You have to book the Inca Trail months in advance to secure a spot. Only 500 people are allowed on the trail each day and about 300 of these spots are reserved for workers. If I've done my math correctly, that leaves only 200 spots left for tourists. These strict regulations were set to protect the trail, the natural environment and the Inca ruins.
About six weeks before I left for Peru, I got an email from my brother, in Australia at the time on his around-the-world journey, telling me that he heard it was difficult to get permits for the trail. So I went online and found a website with a counter that tells you how many permits are left on the trail for the day you want to go. The site also said that you needed passport numbers to book the hike, and I didn't have my brother's. I called some travel agencies to see if they would book us without one number and had no luck. As I watched the counter slip from 42 spaces, to 27, to 12, I tried sending him telepathic messages to call me or email me with his passport number. But that didn't work either. The permits were soon gone for our chosen day.
He finally calls with the necessary information. I got us the last permits available for the following day. The following week was already booked solid, so we really lucked out. Que suerte. We ran into many people on our trip who tried to get permits for the trail months before their trips and had no success.
But we did. And the trek was amazing. I don't think there is any other way to see Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail was equally as amazing as Machu Picchu itself. Hiking at sunrise, nighttime skies full of stars, strong sun, heavy rain, cloud forests, jungle, Dead Woman's Pass, coca tea...
You feel like a talented photographer because the views offer prize-winning photographs. The people are kind. The vibe is magical. The ambiance is mysterious and unpredictable. One moment you are under strong sun in a valley, the next, you are in the clouds, and a moment later you are in a rainforest. A true vacation. And you end up in an ancient city in the clouds.
Below is a video of our journey on the Inca Trail. I highly recommend the trip. Tourists are now required to do the trek with a tour group--we used SAS Travel and they were excellent. But make sure you book it early!
The Sacred Valley is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. It's a region in Peru that is nestled in the Andes. Last month, I went paragliding from 9,000 feet to almost 15,000 feet. My brother said that at one point, he couldn't even see me through the clouds.
We were told we could either take a couple hundred hours of lessons--or fly tandem. So we booked a paragliding trip (parapente en espanol) with a small travel agency in Cuzco. I have to say, it was one of the sketchier things I've done. When we showed up for the appointment, it was just a taxi driver who took us about an hour outside of the city to a mountain, where we waited for our instructor.
We got out of the cab to find a free-standing store selling nothing but coca cola, water, kit kat bars, and toilet paper. Then there were the women standing outside selling everything and anything (except kit kat bars). And there were half-naked children running around. And plenty of stray animals.
Ruben-our instructor-showed up with a backpack. It didn't look like a parachute for two could possibly fit in the bag. But it did. My brother and I were told we would be flying at the same time, but it was apparent that there was only one parachute and one instructor. So my brother volunteered me to go first.
"This way, you can test out the equipment before I go."
Thanks Dave. I figured it had to be safe. We were flying tandem, so if something went wrong, Ruben was coming down with me.
Here is a video of my paragliding adventure. Enjoy. And if you are ever in Cuzco, I recommend a trip into the valley. I have Ruben's number if you want to go paragliding.
Detroit and Memphis topped the list, more for murders and thieves than for being bad for your health.
Three cities in Southern California captured the 3rd, 4th and 5th positions: Long Beach, Riverside and LA. The American Lung Association claims these cities have the worst pollution-ridden air (surprise, surprise).
Phoenix and Houston are too hot, Florida restaurants have trouble maintaining health codes and Lexington, KY is bad for allergies.
As enticing as these places normally sound, I don't think it will be hard to stay away from them this summer!
Although, strangely enough, Riversidewhich is probably the most unappealing location on the listhappens to have a quarry where local climbers go to get a good workout close to home. Not even the rotting garbage and decomposing dogs can keep climbers from getting on granite.
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