Trip Program
D1: Meeting at the hotel in Lima.
D2: Early morning drive to El Chaco beach where we
board a vessel to visit the Ballestas islands. This is
an important wildlife park where we will watch sea lions, cormorants,
pinguins, flamingoes and pelicans.
After lunch at Paracas we drive to Nazca. Hotel.
D3: Free day in Nazca which you can use to fly over the well known figures (optional). In the evening we drive to Arequipa which we reach early morning.
D4: Free day in Arequipa. This old colonial town has a very attractive atmosphere and wonderful views of attractive snowy mountains around. You may go on an excursion around town namely to Colca canyon (optional).
D5: Free morning. Flight to Juliaca and drive to Puno on the shore of Titicaca lake. We also visit Sillustani above the Umaya lake, well known for the diversity of its avifauna. Sillustani is a pre-Inca aristochratic burial place. Its enourmous chullpas edified with heavy stones have a cilindrical shape and were the equivalent of tombs.
D6: Departure for Taquile island on Lake Titicaca, one of the highest navigable lakes in the World (3820m). On our way we visit one of the curious floating islands of Uros. These islands are formed by several levels of hard rushes (totora) that are laid on shallow waters. You will walk on one of them and shall feel the spongy soil ceding over your steps.
We will also observe placid fishermen laying their nets from their typical boats made of totora.
After disembarking on Taquile
we will explore the island on foot and observe the very simple
lifestyle of its natives. The whole island is covered with old
inca terraces and we will find some inca religious ruins on top
of some hills. There are no vehicles on the island, not even
bicycles, due to its rugged relief, and also no electricity.
We return to Puno in the afternoon.
D7: Interesting train trip to Cusco. We first traverse the very wide altiplano (Andean plateau) crossing small villages where will see the natives shepherding lamas and alpacas, or plowing the fields with wooden ploughs pulled by bulls, then a region of very high snowy mountains and deep valleys (10-12h); hotel.
D8: Early morning departure to Pisac in the Sacred Valley. This is a very typical Andean town which keeps the largest citadel of the Inca empire. There we will observe a good deal of architectonical examples related to defence, religion, agriculture, residences and roads. The noble area maintains the temples of the sun and of the moon, the lyturgical baths, and the ever present Intihuatana (the hitching post of the sun). This a carved rock used for astronomical purposes and is the center of all inca religious complexes (inti=sun).
We continue to Ollantaytambo, a village that keeps the same pre-colombian streets and the original names of its quarters. We visit its fortress that was one of the last resistance strongholds against the Spanish conquerors (1539). At the time, most of the temples were being built and we will remark several sleeping stones, large blocks of stone quarried 6km from here which never got to their destiny. All the complex is built on a steep terraced slope with its most important temples on the top. Hotel in Urubamba.
D9: In the morning we will do a pleasant rafting trip down the Urubamba river which offers some exciting rapids. This trip being easy and accessible to newcomers, provides some moments of great joy. The scenery above is grand with the high ridges and snowy mountains rising on both sides of the valley. We also pass some hamlets where we will watch the rural activities of the natives. Pic nic on the river bank and return to Urubamba. The rest of the day you may, or you may hire a bicycle or a horse to stroll hike in and around town.
D10: Drive to Chillca (2400m) where we meet our porters and cooks. We start the old Inca Trail that connected Cuzco to Macchu Picchu following the left bank of the Urubamba river. We cross bush terrain with some eucalytus woods and we come to a small inca lodging compound that might have served as a hostel for travellers. We start finding vestiges of the old inca cobble stone path.
After we cross deep gorges we come to Llactapata (2288m), the ruins of a large agricultural village built above several terraces. Close by is a sun temple, Pulpitoyok, with its typical semi-circular walls.
We camp by the river (5h). Above our camp you may climb to the plateau above and inspect the ruins of a administrative and military post.
D11: Passing a small col we start ascending the valley of the Cusichaca river.
The snecery is magnificent because the lush slopes fall steeply into the valley. This is a very quiet valley with rare hamlets where its inhabitants grow barley, corn and quinoa, the typical Andean cereal. When we reach Huayllabamba, a small village surrounded by green fields, we start climbing into the Llullucha valley. The trail goes through the very lush semi-tropical forest with its vegetal wigs hanging from the branches.
We reach the pretty meadows of Llulluchampa where we camp (3680m) (6h). Wonderful view of the ridges above us and the snowy mountains to the west.
D12: We slowly climb to the Huarmihuañusca col (4200m), the dead woman col, and the highest point on this trek. From here we enjoy a far reaching panorama of several mountains on the horizon and we observe the inca trail winding down to the valley and climbing to the next col.
We may be lucky enough to see a taruca, the Andean deer. Going down we pass by Pacamayo, an old hamlet with stone huts, and start climbing a very panoramic section that leads us to Runkuracay. This is a very interesting astronomical observatory with curious elipsoidal walls and the characteristic trapezoidal windows. From here we see all the way we hiked in the morning from the Huarmihuañusca col. Next we pass the twin lagoons of Yanacocha and reach the Runkurakay col (3950m).
Soon after descending we pass one of the most interesting buildings of this trek: Sayacmarca, the Dominating Town (or Inaccessible), built on top of a rocky spur. It is built on various levels which are dominated by an edification with parabolic form walls which oddly lean to the interior. Its water channeling system is practically intact which includes a long exterior aqueduct that channeled water to four ritual baths.
We continue our trek into the Aomarca valley passing by the hamlet of Conchamarca and by the dry lake of Chakikocha.
We then follow a very panoramic trail that goes through a 20m tunnel carved in the rock cliff and cross the last col (3800), before reaching our camp at Puyutamarca (3750m) (5h30). It is located on a ridge from which we enjoy a splendid view of very high snowy mountains around us, namely Salcantay (6180m), Pumasillo (6000m), Palcay (5600m) and Verónica (5750m).
D13: Before starting our trek we visit Puyutamarca, Town in the Clouds. It is also built on various levels and has a pyramidal form. Six ritual bath precincts descend in line on one of its slopes, being the first the most important one. All its buildings and walls are either ovoid or circular.
From here we start descending a 1300 stairs trail (discovered just 10 years ago), many of them carved on the rock. This will lead us to another important religious site: Huañay Huayna, Ever Youing. Surrounded by several steep terraces, its buildings climb the slope in a linear row. Possesses ten precincts of lyturgical baths which shows its importance, related to Macchu Pichu’s proximity.
We continue through the tropical forest on a very panoramic path, where many colourful butterflies may be seen, till we reach a group of ruins on a narrow col: Intipunku, the Sun’s Gate. From here we enjoy a wonderful view of the Inca’s lost city of Macchu Pichu, spread below us (5h). Today we will not visit it for we prefer to return tomorrow before the arrival of the first tourist train. Bus to Aguas Calientes for a dip in its relaxing warm thermal baths. Overnight in a hostel.
D14: Early morning departure (6h30) for Macchu Pichu for a full morning visit. The city is divided in a agricultural sector, with plenty of terraces surrounding it, and in a urban sector.
The higher urban area is the noble quarter with residences, palaces and temples which includes the main bath precinct. All its buildings show an excellent masonry work, namely the Sun Temple, and the pyramid on top of which we will find the Intihuatana carved from a mass of rock. On the other side of campus there are the groups of residences of artisans and peasants, themilitary, administrative, prisons and wharehouses quarters.
It will be interesting to climb the cliff that oversees the city, Huayna Pichu, and enjoy a vast panorama over the ruins and the inca trail that we trekked. From the top we may descend to its back passing some rock carved stairs where we visit some recently discovered ruins, namely the Temple of the Moon, one of the finest masonry works of Macchu Pichu.
We return to Águas Calientes for lunch, and back to Cuzco by train; hotel.
D15: Free day in Cuzco where you will enjoy the magnificent Spanish colonial architecture as well the remains of old inca palaces.
D16: Visit Cuzco in the morning, the ancient capital of the Inca empire. We will drive to Tambomachay, the Inca Bath, where the water is still kept flowing into a tank in the original aqueduct. Next we visit Puca Pucara, a group of hostels that was used as accomodation for travellers, their animals and merchandise. Close by we tour Qenco sanctuary which is a very interesting example of inca mason art: the carving of massive rocks for religious purposes. There we find the famous zig-zag which channeled sacrificial blood or chicha (inca beer), the condor, the puma and other figures, some used for astronomical purposes. The interior of the burial cavern is carved with stairs, niches, altars, etc.
We finally reach Sacsayhuaman, the imposing fortress atop Cuzco with its three massive walls in zigzag. The heaviest stone of it measures 8.5 mtr high and weighs 361 ton, being considered one of the most impressive megalhitical monuments of the ancient World. We shall see the remains of its three towers, the water channels, the reservoir, the inca’s throne and several carved rocks. Return to Cuzco. The afternoon is free.
D17: We fly back to Lima early morning and return to the hotel at Miraflores. end of program.
Dificulty: Moderate
Dates: Jul 22-Aug 7, Aug 6-22, Aug 20-Set 5, Oct 1-17, Oct 22-Nov 7.
Price: Eur 2,140. per person.
Single room supplement: Eur 180.
To convert these prices
in a different currency please click : 
Booking Conditions
Price: Valid in 2004,
Includes: All lodging in double occupation with breakfast, all mentioned domestic transport, all meals on Inca trail, guide services, Park fees, visitor’s ticket for the Cuzco area, one entry to Macchu Pichu, pic nics on d6, d8, d9 and d14.
Does not include: Personal equipment, visits on free days, bicycle or horse rentals in Urubamba, meals except mentioned above, flight over Nazca, airport taxes, tips.
Note: Lima airport transfers are included if your flight schedules are compatible with our main group’s.
Equipment Supplied: Double tents, mattress, oar, lifejacket, helmet.
Guiding: Professional Peruvian guides speaking English.
Program: Depending on weather conditions, the groups’ condition or other justifiable, the guide may alter the program.
Group: Min 4 pax, max 16.
Vaccines: None recommended or mandatory.
Equipment: Trekking boots, sleeping bag (3-4 seasons), waterproof gear, etc.
Note: After your booking you
will receive a Trip Information sheet which includes a detailed
equipment list.
pmaci-13apr04 