CUSTOM PERU: Sacred Valley Cusco Salkantay Trek (Lodge-based) Machu Picchu Lima

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1 CUSTOM PERU: Sacred Valley Cusco Salkantay Trek (Lodge-based) Machu Picchu Lima The following is an outline of your trip itinerary. Please note that local conditions may require changes or adjustments that are beyond our control. Civilized Adventures and our local ground operators will do our best to ensure that all activities are included as originally proposed. A CLIENT-APPROVED Adventure This is an outline of a journey taken by a couple who travelled to Peru in August, Mountain Lodges was fantastic. Titilaka was professional and provided a high level of service Well organized and I was informed of everything. Being able to keep in touch with Andrew via was great. Questions? Please contact Civilized Adventures Adventure Travel Specialist Andrew De Angelis who handled all the arrangements for this journey: andrew@civilizedadv.com or any of our expert team: info@civilizedadv.com Please note: to protect our hours of research, we do not include names for suggested hotels here, except when describing the Salkantay Trek, as the lodges are such a major part of the program. Tours listed are those chosen by past clients and they may not be your first choice. Please consider this to be a starting point: allow us to customize a proposal for you that will showcase your own interests. Day 1 Arrive Lima Upon arrival in Lima, collect your luggage and proceed to the hotel located right across from the Main Terminal. You can even use the sky bridge (located on the 2nd floor of the airport) which connects the hotel to the terminal. This airport hotel is a good choice if you are not staying in Lima as it is closest to the airport and thus avoids traffic. There is a 24 hour restaurant, a 24 hour spa which offers relaxing massages, a Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, free Wi Fi Internet access and an indoor pool. Overnight: Lima, airport hotel (our clients chose a Suite; standard rooms are also possible) Day 2 Depart Lima for Cusco and the Sacred Valley B After breakfast you will make your way back to the airport for the morning flight to Cusco. Your guide will meet you at the airport and you will be transferred directly to the Sacred Valley. We recommend starting in the Sacred Valley to help you acclimatize to the altitude since the valley is lower than Cusco. The journey can take approximately 80 minutes. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Stay 2 nights at a lodge in the heart of the Sacred Valley that consists of several individual chalets set in a beautiful garden. The chalets are constructed with wood, stone and clay, typical building materials for this region. The property has a restaurant, business centre with Internet, reading room, spa, swimming pool and tennis court. Rooms have a private verandah. / / info@civilizedadv.com 1

2 Overnight: 2 nights in the Sacred Valley Day 3 Sacred Valley B, L Meet your guide and depart in a private vehicle for a day tour in the Sacred Valley. In this very scenic place you ll visit Ollantaytambo, where you ll explore the ancient village and the impressive Inca fortress, a huge complex that rises up the flank of a mountain overlooking the village. Then continue to Pisac, a village known for its traditional market and another Inca site in the hills overlooking the village. Overnight: 2 nd night in the Sacred Valley Day 4 Sacred Valley Cuzco B Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards, embark on a full day tour of Chinchero village, the Maras Salt Mines and Moray, an ancient agricultural centre. Since pre Inca times, salt has been obtained in Maras by evaporating salty water in the sun, leaving the salt behind. In the mines there are thousands of salt pools; when light is reflected the effect is quite stunning. At the Moray ruins, which were built before the rise of the Incas, it is said that the ancient agricultural terraces of circular and concentric shape, were used as a seed producing area for the principal crops of the empire. At the end of the visit you will return back to Cuzco (80 minute drive). The rest of the day at your leisure. Your hotel in Cusco: we have several favorites. Our clients chose to stay in a junior suite in a newer property in the heart of Cusco, just a couple of blocks from Cusco s main Plaza de Armas. Rooms are charming, cozy and with original décor. The restaurant is open for lunch, dinner and after dinner it is a trendy spot with great fresh market food. Overnight: Cusco, 2 nights Day 5 Cusco B Day at leisure. Explore Cusco and prepare for your trekking trip which begins tomorrow. Overnight: Cusco, 2nd night / / info@civilizedadv.com 2

3 Day 6 Depart Cusco and start Salkantay Trail Trek B, L, D DAY 1 Cusco to Salkantay Lodge Overnight at Salkantay Lodge at 3,869 m/12,690 ft Trekking Time: Approximately 6 hours (including picnic lunch en route) Hiking Level: Moderate Option: Guests who do not wish to trek may be transported to the lodge by vehicle After an early breakfast, you are picked up at 7:00 am at your Cusco hotel by your guide. En route you take a short break to visit the Inca ruins of Tarawasi near the town of Limatambo (approx. 1.5 hrs from Cusco). After leaving Limatambo, we pass through the mountain village of Mollepata where we stop for a short coffee break before ascending a winding mountain road to a place called Marcoccasa (30 minutes from Mollepata by vehicle). Here, we begin our trek to Soraypampa, on an old route called the Camino Real (Royal Path). This is a good opportunity for everyone to acclimate, while enjoying a beautiful six hour trek. After a warm welcome by our friendly staff, you are shown to your rooms and have time to freshen up, before tea and cookies. The trip leader will hold a briefing by the fireplace, followed by aperitifs and dinner. Salkantay Lodge 2 nights Salkantay Lodge takes its name from the majestic peak at the head of the valley Mt. Salkantay, the second most sacred peak in Inca mythology and, at 6,270 m (20,600 ft), the highest in the region. With just 12 rooms, the lodge has been designed in accordance with traditional building techniques, Incan architecture and with respect to the surrounding environment. Lodge features: Restaurant, sauna & Jacuzzi, WIFI, Satellite phone, Massage available ($$). Room features: hot water, fireplace, in room heating Day 7 Salkantay Trail B, L, D DAY 2 A Hike to Humantay Lake Overnight at Salkantay Lodge at 3,869 m/12,690 ft Trekking Time: Approximately 4 hours Hiking Level: Moderate to Challenging Option: Horseback Riding instead of hiking Today take an acclimatization hike on the slopes above the lodge to Lake Humantay, fed by the hanging glaciers of Mt. Humantay. The hike is optional, but the views are amazing, and those brave enough can even go for a dip. Return to the lodge for lunch with your afternoon at leisure, after which you may choose to trade the glacial swim for a relaxing soak in our outdoor Jacuzzi. Spend the night at the Salkantay Lodge with gourmet food and warm, comfortable beds. In the evening, the guide briefs with you the itinerary for the following day. All meals are served at the Lodge. Day 8 Salkantay Trail B, L, D DAY 3 Crossing the Salkantay Pass Overnight at Wayra Lodge at 3,906 m/12,812 ft Trekking Time: 6 8 hours (including lunch) Hiking Level: Challenging, crossing a 4,638m (15,213 ft) mountain pass Option: Horseback Riding instead of hiking ($$) This is the big day! After an early start, the hike up the Rio Blanco valley, circling Humantay Peak across from Salkantay Peak. The highest point on the trek is the Salkantay Pass at 4,638 m (15,213 ft). At the pass we stop to / / info@civilizedadv.com 3

4 take in views of snowcapped peaks of the Vilcabamba Range in every direction with the glaciated south face of Salkantay towering above us. Keep an eye out for Andean condors, often visible in this area. From the pass you descend towards Wayra Lodge, our destination for the evening. A hot lunch is served en route; dinner and overnight at the Lodge. Wayra Lodge 1 night: With just 6 rooms, the lodge has been designed in accordance with traditional building techniques, Incan architecture and with respect to the surrounding environment. Lodge features: restaurant, sauna & Jacuzzi, WIFI, satellite phone, massage available ($$). Room features: Hot water, fireplace, in room heating Day 9 Salkantay Trail B, L, D DAY 4 Descending into the Cloud Forest Overnight at Colpa Lodge at 2,870 m/9,414 ft Trekking Time: 3 4 hours Hiking Level: Easy to Moderate Today enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Wayra Lodge. Then continue your descent along the left bank of the Salkantay River, through increasingly verdant scenery. You can feel the warm air rising from the jungle, accompanied by colorful butterflies and striking orchids. Upon arrival at Colpa Lodge, you are greeted with a Pachamanca, a traditional festive Peruvian meal cooked by layering meat and vegetables. Everything is then covered with hot stones, plantain leaves, high Andean grass and local herbs and the contents are baked in this underground oven. You spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring the nearby orchid trail. Dinner and overnight at the lodge. Colpa Lodge 1 night Colpa Lodge is located on an open plateau at the confluence of three rivers. The outdoor jacuzzi has panoramic views of lush green mountains. With just 6 rooms, the lodge has been designed in accordance with traditional building techniques, Incan architecture and with respect to the surrounding environment. Lodge features: restaurant, sauna & Jacuzzi, WIFI, satellite phone, massage available ($$). Room features: hot water, fireplace, in room heating. / / info@civilizedadv.com 4

5 Day 10 Salkantay Trail B, L, D DAY 5 Following the Santa Teresa River Valley Overnight at Lucma Lodge at 2,135 m/7,003 ft Trekking Time: 5 6 hours (including lunch) Hiking Level: Moderate to Challenging (because of distance, not terrain) Option: Canopy Zip Line Tour ($) Today hike along the Santa Teresa river valley, through more populated rural areas. Pass through banana, granadilla, and avocado orchards and coffee plantations (said to be one of the best organic coffees in the world). A hot picnic lunch is served by the river. After lunch, hike another hour before a private vehicle meets you for a short drive to the beginning of the Llactapata Inca Trail (aprox. 30 minutes). From the head of the newly restored Inca trail, you easily make your way to Lucma Lodge, set in an avocado orchard. On the way you ll visit an organic coffee plantation and join the owner on a short tour of the farm and learn how coffee is grown, harvested, dried and processed. Dinner and overnight at the lodge. Lucma Lodge 1 night With just 6 rooms, the lodge has been designed in accordance with traditional building techniques, Incan architecture and with respect to the surrounding environment. Lodge features: restaurant, sauna, WIFI, satellite phone, massage available ($$). Room features: hot water, fireplace, In room heating Day 11 Salkantay Trail /Aguas Calientes & Machu Picchu B, L, D DAY 6 First Views of Machu Picchu from Llactapata Pass Overnight in Aguas Calientes at 1,900 m/6,232 ft Trekking Time: 4 6 hours Hiking Level: Moderate to Challenging After a hearty breakfast, you ll tackle the last day of our trek. Head uphill for 2 3 hours towards Llactapata Pass (2,736 m/8,974ft), then come upon a distant but spectacular view of Machu Picchu Sanctuary from the southeast, a view few travelers ever get a chance to admire. Take a short break to explore the Llactapata Ruins, which have recently been restored. Lunch is served at a scenic viewpoint, looking out to Machu Picchu. Then begin our final descent to the Aobamba River through lush bamboo forests, orchards and coffee plantations. Finally, board a train for a scenic ride (approx. 1 hour) to Aguas Calientes, the town of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, we check into an award wining hotel for a celebration dinner with our guide and one last briefing! Overnight in Aquas Calientes (2 nights). Carefully set high in the tropical cloud forest, our chosen hotel a Civilized Adventures favorite is an excellent option for a visit to Machu Picchu. In the town of Aguas Calientes, it is only a short bus ride to the famed archeological site, and features 85 bungalow style rooms scattered throughout 12 acres of lush gardens along the Vilcanota River. (Note: the usual trekking program would only have 1 night in Aguas Calientes. We highly recommend two, as included here). Overnight: 2 nights, Aquas Calientes / / info@civilizedadv.com 5

6 Day 12 Salkantay Trail /Aguas Calientes & Machu Picchu B,L,D DAY 7 Visit Machu Picchu Sanctuary After a very early breakfast at the hotel, we make our way to the bus station for the ride up to Machu Picchu Sanctuary (30 min). Our trip leader will give an introductory 2 hour guided tour of the ruins, after which we have the option of climbing the steep staircase of Huayna Picchu, a steep and vertically quite challenging hike that takes about 2 hours which affords great views of Machu Picchu. Afterwards, we meet up with our guide again and return by bus to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch. (At this point, the program could end with a train ride from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo takes about 1.5 hours, and then a private vehicle will drive back to Cusco (an additional 1.5 hour). Upon arrival in Cusco (approximately 7 or 8 p.m.), you would be dropped off at your hotel). Our clients chose to spend a second night at Aquas Calientes. Overnight: 2 nd night, Aquas Calientes Day 13 Extra day in Machu Picchu Return to Cuzco B, L You can go back to Machu Picchu as your ticket (ruins and shuttle) is valid for two days. By spending an extra day at Machu Picchu, you will be able to: Explore areas that are less visited by most travelers, such as hiking to the Inca Bridge or the Sun Gate. Visit the town of Aguas Calientes and shop the local craft markets. Treat yourself to a relaxing end to your vacation and fully enjoy the magnificent gardens, top of the line spa and the hospitality of your hotel. In the afternoon you will walk from the hotel to the station, (200 mt.) and board the train to Ollantaytambo. Upon your arrival in Ollantaytambo you are met and transferred to your hotel in Cuzco. Overnight: Cusco hotel Day 14 Cuzco Puno B, Box Lunch Many travellers choose to fly from Cusco to Puno but they miss the great chance to learn more about pre Inca cultures visiting other magnificent sites located along the Route of the Sun. You will meet your guide and by private car you will be transferred to Puno. (5.5 hour + two stops on the way). You will stop to visit the church of Andahuaylillas, one of the jewels in Cuzco s colonial crown with a magnificent series of murals and superb colonial era paintings, all on diverse religious themes. / / info@civilizedadv.com 6

7 You will continue to Raqchi, where you will explore the remains of the great temple of Viracocha, the creator god. Raqchi has been described by John Hemming as "probably the largest roofed building ever built by the Incas". Your next stop is Sicuani, a bustling island of commerce amid a barren landscape. Aymara women ferry their goods around this important market town on nimbly chauffeured taxi tricycles, or sit impassively before their wares awaiting a buyer. In the evening arrive in Puno and your hotel, set in a secluded location overlooking Lake Titicaca. Overnight Lake Titicaca hotel 3 nights This sleek, all inclusive eco lodge is a member of Relais & Châteaux, which attests to its quality. Nestled along 12,000 foot high Lake Titicaca on a private peninsula, the lodge features just 18 airy guestrooms, all water facing, with thoughtful touches such as heated floors, locally crafted textiles and fresh flowers. The dining is inspired, and ample terraces and picturesque lounges allow you to soak in the views. Experienced concierges create personalized nature excursions, as well as visits to nearby archaeological sites and indigenous communities. Overnight: Lake Titicaca, 3 nights Days 15 & 16 Titicaca Lake B, L, D Days at leisure. Relax, catch up with your journal, enjoy the views, or investigate private excursions and activities as offered by the lodge. We recommend a visit of some of the islands, such as the Uros islands or Taquile. Overnight: Lake Titicaca, 2 more nights Day 17 Titicaca Lake Juliaca Lima B Depending on your flight times, you are meet and transferred to the airport to catch your flight back to Lima. Upon your arrival you are met and transferred to your hotel in Miraflores (Lima). HILTON MIRAFLORES 2 NIGHTS Our clients chose a 5 star international hotel in the Miraflores area of Lima. The chic rooms have air conditioning, luxury linens, flat screen TVs and private bathrooms with showers. Enjoy Peruvian American dishes or relax with a drink in the outdoor terrace. Overnight: 2 nights 5 star hotel, Miraflores area (Junior Suite) Day 18 Lima B Day at leisure. Overnight: 2nd night 5 star hotel, Miraflores area (Junior Suite) Day 19 Lima Homeward B, D This afternoon you will embark on a short tour of Lima, including a visit to the Larco museum or El de Oro Museum. The tour is linked with the transfer to the airport. Dinner is included. After dinner you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight back home. / / info@civilizedadv.com 7

8 Cost of this program: US$ 8,200 per person (this was high). If you re just keen on the trek portion only, please ask for a customized quote. Trip cost includes: Private transfers and touring Accommodation as listed Meals as listed (Please see the orange strip B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner) Excursions as listed with local English speaking guides Accommodation taxes, applicable tourism levies and all relevant Value Added Tax (VAT) or Government Tax Trip cost excludes: Domestic flights Meals not specified Alcoholic beverages Optional excursions Departure taxes Travel insurance Items of a personal nature Gratuities to local staff Any new government taxes, levies, fuel or industry increases which are beyond our control ADVISORY: We strive to deliver a quality Civilized Adventure. Travellers must understand that they are visiting developing countries and must be prepared to deal with unusual occurrences, local inadequacies, and unpredictable events. If you are flexible, curious about new people, places and environments, and have a positive attitude, we welcome your participation. This type of travel is rewarding if you can embrace the inherent challenges. Please call us if you have any questions or concerns. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that you get the most out of your travel experience. / / info@civilizedadv.com 8