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DAY 1 LIMA
Pick up upon arrival at Lima’s airport and transportation to the
hotel. Overnight (No meals)
DAY 2 PUERTO MALDONADO
Early breakfast and pick up to go to the airport for your flight to
Puerto Maldonado (airfare not included).
Transfer from Puerto Maldonado airport to the river port on the
Madre de Dios River. A 25 minutes journey down the Madre de Dios
River by motor canoe brings you to the riverside trailhead to
Sandoval Lake Lodge. From here the trail takes you on a 2-miles
(3,2-kilometers) walk through secondary forest, until we reach a
small canal where we board canoes and are paddled 220 yards (201
meters) through a flooded forest of 100-foot (30-meters) tall
Mauritia palms. As the canal opens onto the shimmering surface of
the lake, we transfer to a catamaran and are leisurely paddled
across half the lake to the lodge.
After lunch and a brief rest to avoid the early afternoon heat, we
will learn about the history of the lodge and the philosophy of its
founders. Then we once again board the catamaran and set off to
explore the entire west end of the lake. Here, in the flooded palm
forest we drift to the sounds of hundreds of Red-Bellied Macaws as
they return to the palm forest for the night. This macaw species is
found locally in parts of the Amazon, always living in flooded palm
forests such as the beautiful palm stand at Sandoval Lake. At
500-800 birds, this flock of macaws at Sandoval Lake is currently
the largest reported in the world for this highly-specialized macaw.
As night falls we will look for the large and extremely rare Black
Caimans. If it is a clear starlit night, we will also be able to
float in the middle of the lake to marvel at the brilliance of the
sky and listen to the sounds of the forest.
We return to the lodge for a short video or slide presentation and
dinner. At any point, you could step out from the bar to admire the
wide variety of nocturnal moths, beetles and praying mantis
attracted to our black light in the lodge clearing.
For those with lots of energy, our guide will take us on a short
night-walk into the forest behind the lodge. (B, L,D).
DAY 3 SANDOVAL LAKE
A pre-dawn wake-up call will enable us to be on the lake for sunrise
and a hopeful encounter with the family of Giant Otters who frequent
the lake and are most active at this time of day. Sandoval Lake
offers abundant wildlife including over 40 species of birds resident
to its lake margins, most of the fish-eating water birds around the
lake actively fish in the early morning as well, and this outing
should provide excellent views, of the prehistoric- looking Hoatzins,
These are easy to observe and also photograph from the paddled
canoes or catamarans.
After returning for a late breakfast we set off into the cool under
story of the tall virgin forest near the lake to see some towering
wild Brazil Nut trees and a demonstration of how our hosts collect,
open and commercialize this important natural product.
After lunch and an hour or so to relax we once again board the
catamaran to explore the eastern part of the lake, where we might
see one or more of the five species of monkeys who live in the
forest near the lake, such as the Brown Capuchin Monkey and Squirrel
Monkey.
Before dinner we will again enjoy an informative natural history
video or slide presentation. We will leave after dinner to try and
spot some Black Caimans on the lake, or to go on a short night walk
through the primary forest. (B,L,D)
DAY 4 RAINFOREST
After a dawn breakfast, we will cross the lake by catamaran and take
a short walk into the interior of the Mauritia palm forest to stand
beneath and closely view the impressive morning congregations, this
place has a very interesting concentration of parrots, parakeets and
large and small macaws that can be observed using dead Mauritia palm
trees, some of them are resident nesters (Yellow headed Parrot,
Mealy Parrot, Blue headed Parrot, Scarlet Macaw, blue and Yellow
Macaw, Red and Green Macaw, Chestnut fronted Macaw, Dusky headed
Parakeet, Red bellied Macaw, Cobalt winged Parakeet, Tui Parakeet).
Returning from the macaw show we will cross the lake to explore a
primary forest trail and admire the impressive ancient rainforest
trees and lianas with our knowledgeable resident naturalist guide.
As we walk, the forest will be brought to life as your guide
explains the ecology of the rainforest and its diverse flora and
fauna.
We return for lunch, and then there is an optional rest for those
who would like to escape the early afternoon heat. For those still
full of energy, there is an option to independently explore some of
the forest trails using our trail map. You might stroll through our
medicinal plant garden or watch hummingbirds visiting the nectar
feeders, or the tanagers visiting our fruit feeders.
In the cooler late afternoon we will once again board the catamaran
to explore the eastern end of the lake, and hopefully experience a
spectacular sunset over the lake before returning to the lodge for
dinner. For some people, an alternative afternoon activity would be
to relax on benches inside the forest perched above a clear running
stream in which a variety of bathing hummingbirds and forest birds
visit.
After dinner, there is a final chance to look for Black Caiman on
the lake, or to go on a short night hike through the forest. (B,L,D)
DAY 5 PUERTO MALDONADO - CUSCO
After early breakfast we leave near dawn and we take a final,
shorter paddle around the west end of the lake to try and glimpse
the Giant Otters before returning by motor canoe for the 35 minutes
return trip to the Puerto Maldonado Airport, taking advantage of
valuable early morning wildlife activity along the river. From here
you fly to Cusco (airfare not included). Upon arrival to Cusco
Airport. Reception and transportation to the Hotel where you will
receive an aromatic coca tea to stimulating for the height, will
have the day to rest.
Pick up and according time to go a Dinner Show in a tourist
Restaurant then overnight (B, D).
DAY 6 CUSCO CITY TOUR
Breakfast, will have the free morning to rest and also we suggest
you have a light lunch in either your hotel or in one of the
surrounded; in the afternoon we will depart on a City tour (entrance
to the archaeological centers and museums including) we will visit
the Main square, Cathedral, the Koricancha (temple of the sun) and
in addition we will make a route bordering archaeological centers
like Sacsayhuaman Fortress, Q'enko, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay,
tour finishes 6:30pm approximately at the main square in order you
can take dinner in one of the exquisite restaurants in the area,
then overnight. (B)
INCA TRAIL 4 DAYS 3 NIGHTS
Important Note: We will buy your Inca Trail trek permit using the
names & passport numbers that you send us with your trek booking
application. You must bring these same passports with you to Cusco
and take them on the Inca Trail. If the name or number in your
passport is different from the name and number on the trek permit,
the government authorities will not allow you to start the trek and
you will not be entitled to a refund. If you plan to renew your
passport between making the trek booking and actually starting the
trek you will must bring the 2 passports (old and new). If you make
a trek booking at the student price you must send us a copy of your
ISIC card at the time you pay the trek deposit. If you fail to bring
your ISIC card on the trek the government authorities will not allow
you to start the trek. You will not be given the opportunity to pay
the extra difference in price!!!!!
DAY 7 PISCACUCHO (Km.82)–HUAYLLABAMBA (The easy day)
A spectacular early morning drive through the Sacred Valley of the
Incas takes us to our trailhead at Km. 82 of the Machu Picchu
railroad. After getting acquainted with our trail crew we set out,
crossing a footbridge to hike a gentle two hours down the Urubamba
canyon, and then visit imposing sculpted Inca farming terraces and
the settlement of Llaqtapata on the banks of the Cusichaca side
river. We then climb a short way up the Cusichaca valley to
Huayllabamba, the last inhabited village on the trail, where we camp.(L,
D).
(Walking distance approximately 12 km)
DAY 8 HUAYLLABAMBA – PACAYMAYU (The challenge day)
We climb the steep-sided Llullucha valley past a rushing stream and
through enchanted native polylepis woodland. Crossing the rim of a
small plateau, we abruptly find ourselves in the puna, the treeless
grasslands of the high Andes. The trail traverses an open slope
opposite mighty mountain crags as we ascend to the first and highest
pass, Warmiwañusca (4,200m/13,776ft). Here we encounter spectacular
views of the trail ahead to the second pass, and look back to the
sweeping snow peaks and valleys of the Huayanay massif.
The trail to the floor of the forested Pacaymayo valley, where we
make camp.(B, L, D)
( Walking distance approximately 9 km).
DAY 9 PACAYMAYU – WIÑAYWAYNA (The unforgettable day)
We pick up an Inca stairway and ascend again past the small Inca
site of Runkuracay. As we reach the second pass, the landscape opens
onto spectacular new views to the snow peaks of the Pumasillo range.
We descend to the ruins of Sayacmarca (Inaccessible Town), an
intricate labyrinth of houses, plazas and water channels, perched
precariously on a rocky spur overlooking the Aobamba valley. The
Inca trail, now a massive buttressed structure of granite paving
stones, continues along the steep upper fringes of the cloud forest
through a colorful riot of orchids, bromeliads, mosses and ferns. At
the third pass pinnacles topped with Inca viewing platforms overlook
the archaeological complex of Phuyupatamarca (Cloud-level Town).
Pausing to explore the wondrous maze of Inca stone towers, fountains
and stairways that spilling down the mountainside here, we begin a
long descent through ever-changing layers of cloud forest. An Inca
stairway partly cut from living granite leads us finally to our camp
by the ruins of Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young), the largest and most
exquisite of the Inca Trail sites. (B, L, D)
(Walking distance approximately 14 km)
DAY 10 WIÑAYWAYNA – MACHUPICCHU (The special day)
An early morning hike takes us across a steep mountainside through
lush, humid cloud-forest of giant ferns and broad-leaf vegetation.
Suddenly we cross the stone threshold of Intipunku (Sun Gate) and
encounter an unforgettable sweep of natural beauty and human
artistry –a backdrop of twisting gorge and forested peaks framing
the magical city of Machu Picchu.
We complete the final leg down the royal flagstone walkway, past
outlying shrines and buildings and into the heart of Machu Picchu,
where we spend the rest of the morning with a guided tour of the
highlights and some individual exploring among Machu Picchu’s
multitude of hidden nooks and corners. In the early afternoon a bus
takes us to the small town of Aguas Calientes, where we board our
return train to Cusco. Upon arrival transfer to the selected
accommodation and overnight (B)
(Walking distance approximately 7 km)
DAY 11 TRANSFER OUT
You will be picked up from the hotel after breakfast to take the bus
service to the airport (B).
INCA TRAIL INFORMATION *
OUR SERVICE INCLUDED
*Transfer by bus to km.82 (trail head)
*Entrance Fee, Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
*A large tent, for each 2 persons.
*Mattress, one per person.
*Kitchen tent.
*Dining tent.
*Enough tables and chairs.
*English speaking professional tour guide (over 8 members, 2 guides).
*An expert cook.
*Porters (to carry tent, food, cooking equipment and your personal
staff max. 6 kls per person)
*Train Ticket (Backpacker).
*Full meals during the trek.
*Daily snack bag.
*Daily afternoon tea service.
*Daily wake up tea, and hot water for washing.
*Daily morning boiled and cold water to fill the water bottles.
*Emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit.
*Transfer train station / hotel
*Bus Ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
NO INCLUDED:
*Breakfast first day (you can order an early breakfast at your
hotel)
*Lunch last day
*Hot springs pool visit (on your own).
*Tips to the crew (guides, cooks and porters).
*Sleeping bag
WE SUGGEST YOU TO:
- Use boots during treks and sneakers during long walks.
- Drinking lots of liquids on long excursions, especially 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,
-Extra US$50 changed in soles for any emergency and for tipping the
porters,
use the hot shower on day 3 - 2 soles and for lunch on day 4
KILOMETERS OF WALKING DAY BY DAY
Day 01 - 12 Km (Km-82 to Huayllabamba) Cusco (3400) – Chillca (2720)
– Huayllabamba (2950)
Day 02 - 12 Km (Huayllabamba to Pacaymayo) Huayllabamba( 2950) –
Pakaymayu (3600)
Day 03 - 16 Km (Pacaymayo to Wiñayhuayna) Pakaymayo (3600) –
Wiñaywayna (2700)
Day 04 - 07 Km (Wiñayhuaina to Machu Picchu) Wiñayhuayna (2700) –
Machu Pichu (2400) – Cusco (3400)
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STUDENT DISCOUNT:
Note: To apply to this discount It is necessary to send us your scan
copy ISIC (International Student Identity Card) with your other
information.
Without this copy we will not be able to make the discount.
When booking a trek: The government has strictly limited the number
of people permitted on the Inca Trail during 2009 (permits are
issued to about 200 trekkers per day plus 300 porters). We recommend
that you make a trek booking as early as possible. In 2008 the trek
permits for some dates sold out more than 4 months in advance!!
However don't make a booking until you have all the group details (names,
passport numbers, ages etc) and you are sure about your trek
departure date since "these details cannot be changed after we have
bought your trek permit"
* Participants need to be in good physical health and condition it
is good for travelers who are in condition to hike up to ten hours,
with breaks in a single day to enjoy the Inka Trail. The trekking
will be difficult if you have not exercised regularly before your
trip. To fully enjoy an Inka Trail adventure, we advise passengers
to get into an exercise program for their own safety and enjoyment.
If a passenger suffers from any medical condition, we advise him/her
to consult a physician about joining an Inka Trail Expedition.
Take only the necessary items for the 4/3 days trek, You can leave
the rest of your luggage at your hotel in Cusco (most of hotels and
hostals has an storage rooms to keep it until your return)
PARK REGULATIONS
Park authorities may occasionally designate different campsites than
those indicate The Inca Trail is part of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary,
a protected area of 32,592 hectares. Every visitor must obey park
regulations prohibiting littering, cutting or damaging trees,
removing or damaging stones of ruins and the Trail, removing plants,
killing animals, lighting open fires or camping in the archeological
sites (Only authorized campsites can be used).
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Trek Options:
1. Personal porters can be hired to help carry your personal items
such as clothes, sleeping bag etc. The services of a third of a
porter (maximum 7kg or 14lb per person) can be hired for US$125. If
you hire the services of a third of a porter (you will need to
supply the small padlock). However, even with this service you will
still need to take a daypack to carry your essential items such as
rain poncho, warm fleece, camera and water bottle.
Please note that due to new government regulations the maximum
number of porters that we can use in each group has now been capped.
This is why we have had to limit the maximum amount of personal
equipment that you can give to a porter to carry for you to 7kg or
14lb per person. (The maximum amount that each porter can carry on
the Inca Trail has also been limited to 18kg or 40lb per porter).
Approximately 30% of our clients hire the services of an extra third
porter.
2. We can also provide vegetarian meals or cater for special diets
at no extra cost but we need to know when you make the trek
reservation.
3. You can hire sleeping bags in our office. All sleeping bags are
synthetic (easy to wash). They are washed after every use and are
guaranteed to be clean.
Cost: US$35 per person for the 4 day/3 night trek. Weight 2.5 kg and
are rated to 12 degrees below freezing (nice and warm even during
the coldest of nights experienced on the Inca Trail).
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click to enlarge
Macaw clay
lick
we will board a canoe to paddle around
the Lake Sandoval
Cathedral
Inka trail
camping
An
optional hike for the more dynamic persons up to Huaynapicchu
View of
Machu Picchu with the Hiram Bingham road
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