Hiking the Inca Trail was an adventure I’m so grateful I could check off my bucket list, with moments I will remember for so long. I did this trail as as G Adventures traveler; among our many other Peru trips you can find the itinerary I completed here: Trekking the Inca Trail: 4 Days, 3 Nights. We began our hike immediately following GX; an event hosted by G Adventures celebrating World Tourism Day and Planeterra’s 20th Anniversary.
Meeting the Global Team
This departure was special, I mean I believe that all G trips are really special because of our approach to travel, but this trip was unique for me because there were six other G Adventures CEOs from different countries. (Our CEOs are our Chief Experience Officers; they are the local, on-the-ground experts that guide our trips around the world). They came from North America, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Costa Rica! We had so much fun talking together about how their experiences differ and the differences they see in foreign travelers visiting their countries. As a member of the marketing team in the USA, opportunities to hear from team members on the ground helps me understand what we do so much more.
Meeting the Global Team
One of the most amazing things about our hike was getting to know our porters. These incredible people carry all the supplies we need for a safe, fun, and memorable hike. They are like the superheroes of the Inca Trail. What’s even cooler is that many of the porters speak Quechua. The Quechua people are part of the ancient Inca heritage, and it was awesome to learn more about their history. Hiking in one of the most iconic places in Peru with them was so special. The profession of Inca Trail porters has its roots in the rich history of the Inca Empire, where “chaskis” (the Quechua word for porter) would use the network of trails to move goods and messages along the Inca empire.
Learning from our Inca Warrior, Raúl
Our tour guide, Raúl, was like a walking history book. He has hiked the Inca Trail over 200 times with G Adventures! Raúl knew so much about the history of the trail. Quechua is his native language, so he could talk to us and the porters. It made our journey even more meaningful, and he took so much pride in the opportunity to share the history of his heritage with travelers from around the world. The reality is that without the expertise of the porters and knowledge of local guides, like Raúl, the magic of the Inca Trail experience would be so much less accessible to travelers and history, stories and mysteries of the Inca empire would like fade away. To me, this blend of us travelers with the passion and buy-in of the locals keep this fascinating history alive for so many to share.
Sharing the Experience with Fellow Hikers
We weren’t the only ones on the trail. We camped near other groups who were hiking the Inca Trail just like us. There are a limited number of permits sold for the Inca Trail each year to maintain and preserve the health of the trail. Not surprisingly, people are turned away each year from the hike because they are sold so far in advance, or they are put on waiting lists for a permit in the hopes that an opening or cancellation may arise. Now regulated by the Peruvian government, only 500 travelers and porters are able to hike the Inca Trail per day. This was something that entered my mind often during the hike; that the opportunity to trek was truly such a gift.
Hiking the Inca Trail was a fantastic experience. I got to hike with my G Adventures team from all over the world and had so many meaningful interactions with our local team. They led us on this incredible adventure, and it was a journey I’ll never forget. It’s amazing how you can meet people from different corners of the globe and connect while exploring one of the most iconic places in Peru and maybe even South America. Hiking the Inca Trail is not just an adventure; it’s a journey of friendships and cultural exploration.
