Heading to Peru

[Shep]

Hi there!

I'm heading to Peru, or wanting too, in 2019! Doing a ton of research and was curious if there were any recommendation of companies that can do the Inca Trail? Looking for more of a cultural experience than a group full of party people.

Also was curious on prices and roughly what I should expect to pay.

Thanks!

[campclimb]

Hey,

I went to Peru in 2017 and used a small company called Cachi Life. https://www.cachilife.com I did Inca Trail https://www.cachilife.com/inca-trail-tours/ with them and they tend to keep their groups on the smaller side as they want to tailor your experience. Loved the private atmosphere and ate some of the best food while on the trail. They hired an extra porter for me at no additional cost which was great on the legs.

They also do some other cultural experiences where you can hike to a small farm village. Was an amazing experience and cool to see how the locals live.

They tend to be on the pricier side, but for what you get provide a lot of value and pay their guides/porters a higher wage.

Hope this helps.

[MDfive21]

Brien Foerster

https://www.youtube.com/user/brienfoerster

[elledub]

I went with http://kbperu.com/ It was an amazing trip and their prices are reasonable. Highly recommended.

[SnackDog]

It is very easy to do with no guide and very little money. You can stay or pitch a tent almost anywhere along the way. Eat and toilet as well. Fairly safe as well once outside Cusco.

[Unique User]

We're looking at going in June, but would do a 2 day, 1 night tour from Cusco to Machu Picchu with a tour, my fam is just not up for hiking the Inca trail with all their knee issues and limited vacation time.  I did read that for anyone wanting to hike the Inca trail to book a minimum of six months out as permits are very limited.  I found the below very informative. 

https://www.peruhop.com/getting-from-lima-to-machu-picchu/

[jinga nation]

SAS Travel, used them in 2012. No frills, good simple food, funny awesome guides. Ain't no party time when all you do is hike, eat, shit, sleep, repeat.

I remember talking to hikers using other companies, found out SAS were much cheaper. Didn't have the fanciest uber tents, but everyone from every comapny sleeps in the same campsite areas, drinks the same water, watches the same sunrise, uses the same Inka Banos^TM.

I enjoyed the smaller ruins along the hike instead of the ornately designed pile of stones that you see at sunrise on the last day. Because no tourists at small sites, and tons of tourists at Machu Picchu. Sundays are the worst as it is overrun with locals. Not their fault, it's their day off to enjoy, but no crowd regulation.

https://www.tripsavvy.com/best-inca-trail-tour-operators-in-peru-1620002

[Warlord1986]

I went to Peru in 2015. I spent too much, but I've gotten better about lower-cost travel since then. It was a fantastic experience, and I loved it. Machu Picchu is a sight I'll remember for the rest of my life, and climbing up a mountain in a foreign country gave me the confidence to search for a new job and leave a dead end career.

Also, pisco sours are delicious. :)

[MDfive21]

when i posted above i should have searched up the best brien foerster talk.  here ya go.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roX__kFKUjo

lots of good pics and ideas for sites to visit.