Itinerary for the Inca Trail Discovery Hike after the FIRST 2018 Amazon Herping Tour

Transcription

1 Itinerary for the Inca Trail Discovery Hike after the FIRST 2018 Amazon Herping Tour Cuzco Inca Trail Discovery - PRIVATE Service INTRODUCTION Inca Trail Discovery - 5 Days/4 Nights - 3 nights camping, 1 night hotel. Our five-day program allows the traveler time to explore and enjoy the amazing archaeological sites, landscapes and nature along the way. While most other programs force trekers to speed through the stunning high-altitude Inca trail, We take the time to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience. We camp the first three nights, enjoy great meals and sturdy tents. The hikes average six to seven hours each day including tome to explore sites we pass through and to take in the unparalleled scenery. On the fourth afternoon we cross the stone threshold of Intipunku (Sun Gate) and enter Machu Picchu. After a well-deserved night in a comfortable hotel, we return to Machu Picchu to see the ruins in the perfect morning light. In the afternoon we return to Cuzco by train. This program is specially designed to offer a more relaxed trek and a deeper understanding of Inca culture. ITINERARY: October 6, Saturday - Iquitos - Lima - Cuzco Make your flight from Iquitos to Lima connecting to Cuzco at 11,024 feet above sea level. Greeting upon arrival to Cuzco and transfer from the airport to the Hotel Casa Andina San Blas. This three-star hotel is within walking distance of historic churches, museums and the main plaza of Cuzco. Afternoon tour of Cuzco - The Plaza de Armas, which has been the center of solemn parades and great assemblies since Inca times; The Cathedral, built on the site where the palace of Inca Viracocha once stood, mixes Spanish Renaissance architecture with beautiful Inca stone-work. Its construction began in 1580 and took approximately one century to complete. Among its many treasures are nearly 400 colonial paintings, including those of the "School of Cusco" a very particular style developed by the blending of Inca and Spanish 1

2 cultures. The Twelve Angled Stone, an example of Inca architectural achievement that continues to amaze the world, the twelve corner-angles fit perfectly with all the surrounding stone blocks. The stones were positioned without the use of mortar and have withstood earthquakes of the centuries; The Koricancha Temple, known as the "temple of the supreme Sun God " that colonial chronicles described as having the inner walls covered with gold plates to reflect the sun's rays entering through windows specially positioned for that purpose; and the nearby ruins Sacsayhuaman, a massive fortress made of large stones, including one weighing 125 tons, arranged in a zig-zag shape in three platforms. Sacsayhuaman presently serves as the location for the Inti Raymi Festival (Festival of the Sun) held every year on June 24 and; Kenko, or Quenco, (zig-zag) another great example of skilled Inca masonry work consisting of a large limestone slab covered with carvings, thought to have been used for ritual sacrifices. Here is also a mysterious cave with large niches, and an amphitheater facing north with 19 niches; Tambomachay, consisting of a beautiful ceremonial bath, popularly called "Bath of the Inca", formed by four walls linked by stairs and adorned with crystalline waterfalls. Return to Hotel Casa Andina San Blas. Late afternoon or evening pre-departure briefing on the Inca Trail in your hotel. Hotel Casa Andina San Blas for overnight. (Breakfast) Inca Trail Discovery October 7, Sunday, DAY 1: Cuzco - Piskakucho (Km. 82) Huayllabamba A spectacular early morning drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas takes us to our trailhead at Km. 82 of the Machu Picchu railroad. After getting acquainted with our trail crew we set out, crossing a footbridge to hike a gentle two hours down the Urubamba canyon, and then visit imposing sculpted Inca farming terraces and the settlement of Llaqtapata on the banks of the Cusichaca side river. We then climb a short way up the Cusichaca valley to Huayllabamba, the last inhabited village on the trail, where we camp. October 8, Monday, DAY 2: Huayllabamba Pacaymayo From Huayllabamba we begin a steeper ascent, climbing the Llullucha valley along a stream that rushes through enchanted native unca woodland. Crossing the rim of a small plateau, we 2

3 abruptly find ourselves in the puna, the treeless grasslands of the high Andes. Here a stretch of open trail climbs beneath mighty crags to our first and highest pass, Warmiwañusca (4,200m/13,776ft). From Warmiwañusca we can look back to the spectacular snowpeaks and valleys of the Huayanay massif, and ahead to a distant view of tomorrow s trail to the second pass. Descending a stepped stone trail we encounter our campsite in a clearing of the forested Pacamayo valley. October 9, Tuesday, DAY 3: Pacaymayo Phuyupatamarca We pick up an Inca stairway and ascend again past the small Inca site of Runkuracay. As we reach the second pass the landscape opens onto spectacular new views to the snowpeaks of the Pumasillo range. We descend again to the ruins of Sayacmarca (Inaccessible Town), an intricate labyrinth of houses, plazas and water channels, perched precariously on a rocky spur overlooking the Aobamba valley. The Inca trail, now a massive buttressed structure of granite paving stones, continues along the steep upper fringes of the cloud forest through a colorful riot of orchids, bromeliads, mosses and ferns. At the third pass we camp by pinnacles topped with Inca viewing platforms, overlooking the archaeological complex of Phuyupatamarca (Cloud-level Town). October 10, Wednesday, DAY 4: Phuyupatamarca - Machu Picchu We explore the wondrous maze of Inca stone towers, fountains and stairways spilling down the mountainside at Phuyupatamarca then begin a long descent through ever-changing layers of cloud forest. An Inca stairway partly cut from living granite leads us finally to the site of Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young), the largest and most exquisite of the Inca Trail sites. In the afternoon we follow the last stretch of trail across a steep mountainside through a lush, humid cloud-forest of giant ferns and broad-leaf vegetation. Suddenly we cross the stone threshold of Intipunku (Sun Gate) and encounter an unforgettable sweep of natural beauty and human artistry - a backdrop of twisting gorge and forested peaks framing the magical city of Machu Picchu. We then transfer to Aguas Calientes and the Hotel Inkaterra Machu Picchu for overnight. The Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel is a collection of comfortable small and charming cottages located at the base of the Machu Picchu mountain, a close bus ride to the ancient ruins. It is surrounded by tropical gardens and trails with many orchids and a large variety of colorful birds. 3

4 October 11, Thursday, DAY 5: Machu Picchu Cuzco We return to Machu Picchu by bus and spend the day in both guided and individual exploration, visiting the best-known features of this astounding and mysterious Inca settlement. Some will want to take the optional hike to the summit of Wayna Picchu (Permit NOT included. Must be booked in advance.) for an amazing overview of the site, while others may want to investigate Machu Picchu s multitude of hidden nooks and corners. Lunch at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. After a full experience of the site, we return to Aguas Calientes and board the return train to Poray Station. Private car transfer to your hotel in Cuzco, the Casa Andina Standard San Blas for overnight. (Breakfast, Lunch) Note: park authorities may occasionally designate different campsites than those indicated. October 12, Friday - Early afternoon transfer from hotel to airport for flight back to Lima. In Lima, make your evening or early next morning flight back to the States. (Breakfast) END SERVICES FLIGHTS REQUIRED: October 06 Iquitos - Lima LA :15-10:00 October 06 Lima - Cuzco, LA :00-12:35 October 12 Cuzco - Lima, LA :20-15:45 October 12 Lima - States Evening or next day departure. Please use LAN Airlines for your internal Peru flights. See for schedule and prices. PRICE per person in DOUBLE accommodations with 4 people traveling. (Price goes DOWN with additional people.) Cuzco tours, hotels, transfers: $257 4

5 Inca Trail Discovery, Private Service, Vistadome train, Hotel Inkaterra Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes, and Inca Trail Permit: $1562 TOTAL per person: $1,819 PRIVATE Inca Trail Discovery Includes: - Briefing before the hike in your Cuzco hotel. - Licensed, expert English-speaking Guide. - Camping Equipment, Eureka tents and air-mattresses. - Accommodations in two-man tents during the trek. - Dining tent, tables, chairs, full kitchen. - Toilet tent. - All meals as listed in the Itinerary. - Chef preparing healthy, hearty meals. - Well-paid and well-treated porters for camp gear and your personal gear. - Machu Picchu overnight at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel - Superior Room. - Lunch at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge last day. - Vistadome Train from Aquas Calientes to Poroy Station (Cuzco). - Private transfer from Cuzco to the start of the Inca Trail. - Return private transfer from Poroy to Cuzco Hotel. - Bus transportation from Machu Picchu to Aquas Calientes. - Inca Trail permit. - Entrance Permit to Machu Picchu. - High-quality maps. - Sleeping bags, Pillows. - Hiking staffs 416 County Road 501 PMB 131 Bayfield, CO USA (970)