How big are your hiking groups?

All the hikes offered by Adios Adventure Travel are in small groups. Varies from minimum of 2 up to 10 maximum. If you have a group of 8 or more please contact us for quote for a private trek

Will I get altitude sickness?

It's common for most people coming from sea level to experience at least mild symptoms of altitude sickness when they arrive in Cusco, which is 11,000 ft/3430 m above sea level.  Age is not a factor for the severity of symptoms one can experience.  But fitness can be. Symptoms vary from person to person, but can include:

• -headache
• -nausea
• -insomnia
• -lfatigue
• -loss of appetite
  
  

Treatments may include:

• -OTC pain reliever - bring your own favorite remedy for pain relief (headache is the #1 complaint)
• -Oxygen. Most hotels have oxygen tanks in their lobbies and guides will carry small tanks of oxygen on hikes.  Some local pharmacies sell an individual size O2 tank for personal use.
• -Coca Leaf. Locals believe that drinking coca leaf tea will help and you will find the tea leaves readily available in hotel tea bars as well as restaurants. 
• -Water.  Drink extra to keep your blood flowing freely.  Dehydration leads to sludgy blood and may contribute to your discomfort.
• -Diamox. (AKA "Acetazolamide") can be purchased by prescription in some western countries or over the counter in Peruvian pharmacies. 
• -Treatments may alleviate the symptoms as you adjust in the first 12 - 24 hours of arrival at high altitude.  But you cannot expect the sense of breathlessness to completely disappear, no matter how you treat it.  In rare occasions, individuals may need to seek medical attention. 

Is it safe to drink the water?

Tap water in Lima, Cusco and other larger cities is consumed by local people every day.  But is it safe for you?  There's only one way to find out and we suggest that you not drink the tap water or use it to brush your teeth.  Bottled water is cheap and available everywhere including small towns and villages.  We support travelers bringing their own purification devices to reduce the use of disposable water bottles and encourage you to bring a purification device to make your own safe drinking water.  The device should be rated to purify water from microbes, viruses and heavy metals, not just for taste.  Purified drinking water is provided on all the multi-day hikes and during your stay in the Amazon jungle lodges.  Please bring a reusable water bottle and your own water to begin the activity.

What equipment do you provide for hikes?
Porters will carry tents for sleeping, cooking and dining. And we provide all kitchen and cooking supplies including the food that is served.  We do not provide sleeping bags or big, fluffy pillows. With advance notice, sleeping bags can be rented for $20 pp.  We provide trekking poles for multi-day hikes and 1 day hikes.  Our sleeping bags are Sierra Designs/North Face/Mountain Hardwear brand mummy bags rated to 20 degrees or 30 degrees F.  If you choose to rent a sleeping bag, we ask you to provide your own bag liner.  We also provide Therma-rest Basecamp regular-size mattresses.  If you are over 6' 4/190 cm, please bring your own mattress or let us know & we'll tape 2 mattresses end to end (just kidding - like the big, fluffy pillows).  We provide duffle bags for packing up to 11lb/5kg of your personal gear on multi-day hikes. The  total weight limit includes the weight of sleeping bags and therma-rest mattresses, regardless of whether we provide it, or your bring it. 

How do I know if I'll need an extra porter for my hike?
All multi-day hikes with Adios Adventure Travel include extra porters. This is our standard.  We do this as much for the porters as for the hikers. One way to protect porters from abuse is to ensure that there are enough porters to distribute the load.  And another way to show appreciation for porters is to pay them living wages.  Which we do.  It's at your discretion to tip porters. Customary amount is $30-$35 each after the hike. You are free to tip any amount you can afford.

What is the best way to travel between Lima and Cusco?
We recommmend flying between the cities because other means requires more time or is not practical for short vacations. There is no train service between Lima and Cusco.  And while there is bus service, the drive is almost 24 hours long over paved, but winding mountain roads. There is no speedy highway.  The cost of round-trip air tickets varies from around $250 pp on the domestic carriers, including SKY AIRLINES, to $450 pp on LATAM AIRLINES (and somewhere in-between on AVIANCA) AIRLINES who flies  from Bogota directly to Cusco.)

Where should I stay if my international flight arrives in Lima in the evening?
There is only one hotel at the Lima airport.  The Wyndham Grand 5* Hotel is connected to the new Lima arrivals terminal.  It takes only a few minutes to walk from the terminal to the lobby of the hotel.  The hotel is expensive by Peruvian standards (in excess of $350 per double room per night). We've seen good rates on booking.com and hotels.com  The hotel will accommodate as many as 3 to a room, but not 4. 

For people who need a less expensive option, Holiday Inn is located about 20 minutes away by free shuttle bus.  

These hotels are best for groups who arrive in Lima late evening and plan to depart again by air the next day.  For groups planning to stay in Lima, it's best to pre-arrange a transfer to a hotel in the city center, unless you don't mind paying the "gringo rate" when you negotiate on your own. The travel time is about 40 minutes each way when the traffic is moderate.  And the cost ranges from $35 each way and up.  If your group is larger than 3 persons, you may need a transfer in a mini-van or two taxis. 

Do I need vaccinations to visit Machu Picchu?
No vaccinations are required to enter Peru by US passport holders. However some countries may require yellow fever for their citizens traveling anywhere in Peru. Please check with your government health  guidelines for international travel. The altitude of Machu Picchu is 8000 ft/2440 m and higher.  Disease-carrying vectors do not thrive at higher elevations. US passport holders are not required to get Yellow Fever vaccinations or prophylactic Malaria treatments. Although there have been no recent cases of Yellow Fever in Peru, some countries, including the US, recommend that visitors get Yellow Fever vaccinations prior to visiting the Amazon Rainforest including Tambopata Reserve or Manu National Reserve.  We recommend that travelers check the regulations for re-entry for any countries they will pass through after leaving Peru, Bolivia or Ecuador.  Bolivia requires all foreigners to have proof of yellow fever vaccination upon entry if you plan to travel to the Bolivian Amazon jungle. Some countries including Australia, require their citizens to get yellow fever vaccination if they enter Peru, even if they are only visiting the higher elevations. 

New Vaccination Requirements For Travelers Going to Machu Picchu and Galapagos. 

Effective May 2025, Ecuador now requires travelers to show proof of Yellow Fever Vaccination if traveling from Peru to Ecuador. This applies to anyone who stays in Peru 10 days or more, and is under the age of 60.

Disclaimer: we're providing health information as a courtesy. This informatoin is subject to change. We are not responsible for changes to the policies. Please double check health and document requirements before you plan your trip.