Inka Trail 4d / 3n

Introduction:

The Inca Trail is famous all over the world for trekking. The reasons are many: The fantastic views of nature with valleys, snowcapped mountains and great variety of plants, birds and animals are just a few of the reasons tourists hike the Inca Trail. The amazing trail itself has original stairs and tunnels (which is part of a network of 30.000 km. of trails) going from Mendoza in Argentina to the border between Ecuador and Colombia. Famous for the archaeological sites along the trail revealing the great knowledge and organizational skills of the Incas and ending with the most famous and impressive Machu Picchu.

This program is the best of two different worlds of doing business and combining it in a new and better concept. With this program you support a way of operating the Inca Trail that secures the right and fair treatment of the porters as well as the rest of the crew.

Also we are very concerned about the environment, therefore, the employees are all trained to give the tourists a healthy and hygienically safe experience in general. With years of experience doing trekking in the Andean highlands, we also promise a good and professional service with room for everybody.

Welcome on our tour!

Expedition Program

Day 1:

We leave Cusco about 7am to go to Ollantaytambo and from there to km 82. at km. 82 where you will have the last chance to buy things that you may have forgotten such as walking cane, water and rain ponchos as well as use the last real washroom for a while. We start walking from km. 82 to Huallabamba; a quite flat and beautiful walk along the Urubamba River with a view of Mt. Veronica’s snowcapped peak in 5750 masl. Here we pass a few local villages where people still build their houses with the traditional ichu grass roofs. Here we can see the famous tuna-cactus, some with the cuchinilla louse, famous for its amazingly powerful clothes-dye. We spend a little while resting at the hill with a view over llactapata – an important agricultural place for the Incas. After Llactapata we turn away from the river going up the valley along the Kusichaca River. Here we have a good chance to see hummingbirds around in the flower bushes.

We arrive to the village of Huayllabamba in the afternoon and continue upwards to our camp a little further in direction of Warmi Wañusca – known in English as dead woman´s pass. At this campsite we have a beautiful view of the valley and the surrounding mountains.

Day 2:

We get up early in order to start the steep tour uphill to the first pass, Warmi Wañusca, at 4200 masl. We pass through the amazing forest covered with green and grey mosses. All through here we walk on high steps. After this we come to the open area of the puna. Here we might see some llamas grazing just below the pass. Arriving to the pass we all take a well deserved break and enjoy the view on both sides before we start the downhill climb of the stairs on the other side. After some 1-2 hours walking we touch the valley floor at Paqaymayu where there are washrooms available. Then we continue towards Runkurakay - another Inca ruin - and from here we walk on 100% genuine Inca trails. We head out towards the second pass at 3900 masl. At this place, on sunny days, we have a breathtaking view of the Vilcabamba mountains where the Incas retreated after fighting the Spaniards. Here we walk the beautiful way down to the big ruin of Sayaqmarka. After a good explanation of the site we continue through a small cloud forest towards our camp.

Day 3:

In good weather we wake up to a breathtaking view of the Vilcabamba Mountains. After breakfast we continue towards the third pass. This part of the way is very beautiful with cloud forest, orchids, ferns and a colorful birdlife. At this point the Inca Trail is quite extraordinary with semi-carved tunnels and perfectly placed stones. We lunch at the third pass near Phuyupatamarca before we start the long descent to Wiñay Wayna, the place of our last camp night. Those who have more energy can take a longer descent to see the site of Intipata and we all go in the late afternoon to visit the extraordinarily well made site just behind the camp.

Day 4:

Very early we leave camp to reach Inti Punku in time for sunrise. From here we get the first glance of Machu Picchu between the mountains on its saddle high over the Urubamba River. We all meet at Machu Picchu at a decided hour to make the tour of Machu Picchu. We will learn about the importance – religiously and historically – of the place, and we will be able to appreciate the fine architecture of the Incas. After the guided tour you can go to the top of Wayna Picchu, from where one has a good overview of the whole area and the full site of Machu Picchu. Another possibility is to visit the beautiful temple of the moon. In the afternoon we meet in Aguas Calientes to take the train back to Cusco.

Please note:

• All prices are per person and depending of the group size at the departure day.
• We offer special discounts for groups and in the low season (December - April).
• Small changes might occur according to the rules of INC.
• All Inka trails have to be booked 33 days before departure.
• Prices can change due to changes of exchange rate - dollars - soles

Our Services Includes:

• All transports, also bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
• All entrance fees (Inca Trail and Machu Picchu).
• Professional bilingual guide, cook and assistants.
• All meals from breakfast day one to breakfast day four as well as afternoon tea with a snack.
• Hot drinks with all meals plus cold boiled water in the morning to refill bottles.
• 3-persons igloo tents for 2 persons plus Mattress.
• Roomy dining tent, kitchen tent and toilet tent.
• Chairs and tables in dinning tent.
• Service of porters to carry all common equipment and food.
• First aid kit incl. oxygen.

What we advice you to bring:

• Flashlight.
• Water bottle.
• Sun lotion and sunhat.
• insect repellant.
• rain poncho.
• sweat transporting clothes.
• good hiking footwear.
• warm sleeping bag.
• warm hat.
• windproof jacket.
• camera with extra rolls.
• toilet paper.
• small snacks.
• some pocket money.
• always have dry shirts, a warm hat and extra socks in the daypack.

*PRICE PER PERSON $350.00