8 DAYS INCA TRAIL - C08TKIT-AV

Tour Highlights

 

DAY 1: CUSCO

 

Arrive in Cusco and we meet you at the airport to transfer you to the Hotel located near downtown within close reach of the main plaza. A warm Coca tea will ease up your adaptation to the high altitude (Cusco is at 11,200 feet above sea level) before you settle in your room to rest for what is left of the morning (highly recommended). Lunch is on your own (we recommend a light meal) and we meet at 2 p.m. for a guided City tour and nearby ruins of Cusco:

 

 

Santo Domingo: This church is built over what once was the most magnificent temple in the Americas, Koricancha or Temple of the Sun.  Its courtyards were filled with life-sized gold and silver representations of all the flora and fauna of the Empire.  Pizarro’s men looted the temple as part of Inca Atahualpa royal ransom who was held prisoner in Cajamarca by the Spaniards and later killed.  An earthquake destroyed the Santo Domingo church in 1950 revealing the Inca walls that were hidden or plastered over. These walls of the Temple of the Sun are the finest example of Inca stonework in existence.

 

The Cathedral: The church is located in the northeast side of the Plaza de Armas, built in 1550.  It contains over four hundred XII century paintings done by the members of the renowned Cusco School.  The Lord of the Earthquakes altar weights over 52 pounds and is made of solid gold and studded with precious stones.  The main altar is covered with sheets of silver.

  

The Sacsayhuaman complex shows immense walls made up of huge stones distributed in a zigzag pattern in three platforms with an average of 1,181ft in length.  These platforms are connected by flights of stairs and doorways also in stone; one of these is 29ft tall and 15ft wide and weighs more than 100 tons.  The largest stone block found in Sacsayhuaman stands 27.88ft high and weighs 361 tons. Inca Pachacuti employed 20,000 men for the construction of the complex and it took approximately 50 years to complete. 

Puca Pucara fortress overlooking the entrance from the east to Cusco area.

Q’enko: An intricate possible ceremonial center inside a large rock with carved figures, seats and passages that give you a feeling of being a mysterious place filled with symbolism.

 

Tambo Machay: A fascinating water fountain surrounded by high quality stone walls with continuously running water since the Inca times. A short walk from Tambo Machay will take us to the strategically located. Overnight at hotel in Cusco.

  

DAY 2: SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS- APU VERONICA CAMP- KM.82

After breakfast we leave Cusco by road for a full day guided visit to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will visit the colonial town and Inca City of Pisac, including a 1 ½ hour hike and visit to the gorgeous archeological site. We will also have a chance to shop at the local Indian Market. Later we'll travel by road following the sacred Urubamba or Vilcanota River. We drive pass the town of Urubamba, then continue on to Ollantaytambo, have lunch and take time to visit the impressive Inca remains there. Later we proceed down the Sacred Valley to our private campsite at Km. 82. This private camp is the staging site of all our Inca Trail treks and is a wonderful spot to relax and prepare for the trek ahead. Enjoy a Pachamanca dinner (cooked in the ground) and camp for the night…B, L, D.

  

Day 3: KM.82 TO PAUCARCANCHA

 

This mo rning, after a delicious buffet breakfast, we meet our porters and go through the entrance control station to begin our trek following the left bank of the Urubamba River. After a couple of hours of gentle hiking we reach and visit the extensive Inca ruins of Llactapata. We continue hiking, this time away from the Urubamba River ascending and following the Cusichaca River towards the village of Huayllabamba, we have a picnic lunch nearby and continue ascending to a 40 min. detour from the main trail that will take us to “Paucarcancha” a magnificent archaeological site. We find our camp set up right next to the ruins on a locally owned private campsite (with toilets and hot showers). We’ll have time to visit this well kept site that is estimated to be a “Tambo” or resting and control place where two valleys and rivers meet. B, L, D.

  

Day 4: PAUCARCANCHA TO PACAYMAYU

 

A fter enjoying the beauty of this special campsite and a nutritious breakfast we begin hiking on a shortcut trail above the village of Huayllabamba. We register at the Park’s 2nd control station (now in the protected area) to continue on an ascending trail with increasingly rewarding views. Later, we hike through an interesting cloud forest of native trees before we reach our lunch spot at “Llullucchapampa”. We have lunch enjoying views of the far away Huayllanay Glacier and, on the opposite side, our next high pass known as “Warmiwañusta” or Dead Woman’s Pass (4,200 meters above sea level). After lunch we slowly ascend towards the high pass, our rest moments are rewarded with spectacular views. We reach the pass, take time for the classical pictures and begin to descend to our campsite at Pacaymayu. B, L, D.

  

Day 5: PACAYMAYU TO PHUYUPATAMARCA

An early nourishing breakfast bolsters our energy for a day’s hike, this time on the original cobblestone paved trail left by the Incas. We can appreciate the lovely changes in vegetation and geology as we pass through different ecological zones. We climb up and over the second high pass at 3,950 Mts. On a clear day, our efforts are rewarded with unparalleled views of the snow covered peaks of the Cordillera Vilcabamba and the lush valley vegetation. Masterful Inca engineering is today’s highlight along the trail as we discover the Inca remains of Sayajmarca at 3,640 Mts., explore them, have a picnic lunch and continue to the incomparable site of Phuyupatamarca, THE PLACE ABOVE THE CLOUDS at 3,680 Mts. We camp here and have enough time to soak up some of the magical charm of this marvellous campsite. B, L, D.

 

Day 6: PHUYUPATAMARCA TO MACHU PICCHU

The view of Sacred Salkantay Mountain and sunrise in “Phuyupatamarca” are considered some of the highlights of the trek. Early rise to watch the sun come up and with the idea in mind that today we will reach Machu Picchu, the lost City of the Incas. After breakfast, we say good bye to our crew and porters and we have a chance to voluntarily tip them. Most of them will take a detour from the main trail and head to the town of Aguas Calientes where they catch the train to go home.  After breakfast, we hike on lush high jungle terrain for a couple of hours. We go down a clear stone paved trail with numerous incredible stairways, a small tunnel and several viewing terraces. We will come to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna (FOREVER YOUNG) to visit this outstanding Inca site and have lunch nearby. We continue on to Inti Punku (THE GATE TO THE SUN). From here we first see the spectacular city of Machu Picchu below us. A quick descent along the wide royal Inca road and we enter the mysterious citadel to have a tour in detail and spend some time wandering and wondering in the midst of its eternal beauty. Stay at the hotel (Hotel not included in price) nearby or in the town of Aguas Calientes down bellow by the Urubamba River or catch the train back to Cusco. B, L.

 

DAY 7: MACHU PICCHU

You have a full day to either savor or appreciate Macchu Picchu on your own or relax at the hot springs nearby. In the afternoon you board the train to return to Cusco.  We Pick you up at Poroy Train Station, a few minutes before Cusco City and transfer you to your hotel in Cusco by bus. B

 

OPTIONAL: GUIDED OR INDEPENDENT VISIT TO MACHU PICCHU (SEE BELLOW)

DAY 8:

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight from Cusco. End of our services. B.

PRICES FOR DAYS 1 TO 8: Includes tours, transfers and hotels.

(Includes tourist class hotels, if you would like to upgrade hotels please let us know and we will send you a quote)

 

Price Includes:

■Services from DAY 1 to DAY 8 in the itinerary.

■Hotels in Cusco DAY 1, DAY 7 – USD$ 55.00 per room and in the Aguas Calientes DAY 6 – USD$ 100.00 per room.

■General Tourist Entrance Fees (BTG) – NS/. 130.00 or USD$46.00

■Entrance to Cathedral of Cusco – S/. 25.00 or USD$ 9.00

■Entrance to Temple of the Sun “Koricancha” – S/. 16.00 or USD$ 6.00

■All transfers described in the itinerary.

■8 Breakfast, 5 Lunches, 4 Dinners (mentioned as B, L, and D at the end of each day in the itinerary.)

■Service of local official tour guides.

■Service of camp staff: Cook, assistants & porters.

■Pack animals: Llamas and horses

■Use of the Sauna at our private Camp Km. 82.

■All group camping and cooking equipment: Passenger tents based in double occupancy. Dinning tent with tables, silverware and chairs. Toilet tent. 

Price Does Not Include:

 

■Meals not specified after each itinerary day.

■Airport departures taxes.

■Optional tipping to staff.

■Additional hotel nights that may be necessitated by airline schedule changes or other factors.

■Optional visit, entrance or buses to and from Machu Picchu on day 7th (unless you have contracted options for Day 7).

■Expenses such as medical immunizations (if any).

■Travel insurance.

■Other expenses of a personal nature (liquor, laundry, and so on.)

■Trip member must provide sleeping bag.

OPTIONS TO VISIT MACHU PICCHU ON DAY 7:

 

Please Note:Either of these options must be requested before the trip begins in order to make the previous necessary arrangements.

 

THE GUIDED VISIT TO MACHU PICCHU OPTION

Your trek guide will accompany you on 2ND visit to Machu Picchu and provide a further in-depth guided tour of the site.

Your Guide will stay one more day with you to again visit Machu Picchu for further explanations on the site and to visit other areas of Machu Picchu, hike Huayna Picchu or the Temple of the Moon. In the afternoon return by train to Cusco.

Price Includes:

■2nd day entrance fee to Machu Picchu-

■Bus up/down to Machu Picchu

■Guide

Price Does Not Include:

■Hotel