Sara escapes the waiting room and makes it to Machu Picchu

We are uh continuing our ongoing trucking tips series today and I have to say I have been really looking forward to this one. >> Me too. This is a bit of a different angle for us. >> It is. Yeah. Usually we're talking about, you know, gear lists or survival skills, but today we're tackling something some a bit more psychological. We're talking about what I call the waiting room. >> The waiting room. >> You know the feeling. It's that that mental space where you desperately want to go on a big life-changing adventure like, I don't know, hiking the Andes or seeing the Sahara, but you're just stuck. >> You're waiting for the perfect time or you're waiting to be in perfect shape or and this is the big one, you're waiting for someone to go with you >> because the idea of doing it alone is just terrifying. >> Exactly. >> Oh, that's totally a thing. We see it in the data all the time. There's this huge gap between the number of people who say pin travel photos on Pinterest and the number of people who actually book the flight. >> And that gap is just anxiety. >> It's anxiety about logistics, about safety, all of it. >> Right. So, to really get into this and to stress test the source material we have, I want to introduce a little narrative vehicle for us. We're going to follow a specific traveler on a hypothetical journey. Let's uh let's call her Sarah. >> Okay. I like it. So, set the scene for Sarah. Who is she? >> Okay, so Sarah is maybe 30some. She's got a steady career, let's say marketing or admin. She's responsible. She scrolls through Instagram at lunch, sees a picture of Machu Picchu, size, and then it's right back to her spreadsheets. >> I know this person. >> We all do. She wants to go, but she has this whole list of reasons why she can't. Her friends are broke or they're busy with kids. She thinks she's not fit enough. And honestly, she's just intimidated. She's never traveled internationally by herself. Her internal monologue is just a loop of who will I eat dinner with? Is it safe? What if I trip and fall and nobody even notices? >> You know, that social anxiety, the who will I talk to part, that is often a bigger barrier than the physical activity itself. >> I believe it. So, our mission today is to get Sarah out of the waiting room. We're going to use this solution we found in our sources called Tricking Pals, >> a women only adventure travel community. >> Exactly. And we're going to track Sarah through their 2026 Inca Trail. itinerary to see if this specific format really solves her fears or if it's all just, you know, good marketing. >> And this is a great case study because Trekking Pals isn't just a standard tour company. To understand if it'll work for Sarah, you kind of have to look at the founder, Habiba Davis. >> Okay. Yeah, the backstory is important. So, is she some lifelong mountaineer who was basically born with hiking boots on? >> Actually, no. And that's probably why she connects with the Sarah of the world. Abib was born in Morocco, but she's based out of San Francisco now. But, and this is a key detail from the sources, her background is corporate. She worked in tech in Arizona. >> Arizona, not the Silicon Valley bubble. >> The sources are super specific about that. Lives in SF now, but the corporate grind was in Arizona. Anyway, in 2022, she just she hit a wall. >> Ah. >> And she did exactly what Sarah dreams of doing. She quit. >> Just quit. >> Yep. Bought a one-way ticket and just solo traveled for nine months. Wow. The classic burnout to breakthrough story. >> Sort of. >> Mhm. >> But she didn't just find, you know, bliss out there. She found that solo travel is really hard. >> It's incredibly lonely. She realized that while the scenery was amazing, the piece that was missing was connection. >> So, it wasn't just about the sights. >> Not at all. She wanted to create a space where women could find a sisterhood, you know, personal growth, not just a sightseeing tour. And see, that is the hook for Sarah because her biggest fear isn't really the altitude, it's the summer, it's the isolation. She's worried about being an odd one out. >> Exactly. And Trekking Pals targets women from like 25 to 60. Most of them sign up solo. >> Then they get paired up as roommates. So right away that huge barrier of I have no one to go with just >> it vaporizes. >> Okay. Soul. So Sarah buys into the philosophy. She's feeling brave. She books the women only Inca Trail to Machu Picchu for 2026. She gets the confirmation email and then what happens? >> The panic sets in. >> The what have I done phase? >> Totally. Yeah. >> She looks at the itinerary and thinks, I sit at a desk all day. I get winded walking up three flights of stairs. Can I actually do this? The spiral begins. >> So, let's look at their know before you go resources. What's the reality check? >> Well, first off, they don't sugarcoat it, which I think is crucial for managing expectations. The source material is blunt. The Inca Trail is not a nature walk. It's a 4day trek. We're talking 26 miles total. >> 26 miles over four days. I mean, a marathon runner does that in a few hours. Sarah might hear that and think, "Oh, that sounds manageable." >> And that is the trap. It's not about the distance. It's the terrain in the air. You're climbing to 13,828 ft at a place called Dead Woman's Pass. You're hiking five, six, sometimes 10 hours a day. >> Okay. >> The first mistake Habiba points out, and there are mistakes to avoid video, is underestimating the difficulty. >> So, what's the prescription then? Does Sarah need to become a CrossFit athlete in 3 months? >> No. No. But she needs to respect the mountain. The guidance is to start training 3 to 6 months in advance. And it's not just, you know, walking around the block. She needs to focus on three things: endurance, strength, and cardio. >> So, we're talking weighted lunges, stair master, that kind of thing. >> Exactly. If she can find actual hiking trails, even better. But she needs to simulate the stress on her legs. >> Okay. So Sarah hits the gym. She's motivated. But then the next wave of anxiety hits her, the gear. She has a bad back. She's imagining herself looking like a pack mule carrying a 60 lb rucks sack up a vertical cliff while gasping for air. Is that what's happening? >> This is a huge misconception that keeps so many people at home. Yeah. On this specific trip with trekking pals, there's a full porter system. >> Okay, so let's define that really clearly. What is Sarah actually carrying on her back? >> A day pack. That's it. Think like 20 to 25 L. She's carrying her water, her rain gear, some snacks, sunscreen, her camera, >> and that's it. What about her sleeping bag, toiletries, the tent? >> The team carries it. The sources make a big deal about their support crew. They even have a chef and a sue chef. >> Wow. >> The porters carry all the camping gear, the food, and up to 15 pounds of Sarah's personal stuff. So, her duffel bag with her sleeping clothes and heavier items. >> Yeah. 15 lbs. That's the difference between misery and actually enjoying the view. >> It absolutely is. >> But speaking of logistics, there's one very specific, very critical kind of bureaucratic red flag in the sources that Sarah has to know about. >> Oh, let's hear it. >> It's about her passport. >> Oh, I saw this. This is the kind of tiny detail that can just completely ruin a vacation. >> It really is. So, the permit to hike the Inca Trail is issued by the Peruvian government. It's non-transferable and it's strictly linked to your passport number. >> Okay, so let's play this out. Sarah books the trip in January with her current passport, but it expires in August, so she renews it in March. She gets a new booklet with a brand new passport number. >> Correct. >> She shows up in Cusco that September with her shiny new passport. What happens? >> She doesn't get on the trail. >> No. >> If the number on her permit doesn't match the number on the passport in her hand, she is turned away right there at the checkpoint. That is an absolute nightmare. >> So, the advice is critical. If you renew your passport after booking, you must bring the old one, the one with the hole punched in it, just to verify that original number. >> Okay. Note to Sarah, duct tape the old passport to your forehead if you have to. >> Seriously, >> it's a small thing, but for a nervous traveler like her, knowing that rule is the difference between confidence and catastrophe. Okay, so she trains, she packs her little daypack, she grabs both passports, and she flies to Peru, lands in Cusco, >> and welcome to phase 2, the acclimatization buffer, >> right? She steps off the plane and she's at 11,152 ft. That is significant. That's I'm out of breath tying my shoes kind of altitude. >> It is. And this is where the itinerary is designed so intelligently to handle Sarah's anxiety about altitude sickness. A rookie mistake is to land in Cusco and try to start the trek the next morning. >> That just sounds dangerous. >> It's biologically dangerous. Yeah. So, Trekking Pals builds in this massive buffer. Day one is literally just airport pickup and checking into the hotel. That's it. Free time. >> So, she just has to hydrate and breathe >> pretty much. >> What about day two? >> That's active recovery. They do a city tour visit for Incan ruins like Sax Woman. It keeps the blood moving, but they're not scaling any mountains yet. >> And day three, >> they hiked to human tail lake. This is really strategic. It's more of a challenge. They go high to see the lake, but then they come back down to Cusco to sleep. It uses that climb high, sleep low principle that really jumpst starts your body's adaptation. >> And day four is the sacred valley salt mines mo. Okay, so that's all cultural, but I want to point something else out here. >> Go for it. >> Think about this from Sarah's social perspective. By the time she actually steps onto the Inca trail on day five, she's already spent four full days with this group, >> right? She's not walking into the wilderness with a bunch of strangers. >> No, she's walking with the women she had breakfast with, the one she struggled with on the hike to the lake. >> The sisterhood isn't just a marketing term. It's a psychological safety net that they build right into the schedule. >> So, by day five, the awkwardness is gone. Now, they just have to hike. So, let's get to the main event, phase three, the track. Okay, day five starts at a place called kilometer 82. They cross the Uro Bomba River. The sources describe this part as having a real Indiana Jones vibe. It's lush. It's historic. >> Is this the day that breaks people? >> No, day five is more of a warm-up. It's a long day, about 9 hours, but it's designed to get the legs working. The real test, the day Sarah has been dreading, is day six. >> The sources literally call this the hardest day. >> It is the physical and mental crux of the whole trip. They have to climb to the dead woman's pass. It's a steady, relentless 4-hour climb to the highest point of the trek at nearly 14,000 ft. >> And what about the weather? Because, you know, Sarah checked her weather app and it said rain. >> Oh, yeah. The sources are very blunt about this. Expect rain even in the dry season. The mistakes video explicitly says you cannot control mother nature. >> So, you just have to be ready, >> right? It might be cold in the morning, hot at noon, and then hailing at the pass. Sarah needs her poncho accessible at all times. >> This is the moment where old Sarah, the one on the couch, would quit. She's cold. She's wet. Her legs are burning. The air is thin. >> But this is where that group dynamic really kicks in. The guys, there's always one in the front and one in the back. Make sure no one gets left behind. >> Yeah. >> But according to the reviews, the real power comes from the other women on the trip. >> I was reading one of those, a review from a traveler named Lakshmi H. She described this exact moment. Yes, that review was so powerful. She talked about the group transitioning from strangers into cheerleaders. >> Yeah, >> she said they would literally help you climb one more step or even like braid your hair when you're too tired to function. >> And that is the difference. If Sarah were solo, she might stop, but with 10 other women hyping her up, she makes it over that pass. >> And once she's over that pass, she earns day seven, >> which they call the beautiful day. >> Exactly. Fuyu Mara, the town in the clouds. They're descending these ancient Incan stairs. The views of the river valley are just incredible. >> Tough on the knees, I bet. >> Very. >> Yeah, >> trekking poles are essential here. >> Yeah, >> but mentally it's a victory lap. They end the day at a place called Wyena for a big celebratory dinner with the whole team, porters and all. >> And then the climax, day eight. The sources say it's a 330 a.m. wakeup call. That sounds brutal. >> It is, but it's for a very good reason. They have to hike to the sungate in the dark so that when the sun breaks they get that first iconic view of Machu Picchu at sunrise. >> And Sarah made it. She went from her couch in her apartment to the sungate. >> She did it and she gets a full 2hour guided tour of the citadel before heading down to August Kalientes and taking the train back to Cusco. >> You know, I want to touch on the ethics of this quickly because the Sarah we've imagined is someone who cares about her impact. She doesn't want to be that tourist, >> right? Well, Trucking Pals emphasizes the seven principles of leave no trace. It's all baked into the pre-trip briefing. Plan ahead, dispose of waste properly, respect wildlife, and on the roughing it side of things, Sarah doesn't have to cook. >> Thank goodness. >> The reviews specifically mention how amazing the food is. One from Tasnim D shouted out the chef and sue chef. So, we're not talking about Sarah boiling water for a freeze-dried meal here. >> She's being cared for. >> Yes. Which lets her focus on the hike. So, she's back in Cusco. She's exhausted. She's proud. Is the trip just over? >> Not quite. And this is a really smart design choice for a novice traveler. I think they add a decompression phase. Day nine is a free day with an optional cooking class. And day 10 is a visit to Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley. >> Hold on. Rainbow Mountain is steep. If Sarah's legs are completely shot from the Inca Trail, asking her to hike again sounds a little sadistic. >> It does, but the itinerary notes that you have the option to rent mules if you're tired. Okay. Rent the mule, Sarah. You climb Dead Woman's Pass. Treat yourself to the mule. >> Exactly. It's about accessibility. She doesn't have to prove anything on day 10. >> So, let's zoom out. We use Sarah as our example for the Inca Trail, but let's say she gets hooked. She conquers Peru. And now that fear is gone, she's got the travel bug. What else is on the menu? >> Well, looking at their 2026 schedule, there's some incredible options. If she wants to stay in Latin America, there's a trip to Guatemala in November. It involves volcano hiking at Kipanango watching the Fuego volcano erupt at night. >> That sounds incredible. >> There's also Kilimanjaro and a Tanzania safari in August. But there's one trip description in the sources that really caught my eye because it connects right back to Habiba's own adventurous spirit. Tunisia, >> the desert to sea odyssey. >> Yes, March 2026. And there's this great story from the Trekking Pals YouTube channel about Habiba in Tunisia in a city called Taiwan. >> Let's hear it. So, Habiba is training for a marathon. She admits in the video she hates running. She says at point blank, "I hate running." >> But she challenges herself to run around the ancient city walls of Chiron. >> Just casually running laps around a historic site. >> Basically, she's staying in a $10 a night hotel. She's worried about safety running alone in the morning, but she just goes for it. She runs 3 km around the medina. She gets lost. She finds a five-star hotel by accident. She finds the wall again. It's messy and imperfect. >> I love that. But she frames it as this amazing, captivating memory. >> I love that story because it shows the founder is actually out there doing the work. She's pushing her own comfort zone, staying in the cheap hotels, getting lost. It's not just some corporate brochure. >> Exactly. And that same energy, that same philosophy, it seems to trickle down to all the trips. >> So, let's wrap this up for Sarah. And really for anyone listening who kind of sees themselves in Sarah, we started with a woman who was scared, who was waiting for the perfect time, who was totally intimidated by all the logistic. >> And we ended with a woman who hiked 26 miles, crossed dead woman's pass, and saw Machu Picchu at sunrise. >> And here's the key takeaway. She didn't do it because she magically became some fearless Olympic athlete overnight. >> She did it because she had a scaffold. >> A scaffold. I like that image. Yeah, she had the logistical scaffold, the porters, the guides, the pre-ooked permits, and she had the emotional scaffold, the group of women, the sisters. >> The trekking pal's philosophy seems to be don't wait for your friends at home to be ready because they might never be. >> And don't wait for the perfect time. The perfect time is usually just that moment you decide to actually book the ticket. The sisterhood is built into the trip. You don't have to bring it with you. >> So, here's my question for you listening right now. If the logistics were totally handled, if you knew someone else was carrying the heavy tent, and you knew you had a built-in squad of cheerleaders waiting for you at the airport, where is that one place you've been too scared to go alone? >> Is it the mountains, the desert? >> Maybe it's time to close Instagram for a minute and actually look up that flight. Or, you know, at the very least, check that passport expiration date. >> Definitely check the passport date. >> Thanks for diving in with us today. Keep trekking.