Backpacking? Alpine hiking? Camping? Multi-day treks? Rick’s done it all! And one of his most recent trips was an 11-day Cordillera Huayhuash Trek Tour through the Cordillera Huayhuash in Peru, one of the best treks in Peru after the 4-Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The Cordillera Huayhuash Trek is already a challenging trek through the Huayhuash mountain range in the Peruvian Andes, but what makes it even more difficult is the altitude (as high as 5,050 meters or 16,500 feet).
After a successful trekking experience in the Andes of Peru, here’s Rick’s advice on what to pack for your hikes in Peru:
- Hiking poles
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Hiking boots – make sure you break them in properly
- Merino Wool base layers
- Sunglasses – this is a must for the outdoors
- Sunblock – don’t cheap out on sunblock lotions
- Personal water filter system (example: Katadyn Befree water filter)
- Wet wipes (non-flushable)
- Soft-to-the-skin toilet paper
- Vitamin C drink mixes (examples: Emergen-C, Ener-C)
- Halls / Ricola cough drops
And here are Rick’s top Peru travel tips to keep in mind for your visit to Peru:
- Try to avoid the upper level when traveling in a double decker bus unless you have no issue with motion sickness.
- Give yourself 3-4 days to acclimatize to the high altitude.
- Climb/hike high and sleep low.
- Avoid high fat and high protein meals for the first few days.
- Take probiotics supplements starting from 2 weeks prior to the trip.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Eat more veggies and fruits.
- Be open minded and enjoy.
