Published on Nov, 2023
4D/3N Classic Inca Trail tour
Just got back from our wonderful trip two days ago! Our group was a group of adult siblings/SOs ( age 27-35) with our 64-year-old parents. Most if not all of the positive reviews you see are similar to what my family experienced, so sharing a few other highlights that may get a little less shine:
Family environment - From day 1, Raymer and Christian set the tone for a bonding environment, and by example led us to support and encourage one another on what was a very difficult trek. They facilitated conversations and pictures with our porters (many who spoke Quechua and less Spanish) at the beginning and the end better than other hikes I've done that included porters. Someytimes it appears they are instructed to keep to themselves and not bother the 'paying customer' and it can feel a bit awkward for anyone like me who is uncomfortable with such a dynamic. They referred to our group as "team" or "family" throughout, facilitated lovely conversations full of laughter during meals, and the trip culminated in a WhatsApp group to exchange pictures and stay in contact with one another. Totally what we look for when we travel.
Great guides - Raymer and Christian were a fun dynamic and so warm-- by the end of the trip we all had nicknames for each other. I observed many other groups and guides on the trail, and my (biased) takeaway after observing for 4 days was that thanks to our guide we were having the most fun and getting the most information. For example, my dad had a particular interest in the birds and fauna along the trek, and loved being able to consult with Ray at every hummingbird that flew by or unique bird call he heard. We loved how they both weaved the past Inca history with their personal experiences, as well as cultural practices and spirituality of those who live in Cusco today. For any of the Instagrammers, they reminded me of wedding-photographer experts-- calling all the shots once you arrive at MP to get all your pictures efficiently and before the clouds cover it all up!
Caters to all abilities - Our group of 10 had varying paces and abilities. Thanks to Ray and Christian's teamwork, they somehow managed to constantly check in and be present for all of us, though we were quite spread out at times. I noticed Ray was adeptly calculating contingency plans at all times -- what to do if it rains and gets slippery or we run out of daylight, determining who could stay back to support the slower group members (major thanks to porters Emiliano and Francisco who jumped in while still holding their packs!), how to everyone us on time, etc. Ray and Christian never pushed anyone to go faster than their abilities, despite some of us slowing down significantly by day two. It was very impressive and I admire both their calm patience--willingly taking teammate's backpacks to quite literally lighten their load.
Food - what everyone else said. It's great and should be the least of your worries-- three were three different food needs/restrictions in our group, and SAM got it right every single meal. A treat every time. Thank you Mario and Nerio! <3
Responsiveness/Organization: In advance, the SAM team is quick to reply to all our family's questions via email and during the hike itself, overall Ray was steadily communicating with us the plan during the hike what was happening next and what to prepare for. He is the ultimate coach! Everything was easy and organized -- handling things like airport pickup/dropoff, taking care of our train tickets back to Cusco, etc significantly diminished any stress we felt around the trip.
Only one small note for future: SAM advertised as maxing out at a group of eight, and we found out upon arrival that instead that we would be a group of ten, with a group of three joining our group of seven. This certainly wasn't a big deal to us and the group dynamic was lovely, as we always love connecting with new friends. It just was not something we were aware of until we arrived and may be problematic for a less-flexible group.
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