{"id":19072,"date":"2017-03-25T07:51:38","date_gmt":"2017-03-24T20:51:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?p=19072"},"modified":"2025-08-27T05:05:55","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T19:05:55","slug":"hiking-machu-picchu-solo-traveler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/hiking-machu-picchu-solo-traveler\/","title":{"rendered":"What hiking to Machu Picchu as a solo traveller is really like"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s the symbol of South America; it\u2019s on all of the ‘Things to see before you die’ lists; and it was an absolute must-do for me, a keen hiker, while I was travelling through Peru<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I sometimes think it\u2019s a shame that we can Google the world before we see it, because we inevitably build expectations of what a place looks like and how impressed we\u2019ll be. There are few surprises in the Age of Information. And to make it worse, the top results on Google are going to be the ones with clear skies, Photoshopped colours and no tourists whatsoever. So before I reached Machu Picchu, I had doubts as to how impressed I\u2019d be because I\u2019d seen this image so many times before. But cynical me was proven wrong \u2013 it was breath-taking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But before I tell you about the main event, I\u2019ll tell you about the trek. After all, it\u2019s the journey that counts, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going it alone to Machu Picchu<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As we piled onto the coach towards the trail-head I smiled sheepishly at my neighbor, initiating the familiar introduction speech: This is my name, this is where I\u2019m from, where I\u2019ve been, where I\u2019m going \u2013 how about you? <\/em>My fears about meeting new people quickly dissipated, and I formed friendships easily. This is the great thing about joining small groups like Intrepid <\/strong>\u2013 you make instant friends with like-minded travellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As well as the thrill of making new friends with people from all over the world, the empowering thing about solo travel is that you can inoffensively float from person to person and vary your interactions as you please. On the trek you’ll find yourself walking with different people for different stretches of the trail, depending on who you can keep pace with, or simply who you set off with after a lunch stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you want to take in the beautiful scenery without distraction, you easily can. I became unafraid to set off alone and take in the sights and smells that eluded me when deep in conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highs and lows along the Quarry Trail<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On day two of the Quarry Trail (the way less crowded Inca Trail alternative<\/a>, fyi) you’ll develop a love-hate relationship with switchbacks that is zero per cent love and 100 per cent hate. Switchbacks are the zig-zags in the path that make a steep section of trail more manageable than a direct ascent up. The zig-zag pattern protects the hill and the\u00a0trail\u00a0from excessive erosion, and breaks up the intensity for hikers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Peru\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Subscribe to Intrepid’s newsletter for travel deals, new trips, inspiration and more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go slow up these ascents, and don\u2019t be ashamed to take breaks to wheeze in some more oxygen (and drink in the views). There is no clear link between your level of fitness and the likelihood that you\u2019ll suffer from altitude sickness \u2013 it can strike even the healthiest of athletes \u2013 but if you take the appropriate precautions there shouldn\u2019t be a problem, and the most you will experience is some shortness of breath. To ward off any further symptoms, keep hydrated and don\u2019t rush \u2013 slow and steady will definitely win this race. It\u2019s totally fine to not be the first to the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from the breathlessness, ascents are my favorite part of trekking. As well as working those thigh and bum muscles, you build immense mental strength from overcoming the physical pain and continuing to put one foot in front of the other. When you first look up at all you have to achieve it can feel way too intimidating, but just take it one step at a time. Once you\u2019re up, turning around and seeing the progress you\u2019ve made in the form of a killer view\u2026 you can\u2019t beat it.<\/p>\n\n\n

Machu Picchu hikes with new friends<\/h2>
Inca Trail Express<\/a><\/div>
7 days<\/span><\/div>
View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Peru: Trek the Inca Trail 4 Days<\/a><\/div>
4 days<\/span><\/div>
View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Inca Trail & Amazon Adventure<\/a><\/div>
12 days<\/span><\/div>
View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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I always think of the following quote from Nelson Mandela when I climb steeps trails: ‘Everything looks impossible until it\u2019s done.’ That quote and a killer Spotify playlist will get you through! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On day three you will rejoice at the announcement that there will be no more uphill. Woohoo! One word of warning: don\u2019t underestimate the pain of going down \u2013 it can be very demanding on your knees and feet. One poor soul in my group hadn\u2019t worn in their shoes properly and they came out with the worst blisters in the downhill sections. As long as you make sure that you have well-fitted, broken in, supportive footwear and\/or walking poles, you\u2019ll be fine. (Also it never hurts to pack good blister plasters, just in case).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Peru\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Warnings aside, the scenery on this trail is beyond stunning. You will go from lush green valleys, alongside streams and grazing animals, to sparse, dry landscapes, towering peaks all around. It\u2019s all too easy to stare at your walking boots while on the trail, because all you can think about is how tired you are or how much your feet ache. But these moments are to be treasured \u2013 look up at your surroundings often and take it all in. Once it\u2019s over, you\u2019ll only remember the good bits, I promise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I wish I knew before hiking to Machu Picchu <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laying eyes on the main event<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When I finally set eyes on that magical city in the mountains, there were no blue skies like its Google version, in fact it was incredibly misty. But this had its own magic. I was transported back in time by this ancient world where people used to pass their day-to-day existence up in the clouds. And I soaked it all up with the knowledge that it was simply my feet and determination that got me there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Got the urge for adventure, but no one to go with? Check out Intrepid’s range of Machhu Picchu trips perfect for solo travellers.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you first look up at all you have to achieve it can feel way too intimidating, but just take it one step at a time. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15904,"featured_media":19077,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[286],"tags":[5,1183,57,468,38],"class_list":["post-19072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","tag-active","tag-active-adventures","tag-inca-trail","tag-machu-picchu","tag-south-america","ipf_theme-active-adventures"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat hiking to Machu Picchu as a solo traveller is really like | The Good Times by Intrepid<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Got a sense of adventure but no one to go with? 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