Inca Trail - Part 3

As I have become a more experienced filmmaker, I have come to the opinion that for me, it is people that make interesting viewing. This is one of the main reasons I enjoy travelling. I like going to unusual places and meeting people from all walks of life. Perhaps if people travelled more, the world would be better educated about others and there would be less racism.

This is part of a 2-hour documentary I made of my travels across South America in the summer of 2007, and focuses on a 4-day hike through the Inca Trail. This is part 3 of 3, so be sure to view all 3 parts if you want to see the full journey.

We used an Australian company called Intrepid Expeditions and our guide was a man named Wilfredo, who lives in Peru. Our porters were also local to the area, provided by a company called Llama Trek. They really did go out of their way for us; just take a look at the food they cooked. On my travelling companions birthday they baked a cake and all the ingredients were carried with the rest of their stuff.

Those who have ever thought about walking the Inca Trail will find this a useful insight into what to expect. I hope others will find it educational and informative. The walk is hard as you will see, but anybody who is reasonably fit should be able to complete it without any major problem. You will need extended insurance because of the high altitude.

Most people do this walk in groups of about 200, but ours was a group of 6 and we really felt we benefited from the personal service. We didn't "do" the Inca Trail to cross it off the list, as some people would put it. We experienced it and it was a memory that will stay with us forever.

Without wanting to sound like an advert, I would definitely recommend Intrepid Expeditions to anyone not interested in being kept in a plastic bubble and wrapped up in cotton wool, but who wants to walk off the beaten track and see the place for what it is, and to meet real people and be shown around by local guides.

Enjoy!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• inca
• trail
• travel
• places
• people
• journeys
• south
• america
• historical

[DannoJano]

Great Videos ! What's the name of the company that you used ? Thanks

[reidyboy]

@DannoJano Intrepid Travel, based in Australia.

[DannoJano]

@reidyboy Found the web site, a lot of info. I went to M.Picchu by train in 2006 and I loved it and with my wife( that I meet on that trip by the way ) are planning to go back july 2012 using the inca trail this time and since you are the only person that we know that actually have done it we have a few more cuestion, i hope you don't mind. 1_What's the bathroom situacion during the hike, I can go pretty much anywhere but I'm worry for my wife 2_The sleeping bags are warm enough ?

[reidyboy]

@DannoJano The bathroom situation is not good. It's a basic hole in the ground and no toilet paper is provided. Having been warned about this, we took a roll of paper from the last decent hotel we stayed at, which helped a lot, but squatting down is not nice and hurts your knees. I have been told that there are plans to upgrade the facilities but not sure if and when that will happen. Sleeping bags were fine, but you can always take your own.

[dgbregman]

Wow! I view all 3 of video's since my husband and I are planning this trip for the Spring of 12. Very informative. Would you recommend this particular company for the trail?

[reidyboy]

@dgbregman I would definitely recommend this company, they really went out of their way for us. We left all but our essential luggage in Cusco and before travelling to Ollantaytambo and when we got there my companion and I suddenly realised we needed our passports. While the other guests went for a meal, Wilfredo our guide got on a bus with us and accompanied us all the way back to the hotel in Cusco to retrieve our passports. Today Wilfredo is one of my Facebook friends.

[judassss]

thanks for uploading these :) im going to peru soon might give this a shot

[Fredisimo]

Great film. I did the trail in 1980 long before there were companies and guides. The trail had little definition. It didn't have the walkways and paths it does now so it was very easy to get lost. I had to navigate using a hand-drawn map I located in Cuzco. I carried food and gear totaling 80 pounds. My wife carried 60. Few people hiked the trail in those days. We didn't see another soul during many days of hiking.

[DannoJano]

@DannoJano Thank you, I'll check their web site

[woartigawoartiga]

I liked the fake jump - It was a cool cut