No they don't have ankle support, hopefully I won't sprain an ankle, but I am part mountain goat.
If I hire a half porter, would you advise using a 42L back pack? Or could I leave the 65L pack a little empty during the hike (as I would still pack all items in the 65L backpack for airplane travel until arrival to the hike)?
+Jacqueline Roach If you hire a half porter, you will be fine with a 42L pack. If you bring a 65L pack, you can bring an extra bag of some sort and put the things you don't need while hiking in there to leave at the hotel in Cuzco while you're gone. This is common. You may want more than just a portion of a 65L backpack to have enough clothes and shoes for the other portions of your trip though. Keep in mind that it takes a very long time to get to Cuzco and it is very tiring, so plan to spend several days in Cuzco or Lima to break up the travel.
I have really enjoyed all of your videos about the hike... i was wondering what camera did you use? it seem like you had good zoom and nice pictures... i have researched the tour guides yours seem really nice but you would not recomend the company? it also seemed like your guides took little different route than what i have seen with other peoples videos and i loved that... since the trek took 3 days did that give you more time at Machu Picchu? that seems like that could be nice... and in one of the videos you guys mentioned springs... did you make it to them? and one last question did the hike seem rushed? or did you actually get to enjoy the scenery and some of the ruins you came across? thank you
+Janinka UF I used a Sony CX360v (it's a handycam). Nothing fancy, just bring plenty of memory cards and battery. My tour guides were great, but they set us up in a terrible hostel the last night in Aguas Calientes, so I recommend not staying at that hostel. The company was called United Mice. We took the same route as usual, but did in fact do the trek in 3 days instead of 4. 4 days is preferable because you get to see Machu Picchu before it opens and all the busses arrive since you can walk in from the trail. We missed out on that part. There is a hot springs in Aguas Calientes - definitely a local spot. We went and it was great. You can walk there if you are staying in town. The hikd did not seem rushed. We had plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and the ruins, I just didn't include tons of footage of ruins in these films as these are the basic things one needs to know about the trail.
Thank you for this great advice. Very helpful. For what I can see in the other videos, is this like a rocky trail? Any recommendation on what kind of boots to buy? Thank you!
Joha Pinto It is rocky, but in the form of stairs. There are not many small rocks- just thousands of very large ones. You should buy high-top, waterproof boots that provide ankle support and have Vibram soles or another comparable material. For example: www.timberland.com/shop/mens-boots/mens-mt-maddsen-mid-waterproof-hiking-boots-2730r242
I wanted to ask you: I own a pair of waterproof boots brand The North Face which have Vibram Sole and they're extremely slippery when it's wet on rocks, I'm very curious that you recommend Vibram soles but my experience with this one makes me really hesitant to take them given the rocks on the videos look very flat on some parts and with the rain it might be dangeorus? So my question is did you or your wife actually wear boots with Vibram sole? or did they have another type of sole? if so, which one?. Thanks again keep up the good work!
Love your videos and tips. Planning on doing the Inca trail in 2016. Which trek did you think was harder between Kilimanjaro and the Inca trail? Wondering what your wife packed, minus the essentials for women, and what she didn't pack that she wished she had. What did you pack that you really didn't need for the Inca trail? I want to go as light as possible but still have everything necessary. Did you need bug spray? Once again, thanks for the great videos. I watched them all. Love your cute dog. ☺
Roxann Eide I would say that Kilimanjaro overall was harder because the altitude was more extreme. Summit night was a major challenge. However, the individual days of hiking the Inca Trail were more challenging than the individual days up Kilimanjaro (except for the summit). The terrain covered on the Inca Trail is extreme, whereas Kili is more gradual. I asked my wife your questions, and the only things she said she brought were a small bottle of perfume (which included a natural bug repellent) from "The Body Shop," which we picked up at Denver International Airport on the way to Lima, and a small bottle of baby powder to keep her hair from feeling gross while not washing it. We did not pack anything we did not need. The things I show in my video are specifically chosen to intersect practicality, minimalism, and emergency preparedness. If you want to cut anything out, cut your changes of clothes... Anything we may not have used on this trip was still important to bring. While not every single item is used on every single trek, not having some of the items on the list could lead to a crisis should certain situations arise. I do not recommend omitting things from my list. Yes, we used bug spray as hoards of mosquitos found us to be easy targets in the jungle. Good luck with the planning and let me know if you have any other questions!
EnergyRouter Thanks for the important info. Wasn't sure about the bug spray because I never saw any of the bugs in any of the videos I watched. Do you have any suggestions about where to do some hikes in Colorado? My friend and I want to go out and get a taste of the altitude difference and see how we would handle it.
This video was a lot of help thank you so much. I was wondering, after the trip, what do you think you could have left at home? Also, what do you think you could have really used, but did not take with you? Thanks again! :)
Hey, I would not leave anything off this list. I used it all. The only problem was that the inflatable travel pillow did get a small hole in it and did not work after that. A different solution would be preferable. Just a reminder - we went in May and it was still a bit cold and rainy some days, so don't leave off the coats and rain gear unless you're sure it will be warm enough. Nights were in the 30s and 40s Fahrenheit.
Awesome. All your videos were great help and I enjoyed watching you both on your adventure. Thank u for the tip, I'll be taking a small Thermarest so I should be fine. We will also be trekking in May! :) Thanks again!
You don't need more of the haft things you taking.. you going to Machu Picchu trail no to the end on the world. Machu Picchu trail include all just bring clothes and personal things like paper towel and that's all you need
I'd be interested to know more specifically what you think is not necessary on this list. Can you give me a better idea of what you would bring instead?
+Nichole Williams It was called "United Mice," but the hostel they put is in in Aguascalientes was horrid. If you use them, get a legitimate hotel in Aguascalientes
+EnergyRouter True, but we are traveling with 10 other people. no guarantee you will get the same set of utensils for every meal. sharing utensils with your girlfriend is different than sharing with 10 strangers.
+SARKIS ABELYAN I can't remember exactly, but train tickets from agues clients to Ollantaytambo were about $80 USD. Maybe less. Getting into Machu Picchu is cheap- but again, I can't remember the price. It should all be available online. Huayna Picchu was about $60 USD each.
That was only $650 each. If you go with an american or european travel agency, they'll charge 2 or 3x the price for the same thing. Go with a local company.
mavericks3344 I had lots of the gear already...so it's hard to put a price on it. I'd say if you were to buy all of it new, you'd be looking at about $800-$1,200. Boots can run about 175-300, Sleeping bags about 200-400, backpacks around 150-450, and the clothes would be another 300 or so. A patagonia jacket like mine is about 275 by itself, but there are other options. It always depends on where you buy and what brands you go for. I am showing pretty standard gear- nothing super fancy or expensive, but not cheap. It all lasts really long.
mavericks3344 REI is probably the best resource if you're in the US, but you could get some of it at sporting goods stores or online too. I recommend seeing everything in person though, so online shopping isn't my first choice. Some stuff could be found at army surplus stores, but I haven't found them to be all that great either. REI will have what you need. Look for the next Used Gear Sale at your local one. It's an opportunity you can't miss.
Why doesn't he blink? Please blink, let us know you are human.
Is it possible he had them removed?
Fake eyes... and probb is not used to wear these shit thngs
he is very excited and full attention filming. I also don't blink when I'm fully concentrated on something.
Thank you very much. Great info but please, for the love of god, blink!
***** Can't edit in blinks...I must have been nervous for the camera! More blinks will be included in future videos.
I just realised that he didn't blink at all 😂😂
Blink spotted at 10:12
Shoni Blitstein 🤣😄
haha
Thanks for the tips.
p.s. You don't blink! Ever.
Great tips ... but sort of creepy that he never blinks!!
Wow!!! This is the most valuable advice I’ve come across in a good long time. I trekked to Machu Picchu in 2002 (was 62 years old at the time). Now I will be accompanying my daughter - she hikes, I take the train. Trying to remember all the items that were on my packing list two decades ago was a bit fuzzy by now and your video brought it all to the forefront. She can literally watch your video and take copious notes following as closely as possible and not go wrong! Thank you for that. :-)
Do you blink?
+Patryk Slomczynski Only about once a month.
Incredibly useful and helpful. Thank you. I'm doing pack at the ending the 4-day trek in May-June 2022, so thanks. Loved how your dog helped you pack at the end!
your eyes made me shit myself with fear. great video. still scared
I can't imagine how dry the surface of his eyeballs are. Thanks for the info.
R u a vampire? Thanks for the tips man
Great info! Thank you so much!!! You informed me of 10 things that I NEVER even thought of!
+Natalie Cabrera Great to hear! Glad to be of assistance.
So glad I stumbled upon your video, this has been super helpful for the trip I am planning in April. Thank you!
+Jacqueline Roach Glad to help.
Apesar de não entender a linguagem falada, a linguagem visual foi muito eficaz! dica incríveis, pra marinheiros iniciantes!
You're the coolest, thx for all the great tips.
I'm going in December, I can't wait!
Very helpful video thank you .
So you brought your own down sleeping bag and liner but you also mentioned that the porter will carry your sleeping bag and tent. So you used all of them?
I'm going to Machu Picchu in a few days and I'm a little nervous ! I suppose that in June it will be very cold in the mountains .. so thanks for your advice !!
Happy to help!
Thanks for the useful video. I am going on the Inca Trail in June 2020. You didn't mention trekking poles.
Watching this a month before I head out there in 2019.... super excited!
Someone else can not pay attention because his eyes? Beautiful eyes and excellent tips
Pretty sure this guy is a robot. But in a good way
Thank you :) would you please tell me at what time of year you went on this trail and who with? I'm planning on going in February. Do I need all those things for summer there? Thanks again
February its rainy season in Machu.
You forgot to mention that you could make a useful rope ladder with the cordage
Great tips! Thanks for the Machu Picchu videos, I enjoyed all of them. What time of year did you do your trip?
+Craig Mitchell It was in May. Great time of year to go- not too hot, and it wasn't extremely crowded yet like it can get during peak season.
wow your eyes are an amazing colour
helpful video. Wondering if i should hire a half porter or carry my own weight. What was the weight of your backpack with everything included?
The standard porter arrangement is such that they carry your tent, all the food and cooking gear, and extra water for the day. If you hire a "personal porter," they will also carry your sleeping bag, air mat, clothes, personal items, etc. In that case, all you'd have are things like snacks, sunscreen, a light jacket, and other personal items you wanted in your day pack. Without the personal porter, you carry that stuff on your own. My pack was 35-38 lbs depending on how much water I had. In relation to some trips, this is a very small bag, but still a bit much for some people who aren't already in the groove of backpacking. It all depends on how much rigor you want to endure.
what about the toilet paper?
Amazing tips thank you
Que ojitos más lindos!!😘
P.d no hagas caso a los comentarios😯, tu parpadea cuando quieras😉😅
This is wonderful, Thank you! I was wondering if it was 4 days there-and 4 days back? Or did you take the bus back down?
+Courtney Clark No, we didn't hike back. The standard trip departs Cuzco with the entire crew in a bus out to Km 82 where you check into the park and start the trail. You hike to Machu Picchu over 4 days, then take the bus down to Aguas Calientes. From there, you take a train back to Ollantaytambo (a very nice train) and finally get back on a bus or other transportation to Cuzco. Most of that should be arranged by your tour company.
Nice pair of Oboz
Great video - thanks!
Apesar de não entender a linguagem falada, a linguagem visual foi muito eficaz! dica incríveis, pra marinheiros iniciantes!
Matt ... loved watching all your videos. Wow!! What wonderful adventures!! Excellent info and great advice for trekking either location. Don't know if anyone asked this question already, but what outfitter did you use for your Inca Trail adventure?? Also, are you planning another trek adventure for later this year or 2016?? Thanks in advance for your reply and comments ...
Donald Kullander Matt ... I just noticed that you did answer my question in the comments section of your Day 2 video and explained "why" you didn't recommend them. Again, great job of filming these wonderful videos of your trip!!
Donald Kullander Hi Donald, glad you found the answers. I just went to Ireland for 2 weeks, and will post videos about that in the coming months. No set plans for 2016 yet!
Thanks for your reply Matt. Yes, seen your pics on FB .. am looking forward to the latest videos regarding your Ireland trip ... Don
Thanks for the video, great tips. One question though you don't mention trekking poles, so I was wondering if that is a personal preference that you don't use them or they are not recommended on the Inca Trail?
Hi Maitreyee, you're correct that it is my personal preference not to use trekking poles. Perhaps it is a condition of my young age, but I find them an unnecessary distraction while hiking. I don't have any issues with my knees that require shifting my weight from my legs to my arms. I also don't have any balance problems. Even so, I have used trekking poles in the past to try and understand why so many people swear by them, but find them to require me to look down even more than normal. This is because rather than 2 feet to place while walking, I now have 4 appendages that need to be planted firmly on the ground. Looking down occasionally to place my feet (which I'm used to doing after 29 years of practice) is ok, but adding two more items to place forces me to look at the ground all day. It is actually quite a task to place the trekking poles in good spots so they don't slip. Missing the surroundings is a major loss compared to the small advantage of using poles on downhill sections. Therefore, I will never use them unless absolutely necessary.
l just went to Machu Picchu so I have beautiful
experience from my trip.
Thank you very much! Nice doggy :))
Thanks for putting this together! It was super helpful. I'm curious - after doing the trail, is there anything you would add/subtract to the packing list you recommend in this video?
Yes - a MUCH warmer jacket was necessary. I rented one at the base, but with all my available layers - the long sleeves, fleece vest, Patagonia down jacket, and heavy rented shell over that, I was still cold.
Thanks for the great tips!!!
what happens when u pack that one thing in the middle, and u really need it?
THANKS FOR THE PLUG - REALLY USEFUL - NOW, HEADING TO PERU
This video was SUPER helpful. Thank you. I wanted to ask about trekking poles if you used them. Are there any restrictions on the tip? I've heard they have to be rubber or wood, but that seems to go against the concept of a trekking pole.
+fairycandles I'm not aware of any such rules, but I just don't like trekking poles for myself. I find it hard enough to properly place 2 feet on unstable trails, but then adding poles means you've basically got 4 legs to coordinate and place properly. I think it takes my focus off the scenery and is more of a chore than a benefit. However, if it helps with knee issues or balance issues, they can be a necessity.
great! thanks
I would reccomend a small roll of paracord instead of laces.
Never had to change my laces on my Meindels shoes which I still have from the army.
And besides that, a small roll of paracord has a lot of strenght, and you can use it on a lot of occasions. Even as laces for your shoes.
During my hike to Machu Picchu, an adjustment buckle of the carrying system from my backpack broke of, and my backpack got out balance on my back because of this. Not really convenient when carrying about 20kg's around. But I was able to ty it together with a piece of paracord.
You are cute.
I like your backpack.
Where did you get it?
Thanks for the info, we are going on May 26th, 2017' can't wait.
Congrats, you will surely have an excellent time.
Thanks!
Very helpful video, we leave in 2 weeks, first time backpacker any last minute advice? also were the gators useful?
No, they weren't particularly useful. They're ideal for hiking in snow as they prevent snow from getting in your boots (or deep mud), but we did not encounter any such problems. Probably ok to leave them at home.
Great help thanks so much :)
Did the hike 5 years ago. Pro tip - DO NOT overpack. Travel as light as comfortably possible on the trek. You will suffer if you have 20+lbs on ur back
Can anyone give me any insight into the rating of a sleeping back for may time doing the trail, none of the youtube videos even mention It. The temps are supposed to be 67f daytime, 39f nightime. I've heard it can get incredibly cold if your caught out. So anyone got any tips on what bag I should take please?
First of all thank for posting your adventure of the Inca trail. After watching, my wife and I have decided to follow in your footsteps and travel to Machu Picchu next March.. I was wondering if you could recommend a few trekking groups that would give us the best bang for our buck.
Great tips to get ready for the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu!
This video is amazing, and here you can find the best tips to book the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: ua-cam.com/video/NVELFCAXhpw/v-deo.html
You have amazing eyes!! So handsome! Thanks for the tips!! Silk socks and extra laces. Priceless!! Thanks!!
Great vid, you should blink more though. XD
Working on it.
Hahaha I love the comments asking you for blink.. if you could provide list of items and brands.
I’m doing the Inca Trail next month. This was very helpful! Thank you.
Holy crap! Let me make on suggestion. Just blink a little.
thank you very much!
could you also share the company you recommend?
thank you
Unfortunately, I don't have a specific company to recommend. There are tons of em, so reading reviews and comparing prices is a good approach. Our guide and crew was great, but the company overall was not top-notch.
Really good video, well done!!, how can I write you an email?..., thanks!
Thank for your tipps!
I watched this video more than once. He never blinks
Scary shit
make sure when using soaps ect , they are environmentally friendly
nice eye colors
I want to teleport there - in the morning before it opens - why no teleportation yet?
Hello Matt - Thank you very much for posting this. It was very helpful in creating my packing list for my Machu Picchu trip.
Thanks for the info
I appreciate the details
Thanks for the video. Heading there next month (Dec 2018). Curious how much your pack weighed? As well I have read several blogs and seen people not take actual hiking boots, I myself have water resistant shoes I use for Spartan races with great traction. No they don't have ankle support, hopefully I won't sprain an ankle, but I am part mountain goat.
35 pound pack. I would never hike a trail like this without high top boots. Too risky to get injured 30 miles from the nearest road.
If I hire a half porter, would you advise using a 42L back pack? Or could I leave the 65L pack a little empty during the hike (as I would still pack all items in the 65L backpack for airplane travel until arrival to the hike)?
+Jacqueline Roach If you hire a half porter, you will be fine with a 42L pack. If you bring a 65L pack, you can bring an extra bag of some sort and put the things you don't need while hiking in there to leave at the hotel in Cuzco while you're gone. This is common. You may want more than just a portion of a 65L backpack to have enough clothes and shoes for the other portions of your trip though. Keep in mind that it takes a very long time to get to Cuzco and it is very tiring, so plan to spend several days in Cuzco or Lima to break up the travel.
I'm going on a solo trek in April! This video was really helpful since I've never been backpacking before. Thanks!
I have really enjoyed all of your videos about the hike... i was wondering what camera did you use? it seem like you had good zoom and nice pictures... i have researched the tour guides yours seem really nice but you would not recomend the company? it also seemed like your guides took little different route than what i have seen with other peoples videos and i loved that... since the trek took 3 days did that give you more time at Machu Picchu? that seems like that could be nice... and in one of the videos you guys mentioned springs... did you make it to them? and one last question did the hike seem rushed? or did you actually get to enjoy the scenery and some of the ruins you came across? thank you
+Janinka UF I used a Sony CX360v (it's a handycam). Nothing fancy, just bring plenty of memory cards and battery. My tour guides were great, but they set us up in a terrible hostel the last night in Aguas Calientes, so I recommend not staying at that hostel. The company was called United Mice. We took the same route as usual, but did in fact do the trek in 3 days instead of 4. 4 days is preferable because you get to see Machu Picchu before it opens and all the busses arrive since you can walk in from the trail. We missed out on that part. There is a hot springs in Aguas Calientes - definitely a local spot. We went and it was great. You can walk there if you are staying in town. The hikd did not seem rushed. We had plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and the ruins, I just didn't include tons of footage of ruins in these films as these are the basic things one needs to know about the trail.
Very helpful tips...but I would like to know what time of year or what month you went to Peru. Friends and I are heading to Peru end of June. Thanks.
+f. luna I went in May, which is not quite as popular as June. It was still rainy and a bit cold. June will be great!
Hey Matt, I have noticed you have not packed a drone. Is taking a drone on the Trek allowed to catch incredible footage of M. Picchu? Thank you.
Julie Turner why not
Man don't blink
Thank you!!
Good boys squeus!!! Lo que sea !! Principiantes !!! Ñaaaaaa
you're awesome
Great video and most informative. Thanks for sharing.
thanks for making this video! it will help me with my upcoming hike next month.
do you happen to have a travel blog?
I'm glad they were helpful… But no I don't have a travel blog at this time. Should I?
Thanks! Great video, great info.
Thank you for this great advice. Very helpful. For what I can see in the other videos, is this like a rocky trail? Any recommendation on what kind of boots to buy? Thank you!
Joha Pinto It is rocky, but in the form of stairs. There are not many small rocks- just thousands of very large ones. You should buy high-top, waterproof boots that provide ankle support and have Vibram soles or another comparable material. For example: www.timberland.com/shop/mens-boots/mens-mt-maddsen-mid-waterproof-hiking-boots-2730r242
I wanted to ask you: I own a pair of waterproof boots brand The North Face which have Vibram Sole and they're extremely slippery when it's wet on rocks, I'm very curious that you recommend Vibram soles but my experience with this one makes me really hesitant to take them given the rocks on the videos look very flat on some parts and with the rain it might be dangeorus? So my question is did you or your wife actually wear boots with Vibram sole? or did they have another type of sole? if so, which one?. Thanks again keep up the good work!
Love your videos and tips. Planning on doing the Inca trail in 2016. Which trek did you think was harder between Kilimanjaro and the Inca trail? Wondering what your wife packed, minus the essentials for women, and what she didn't pack that she wished she had. What did you pack that you really didn't need for the Inca trail? I want to go as light as possible but still have everything necessary. Did you need bug spray? Once again, thanks for the great videos. I watched them all. Love your cute dog. ☺
Roxann Eide I would say that Kilimanjaro overall was harder because the altitude was more extreme. Summit night was a major challenge. However, the individual days of hiking the Inca Trail were more challenging than the individual days up Kilimanjaro (except for the summit). The terrain covered on the Inca Trail is extreme, whereas Kili is more gradual. I asked my wife your questions, and the only things she said she brought were a small bottle of perfume (which included a natural bug repellent) from "The Body Shop," which we picked up at Denver International Airport on the way to Lima, and a small bottle of baby powder to keep her hair from feeling gross while not washing it.
We did not pack anything we did not need. The things I show in my video are specifically chosen to intersect practicality, minimalism, and emergency preparedness. If you want to cut anything out, cut your changes of clothes... Anything we may not have used on this trip was still important to bring. While not every single item is used on every single trek, not having some of the items on the list could lead to a crisis should certain situations arise. I do not recommend omitting things from my list. Yes, we used bug spray as hoards of mosquitos found us to be easy targets in the jungle.
Good luck with the planning and let me know if you have any other questions!
EnergyRouter Thanks for the important info. Wasn't sure about the bug spray because I never saw any of the bugs in any of the videos I watched. Do you have any suggestions about where to do some hikes in Colorado? My friend and I want to go out and get a taste of the altitude difference and see how we would handle it.
Was there anything you didn't take with you on your trek that you wish you had?
No, I was quite happy with my gear!
Why you do not blink while talking?
Thanks. Very helpful video!
Great video, did you guys have any other luggage than your hiking packs?
Echobase71 I second that question!
This video was a lot of help thank you so much. I was wondering, after the trip, what do you think you could have left at home? Also, what do you think you could have really used, but did not take with you? Thanks again! :)
Hey, I would not leave anything off this list. I used it all. The only problem was that the inflatable travel pillow did get a small hole in it and did not work after that. A different solution would be preferable. Just a reminder - we went in May and it was still a bit cold and rainy some days, so don't leave off the coats and rain gear unless you're sure it will be warm enough. Nights were in the 30s and 40s Fahrenheit.
Awesome. All your videos were great help and I enjoyed watching you both on your adventure. Thank u for the tip, I'll be taking a small Thermarest so I should be fine. We will also be trekking in May! :) Thanks again!
You don't need more of the haft things you taking.. you going to Machu Picchu trail no to the end on the world. Machu Picchu trail include all just bring clothes and personal things like paper towel and that's all you need
I'd be interested to know more specifically what you think is not necessary on this list. Can you give me a better idea of what you would bring instead?
What hiking group did you use?
+Nichole Williams It was called "United Mice," but the hostel they put is in in Aguascalientes was horrid. If you use them, get a legitimate hotel in Aguascalientes
Whatever he's on, I want some.
he is watching into my soul
Great video. Thank you
I would also bring some wooden utensils for yourself. I heard from someone that sometimes the reused utensils the next day didn't look very clean.
Maybe you could just insist to wash them yourself? It would help avoid any extra weight.
+EnergyRouter True, but we are traveling with 10 other people. no guarantee you will get the same set of utensils for every meal. sharing utensils with your girlfriend is different than sharing with 10 strangers.
Jenny Mae Good point. We didn't have that concern.
Thanks for all your videos
Very helpful! Thanks.
you are a pro for hiking :)
thank u verry much. Have few questions, much were the tickets and after 4 days hike how id you get back?train?
+SARKIS ABELYAN I can't remember exactly, but train tickets from agues clients to Ollantaytambo were about $80 USD. Maybe less. Getting into Machu Picchu is cheap- but again, I can't remember the price. It should all be available online. Huayna Picchu was about $60 USD each.
How about 4day guided tour?
That was only $650 each. If you go with an american or european travel agency, they'll charge 2 or 3x the price for the same thing. Go with a local company.
Great video!! Perfect! I was wondering approximately how much did all of that equipment cost?
mavericks3344 Where would you recommend to shop for this stuff?
mavericks3344 I had lots of the gear already...so it's hard to put a price on it. I'd say if you were to buy all of it new, you'd be looking at about $800-$1,200. Boots can run about 175-300, Sleeping bags about 200-400, backpacks around 150-450, and the clothes would be another 300 or so. A patagonia jacket like mine is about 275 by itself, but there are other options. It always depends on where you buy and what brands you go for. I am showing pretty standard gear- nothing super fancy or expensive, but not cheap. It all lasts really long.
mavericks3344 REI is probably the best resource if you're in the US, but you could get some of it at sporting goods stores or online too. I recommend seeing everything in person though, so online shopping isn't my first choice. Some stuff could be found at army surplus stores, but I haven't found them to be all that great either. REI will have what you need. Look for the next Used Gear Sale at your local one. It's an opportunity you can't miss.
+EnergyRouter I agree I bought everything new and 1000 spent so far
Great info, thx,