Finalizing Peru Travel Plans

We’ve had packing lists (from the tour operator and other blogger recommendations) and multiple conversations about additional items needed for hiking, and yet, it’s taken us until the week before our departure to buy everything required. Then there was the fun task of wearing our new purchases, testing our solar-powered cell phone chargers, and getting appropriately fitted for our new daypacks, something we failed to do for our first adventure (See BARCELONA HERE WE COME!).

Part of the reason for our delay is because we’ve been physically preparing for our hike. While its only about 30 miles over 4 days, the longest day is 9 miles over two peaks, each above 13,000 feet. Living in Denver at 5,000 feet sure helps, but admittedly, our lungs felt the elevation gain during our hikes from Loveland Pass at 11,990 feet to Sniktau peak at over 13,100 feet. I found it fascinating that I thought my lungs would explode on our first attempt and a week later, trying it again, felt manageable. We talked about repeating the Manitou Incline hike (2,700 steps, 2,000-foot elevation gain, about one mile of distance), but ran out of time.

I’m learning my schedule in retirement, by choice, is not always mine. There are old friends to visit, spontaneous travel opportunities, calls for help from children, requests to babysit our great-niece, and neighborhood social activities. Rarely did these make it on my work calendar. Plus, with Peru looming, I joke that Chris was a slave-driving trainer. My energizer-bunny husband had daily suggestions of physical activity to prepare us for the Inca Trail. With only a few days left before our departure, I know we are ready and prepared and it will be incredible!