Trip Dossier

                                                                   
Inca Trail what to bring:

A- Clothes:
· Hiking boots and trainers ( sneakers )
· T- shirts
· Sweaters and thick jacket
· Log pants and log –sleeved shirts.
· Rain wear during rainy season.

B- Equipment
· Camera and films
· Insect repellent and sun block
· Torch and knife
· Backpack and light case.

C- Personal Toilet Items:
· Soap, shampoo, toothbrush and dental floss.
· Towel.

We recommend you to:
· Use boots during the whole trek.
· Drink a lot of liquid during long excursions and on the Inka trail.

Altitude Sickness Or Soroche
Also known as acute height sickness, it is a consequence of lack of sufficient oxygen. It usually strikes non-acclimatised persons that ascend above 2000 m.a.s.l (6562 ft). Those travellers that arrive in Cusco by air are more prone to suffer from this.
Symptoms tend to set in within the first 48 hours of the ascension (although sometimes also much later), and include everything from headaches, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, sleep alterations, vertigo, palpitations and problems to concentrate, even the risk of acute oedema of the lung

Prevention
The best way to prevent "soroche" is to make a gradual ascension. If the visitor has the time and is able to spend the first nights in the Sacred Valley, he (or she) will be less prone to suffer from altitude sickness
It is very important that those that arrive in Cusco carry out their activities gradually. We recommend that you rest the first day, eat little and only light food, and enjoy the delicious coca leaf tea.

As a preventive measure, but always observing any counter indications, one can take two to three daily pills of Acetazolamide (125- 250mg), starting 48 hours before the ascension until 48 hours after reaching the top.
Another efficient way to counteract altitude sickness is to take 4mg of Dexametasone every six hours always starting 48 hours before the ascension and during the stay at high altitudes. Treatment
If "soroche" sets in spite of taking preventive measures it is important to drink lots of liquid. Paracetamol is ideal against headaches and Coramina helps to limit the effects of nausea. Once again, Acetazolamide (250 mg) taken orally two or four times a day is very efficient to combat the illness and to speed up acclimatising.
It is always best to consult a physician in all cases and to observe the counter-indications. Do not wait until feeling very ill before asking for oxygen. It can be found in some hotels, most pharmacies and in hospitals.

Water
During the Inca Trail, it is better to drink only boiled or bottled water during the day, and in the evenings and at night, regular, herbal or coca leaf tea. We do not recommend drinking from the streams because there is a risk that they might be contaminated by a parasite called Giardia originating from the local cattle, which will affect your stomach and intestines.
There are no food service outlets available on the trail, thus the importance of carrying enough food for three days. We recommend the hiring of local porters.

Toilets are available along the trail, as well as indicated camping sites. Follow the signs and, above all, do not litter the trail. The climate is liable to changes during the climb.

Luggage storage. When you go on the trek it is best to leave any luggage that you are not going to need behind in Cusco. Nearly all the hotels in Cusco provide a secure luggage deposit. Put any valuables in their safe. Very rarely do hotels charge for this service especially if you are returning to the same hotel after the trek. If there are any problems with your hotel we can arrange to store your luggage at our office.

Time of arrival in Cusco. Unless you plan to stay an extra night in Aguas Calientes, you will return to your hotel in Cusco for approximately 9pm on the 4th day of the trek.