| HIGHLIGHTS: Lima - Cusco - Inca Trail - Yuncachimpa - Pacaymayo - Winaywayna - Machu Picchu - Amazon Jungle
Explore the bustling streets of colonial Lima and then wander the ancient cobbled stone paths of Cusco. When we have finished hiking the high trails to Machu Picchu, we head for the amazing Amazon region for two wonderful days in the world's largest rainforest. .
Day 1 Lima. Your trip starts today in Lima. No activities are planned, so you may arrive at any time. Please refer to your for the joining hotel name and address.
Day 2 Lima. We generally arrange a tour briefing at our hotel first thing in the morning, at around 8.30am. If you are unable to make this meeting, please check at the hotel reception for a message from your tour guide. Today is a free day to explore Peru's capital and our hotel is well located in the centre of town, near the Plaza de Armas (Plaza Major) in Lima Centro. The desert city of Lima, once deemed 'La Ciudad de los Reyes' or 'The City of Kings', is a vast buzzing metropolis of over 8 million people. The heart of the city is full with Spanish colonial splendour, fine art and baroque architecture. Highly recommended is a visit to the Museo Rafael Larco Herrera, which houses impressive collections of ceramics, traditional weaving and remarkable illustrations of pre - Columbian erotic pots. If you are keen to soak up the history of Peru's ancient civilisations, then you should not miss the Museo de La Nacion which is home to priceless artefacts from the ancient Inca and coastal civilisations. In the evening be sure to indulge in the local seafood; Lima has some of the finest dining in South America and the city is alive with music and dancing. The lively Barranco Quarter has many bars, discos and clubs where traditional Afro - Peruvian music and Creole food can be enjoyed. Your tour guide is on hand to help you arrange any optional sightseeing tours required.
Day 3 - 4 Cusco. A short flight over the mountains takes us to Cusco, where we spend the next two days exploring this amazing colonial city. There is so much to see in Cusco. Your tour guide takes you on a walking tour of the central part of town, which includes the impressive Plaza de Armas, the cathedral and the Koricancha Museum. You also have time to make your own discoveries including travelling out to the great Inca sites of Sacsayhuaman, Quenca and Tambo Machay. You may wish to explore further afield into the beautiful Sacred Valley and visit the market town of Pisac. During your stay in Cusco you will have ample time to take in all these sites.
Day 5 - 8 We trek the 'Classic' and the 'Lares' routes, both of which culminate in a visit to the incredible ruins of Machu Picchu. Although we normally trek the 'Classic' route, it is restricted by the number of trekkers permitted on the trail each day and unless you have booked early, it maybe difficult or impossible for us to secure the necessary group permits (especially during the peak season). It is also closed during the month of February for cleaning and rejuvenation. If we are unable to confirm your permit for the 'Classic' route we will use the 'Lares' trail. This is an exceptional alternative. Venturing further off the beaten path, this trek winds its way through remote rural villages and provides stunning views across the Andes Mountains. Along the way you can mingle with local families, llama herders and weavers, renowned for their brightly coloured hats and ponchos. The trek is of similar altitude and level of difficulty as the Classic route and also culminates in a visit to the village of Aguas Calientes and the magnificent ruins of Machu Picchu, recently voted one of the 'New Seven Wonders of the World'. The following description refers to the 'Classic' route. Please refer below to the ' Variation' section of this trip note for details of the Lares route.
Day 5 Inca Trail to Yuncachimpa. We leave Cusco by bus and travel over the mountain range and down into the Urubamba Valley to the picturesque town of Ollantaytambo. Built on a steep mountainside this grand citadel served as both a temple and fortress and is one of the few sites where the Incas were able to defeat the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. Their success was however short lived, with the Spaniards returning with force to claim victory. Here we have time to gaze upon the massive Inca fortifications before continuing to KiLometre 82 - the starting point of our trek. Today is a relatively easy hike past the ancient hilltop fort of Huillca Raccay and the beautiful archaeological site of Llactapata. Along the way there are stunning views of snow - capped Veronica Peak (5860m). Our first camp is just past the village of Wayllabamba at 3000 metres.
Day 6 Inca Trail to Pacaymayo. Today is the most difficult part of the trek as we climb to Warminwanusca, or 'Dead Woman's Pass' (4200m). This is the first of three Andean high passes we traverse and the highest point on the Inca trail. Stopping to catch our breath we take in the superb panorama of the Vilcanota and Vilcabama mountain ranges, the ruins of Runkuracay ahead and Rio Pacamayo (Sunrise River) in the valley below. Here the trail changes from dirt to steps and stone pathways. Although not difficult we still need to make a steep descent to the valley below and our camp at Pacamayo (3600m). Located in a basin beneath the cliff tops, the campsite faces down the valley with a view over the cloud forest.
Day 7 Inca Trail to Winaywayna. We climb up to the unusual, round ruins of Runcuracay which is believed to have been an Inca tambo or post house. Forging on we continue to climb the Inca staircase and sighting the small mountain lake of Cochapata on the way to our second pass at 4000m, from where we are rewarded with spectacular views of Pumasillo (6245m) and the entire snow - capped Vilcabamba range From here it is a steep descent to our third pass and the ruins of Sayacmarca, where we enter the beautiful cloud forest full of orchids, ferns, flowers and hanging moss. The scenery will blow you away Butterflies flutter across the trail and the air is pure and clean as we head to the breathtaking Winaywayna, (2450m).
Day 8 Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - Cusco. The final leg of the trek to Machu Picchu is the most spectacular of all. We arrive at sunrise at Inti Punku, the Gateway of the Sun, where through a rectangular doorway we experience a panoramic view of Machu Picchu. After taking a short path down, it's time for us to explore The secrets of the Incas are slowly revealed to us on a guided tour. We depart by catching a bus down to the hot springs at Aguas Calientes and returning to Cusco on a late - afternoon train..
Day 9 Cusco. A free day in Cusco can be spent shopping for handicrafts or taking in some further sightseeing. Cusco is a maze of markets, artisan shops lining the streets and many museums filled with the rich history of Inca art. You might like to try some traditional cuisine - perhaps guinea pig, alpaca steak or ceviche, a raw seafood delicacy marinated in lime. If you haven't yet visited the Sacred Valley, this is your best chance to do so. Your tour guide can advise you on how to get there and show you where the bus to Pisac leaves from. Alternatively, you may just wish to relax and absorb the incredible experiences of the last few days whilst resting in one of the many caFes that line the streets of this quaint and fascinating town.
Day 10 Amazon Jungle. Today we catch a flight to Puerto Maldonado, deep in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. We then board a boat for the two - hour trip on the Tambopata River to our jungle lodge. Spanning 5.5 million square kiLometres and spreading across nine nations, the Amazon rainforest region is undoubtedly one of the greatest wonders of the natural world. Home to thousands of indigenous inhabitants and more than a third of the world's plant and animal species, it is the largest and most bio - diverse tropical rainforest on Earth. After settling in we receive a short briefing on the lodge before heading off into the jungle with a local native guide. They reveal to us their wealth of knowledge by pointing out the various jungle food, medicine, local flora and fauna. A twenty minute walk brings us to a 30 metre high cannopy tower, with views of the forest and winding Tambopata River. Now and again it is possible to see a toucan, parrot or macaw flying on the horizon.
Day 11 Amazon Jungle. Early in the morning, we travel by traditional boat and go in search of giant river otters, caimen, hoatzin and wading birds. It's a great time to kick back, relax, and just listen to the sounds of the birds or monkeys from the riverbanks. When we return to our lodge, there may be time to visit a small parakeet clay - lick, where dozens and sometimes hundreds of blue - headed parrots, orange - cheeked parrots and cobalt - winged parakeets descend. Sometimes, even the rare rock parakeet congregate here on clear days to ingest clay. Alternatively, you may wish to stay at the lodge, and take a rest in one of the hammocks After lunch we embark on an excursion to the indigenous Indian farmlands. This local organisation produces medicines out of forest plants, and administers them to nearby residents without access to modern day treatments. We take a walk around the farmlands, examine the various plant species, and gain an understanding of how this system has been so sustainable. After dinner, there is an optional presentation on the Infierno Ecotourism Project, conducted by a staff member each evening.
Day 12 Lima. Early in the morning we transfer by boat back to Puerto Maldonado, where we board our aircraft for a short flight over the Andes to Lima. Our adventure comes to an end upon arrival at Lima Airport. If you are planning to depart Lima today, we advise that you do not book to depart until at least after 5pm (17:00 hrs).
This tour touches on the different aspects of Peruvian life and culture 12 day tour departing Lima.3 nights accommodation in full service camping. 2 nights accommodation in a Jungle/rainforest lodge. 6 nights accommodation in hotels. 11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners.An experienced Peruvian tour leader, specialist trekking and assistant trekking guides and there will be the services of local guides at some sites.Local flights from Lima to Cusco to Puerto Maldonado and Puerto Maldonado to Lima
Ask about our great airfaresConditions Valid for sale until 31 December 2012.Price is per person twin share.Airfares other than local flights from Lima to Cusco to Puerto Maldonado and Puerto Maldonado to Lima not included.You will require a sleeping bag for the Inca Trail.If you don't wish to do the Inca Trail, we have a non-trekking alternative available on this tour - please see the detailed trip notes under 'itinerary variation' for further information.Remember to book early for this trip The Peruvian Government has introduced strict quotas on the number of permits issued for hiking the 'Classic' Inca Trail route. These can often be sold out months in advance. To apply for your group's permits, we will need your deposit and your passport details, so we ask that you book your holiday early. In the event that we are unable to obtain permits for the 'Classic' route we will use the alternative 'Lares' route, an equally challenging trek culminating in a visit to Machu Picchu.Additional conditions may apply, please enquire for further details.Prices shown are fully inclusive of taxes. Additional levies, government charges and other applicable fees may apply and are beyond our control.Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply depending on date of travel.Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge. Prices shown are for payments made by cash in store or Bpay.These prices are a guide to the best price and are subject to change without notice.Prices are subject to change without notice, due to matters outside our control, such as adverse currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, taxes and airfare increases, please enquire for further details. |
