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ITINERARY
Day 1: Cusco – Villa
los Loros
After picking up the passengers from
their respective hotels we will leave the city of Cusco at 8:00
a.m. by private bus. Taking the road to Abancay, we cross the
Apurímac River, at 1,600 meters above sea level, and then
continue on to the pass of Qorimarca (4,000 meters), from where
we will descend into the inter-Andean valley of Huanipaca before
finally arriving at “Villa los Loros”. After settling into our
rooms we will have lunch. Evening meal and overnight.
Day 2: Villa los Loros (2,200 meters) –
Choqekiraw (2,900 meters)
After breakfast we will begin our
trek with a two and a half hour walk to the beach of the rushing
Apurímac River (which in Quechua means “the god who speaks”). We
then cross the San Ignacio suspension bridge and begin the climb
from the level of the river (1,500 meters) to our campsite at
Choqekiraw, located at 2,900 meters. Along the way we will be
able to enjoy the scenery and a variety of local flora and
fauna.
After lunch we will visit the Phaqchayoq
system of agricultural terraces and the House of the Waterfall,
before finally returning to the campsite, where we will be
served dinner before resting for the night.
(Trekking: 17 kilometers, time 7-8 hours)
Day 3: All day at Choqekiraw
We will have all day to visit the
main sectors of the Archeological Park, including: the area of
the Administrative Residences of Pikiwasi; the Priests’
Residence; the Ceremonial Platform or Ushnu; the Main Plaza or
Hauqaypata; the Storehouses or Qolqas and the Upper Complex, or
Hanan, among others.
We will have lunch near the complex in order not to interrupt
our visit, and with a little luck we may even see a majestic
Andean condor soar over the deep canyon of the Apurímac River.
Finally, we will return to our campsite, where we will be served
our evening meal and spend the night.
Day 4: Choqekiraw (2,900 meters) – Pincha
Unuyoc (2,487 meters)
We begin by ascending from our
campsite, going through high altitude woodland rich in
epiphytes, bromeliads and beautiful orchids, until we reach the
Choqekiraw Pass (3,270 meters), from where we begin a long
descent along the western slope of the mountain. We will visit
the archeological site of Pincha Unuyoc, a fan-shaped series of
agricultural terraces crowned by a small ceremonial site, where
we will make our camp.
(Trekking: 8.5 kilometers, time 5 hours)
Day 5: Pincha Unuyoc (2,487 meters) – Maizal
(2,892 meters)
We will continue to descend into
the warm valley of the Blanco (or Yuraqmayo) River (1,875
meters), where we will stop for lunch. Then we will climb the
mountain known as Qoriwayrachina as far as Maizal, a natural
balcony from where there is an impressive view. We will make
camp at this site. Evening meal and overnight camping
(Trekking: 9.5 kilometers, time 5 hours)
Day 6: Maizal (2,892 meters) – Yanama (3,520
meters)
We will climb through a varied
forest, passing the old Victoria Mines, until we reach the San
Juan Pass (4,200 meters), from where we will be able to enjoy
extraordinary views of the Vilcabamba Range. We will then follow
a trail along the sheer cliff before arriving at the community
of Yanama.
(Trekking: 12.5 kilometers, time 7 hours)
Day 7: Yanama (3,520 meters) – Totora (3,400
meters)
Our route will take us up through
the grasslands of a high Andean valley, up a moderately steep
slope as far as the Yanama Pass (4,620 meters). From the pass we
will begin the descent into the Santa Teresa valley, with the
scenery provided by imposing views of the mountains of Salkantay
(6,270 meters) and Humantay (5,917 meters), which are the
highest peaks in the Vilcabamba Range and the slopes of which
are home to Machu Picchu. We will descend along a zigzag trail
until we reach the place where we will make our next camp, by
the side of the river that runs through the village of Totora.
(Trekking: 12 kilometers, time 7 hours)
Day 8: Totora (3,400 meters) – La Playa
(2,135 meters)
This day’s trekking will be downhill, through
an undulating path that will take us to the settlement of
Collpapampa, where we will reach the start of the Santa Teresa
valley. We will have lunch there and also have time to enjoy the
nearby thermal baths.
After bathing we will continue on our way, passing a pleasant
area of woodland and then coffee plantations and tropical
orchards of passion fruit, papaya and avocado, with the imposing
mountains above us on either side, before reaching the road and
La Playa, where we will make camp.
(Trekking: 15 kilometers, time 5 hours)
Day 9: La Playa (2,135 meters) –
Hydroelectric Station (1,875 meters) – Machu Picchu village
Today we must decide between two
options: to continue trekking as far as the hydroelectric
station, from where we can take the train as far as Machu Picchu
village; or board a bus or truck from La Playa that will also
take us to the hydroelectric station, from where we can take the
train to Machu Picchu village. The first option means a six-hour
walk, during which we will have a chance to visit the
archeological complex of Llactapata (2,590 meters), a ceremonial
site related to the sunrise on the winter solstice, which can be
seen above Machu Picchu. The second option involves a journey of
just 1-2 hours. In both cases the train will take us as far as
Machu Picchu village in just 15 minutes. Here we will be able to
rest in the hotel or enjoy the relaxing thermal baths of Aguas
Calientes.
(Trekking: 15 kilometers, time 6 hours)
Day 10: Machu Picchu – Cusco
We will leave the hotel early to
take the first bus up to the Inca sanctuary, which is situated
high above the canyon of the Urubamba River in the heart of the
highland forest below Mount Salkantay. We will have the rest of
the day to visit this wonder of the world, with a chance to make
an optional visit to the imposing mountain known as Wayna
Picchu, or the Sun Gate (Intipunku). We will have lunch at the
restaurant of the Sanctuary Lodge Hotel, very close to the Inca
citadel, after which we will return to the village of Machu
Picchu to take the return train to Cusco, where you will be
transferred from the train station to the hotel.
B=breakfast,
L=lunch, D=dinner
WE SUGGEST YOU TO:
- Use boots during treks and sneakers during long walks.
- Drinking lots of liquids on long excursions, specially during
the Inka Trail
- Always taking an umbrella or rainwear.
YOU SHOULD BRING
-Personal sleeping bag
-Warm Jacket or Sweater
-RainGear (from nov to april)
-T-shirt , short, long pants.
-Back pack, trekking shoes, sandals
-Sun Hat , wool hat , sun glasses
-Water bottle,flash light, hat
-Personal clothing for trek
-Insect repellent – Suncream
-Personal medication
-Water Purification Tablets.
-Towels
-Toilet paper
INCLUDED:
·
Pick-up at
hotel in Cusco
·
Bus service
to Lares
·
Professional
tour guide
·
Horse (for
food & camping equipment only)
·
Cook
·
Kitchen &
camping equipment (tent, mattress)
·
Meals
(3B–3L–3D)
·
Train ticket
Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes - Cusco
·
Entrance fee
to Machu Picchu
·
Bus from /
to Machupicchu
·
Horsemen
·
Cook
NOT INCLDED:
·
Breakfast
(day 1)
·
Lunch (day
4)
·
Bus service
from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.
·
Extra horse
US$ 30 per day. |
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