2009 Hiking Trip to Peru
FRI. June 19,
Travel time from LAX to Lima
SAT. June 20, LIMA
Upon your arrival in Lima, we will provide assistance at the airport and transfer you to HOTEL MIRAFLORES COLON. Enjoy special tastings of Peru´s world-renowned cuisine. Learn how to prepare Peruvian dishes like: "Cebiche". Get the chance to taste our famous national drink, the Pisco, in a variety of cocktailsand presentations. Afterwards enjoy a buffet lunch that includes the best and most traditional dishes of our Peruvian cuisine, as well as typical drinks. Before returning to your hotel you will have the opportunity to visit a local Boutique, where a wide selection of Peruvian cookbooks and souvenirs are available.
SUN. June 21, LIMA/PUERTO MALDONADO/TAMBOPATA
Breakfast at the hotel. We will transfer you from your hotel to the airport, and provide assistance on your departure flight. Upon arrival in Puerto Maldonado, assistance at the airport and transfer to the pier. Two-hour motor boat trip up the Tambopata river to the POSADA AMAZONAS LODGE, at the Ese'eja native community box lunch on board. During the trip, several bird species typical of the river and forest edge may be spotted. Afternoon arrival, dinner and accommodation at the lodge.
MON. June 22, TAMBOPATA
After an early breakfast, fifteen minute-boat trip followed by a half-an-hour walk to the tres Chimbadas oxbow lake.Canoe ride along the edge to admire its fauna, especially giant otters, turtles and hoatzin birds. Time to explore the surroundings or swim at the lake. After lunch, visit to a native slash and burn farm to learn how is it that this agriculture system thought to be wasteful can be sustainable over the long term. Return to Posada Amazonas lodge for dinner. Optional night walk to observe the nocturnal wildlife, especially amphibians and insects.
TUES. June 23, TAMBOPATA/PUERTO MALDONADO/CUSCO
After early breakfast, return trip to Puerto Maldonado and theairport. Assistance on departure flight. Upon arrival in Cusco, we will provide assistance and transport you to HOTEL NOVOTEL– CUSCO. We take a tour of the city, starting out at the Santo Domingo convent monastery. This former Colonial monastery was previously the Koricancha temple, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of the sun. According to the chronicles, it was covered in gold Leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Also included in the tour are stops at the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral. After touring the most interesting sites of the city, you will be driven to the countryside outside Cusco to visit some of the remarkable Inca ruins in the area. Included are the cult centre of Sacsayhuaman, the temple and amphitheatre of Kenko, and the Red Fortress of Puca Pucara.
WED. June 24, CUSCO (INTI RAYMI)
Breakfast at the hotel followed by an unforgettable day! Attend the world-famous Inti Raymi festival, which takes place every year at the Sacsayhuaman fortress to mark the Winter Solistice. There will be representations of Inca rites to the sun featuring hundreds of native actors, a grandiosespectacle. Considered the most impressive Indian festival in the Western Hemisphere, this is a tradition that continues from pre-Columbian times. Box lunch included.
THU. June 25, CUSCO/INCA TRAIL
Breakfast at the hotel. We pick you up at your hotel in a private bus and you'll be driven to Piskacuchu (2,700 masl), a community located at kilometre 82 of the Cusco-Machu Picchu Railway. Starting at this point, you'll cross the bridge and hike along the left bank of the Urubamba River as it flows north-west through the Sacred Valley. Following the trail along a flat terrain, you will arrive in Miskay (2800 masl.), to then ascend and finally see, from the top of a lookout point, the Inca city of Patallacta (2750 masl) set out below. You'll continue trekking along the valley created by the Kusichaca River, gradually climbing for about five hours until you reach your first campsite at Wayllabamba village (3,000 masl). All along the route you'll have a spectacular view of the Vilcanota ridge on the opposite side of the Urubamba River, where the impressive Veronica Peak towers 5,832 metres above sea level. All this in addition to a plethora of wild flora and fauna that can be found through the length of the valley.
FRI. June 26, INCA TRAIL
You'll wake up at around 6:00 am, and after breakfast you'll leave Wayllabamba behind to begin the most difficult part of the trek. This consists of an abrupt and steep ascent of 9km. Along this climb, the landscape changes from sierra to puna (a dry and high area with little vegetation). On the way to the first mountain pass, the Abra Warmihuanusca (Dead Woman's Pass), you will see domesticated llamas and alpacas grazing ichu, one of the few plants that grow at this altitude. You will also cross an area of the so-called cloud forest. This is the habitat of many different species of birds such as hummingbirds and sparrows. You may also sight the Andean bear, also called the spectacled bear (Thermarctus orantus). We strongly suggest that your day pack is well stocked with candies, chocolates and coca leaves, on this particular day, to keep your blood sugar high and thus combat altitude sickness. Immediately after the pass, you'll descend into the Pacaymayo Valley (3,600 masl) where you'll pitch camp after a hike of around 6 hours.
SAT. June 27 INCA TRAIL
Today's the longest, but also the most exciting and interesting day, due the number of archaeological sites that you'll visit and learn about from your guide. From Pacaymayo you'll proceed to the second pass, the Abra de Runkurakay (3,960mt). Halfway up,you will visit the archaeological complex with the same name. This site, located at 3,800 masl, consists of a small oval structure that is believed to have served as a watchtower. After going over the pass you will descend towards Yanacocha (Black Lagoon) and enter the cloud forest to finally arrive at Sayamarca (3,624 masl). This beautiful complex consists of a semicircular construction with enclosures at different levels, narrow streets, liturgical fountains, patios and irrigation canals. Continuing up an easy climb, you will arrive at the third pass, the Abra de Phuyupatamarca (3,700 masl). Along this climb you can admire the magnitude of the Incas' ancient skills by walking along paths semi-detached from the mountain and seeing perfectly formed stonework that bridge ravines, so protecting the trail from dangers associated with the multileveled Andean geography. You'll go through an Incan tunnel, and after arriving at the previously mentioned pass you'll descend to the complex of the same name. This is one of the most complete and best preserved archaeological complexes along the Inca Trail, and is located on the highest point of a mountain. Not surprisingly, Phyupatamarca means "town over the clouds". From above one can observe a sophisticated sacred complex made up of water fountains with solid foundations and there's an stunning view of the Urubamba River (2,700 masl). You'll find a lodge with a restaurant, bar and bathrooms with hot showers at this campsite, which bears the same name as the complex located only five minutes away from the lodge, Winaywayna. This is an impressive complex made up of an agricultural centre, with numerous terraces, a religous sector and an urban area.
SUN. June 28, INCA TRAIL/MACHU PICCHU
On this fourth and last day you'll get up at 4:00 am to leave Winaywayna an hour later and climb to Intipunku, or the Sun Gate. This will take an hour of hiking along a trail of stones on the edge of cliffs in highland jungle. From this unique vantage point, you'll see the sunrise over the sacred citadel of Machu Picchu. From Intipunku you'll descend into Machu Picchu, and 40 minutes later enter the citadel from its highest point, he "House of the Guardians". You'll then descend to the control point to register and leave your backpacks. You then take a complete guided tour of the Inca citadel lasting roughly two hours. You'll then have time to walk around, climb Huayna Picchu, where one has a superb view of the entire citadel, the valleys and the surrounding mountains. Alternatively, you can visit the Temple of the Moon and the famous Inca bridge. In the afternoon, we meet back in the town of Aguas Calientes where, if you so wish, you can relax with a dip in the thermal baths.
Dinner and overnight at HOTEL SUMAQ in Aguas Calientes.
MON. June 29, MACHU PICHHU/CUSCO
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at leisure to visit the citadle on your own. Afternoon return by train/bus to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco we will provide assistance at the train station and transport you to the * HOTEL NOVOTEL - CUSCO Dinner at La Retama restaurant, offering international cuisine specialties and folklore show.
TUE. June 30, CUSCO/PUNO
Breakfast at the hotel. Private transportation to Puno along the dramatic landscapes of the highland plateau, with occasional views of tiny Andean villages and herís of llamas and vicunas. We will stop at Andahuaylillas, where there is a beautiful baroque church built at the beginning of the XVIIth century. It is very well known thanks to its beautiful mural paintings. We will make a second stop at Raqchi, where there is an Inca temple built to worship Wiracocha, one of the most important Inca gods. Finally, we will stop at the archaeological site of Pukara (200BC-AD300).We will lunch at a restaurant en route. Arrival and accomodation at HOTEL CASA ANDINA PRIVATE COLLECTION.
WED. July 1, PUNO (LAKE TITICACA)
Breakfast at the hotel. Two-hour motor-boat excursion on Lake Titicaca to visit the most interesting and unique floating islands of the Uros. Box lunch. Proceed to Amantani Island, where the islanders are native Quechua speaking indians and have a communal life style.They still maintain most of the old traditions of the Inca days. Dinner and overnight in Amantan in house of islanders families.
THU. July 2, PUNO (LAKE TITICACA)
Motor-boat excursion to Taquile on Lake Titicaca. This island is inhabited by quechua-speaking natives still ruled by their ancient traditions and whose main occupations are the production of ceramics and fine textiles. Return to Puno city.
FRI. July 3, PUNO/JULIACA/LIMA
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from the hotel to Juliaca airport. Assistance on departure flight. Upon your arrival in Lima, we will provide assistance at the airport and transfer you to * MIRAFLORES COLON HOTEL. Enjoy some leisure time strolling around a typical Peruvian Handicraft market and enjoy shopping.
SAT. July 4, LIMA
Breakfast at the hotel. Get acquainted with Peru's Capital City, its 2000 years of history and Colonial heritage. Experience the artistic traditions and contemporary lives of its residents. Tour Lima's Historical Center*. Visit Casa Luna(1), where the owners welcome you to their home and show you their unique collection of Nativity scenes. Learn about fine Peruvian craftsmanship in the workshop of one of the city's top goldsmiths.
*UNESCO World Heritage Site
(1) An Exclusive site
We will transfer you from your hotel to the airport, and provide assistance on your departure flight.
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