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Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
EL MuNDO MAGICO
Inca
Trail to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu:
The Enchanted City
Inca Trail:
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Itinerary •
Important Notes
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Cost
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Payment
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ITINERARY
8
Days / 7 Nights (Lima to Lima)
Please Note:
The itinerary
below may be subject to changes, depending on whether and other environmental
conditions.
DAY
1
LIMA
Arrival to Lima
airport, pick-up and transfer to Hotel. Overnight in Hotel.
Sleeping in Hotel, in Lima.
DAY 2
LIMA
- CUSCO
Transfer back to
airport to catch first available flight to Cusco. Arrival in Cusco and transfer
to Hotel. Free time to acclimatize. Briefing with the Inca trail guide at 7 pm.
Night in Hotel.
Sleeping in
Hotel, in Cusco.
DAY 3
CUSCO -
PISCACUCHO
- MISKAY - HUAYLLABAMBA
Inca
Trail to Machu Picchu
Early
pick-up from
Hotel, at 7 am.
We go by van - together with the other
members of our international group - up
to the village of
Piscacucho
(2700 m.a.s.l.),
located on km 82 along the Cusco-Machu Picchu road. This will be our first
entry point: the Inca trail to Machu Picchu begins here, passing
by the Sacred Valley of the Incas,
Urubamba and Ollantaytambo.
Optional breakfast in Urubamba. We
shall cross the suspended bridge over the
Rio Urubamba
from which we shall
begin a truly fascinating adventure. After an hour trekking we
arrive to the ruins of
Miskay
(2800 m.a.s.l.) where we
stop for lunch.
From Miskay we trek uphill along the path
leading to the citadel of
Llaqtapata.
We cross again a suspended bridge, this time to reach the
Cusichaca Valley.
It's high sierra here: cactus, pigweed and thorny shrubs which give
gradually the way to a more dense vegetation of
eucalyptus trees. A
diversion on the route, will guide us to the ruins of the important
archaeological complex of
Qoriwayrachina
(km 88), which overlooks the
entry to the Huayllabamba and Llullucha Valleys.
The main attraction here is a group of stone altars with sculpted figures
which were used by the ancient dwellers for religious ceremonies. We
then reach the important archaeological complex of
Patallacta
(2,650 m.a.s.l.), overlooking the entrance to the Huayllabamba and
Llullucha Valleys. An enormous cylindrical stone tower - known as
Pulpitolloq - stands out from the complex, believed to be an important
administrative centre of the Incas. We then continue our journey, passing
by a small temple and an ancient cemetery, before we arrive to the
Kusichaca Valley,
our access point to the
beautiful
Huayllabamba Valley
(3,000 m.a.s.l.).
The village of
Huayllabamba
is the last human dwelling we shall meet on our trek. Located at the
junction of the Cusichaca and Llulucha rivers, this will be our first
exciting campsite, close to the Inca ruins.
Camping, sleeping in
tents. B, L, D
DAY 4
-
ABRA DE
WARMIWAÑUSCA -
PACAMAYO
-
-
-
Warmiwañusca
Early
wake-up and breakfast. Before we leave Huayllabamba, we make good
provisions of food and water: the village is the last inhabited centre
that we shall meet from now on! We begin what will be the most difficult
part of our trekking towards the
highest point of the the Inca Trail.
On the way we shall see the famous "Tres
Piedras" and will camp
in a place known as
Llullucha
(3,400 m.a.s.l.), from where we can admire the awe-inspiring snow-capped
mountain of Huayanay.
We continue our trek uphill crossing
a beautiful scenery through the
Llulucha Valley, until we reach the
saddle-shaped
Warmiwañusca Pass
(4,200 m.a.s.l., the Quechua name means literally "Dead Woman's
Pass" and no one seems to know why!...). This is the highest and
most difficult point of the traditional Inca trail. From this height,
we shall enjoy the amazing view of the valleys below.
From this point
onwards our trek won't be any more uphill. Our efforts will be
recompensated by a spectacular landscape and the sight of gorgeous
waterfalls.
We
descend towards the beautiful
Pacamayo Valley,
deep green, forested and with a tropical climate. The ideal site for camping and spending the night, after eight
hours trekking!
Camping, sleeping in tents. B, L, D
DAY 5
RUNKURAQAY - WIÑAYWAYÑA
Wiñayhuayna
After an early
rise, we begin following the paved
Inca path leading to the archaeological ruins
of
Runkuraqay
(3,800 m.a.s.l.), the second most important pass
of the trail. Of circular shape and a
considerable number of inner niches, this stone complex is thought to have been either
an observatory or a ceremonial centre. The trekking continues uphill until we
meet two spectacular lagoons, by the
Runkuraqay Pass.
From this point onwards a
breathtaking descent among cliffs and mountain streams will be ahead, until we reach a
cross point that will lead us to the ruins of
Sayaqmarca
(3,600 m.a.s.l.). Distant about two and half hours of trekking from Runkurakay, in an area of
difficult access, the Inca ruins of Sayaqmarca are
very well preserved. The temple had reservoirs of water and food, and
observation posts, reasons for which it is believed to have been an astronomical
observatory. Leaving this enigmatic place, ideal for meditating and
relaxing, we head on among spots of dense vegetation, towards the
Caquicoche Marshes,
where we stop for lunch. We continue trekking
and cross an Inca tunnel leading to the ruins of
Puyupatamarca
- "the city amid the clouds". The archaeological complex is made of platforms and
ritual baths that served during religious ceremonies. Amazingly, the ingenious
hydraulic system devised for the Inca citadel is still functioning to our days,
defiant to the injuries of the
centuries. From the heights, we can appreciate the sight of the archaeological
complexes of Sayaqmarca, Intipata and Wiñayhuayna, among others. Down hill, at a
crossover point, we arrive to the ruins of
Wiñayhuayna,
an impressive centre destined to the cultivation of different plants, with
seventeen different springs. The complex is divided into three sectors, one
with different terraces used only for agricultural ends, one specific for
ritual/ceremonial use and another one destined as dwelling. A landscape of
waterfalls and wild orchids encircle this beautiful and spectacular complex.
After the few days...and many hours...of arduous trekking and hiking, we rest a
bit in
the Hospedaje de Visitantes (a local Inn with bar and restaurant
facilities).
Camping, sleeping in tents. B, L, D
DAY 6
INTIPUNKU, THE GATE
OF THE RISING SUN
- MACHU
PICCHU -
CUSCO
|
Trekking to Intipunku |
Overlooking the
sacred mountains from Machu Picchu |
E arly
rise before dawn, to begin our journey towards the sloping magical
landscape of the cloud-forest, with dense vegetation and a panorama of
high biodiversity where wild orchids, the Spectacled Bear or Andean Bear
(Tremarctos ornatus), the mythical Hummingbird
and the beautiful Cock of the Rock
(commonly known as the
National bird of Peru),
may be seen. On the way to the Sanctuary we shall see as well the
ruins of
Killipatay
and
Chaskapata. We then
arrive to the longed for
Intipunku
or "Sun Gate", to watch the sun rise and see for the first time the
mysterious and enigmatic ruins of
Machu Picchu, the "Lost
City" of the Incas. In the ancient Inca empire, Intipunku was the the
entrance gate and control pass to the citadel of Machu Picchu. After
crossing the gateway, we finally enter the enchanted Machu Picchu
Sanctuary - as the Incas themselves did centuries ago - and wonder through
this magical place, accompanied by our guide. After visiting Machu Picchu, we descend
to the town of
Aguas Calientes, located at
bottom of the Machu Picchu Canyon. In the
afternoon, we shall catch the train to Cusco, at 4:10 pm, and will arrive
there at 8:30 pm. Transfer to Hotel and overnight staying in Cusco.
Sleeping in
Hotel, in Cusco.
B
DAY 7
CUSCO
- LIMA
Transfer from Hotel to Cusco airport, to catch flight connection back to Lima. Arrival in Lima airport and
transfer to our Hotel in Lima. Later transfer
to the airport, to catch international flight back home.
B
OR,
according to your travel plan:
Transfer from Hotel to Cusco airport, to catch
domestic flight connection to Lima. Arrival in Lima airport and transfer to our
Hotel in Lima. Overnight in Hotel..
Sleeping in Hotel, in Lima
DAY 8
LIMA
Free time. Morning/afternoon transfer
to Lima airport, to catch your international flight back home.
B
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Cost
and Payment: Click here
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Tailor made, all-inclusive costs of participation
(from Lima to Lima) to the Inca Trail No minimum number of participants
required. |
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Important Notes
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