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ITINERARY
19 Days/18 Nights
JUN 8 – AUSTRALIA – LIMA.
JUN 9 – LIMA – CUSCO.
Early flight to Cusco. Hotel transfer. We spend remainder of the day relaxing and acclimatizing to 3,500m altitude. Evening get together and meet the group.
JUN 10 – CHICUCHAS WASI – WALKING CITY.
In the morning, we visit Chicuchas Wasi, a school for Andean girls. The project, which began as a home for street kids, now supports the education of more than 100 primary school aged girls from disadvantaged communities. You will have the chance to observe how the school is making a difference in the young girls’ lives.
After Lunch, we tour the city centre visiting the seventeenth century Cathedral, The Inca Temple of the Sun, and San Blas, a traditional neighborhood of artisans – a great place to go shopping!
JUN 11 – SACRED VALLEY AND CHAHUAYTIRE
Morning visit to Moray, a unique archaeological site in the region, where enormous depressions in the ground surface were used for irrigating farming terraces. In these depressions, the Incas had created environmental conditions or microclimates. At the southwest of the Moray are the famous saltpans of Maras where a considerable volume of solid salt, about 10 cm, is obtained from the floor on every pan.
We drive to Ollantaytambo, an Inca museum town that still retains the original street plan and foundations designed by the Incas. We explore the Inca ruins overlooking the town.
We continue our drive to Chahuaytire, a picturesque farming community with the characteristics of many Andean towns. We are treated to a weaving demonstration; weavers still maintain the ancestral Inca weaving techniques using natural dyes. For the Incas, weavings were the treasures not gold and silver. Accommodation with local families.
JUN 12- CHAHUAYTIRE
After sharing a traditional breakfast with the family, we join them in daily activities such as harvesting or weaving. Each family has different activities for the day. At night, we have a gathering to talk about our experiences around an open fire sharing a hot drink. Overnight with local families.
JUN 13- CHAHUAYTIRE – PISAC RUINS – CUSCO
We spend the morning with the community. After lunch, we drive to the Inca city of Pisac,perched spectacularly on a ridge overlooking the town and countryside. Dozens of agricultural terraces were built to follow the contours of the hillside rising from the Urubamba River Valley. Back to Cusco.
Inca Trail briefing at night.
June 14 – INCA TRAIL DAY 1
After breakfast, we board our private bus for the two and a half hour trip to the trailhead at Piskacucho (Km marker #82). Here we meet our Quechua Indian porters and begin trekking the Inca trail. With snow-capped Mount Veronica (5,600) and the rest of the Urubamba range as backdrop, we follow a well-marked path past the ruins of Llactapata and through some small Indian Villages on the way to our campsite near Wayllabamba. Hiking distance /time: 10.2 km./5.5hours, between 2,500 – 2,700 mts.
JUN 15 – INCA TRAIL DAY 2
After a nutritious camp breakfast we trek along the narrow Llullucha gorge and over the first pass on the trail. We hike through dense forest encountering abundant birdlife and flowering plants before reaching the open meadow of Llulluchapamapa. The final approach to the high pass begins here with a long, steep ramp leading to Warmiwañuska (Dead Woman’s Pass- 4,200). At the top, we enjoy the spectacular views of the surrounding peaks and forest canopy. The trail then descends steeply and passes through a meadow of lakes, waterfalls and Andean wildflowers. Tonight we make camp in the upper meadows of Pacaymayo. Hiking distance/time: 5 kms./7hours, final elevation 3,580 mts.
JUN 16 – INCA TRAIL DAY 3
We cross the Runkurakay pass (3,800) in the morning, enjoying excellent views of the glacier-clad peaks of the Pumasillo Mountains and deep gorges of the eastern Andes. We descend gradually through a high jungle transition area rich in plant and animal life. After entering the cloud forest, our route takes us past the ruins of Sayacmarca and then through a tunnel constructed by the Incas. This portion of the trail is well paved with Inca stonework and leads us to the spectacular Phuyupatamarca ruins. As we leave Phuyupatamarca, we begin a steep stone staircase descent (approximately 2,000 steps cut into indigenous rock), followed by a series of additional descents varying in grade, to the Wiñaywayna campsite and have the chance to walk through the ruins of the same name. This campsite is in the warm Urubamba Valley. Hiking distance /time: 11.5 km /6.5hours, final elevation 2,400.
JUN 17 – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
After an early breakfast, we make our way to Intipunku, (The Sun´s Gateway) and are rewarded with our first breathtaking views of Machu Picchu. After spending some time at the lookout point, we descend into the city for a guided visit, which on average takes two and a half hours. In the afternoon, we board the return train to Ollantaytambo, where we join the bus back to Cusco. Dinner on your own.
JUN 18 – DAY FREE CUSCO
To relax and explore on your own.
JUN 19 – CUSCO – CHONTACHACA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
Early wake up. We begin a winding ascent into the Andes then down into Paucartambo, a colonial town, where we stop briefly to stretch the legs. Leaving Paucartambo we begin the ascent through eucalyptus groves, cultivated fields, and remnant patches of native vegetation.
Forty minutes from Paucartambo we reach Acjanaco at 3,500 metres above sea level, atop the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. At this point we have entered the Manu Biosphere Reserve. We are now above the clouds gazing below into the lush jungle of the Amazon.
We stop for lunch before descending into cloud forest where the tree canopy covered by mist gives life to numerous epiphyte, moss, luscious green fern and the Kur- Kur (highland bamboo). This area is a natural playground for a vast number of birds. We make our way to an observation post where, with a little luck, we will be able to watch the fascinating dance of Peru’s National bird, the Cock-of-the-Rock, and hopefully spot the Woolly Monkey.
We arrive at our lodge, in the Chontachaka Ecological Reserve, around 6 p.m.
JUN 20 – CHONTACHAKA
At dawn, we walk for 30 min along Gallito Trail to the Cock of the Rock watching point.
After breakfast, we walk to a small waterfall to enjoy a refreshing swim. We return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch we walk again, following the Monkey trail and observing the rich biodiversity of the zone. Dinner and overnight in Chontachaka Ecological Reserve.
JUN 21 – CHONTACHAKA – MADRE DE DIOS RIVER – CHONTACHAKA
Early in the morning, we travel by road to the small river port of Atalaya. From there, we go down river by boat. We visit a parrot clay lick then go further down river and visit different points of natural interest such as the Machuwasi Lake. We come back to Atalaya river port and, from there, by road to Chontachaka ecological Reserve having lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight in Chontachaka ecological Reserve.
JUN 22 – CHONTACHAKA – CUSCO
After breakfast, we enjoy a free morning in Chontachaka. We will have time to walk through the jungle or swim in the waterfall before returning to Cusco by road. Lunch on the way.
JUN 23 – DAY FREE CUSCO
To relax and explore on your own.
JUN 24 – INTIRAYMI – FESTIVAL OF THE SUN
After breakfast, we walk to the main square to see the beginning of Inti Raymi. This festival was celebrated by the Incas to worship the Sun God, Inti, who was the physical representation of the God Wiracocha. Inti Raymi symbolizes the eternal consecration of marriage between the Sun and his children, human beings. Inti Raymi was the most important festival of the Inca Empire Tawantinsuyo. Boxed lunch.
JUN 25 – CUSCO – LIMA
Pick up at the hotel, and transfer to the airport for flight to Lima. Airport reception (Lima) and transfer to hotel. Afternoon guided city tour.
JUN 26 – FLIGHT HOME
Transfer to the airport.
End of our services!
PRICE: PER PERSON A$ 6440.00
19Days/18 Nights
INCLUDES:
All accommodation, meals, travel and tour mentioned in the program, plus accommodation in Lima.
NOT INCLUDED:
- International return flights to Peru, Domestic flights from Lima to Cusco
- All expenses in Lima on arrival
- Any meals not mentioned in the program
- Personal expenses
In Jungle:
- Sleeping bag (available for rent in Cusco)
- Rain jackets.
- Personal medicines.
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT FOR MANU:
- Binoculars.
- Flashlight with extra batteries.
- Sleeping bag.
- Loose and water resistant trousers
- Long sleeve shirts ( preferably in cotton)
- Swimming clothes & towel
- Long cotton socks
- Light Jacket
- Trekking boots and sandals
- Hat and sunscreen cream
- Insect repellent
- Plastic Bags
- Rain Clothes
- Document Copies
(Passport, Yellow Fever & Tetanus)
Note about Personal Care Products.
“ATALAYA”, in the interests of protecting the environment, will not allow any personal care products not supplied by the organisation to be brought into the park. These products are made in Cusco from natural origin, are non-polluting and are 100% handmade and biodegradable. We are aware of that most of the other brand products being sold as biodegradable are not, and so damage the environment.
In addition, we don’t want to generate waste from plastic containers.
The personal care products list is:
- Deodorant
- Toothpaste
- Insect repellent
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Moisturizer
- Personal Soap
- Clothes soap
* Products not included in that list can be from elsewhere with the condition of being totally biodegradable.
* In case of allergies or specific health requirements the rule doesn’t apply
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT FOR INCA TRAIL:
Basic Recommended Packing List for the Inca Trail.
- Light rain/windproof jacket
- Water bottle
- Hat
- Sun screen
- Lipstick
- Personal medication if needed
- Sunglasses
- Camera with extra batteries
- Toiletries
- Passport
For the Night
- Heavy Jacket
- Sleeping bag -5°C (there is for hire in Cusco if you do not bring it)
- Bug spray
- Hiking boots
- Flashlight
- Snacks
- Towel
- Long johns
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