Peru Treks – What to Expect

For the traveller who is looking for a great trekking holiday that features both the beauty of nature as well as spectacular ruins from ancient times then a Peru Trek may be just the type of holiday you are looking for.  Before you make the decision to go and book a trek in Peru it is important that you do a little research on the country and the area that you plan on visiting so that you will know what to expect before and while you are trekking in Peru.   The following is some important information about what to expect while trekking anywhere in Peru.

Trekking in Peru is done through many different terrains and involves both steep climbs and also steep descents over what can be considered very rocky ground.  It is not necessary to be super fit to do these types of treks however many of the trekking tours require participants to have some fitness and be able to walk for long periods of time such as 2 – 3 hours with rests.

The water in Peru is only drinkable after boiling for approximately ten minutes and many treks are set up to provide water to fill bottles before each section of the trek.  Some of the towns along the way also have bottled water available.

The weather in Peru can vary greatly depending on where you are and the altitude that you are at.  The temperatures can vary from around 25° Celsius in the middle of the day to approximately 5° Celsius at night time.  It is important to pack the right sort of clothing for the area and the altitude that you will be trekking.  It is also important to know that if you are trekking in some of the high altitude areas they receive snow so it is important to have the right winter gear.

The Altitude of many of the treks in Peru is also something that anyone visiting the area should be aware of.  Altitude and altitude sickness can affect people in different ways and for some the symptoms can be quite severe.  Many trekking companies factor in extra days on a trek to become acclimatized before moving up to higher altitudes.

When trekking in Peru it is important to remember that Peru is quite a poor country which means that the camping areas for many of the treks are quite basic.  Most treks involve sleeping in tents and roughing it a little however for many this is all part of the amazing experience.