Inca Trail sold out? Take an alternative tour with Zephyr Adventures

by Kraig Becker on

Peru’s Inca Trail is, without a doubt, one of the most popular treks in the world. The four day hike takes adventure travelers on a wonderfully scenic walk through the Andes, along a route that was once used by the Inca themselves, culminating with a sunrise arrival at the mountaintop fortress of Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail tour is so popular in fact, that the Peruvian government had to start issuing permits a few years back in order to limit the number of people on the trail at any given time. Those permits are nearly impossible to come by at the moment, thanks in no small part to the fact that the trail was closed for much of the early part of the year, leading to pent up demand.

Fortunately, there are alternatives to the classic route, such as the Royal Inca Trail Trek offered by Zephyr Adventures, a small travel company based out of Montana that has been offering tours to adventure travelers since 1997. Part of the appeal of this trek, besides the fact that it doesn’t have the same permit issues as the classic Inca Trail, is that it is also much less physically demanding. The Royal Inca Trail follows the Urubamba River along a different route to Machu Picchu, which helps hikers to avoid some of the more demanding climbs and other issues that come along with altitude. This route is also seldom hiked by anyone other than Zephyr’s groups, which means the trail is mostly empty, and generally shared with just the local Quechua Indians who inhabit the area.

Zephyr offers this adventure as one of their pre-arranged group treks several times a year, but it can also be booked as a private trek as well. If you go with that option, you’ll be able to pick dates that best work for you, although you’ll need at least one other person to join you. Should you choose to make a private trek, there are two intineraries available. Zephyr’s Airport-to-Airport option, will have the guides greeting you upon your arrival and you’ll spend nine days completely in their care. But should you go with the Ala Carte Trek, you’ll be on your own getting to and from Cusco, and spend only five days just doing the trek itself.

All in all, this looks like a great alternative to the regular Inca Trail, which can be quite daunting for many travelers. It is physically demanding, adds the sometimes unpleasant element of high altitude, and is very crowded during the high season. All issues you won’t have to deal with on the Royal Inca Trail.

Susan Sarandon offically reopens Machu Picchu

by Kraig Becker on

As predicted, Machu Picchu reopened to the public on Thursday, with Oscar Award winning actress Susan Sarandon on hand to welcome visitors back to the monument for the first time in more than two months.

Back in January, heavy rains washed out portions of the railroad tracks that run from Cusco to Aguas Caliente, the nearest town to the Inca fortress. The severe flooding that followed caused a great deal of damage throughout the region, and even resulted in the closure of the Inca Trail. With Peru’s biggest tourist attraction shut down, the local economy has suffered greatly, which is why the reopening was seen as such an important event. Repair crews worked overtime to complete a crucial 17-mile section of the railway, in order to meet the April 1st deadline.

Like a microcosm of the past two months, opening day began with a downpour, but later the skies cleared, and the sun shone through, allowing the first visitors to enter the ancient city. In honor of the reopening, locals performed an ancient ritual asking for a blessing from Mother Earth to protect the site and keep the visitors safe.

During the high season, Machu Picchu sees upwards of 2000 visitors per day, and with a lot of pent up demand, those numbers are expected to swell even higher in the months ahead. Most tourists planning a trip to Peru in the weeks ahead are just happy to have the opportunity to see one of the most spectacular ancient ruins anywhere on the planet.

Inca Trail to remain closed into late April

by Kraig Becker on

Last week we received the news that Machu Picchu would be reopening on April 1st after being closed for much of the past two months following heavy rains and flooding in the area. Peru’s top tourist destination is generally accessible by two methods, a train to the mountaintop fortress or by making the four day hike through the Andes along the Inca Trail. While the train is set to return to service on March 29th, the Trail will remain closed until late April.

Machu Picchu itself received no damage from the heavy rains that washed out the railroad track in late January, and stranded hundreds of tourists for several days. It has taken weeks to clear the debris and rebuild the tracks, which is why the ancient site is ready to reopen finally.

Unfortunately, the Inca Trail didn’t fare quite as well. The torrential rainfall washed out several sections of the route and it has taken longer than expected to get it repaired and safe for trekkers once again. Traditionally, the Peruvian government closes down the trail for maintenance in February, but due to the rain damage, that was extended through March as well. Now, travel insiders are saying that the trail should be ready to go in a few weeks time, and bookings are currently available for May. In the meantime, they suggest taking one of the several alternate treks, which offer similar experiences, and are less crowded, but don’t have the big payoff in the end.

As the reopening nears, the tourist industry in Cusco and around Machu Picchu is preparing for an influx of visitors. Many of the locals earn their living directly from tourism, and it has been a rough couple of months, economically speaking, for the region. April 1st is seen as a light at the end of the tunnel at long last.

Machu Picchu reopens April 1st

by Kraig Becker on

The Peruvian Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Martin Pérez, has announced that popular tourist destination Machu Picchu will reopen to visitors starting April 1st, marking a return to normalcy for the 15th century Inca fortress that is the focal point Peru’s travel industry.

The UNESCO World Heritage site has been closed for nearly two months following torrential rainfall that caused severe flooding back in January. Those floods caused the famous railway to Machu Picchu to washout, stranding thousands of tourists at the site for several days. Since that time, crews have been working hard to restore access, removing major landslides from the tracks, and rebuilding sections that were completely destroyed.

With more than 800,000 visitors per year, Machu Picchu is easily Peru’s top tourist destination. It is estimated that nearly $400 million has been lost due to the closure of the site, and with more than 15,000 Peruvians earning their living, either directly or indirectly, from Machu Picchu, the impact on Peru’s economy has been nothing short of catastrophic. The news of the re-opening offers a ray of hope to those workers.

The over-emphasis of Machu Picchu by the tourism industry in Peru has become a cause for concern amongst officials there. Over the past two months, new plans have been put forth to promote some of the other archeological sites in the area, including Sacsayhuamán and Tambomachay, amongst others. Tourism experts hope that by encouraging travelers to visit these other locations, it will take some of the focus off of Machu Picchu, and diversify the industry to an extent.

Whether or not travelers can be convinced to visit these other sites remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure, both the visitors and the locals alike will be happy to see Machu Picchu open once again.
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7 of the craziest, most dangerous, most dizzying hikes in the world (VIDEOS)

by Gadling Staff on

Hiking is, of course, a common outdoor sport and leisure activity, enjoyed by millions of people every day. However, there are several hiking trails throughout the world that only the bravest would attempt. They’re dangerous and are only meant for the most adventurous of people (or the craziest!). The videos below provide a glimpse into seven of the world’s most dangerous hiking trails. Pull on your gloves, your hiking boots — and your Brave Hat! — and check these out.

A hike through Spain‘s El Caminito del Rey (“The King’s Little Pathway”) is not for the faint of heart. In fact, the narrow pathways, incredible height, and sharp rocks below are the stuff of nightmares. I don’t know how the person filmed and walked at the same time.

Hiking takes on a completely different look at Mount Hua, which has been called “the world’s most dangerous hike” This is the perfect hiking spot for those who have dreamed of hiking on old wood chained to the side of a mountain thousands of feet in the air. The clip gets really nerve-racking at about the 2-minute mark (not surprisingly, that’s where the occasional expletive slips out…).

If caves and wild life are your thing a hike through Tennessee‘s Mount LeConte may be just what the doctor ordered. Just beware of the bats and the really steep inclines. Fortunately, this video has a really nice tour guide explaining all the dangers and annoyances.

Machu Picchu offers beautiful sights, stunning flora, and one of the steepest tumbles — I mean hiking trails — in the world. Don’t. Look. Down.

Angel’s Landing in Utah is one of the narrowest hiking trails in the world. Those who are afraid of heights or small spaces may want to skip this incredibly sheer hiking trail.

The Philippines‘ Mount Pinatubo attracts adrenaline-junkies from all over the world. The views are stunning, the paths are steep, and… Oh yeah!, it’s a volcano that erupted in 1991. Be sure to bring your rock climbing equipment, and your lucky rabbit’s foot.

Just for grins, here’s another clip of Mount Hua, further proving this hike is best reserved for those who love taking the stairs. [Ed’s note: instead of “Beautiful Day,” the most appropriate U2 song should’ve been “Vertigo.”]

Now, let’s go hiking!

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