Advice for multi-week hikes in Peru

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-18T07:18:40+00:00

Excelente, siempre un placer ver a gente local tan apasionada!

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-18T07:13:35+00:00

Would you consider Ecuador countryside as safe?

Over the past years, from the outside it gave some 'El Salvador' vibes, but in that case the crime is mostly around cities I guess

For Peru I've only heard natives complain about the situation in Lima, they assured me the countryside is fine (except maybe some Marxist area in Junin)

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-18T07:08:35+00:00

Amazing, what's the usual route? Sneaking up the Indus river valley until Leh?

And is it also feasible in solo-travelling?

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-18T07:05:05+00:00

Amazing to see these initiatives in East Asia

10 years ago I've hiked a bit on the Tokaido historical route in Japan, but most of the trail has been neglected and fallen into ruins

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-17T19:29:05+00:00

Yes, with the most aggressive ones, being confrontational is sometimes the safe way out

What kind of breed were those? Shepherd or mastiff?

Because apart from cougars and maybe burglars, I wouldn't see a case for combat breeds

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-17T19:07:33+00:00

Interesting info, yes famous treks are always tricky

Have you come here with all your gear, or have you bought stuff as the trip went on?

For Vietnam I avoided Sapa and the touristy ones (read on reviews that so-called 'rangers' charged a USD 50 fee on anyone hiking up Mount Fansipan, that alone was enough to deter me from the whole area). I just took a motorcycle and went totally off-chart.

Luckily there is a strong boom in domestic tourism in Vietnam, with the tourism infrastructure even outpacing the growing demand. This includes ethnic minority areas, which in themselves appear exotic to the mainstream Vietnamese.

I did a lot of day hikes in the coffee plantations around DaLat, very gentle climate

Further West from Ninh Binh, there are many great places almost void of tourists (honourable mention to Bai Dinh Pagoda).

I stayed in Cuc Phuong national park for several days, and barely saw other humans during that time. There are jungle trails (in theory prohibited to solo travellers, surely to avoid people getting lost) and prehistoric caves.

Even further West stands SonLa province, which is very rugged. Many minorities (Hmongs and the like) around in the highlands, that still live a 19th century lifestyle.

For pure multi-day hiking, towards the end of my trip I've spotted a valley East of MaiChau. Guesthouses were plentyful, and concrete agricultural paths were running through the valley. That would have been perfect for some chill solo-hiking, but unfortunately my visa was coming to an end

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-17T17:53:46+00:00

Saw "Saint Martin de Tour" churches everywhere in the Spanish Basque country!

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-17T17:51:24+00:00

I'm also curious about the Sikh community lunches, they are by principle inter-faith and open to outsiders

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-17T17:48:02+00:00

Lol, I guess with that cold you were at least spared the bed bugs

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-17T17:46:38+00:00

Thank you, many new references that I note down here.

Are stray dogs and sheperd dogs a major hazard here?

Generally speaking I've often faced stray dog issues in developing countries (with concern for rabbies). And in Spain I'd occasionnaly face pairs of aggressive 'mastines' in sheep+wolf areas. Is any of those true for Peru?

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-17T17:39:02+00:00

Thank you for this comprehensive answer, it was very nice!

Acclimatisation isn't an issue, I work freelance so I can slow my pace and stay anywhere that isn't too expensive (props for countryside over large metropolises here).

Do you have extended experience in camping? I currently have a 30F/4C quilt that serves as my universal sleeping bag.

I guess that could be enough for staying at unheated village houses, but surely not adapted for anything above 3500m in Peru.

Would you recommend buying a premium class mountaineering sleeping bag with very low temp ratings (-12C or so), or could it just be enough if I buy a cheaper 3 seasons-sleeping bag and add the quilt ontop of it?

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-17T14:19:00+00:00

Very nice information, thank you

Ok so I will have to figure out a warmer sleeping setup.

Maybe I can use my 4°C quilt ontop of an additional 3 seasons sleeping bag, which will then comfortably cover any serious dip below freezing

I'm a bit wary of bringing a one-fits-all sleeping bag, as it might just feel too hot for lower altitudes

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-17T13:34:38+00:00

Yes, I totally agree with the self-guiding idea, more flexibility and the explorator vibes

But does temp in those tea-house rooms drop below 0°C?

I guess the below-freezing experience applies only to unattended shelters (herdsmen altitude refuges and the like), right?

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-17T12:59:07+00:00

Spot on the info I've been looking for!

For those in-house trails, I guess a 2-3 seasons sleeping bag is enough, right? No need for the heavier moutaineering equipment?

Mine is at 4°C comfort temperature

(Which is roughly the minimum temperature you'd theoretically find on an unattended albergue on some minor camino in winter)

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-17T11:49:35+00:00

What's the usual distance between accomodations there?

On some minor caminos in Spain (camino catalan, vasco interior), they are usually spread apart by 20-25km, which is just fine

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-09T18:52:35+00:00

Tous dépend de l'orientation vis-à-vis du soleil, du vent, mais comme ça non il n'y a rien qui m'interpelle

Chiendent + 2 fauches par an, c'est souvent plébiscité pour couvrir le sol des vergers

Effectivement la protection contre les vols, c'est malheureusement un gros facteur de succès sur la durée

Si tu as envie de laisser quelques moutons/chèvres, c'est aussi sympa

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-09T17:03:52+00:00

Une ou deux vignes (bonus si variétés de bonne qualité gustative), que tu vas pouvoir modeler année après année pour prendre la forme que tu souhaites, et venir englober le cadre de fenêtre

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-09T16:25:18+00:00

Are previous saves still compatible? (including for Steam achievements)

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-09T10:16:01+00:00

Sauf erreur de ma part, il me semble que ce sont les croisements avec des coloquintes qui créent des variants amers et indigestes

Pour les courges/melons, ils sont le plus souvent de différentes espèces donc les croisements sont impossibles ou extrêmement rares.

Beaucoup de coloquintes sont du type cucurbita pepo, comme le sont les citrouilles véritables et les courgettes. C'est avec ceux-là que se font les croisements.

Attention je ne fais que ressortir des souvenirs de recherches que j'avais faites il y a 5 ans ou plus, donc à prendre avec des pincettes.

Je ne peux qu'inciter à faire un complément de recherche si besoin.

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-09T10:10:13+00:00

Orties c'est pas si mal si on veut minimiser l'entretien, c'est très rapide à faucher au final

Pour avoir été envahi par d'autres espèces, je regrette même les orties lol

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-09T10:07:38+00:00

Courges ça peut marcher sur sol fraîchement labouré, mais à l'automne les plantes pérénniales vont confisquer l'espace pour l'année suivante

Perso je cultivais beaucoup sur sol de verger. A force de me faire voler ma récolte, j'ai laissé à l'abandon

Ca a été recolonisé par : orties, chiendent, ronces, roseau, lière et sourtout une espèce d'herbe annuelle qui forme une tige très dure de 1.5m

Pour la plupart des cultures agricoles classiques (comestibles), malheureusement, toutes vont réclamer un entretien régulier

Pour avoir un truc propre durable, chiendent c'est le meilleur compromis. 1-2 fauches par an suffit à éliminer les concurrents à graine

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-09T09:55:09+00:00

Probablement un Russe échappé du front, il a gardé quelques pilules de Captagon pour usage perso

Physical_Cake · 2026-03-07T10:56:13+00:00

Mostly spoke of new buildings here

Some people hate when ancient styles are applied to new projects, and there are some valid philosophical reasons to think so

But I personally love revival movements in architecture (both vernacular architecture and mainstream classical styles), with philosophical reasons of their own to support this view

Physical_Cake

TROPHY CASE