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Day 1: Lima
Arrival in Lima, reception and transportation to the hotel.
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Day 2: Lima - Huaraz
After breakfast, you will be transported to the bus station for the spectacular trip to Huaraz. Heading first along the Panamericana Highway, you will eventually turn east and start gaining altitude as you head towards the Andes. Upon arrival in Huaraz, you will be brought to the hotel.
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Day 3: Huaraz
Free day for resting and acclimatizing to the altitude (3100 meters)
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Day 4: Huaraz
The drive from Huaraz to the village of Cashapampa (2900m) will take about 3 hours. Approaching Cashapampa we have our first view of Santa Cruz, the huge pyramid shaped mountain that gives the trekking circuit its name. We will walk up the Santa Cruz Valley, following the river. For the first 2 hours we are in a steep sided river gorge, and then the valley opens up to grassland. We will camp near the river at Llamacorral (3750m) after 4 - 5 hours.
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Day 5: Huaraz
An easy walk up the open valley to our camp at Taullipampa (4250m). 4 hours. During the walk up the valley, the twin peaks Quitaraju and the famous Alpamayo come into view. We will walk past two lakes, first the small Ichiccocha and then the larger Jatuncocha. Our camp is situated near the base of the beautiful mountain Taulliraju and surrounded by the peaks of Paria, Artseonraju, Rinrijirca, Quitaraju and Alpamayo.
There is time on today's walk to take a diversion and climb for 40 minutes on a zigzag track to visit Alpamayo Base Camp, making the day around 5½ hours. (We can also add an extra day here and stay at beautiful Taullipampa Camp. We could either hike up Centillo Peak (5000m, 4 hours), hike up to a high glacial lake at the base of Artesonraju (4 hours), or have a rest day)
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Day 6: Huaraz
We will climb for about 2½ hours on a good path to the pass of Punta Union (4750 m.a.s.l.), where there are very close views of the surrounding mountains. We can also look back down the Santa Cruz Valley where we have walked and see Lake Jutuncocha in the distance. From the pass, we will descend past two small lakes to camp on a flat plateau away from the main trail in the Valley Paria (3900 m.a.s.l.). 7 hours
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Day 7: Huaraz
Today, we will walk down the valley Quebrada Huaripampa and climb up to the settlement of Vaqueria (a 4 - 5 hours walk). We will then take a car over a high pass at Portachuelo and down a steep zigzag road to the beautiful lake Llanganuco, where we can stop for photos. We will then return to Huaraz in the afternoon and take a luxury night bus back to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima, we will transport you to the hotel.
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Day 8: Lima - Cusco
After breakfast, you will be transported from the hotel to the Lima airport for a flight to Cusco, the ancient Inca capital. After the one-hour flight, you will be greeted and transported to your hotel. You will have the rest of the day free.
Breakfast
Hotel accommodation
Breakfast
Hotel accommodation
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Day 9: Cusco City Tour
1:30 pm: We will embark on a guided tour of the city, including the cathedral, Qoricancha temple, the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking Cusco, Qenko and Puka Pukara. We will return to the hotel after the tour and enjoy dinner in the evening followed by a folkloric show.
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Day 10: Sacred Valley Shared Service
8:30 am: We will make a full-day excursion to Urubamba, the sacred valley of the Incas and to the ancient Inca market town of Pisac. After lunch in Urubamba, we will visit Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town that was not defeated by the Spanish. You will have a chance to explore the ruins before returning to Cusco and the traditional market town of Chinchero. Afterwards, we will take you to your hotel.
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Day 11: Inca Trail 4D/3N Cusco - Piscacucho - Wayllabamba
We will depart from Cusco and travel to Urubamba. We will stop briefly at Ollaytaytambo where you can buy last minute gear and personal needs. Then, we move on to Piscacucho (Km 82) and the start of the Inca Trail. We will have lunch in Miskay and relax a bit before hiking to our first campsite. Along the way we will visit the Llactapata archeological site. Lunch and dinner are included.
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Day 12: Inca Trail 4D/3N Wayllabamba - Warmiwañusca - Pacaymayo
We'll start the day, early in the morning, with a hearty breakfast, and then hike up to the highest point of the Inca Trail. Here, we can literally see the various ecological zones and microclimates that make up the area mapped out in front of us. We will cross the Warmiwañusca pass at 4,200 meters/13,780 feet above sea level. After lunch we will continue on to the Pacaymayo campsite, where we will enjoy dinner and a well-deserved rest.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
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Day 13: Inca Trail 4D/3N Pacaymayo - Chaquicocha - Wiñaywayna
Our day begins with a nutritious breakfast and then a 45-minute hike up to the second highest pass on the Trail (3,850 meters/12,631 feet above sea level). Along the way we will visit the Runcuracay archeological site. During the day's hike, we will also visit the Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca archeological complexes. After lunch we will head to the Wiñaywayna ruins, where we will spend our last night on the Trail.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
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Day 14: Inca Trail 4D/3N Wiñaywayna - Machupicchu - Cusco
After an early breakfast, we begin the final leg of the trek to the lost city of Machu Picchu. First, we will hike to Inti Punku ("Sun Gate"), where we will take in an awe inspiring and panoramic view of the Machu Picchu citadel. After a short hike down to Machu Picchu, we will register and then enjoy a 3-hour guided tour of the sanctuary-city. After the tour of Machu Picchu, we will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes where we will eat lunch and have free time to enjoy the town before returning to Cusco by train.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Breakfast and lunch included.
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Day 15: Cusco - River Rafting Tour
At 9:00 AM we leave for the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley of the Incas (north of Cusco), where our guide will give us an introductory chat on safety and equipment for our trip running the Urubamba. We will raft for around 2 ½ hours and return to Cusco around 5:00 pm.
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Day 16: Cusco -Lima
You will be transported to the airport for your flight to Lima
Breakfast included.
Breakfast included.
Included:
- Professional English speaking guides, paramedics qualified for Class V rafting
- Full Rafting equipment (helmet, life jacket, raincoat, paddle, wetsuit, Hyside Self Bailer Boats)
- Private Round Trip Transportation.
- Lunch (Meat, salad, sodas, tea, coffee, dessert, fruits)
- Private trek transport
- Entrance fees
- Tents, personal tents, cook tent, dining tent, toilet tent
- All meals and snacks on trek
- Qualified trekking and climbing guides
- Cook, assistants, donkey drivers and donkeys, rescue horse
DOESN'T INCLUDE:
- International flights, departure tax (US$25), local flights tax (US$10), funds to cover tips on included excursions, border & flight taxes, visas, travel insurance, personal items, sleeping bag for Inca Trail.
- Extra money, US$25 approx. per day to cover meals in cities, snacks, drinks, tips, souvenirs, laundry and any extras.
- Sleeping bags and mattresses (available for hire in Huaraz)