Aguas Calientes Machu Picchu Cusco
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SMALL GROUP LOCAL LEADER responsible adventures knowledge travel experts Choquequirao is the second most important archeological site in Cusco region. It has a connection with the last Inca city of Vilcabamba and with Machu Picchu. It is in the middle of different Inca roads that traversed all of the Inca empire. After quite a tough hike we will see fascinating and remote Choquequirao (“cradle of gold” in Quechua) – awesome in design and also location, perched high on a spur above the Apurimac canyon – the third deepest canyon in Peru. DAY 01 Cusco Cachora Chikisca You leave Cusco and drive on good tarmac until turning off to the beautiful village of Cachora. Your trekking team will be waiting for you near the trailhead. After an early lunch you start to descend the switchback trail, 1600m (5250ft) into the Apurimac canyon and the small settlement of Chikiska where you camp for the night. DAY 03 DAY 02 Explore Chikisca Choquequirao A fifteen minute walk takes you to the main square of Choquequirao. Perched on a tiny hilltop Marampata 1,700m (5580ft) above the Apurimac, the location and views are awe-inspiring. The ruins cover an area far bigger than Machu Picchu. Enormous curving terraces, ritual baths and a fine main plaza After a delicious breakfast, you continue down to cross the are just some of the highlights. Those with the energy can even descend to see the famous white roaring Apurimac River then climb past the small communities stone llamas laid into the rock. Choquequirao remains a mystery. It was not mentioned in the of Santa Rosa and Maranpata to camp next to the Choquequirao Spanish chronicles and although Hiram Bingham visited, he failed to realise its importance. Large ruins. The path is good though steep and it can get very hot. This areas still remain covered in the thick cloud forest, giving you a true Indiana Jones experience. is a long tough day requiring an early start but the scenery Even today it receives very few visitors, protected by its remote location. After a great day more than makes up for the hardships endured. exploring you return to base camp to relax and ponder upon all that you have learnt and seen. DAY 05 Maizal To Yanama Lucmabamba You leave camp behind and climb past old silver mines to the highest pass of the trip. Abra San Juan at 4,000m (13123ft) affords spectacular views of the Cordillera Vilcabamba mountain range. You then take a delightful and at times precipitous path down to the charming Andean village of Yanama. Here you say goodbye to your muleteers and climb aboard the waiting vehicle for the spectacular drive on dirt road over the Totora pass to the small hamlet of Lucmabamba. DAY 04 Choquequita To Maizal You leave early for the short climb to the pass. Then it is downhill 1400m (4600ft) past the recently discovered ruins of Pincha Unuyoc to the Rio Blanco where you can dip your feet in the cool waters. Just beware of the biting sand-flies. Known as “Pumahuacachi” their name means “makes the puma cry”. Refreshed, you climb steeply again, 1,200m (3900ft) to the small and beautifully located campsite of Maizal at an altitude of 3,000m (9840ft). This is probably the toughest day of the trip but if you have prepared well and are determined, you will succeed. And the cold beer on arrival will taste even better. DAY 06 Lucmabamba Llactapata Aguas Calientes DAY 07 Your final day of hiking: you take a spectacular royal Inca trail up through lush coffee and tropical fruit plantations, into pristine cloud forest. As the path crests the ridge, old Inca walls appear out Aguas Calientes of the forest and you step in the recently cleared ruins of Llactapata. Hiram Bingham got here too, but the map he drew was so bad, neither he nor anyone else could find the ruins again for 80 years. Machu Picchu In the mid-1990s an Anglo-American team found them once more, totally covered over by thick jungle vines.Step a few metres further and you will see just why the Incas built here. The view across to Cusco Machu Picchu is magnificent. Few tourists have ever seen it from this side. After some time to sit, Relaxed after a comfortable night, you head up to Machu Picchu for your full guided tour contemplate the view and watch the Andean swifts playing overhead, you descend steeply to the before the crowds arrive. There is time afterwards to hike to the Inca Bridge, Watchman’s hut Urubamba valley and the hydroelectric plant train station. From here you have a choice. Either wait or just wander through the ruins soaking up the atmosphere. In the afternoon you descend to for the short but spectacular train ride, or hike two to three hours along the rail track to the the waiting train to enjoy one of the great train journeys of the world back towards Cusco. bustling tourist town of Machu Picchu Pueblo and your hotel for the night. At the agreed time we will visit to your Hotel. Your briefing is usually programmed one day before your program and usually All of our guides have studied English and Tourism at Cusco National University. They have all in the evening. However If your program starts on a Monday, grown up in the region and have a true passion to teach others about their heritage. They are your briefing will be programmed for the Saturday prior to BRIEFING fun yet professional and will ensure you are safe and happy throughout your trip with us. your program and during the morning only. Therefore, please consider this when booking your flights to Cusco. Every guide has received training in first aid from a physician. We conduct mandatory training sessions every February, which every single SPE tour guide must attend. Your tour guide will always have a first-aid kit for basic medical problems (traveler’s chefs diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) and oxygen. We will get you off the trail as quickly The SPE chefs cook delicious meals that many previous trekkers have raved about. We honor all and comfortably as possible, if needed, and ensure you get directly to a clinic for food restrictions. Be sure to remind your tour guide of any food restrictions at the beginning of treatment. Every guide is also equipted with a sateliette phone that can be used your trek. Food is typically served family-style. You will enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner each anywhere on the mountain to connect anywhere in the world in case of an emergency. day of the trek, along with a happy hour of tea and snacks. A snack each morning will also be For an extra cost, these can be used for personal calls as well. provided for you to enjoy along the hike. We will provide purified water needed at meal times to drink and refill a reusable water bottle or camel back (we recommend at least 3L capacity to last between meals. Our 3-season tents are strictly maintained to ensure excellent performance in field. We use Eureka Timberline Outfitter tents with space for 4 to house 2 trekkers, which ensures maximum comfort while trekking and safe backpack storage. We can upgrade single trekkers to Eureka Timberline 2XT tents, which are designed for 2 travelers, for hikers who prefer a more private camping experience. You will also have a spacious dining tent to enjoy your meals. We believe it’s the attention to small details that separates us from other tour companies. Because of this, we also give every trekker a small pillow to sleep with, a foam mat for insulation, a day pack cover to protect their things while hiking and a rain poncho. We will work hard to create your best vacation. All your transportation is included in this trek. You will be picked up directly from your hotel around 4 a.m. (unless you are staying in Ollantaytambo) and brought to KM 82, to begin your trek. The train back from Aguas Calientes is included. This is Expedition class but can be upgraded to the Vistadome train for $75 per person. Once you arrive at the train station, you will be brought back to your hotel in Cusco. Your round-trip bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu is also included. RETURN BY TRAIN TO CUSCO During your trek, all transportation is included. This includes a pick up from your The Peruvian government allows only a few agencies to operate Inca Trail treks. After an hotel to the trail head to begin your hike. The train to and from Aguas Calientes, the extensive examination of our staff, equipments, and business practices, we have received our town located below Machu Picchu, is also included. Our train tickets are expedition authorization for Inca Trail. As soon as we receive your details and a deposit, we will purchase class, but upon request can be upgraded to the Vistadome train car for $75 extra per your permits (pending availability, check our Inca Trail Availability link). These permits are for a person. Also part of your transportation is a round-trip bus ticket between Aguas specific date and in your name. They can’t be changed, once confirmed. Only your passport number Calientes and Machu Picchu. After you take the train back from Aguas Calientes, our is allowed to be updated. The permit includes an entrance to Machu Picchu. private bus will bring you back to where it all began, Cusco. We included a small details that make us a different from other tour companies.