INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU (4 days)

Whether you are trekking through the Andes or taking your time in the city of the Incas, you'll explore Cusco and it won't cost the earth.

Day 1 Inca trail to Machu Picchu
In the early morning we will drive from our valley hotel to the trail head to begin hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, which passes high mountains down to cloud forest, passing through a number of diverse ecological zones filled with an enormous variety of plants and birdlife. The route is also studded with archaeological sites en route to Machu Picchu. On the first day we follow the Urubamba River, accompanied by fine views of Mount Veronica (5,850 m). After lunch we will visit the ruins of the Inca settlement of Llactapata, before continuing through the Huayllabamba Valley to camp near the village of the same name.
Meals: FB.

Day 2 Huayllabamba – Paqaymayo
From Huayllabamba the trail climbs steadily through high Andean woodland to the plain of Llulluchapampa just before the first pass, from where there are excellent views of the Huayanay mountain chain. After another two hours walking we will reach the highest point of the trail at Warmiwañuska Pass (4050m/13,280ft), before descending as far as the canyon of the Pacaymayo River, where we make our second camp.
Meals: FB.

Day 3 Paqaymayo – Wiñay Wayna
The trail now climbs to the second pass at Runcuracay, from where we will be able to see the Vilcabamba and Urubamba mountain ranges. After a short rest we descend along a paved Inca road to the ruins of Runcuracay and Sayacmarca, which have been recently restored. Here we enter the cloud forest and in the afternoon the trail descends via a stone staircase past the ruins of Phuyupatamarca to Wiñay Wayna, where we camp for the night.
Meals: FB.

Day 4 Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu 
From the beautiful ruins of Wiñay Wayna itisabout a two hour walk to Inti Punku, or the Sun Gate, from where we will get our first glimpse of Machu Picchu. On arriving at the city we will have the whole day to tour its temples, houses, agricultural terraces and palaces, before returning to Cusco by train in the afternoon. Evening transfer to hotel in Cusco from a free evening in the city.
Meals: B.L.

Included:

• Pre-departure briefing
• Transport to the start of the trail
• Professional bilingual guide (English and Spanish), in the trek 2 guides for groups of over 8 people.
• Meals described in the program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, FB=Full board), in the trek the meals are prepared by the trek cook and also includes: daily morning snack, daily tea service except last day, vegetarian or special menus are available at no extra cost.
• Accommodation on the trek is camping (3 nights). Tents are set up by the porters.
• Services during the trek: Porters for carrying equipment and personal gear
• Camping equipment: Personal tents (2 people in each 4-people capacity tent, they are 3 season and highly maintained), mattresses, kitchen tent, dining tent with tables and chairs, toilet tent, household items.
• Accommodation for all our staff
• Chef and cooking equipment
• Hot water every morning to clean up and boiled water to fill in your canteen every morning or night.
• First aid kit and emergency oxygen supply
• Bag for the gear you will need during the trek
• Machu Picchu entrance fee
• One way bus ticket (from Machu Picchu to the village)
• Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Cusco (Backpacker, Vistadome or Hiram Bingham service, upon request) (*)
• Transfer from the train station to the hotel in Cusco
• All the garbage produced during the trek will be returned to the city of Cusco

(*) If there would not be train ticket available in the direct route Aguas Calientes – Poroy, a train ticket Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) with an additional transfer to your selected hotel will be provided.

Not included:

• Meals not included in the program,
• Personal expenses
• Sleeping bag
• Any kind of personal insurance
• Tips
• Extras

We recommend that you take:

• Travel documents: passport, visas, travel insurance certificate, air tickets, vouchers
• Health requirements arranged
• Any Vaccination Certificates required
• Money: cash, credit card and money pouch
• Waterproof rain jacket or poncho
• A good sleeping bag (down bag for temperatures as low -15°C)
• Inner sleep sheet (for sleeping bag)
• Backpack for carrying items for daily use such as cameras, water bottles, etc.
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Short-sleeved t-shirts
• Comfortable pants
• Shorts
• Walking boots , waterproof trekking boots recommended
• Sports shoes or sandals for a higher comfort while at camp
• Warm clothing, including jacket, fleeces
• Flashlight/headlamp and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
• Hat, cap and accessories
• Underwear
• Towel, toilet paper
• Camera, video camera, binoculars, etc.
• Insect repellent
• Sun block
• Non-disposible canteen and water for the first morning. Optionally: water-sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported health problem so far
• Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount)
• Walking poles (you will need rubber tips to cover the metal tips and protect the trail)

Important:

• Departure and arrival times are approximated.
• Campsites are subject to change according to the designation of the governmental institution regulating the use of the Inca Trail, as well as to our guide’s criteria and the group progress
• Challenging and levels of difficulty: (range between 1 to 10): 6 and an acclimatization period of at least 2 days in Cusco or at elevations above 3000m/9840ft is recommended.

Prices per Person 2009:
Prices per person depend on the group size, the larger the group the lower the price per person. Please contact us, specifying:

• Service (in pool or in  private)
• Number of people on the trek
• Departure date
• Requested train service: Backpacker (Basic train), Vistadome (First Class), Hiram Bingham (Luxury train)

Available discounts (these discounts are not cumulative):

• Students: US$ 45.00 (students require a valid International Student Identity Card. Please note that Youth Travel Cards are not valid)
• Teenagers: US$ 40.00 (up to 15 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)
• Children: US$ 85.00 (up to 7 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)

Social & Environmental responsibility
Peru & Travel is committed to travelling in a way that is respectful of local people, their culture, local economies and the environment. With your participation we can help conserve the area we visit and bring positive benefits to our host communities:

• The natural environment is also very important. If in the bush we need to make our human waste, be sure is buried away from waterways. Burying or carrying out used toilet paper is a must. Tampons and sanitary pads must also be taken out of the area and disposed of appropriately. Minimize use of soap or shampoos in rivers and lakes - your local guide will let you know when using soap is unsuitable.
• When trekking, many travellers take an extra plastic bag to pick up any rubbish that they see to improve the area and for their own rubbish. Rubbish may have to be carried until a suitable disposal opportunity in the next town.
• Please try and minimize the waste of plastic water bottles. Consider packing a water filter, water purification tablets or iodine to purify drinking water. At some of our hotels there are large water 'bubbler' dispensers where you can refill your bottle with purified water for free or for a small fee
  




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