Tierras Vivas — Local services in Santiago

Review: Inca Trail with Tierras Vivas

Difficulty

Day one of the trail was fairly easy, lasting only a couple of hours with just one small hill to climb. I expected the trail to be moderately difficult overall, but the second day was especially challenging. Climbing over Dead Woman’s Pass was tough due to the steep ascent and the high altitude, which left me gasping for air and struggling to get enough oxygen.

Day three started with another ascent, which was also demanding, but the rest of the day was mostly downhill or flat, with small ups and downs. By this point, I was feeling quite tired, but it wasn’t unbearable. This section of the trail also offered a glimpse of fascinating Incan archaeological ruins, which were a highlight for me.

Food

The food on this hike was exceptional. Every day, we were served breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all freshly prepared and with a variety of options. The meals showcased local Peruvian cuisine, providing a great opportunity to try new dishes.

A typical meal included soup before lunch and dinner, followed by 4 options of main courses. We were also treated to evening tea, coffee and hot chocolate with snacks before dinner, and occasionally small desserts. The portions were enormous, and I never felt hungry throughout the trek.

Leoncio, the head chef, and his assistant did an incredible job. They were hardworking, friendly, and always went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable. The food was delicious every single day, and I can’t thank them enough for their dedication.

Tour Guide

Our tour guide, Ruben Huaman, was fantastic. He was incredibly knowledgeable, having grown up in the region, and spoke Spanish, Quechua, and English fluently. This unique ability allowed him to explain the cultural and linguistic significance of the towns, mountains, and archaeological sites along the way.

Ruben was kind, approachable, and always helpful. He explained every step of the journey clearly and answered all our questions thoroughly. His great sense of humor added to the experience and lifted our spirits when we were feeling tired or deflated. His positive and friendly nature made a huge difference throughout the trek.

Porters

I want to give special mention to all eight porters, including the chefs. They were truly amazing to watch, carrying 20 to 35 kg packs through the mountains with ease, even at high altitudes where I struggled.

The porters worked tirelessly to set up our campsites, tents, and everything else we needed. Their hard work and efficiency were astounding, and they made the trek much more comfortable. I can’t compliment them enough – they were absolutely fantastic.

Views & Attractions

Before this trek, I had completed the Lost City Trail in Colombia, and I wasn’t sure how the beauty of the Inca Trail would compare. Let me say that the mountain ranges, flora, and overall scenery were breathtaking. The towering peaks, rivers, lagoons, and constant presence of nature made this an unforgettable experience.

Although we didn’t see much wildlife beyond a few hummingbirds, the Incan archaeological sites along the way were fascinating. These ancient ruins were stunning and added a rich historical context to the hike.

Tour Group

My only criticism of the experience isn’t about the tour itself, but the size of my group. There were only three people in our group, which made it harder to socialize and build connections. I was hoping for a larger group to foster more camaraderie and a sense of community.

If you’re considering this trek, I’d recommend reaching out to the company to ensure you’re part of a group size that suits your preferences. Some people might enjoy the intimacy of a smaller group, but I personally feel a larger group would have enhanced...

My experience with Tierras Vivas wasn't all that great. When we met the night before our hike with the tour representative, we found out the tour representative worked for a different company. Our guide wasn't aware that we had booked an additional porter for our trip. He wasn't aware we had booked the extra hike to Huayana Picchu. After much confusion, the guides got the Huayana hike figured out, but we were stuck without an extra porter. I immediately emailed Tierras Vivas and explained that we needed and were promised a porter. They responded in an email that they would get back to me, but never did. We brought more stuff then we were prepared to carry, which made the hike all the more difficult. The guides were very friendly and helpful, but again, they were from a different tour company. They spoke enough English and could understand English if spoken slowly - which is fine. However, advertising that our guides were bi-lingual was a bit of a stretch. None of the equipment on the website matched what we were provided. The tents were different, there were no toilet tents, the sleeping bags were different design and there is no way they are -5 celsius rated. The temperature was in the low 40s and with several base layers, winter hats, and puffy coats, we were freezing. The mattress wasn't inflatable or a therma-rest. You couldn't even tell the mattress was under you. The pillow and blankets that are "included" are handed to you to carry. The site makes it seem as if the porters carry them. Since our extra porter wasn't booked and we already had too much stuff to carry, we opted not to carry the blankets and pillow. We were given one day pack for 3 people. I am not even sure how the day pack situation was supposed to work. Our porters were some of the few on the trail that had no uniform. As much as Tierras Vivas purports that they do not take advantage of their porters, I am not confident that is a true statement. I am not even confident these porters even work for Tierras Vivas since Cusco Tours is who lead our trek. Lastly, we were promised a t-shirt. After the major snafu of not booking our porter, freezing in our sleeping bags - not getting a t-shirt isn't a big deal. It is really the principle at this point. It was one more thing promised and...

Salkantay Trek Condor Sigh - Machu Picchu 5 Days I'm happy to have done the Salkantay Trek and Condor Sight with Tierras Vivas because the trek was simply fabulous!! I've chosen this trail because it offered something new and extra compared to standard Salkantay treks. It meant condor watching. It was really awesome to observe condors soaring over a very deep canyon on the first day!! I could also enjoy an astonishing view of the Apurimac River! Another day, I was given an opportunity to see the Salkantay Mountain and I understood why locals called it Apu Salkantay (Apu means a natural deity that protects all the surrounding area, people and animals including). The mountain is really huge(!) and I felt like an ant compare to it. I just kept in awe! I can't forget the deep impression it's done on me!!! Later on, mountain sceneries of the Andes changed to warmer cloud forest. We reached a small village where we could choose from two cool extra options: either to go to the Llactapata Ruins or Santa Teresa hot springs. I chose the latter and I relaxed in those amazing hot pools enjoying views of the surrounding nature mixing flora and fauna of cloud forest with mountain views!! On the last day, the highlight of the trek came: Machu Picchu!!! I could say that it was much bigger than it seemed on postcards! The place was breathtaking making you think about how it was to live in the time of its biggest glory. Another thing making it so special was the fantastic scenery of mountain peaks all around and Vilcabamba River with its valley very deeply below this Inca city! I've definitely enjoyed all the trek! I'd recommend the trek to everybody who likes fabulous natural sceneries since its way led through various ecosystems. Meals were really delicious given that conditions our Cook had were very simple. Our Tour Guide Adner was very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful! Last but not least, Porters were very helpful too, but a bit shy. :-) I can only recommend the trek with Tierras...