General Questions

[Abravo52]

I've literally just spent hours perusing this site and it is fantastic.
I'm a college student planning on visiting South America with a friend for about 6 weeks this summer. I'll most likely be flying into Lima and beginning the journey by going to Cuzco and hiking to Machu Picchu. Light packing is essential, but was wondering how you carried your tent and camping utensils in your pack as well and still kept everything condensed. Ideally, my friend and I would like to do the four day trek to Machu Picchu on our own, but I know there are government regulations as to who can enter the trail and camping allocations to certain tours and things so I was also wondering if going alone is even an option anymore.

Also, I would consider myself in good shape although by no means an experienced climber, so would the climb to Cotopaxil be realistic if I wasn't with an experienced climber, because it looks absolutely breathtaking. Another main thing on the trip would be staying on the cheapest budget possible, so I figure doing things like going to Easter Island or the Galapagos would be fairly expensive, so if you could give me some insight as to how much these things cost and if I had to pick just a few, which I should do. Sorry for the length and thanks for the website and e-book, excellent resources!

[Mark]

Hi Abravo52,


Thanks very much for the kind words! I'm thrilled that Travel Amazing South America serves as an inspiration for your future travel adventure to South America. I'll go over your travel questions one by one:

• backpack: light packing
• machu picchu
• cotopaxi
• expensive undertakings

Backpack: Light Packing

Before I started my 18 month adventure in South America I spent weeks figuring out what to take and what not to take with me. To tell you the truth, I had a lot of gear with me and it served me well. It gave me some amazing travel moments I hadn't planned (those are always the best). A wonderful example is the Cotopaxi volcano climb, said to be the highest active volcano of the world (see below).


From what I can tell you're into hiking. You've got two possibilities:

• take your quality gear from home
• rent gear in South America

When you take your own gear you know what it's worth. I dragged a tent and cooking utensils with me for many months. When you rent gear in South America some unexpected things might happen. I rented a sleeping bag when I did the 4 day Santa Cruz hike in Huaraz in Peru. It seemed that I wasn't the only one using the sleeping bag. A very prosperous flee community was keeping me company.

Take what is essential with you. Rent the other stuff in South America. You can read my Travel to South America: How to Start page for more information.


Machu Picchu

When I was in Peru it was still possible to do the Inca Trail by yourself. Fate had a surprise for me. Read my Inca Trail story. Due to the negative impact mass tourism had on Machu Picchu regulations on visiting one of the most enigmatic ancient ruins of the world have been put in place. Today it is illegal for you to trek on the Inca Trail without a licensed trek operator. You have to make the Inca Trail reservations well in advance. I'll post a longer Machu Picchu thread in the Peru forum.


Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi is marketed in Ecuador as the highest active volcano of the world and is a must do if you're a mountain aficionado. First of all I'd like to mention that I'm not a mountain climber yet I've seen the crater of Cotopaxi at an altitude of 5,897 meters (19,347 feet). Feel free to read my Cotopaxi story.


The top two things you need to climb Cotopaxi:

• you need to be acclimatized
• you need an experienced guide

Make sure your body is acclimatized before you climb Cotopaxi. If soroche (high altitude sickness) hits you there's only one way and that's going to a lower altitude as fast as you can.

You will need an experienced guide to climb Cotopaxi. Remember that you'll climb with crampons, security rope and an ax. You'll have to shop around in Quito for a guide.


Expensive Undertakings

Some things have to be done when you're traveling in some amazing far away destination. One of those things for me was the Galapagos Islands. It was something I really wanted to see and I knew it was going to be expensive. The Galapagos Islands was one of the highlights of my trip in South America. I made a post in the Ecuador forum on how you can go to the Galapagos Islands on your own. Easter Island, on the other hand, was just too expensive when I arrived in Chile after many, many months traveling.

Choose one of the expensive undertakings, make your budget accordingly and go for it. It's going to be remembered for many years to come, believe me.


Enjoy your trip! Keep us posted!

Best wishes,

Mark