Preparing for the Inca Trail starts by considering its current physical condition. Organization is necessary; specialists recommend beginning to prepare six months before your trek.
Muscles become stronger when trained regularly and effectively. Start with daily walks to build muscle resistance, gradually increasing the difficulty.
To trek, your heart, back, hip, and foot muscles must be strong to climb more efficiently and use less oxygen. Therefore, altitude sickness will not affect your body.
Exercises depend on your lifestyle and where you live; ideally, begin with short treks and stairs, and include joint-rotating activities if you walk briskly.
The answer depends on your preferences, lifestyle, and where you live. You must have considerable self-discipline if you live near pleasant walking or running grounds, and proper footwear may be all you need. Consider getting a heart rate monitor to make your training more systematic. Try going out with a friend who wants to get in shape: if your training needs and rhythms are compatible, you will motivate each other.
If brisk trekking or running does not work, try a combination of activities you enjoy and do regularly (three times a week), such as dancing, cycling, or swimming. Consider going to a gym to monitor your progress and fitness. Supplement your training with walks that contain climbs and descents in rough terrain. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your sessions.
You do not have to become an exercise addict to do these treks, but you will enjoy this experience more than being in shape. Start training well in advance; if you are not fit, give yourself 3 to 6 months. If you smoke, leave it at least until after your trip.
The best training frequency is every other day; the body needs a rest day to get the most from each session. The goal of a training period is to train three times a week. Before leaving, take longer sessions and stop the training one to two days before leaving.
Buying water bottles during the first two days is possible when drinking water. Still, it is necessary to purify the water; we recommend using purifying tablets or drops to purify it before drinking.
We recommend taking the Inca Trail.
We also suggest that if you plan to make the Inca Trail, you spend at least 2 days in Cusco or somewhere of a similar altitude to acclimatize and be ready for it, and that you have no problems with heights.
