PERU Custom Sample Itinerary Active World of the Incas Tour An upscale hotel based Andean hiking adventure in the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu & Cusco 9 days/8 nights (can be adjusted longer or shorter according to preference) Map of South America (interactive links) Destination Maps: Peru Season: April-November is the driest time of the year in the Andes of Peru. Trip Rating: Cultural & Archaeological Tour with moderate to strenuous day hikes up to 6 hours duration, Grade III: this first- class adventure is an activity-oriented program featuring daily hikes on uneven terrain through villages and Inca sites at elevations up to 12,605 ft. The itinerary has been designed to allow gradual adjustment to the altitude. This is a personalized guided trip with your own private guide and vehicle/driver throughout your time in Lima and the Andes. Introduction: The Incas . Sons of the Sun . mysterious builders of stone fortresses, mountaintop citadels and golden temples. According to legend, Manco Inca and Mama Ocllo, the first Inca rulers, came forth from Lake Titicaca to unite warring tribes under a common language and a unified religion, creating one of the most fabulous of ancient empires, Tawantinsuyo, “the four quarters of the world.” At its apex in the late fifteenth century, this impressive kingdom spanned an area more than five times the size of the state of California! The Incas governed this vast realm, which was connected by thousands of miles of stone- paved highways, from their cultural and religious center in Cusco. Many stone monuments stand today, a testament to the skill of their master architects. Designed for those who wish to deepen their appreciation of the Incas, on foot and off the beaten path, this exciting cultural and archaeological day hiking adventure takes us into the very heart of Tawantinsuyo. Machu Picchu has been honored as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, we spend two days exploring this jewel of Inca architecture. 1 DATE TOURING / HOTELS / MEALS (indicated as B,L,D) DAY 01 TO PERU Depart home and arrive this evening to Peru's capital city, Lima. Reception by your private Southwind guide providing check-in assistance to the Wyndham located near the International Terminal. Wyndham Costa del Sol Hotel DAY 02 LIMA / CUSCO / SACRED VALLEY Early this morning meet your guide and walk to the terminal with check-in assistance for your scenic flight over the Andes from Lima to Cusco (1.5 hours). Meet your Andean guide in Cusco (elev 11,150 ft) and drive 1 hour to Pisac in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The route follows a winding mountain road providing superb vistas of the rugged canyon formed by the Urubamba River. Descending into the warm valley, our first stop is Huancalle (10,400 ft) for a downhill hike to the village of Taray (9,715 ft). We follow the Pahuaycoc creek for 1.5 hours with views of the Sacred Valley and the Urubamba range. From Taray, we drive to Pisac (9,708 ft) to walk among the artisan shops and enjoy a local style lunch. Later we drive up to the ruins (11,270 ft) and explore an Inca complex. The ruins are perched spectacularly on a ridge overlooking the town and countryside. We follow a stone-paved trail, narrow and exposed in spots, to the religious center Intihuatana, or Hitching Post of the Sun and observe dozens of agricultural terraces aesthetically built contouring the hillside above the Urubamba River. Later, we arrive to the Sacred Valley community of Urubamba home to a charming Andean hacienda-style lodge at 9,430 ft. Enjoy some leisure time on the lovely grounds. Dinner is on your own, the gourmet restaurant serves ingredients from the garden blending tastes and traditions of the valley’s agriculture heritage. (B,L) Sol y Luna Lodge & Spa - Relais & Chateaux Hiking distance: 4 miles or 3 hours total hiking. DAY 03 SACRED VALLEY This morning, we drive up to the highlands, enjoying panoramic vistas of the snow- capped Urubamba range including Mount Veronica and Pitusiray. We arrive at Maras (11,070 ft) and begin a 2 mile, 1.5 hour gradual downhill hike to the nearby Inca Salt Mines still in production since Incan times. From here, a short drive leads to Chinchero (12,335 ft), a charming community characteristic of Andean towns combining both Incan and colonial architecture. The main square is adorned by a massive Inca wall with ten trapezoidal niches and a colonial church. After exploring the ruins of Inca Yupanqui's palace, we hike 5.5 miles or 3.5 hours downhill to the village of Urquillos (9,595 ft) in the Sacred Valley following a narrow gorge with great views of the Urubamba range and Chicon peak. Later, we return to the familiar and peaceful comforts of the lodge for a relaxed dinner on your own at leisure. (B,L) Sol y Luna Lodge & Spa - Relais & Chateaux DAY 04 KM 104 DAY HIKE TO MACHU PICCHU Today we depart early to catch the Vistadome train in Ollantaytambo for a short ride to the Km 104 trailhead located in the valley at elevation 7,260 ft. We begin an exceptionally rewarding day hike from the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu. In three hours gain approx 1,585 ft to Wiñaywayna ruins at 8,845 ft. After a picnic lunch at the site, we join a section of the classic stone-paved Inca Trail. After two hours of additional hiking, we ascend final sets of stairs to reach the Intipunku or Gateway of the Sun (9,005 ft), to be rewarded with a superb view of the Machu Picchu citadel and the surrounding mountains. In the late afternoon, we descend on foot for 45 minutes through the ruins during the most tranquil time at the citadel after the crowds have dispersed. 2 Later, we descend to the village and settle in at Inkaterra’s award winning hotel situated on 12 acres of cloud forest gardens along the Urubamba River. The grounds are a nature-lover’s wonderland of birds, ferns, bromeliads and orchid species (over 370 orchid species have been identified here). Parents can indulge in an Andean massage using 100% local botanical ingredients. The whole family can relax in the outdoor hot tubs, try the Andean eucalyptus sauna or learn about Inkaterra’s on-site spectacled bear conservation project which aims to rescue injured bears and reintroduce them into their natural habitat. This evening, enjoy a tasty dinner together while recounting our exploration of the lost city perched high on the ridge above the hotel. (B,L,D) Hiking distance: 7 miles or 6.5 hours total hiking. You only need to carry a daypack (luggage is sent by cargo train and retrieved by hotel staff). Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel – A Nat’l Geo Unique Lodge of the World DAY 05 MACHU PICCHU HISTORICAL SANCTUARY Today we board a shuttle bus for a 25 min ascent to Machu Picchu (7,973 ft) perched atop a crest high above the meandering Urubamba River and surrounded by rugged, green Andean hillsides. Machu Picchu stands as more than just the jewel of Inca architecture, it represents the perfect union of human engineering and the natural environment, a city in harmony with its surroundings. We begin our explorations with a 1.5 hour up and downhill hike on a mostly shaded trail to the mysterious and partially excavated Temple of the Moon (7,220 ft). A series of caverns likely contained mummies during Incan times. This quiet ceremonial monument is perched above the Urubamba River, access is via the same gate as Huayna Picchu then forks to the left initially following a stone paved section that traverses up and around the base of the mountain. Returning towards the main complex, we meet the trailhead to Huayna Picchu (8,836’) where an optional 1 hour climb follows a steep, narrow and exposed trail culminating at newly cleared terraces and ruins on top offering a bird's-eye view of Machu Picchu. The route ascends steadily uphill approx 850 ft on a winding and sometimes exposed trail requiring hands for balance and to hold handrails on steeper sections. Roundtrip is usually about 2.5-3 hours. The schedule is flexible, those who prefer can relax or explore a favorite spot at your own pace. We take a break mid-day for lunch at the Tinkuy buffet restaurant just outside the gates which serves a variety of hot and fresh selections. We return to the citadel for an afternoon guided tour of Machu Picchu itself. Never reached by the Spanish, this magical place was brought to the world’s attention in 1911 by the Yale historian, Hiram Bingham. Our explorations of The Lost City of the Incas include all of the various sectors of the ruins; the industrial area, the Temple of the Sun and the Royal Tomb, the ceremonial water fountains and baths, and the Sacred Plazas. Later, return to the comfort of the Inkaterra with dinner is included in the hotel’s casual yet refined fine restaurant. Hiking distance: 3 miles or 4.5 hours total hiking. (B,L,D) Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel – A Nat’l Geo Unique Lodge of the World DAY 06 MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO Rising early, you can choose to head to the ruins to catch the early morning light as the sun comes over the Intipunku Sun Gate. According to weather and group interest, an easy hike is available to the Inca drawbridge (1 mile - 1 hour total hiking) or a more challenging but spectacular journey up to Machu Picchu peak (10,112 ft), 2.5 miles - 3.5 hours total hiking) following a newly cleared Inca trail.