Travel Manual 2017-2018 Confidential Rates ECS TRAVEL Your one-stop Travel Supplier for Peru 1 Welcome Thanks for your interest in working with ECS Travel. Since 2001, ECS Travel has been a leading full-service Tour Operator specialized in providing high quality customized tours that cover all Peru’s unique destinations: Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Nasca Lines, The Amazon, Lima and other highlights. We are a fully licensed Inca Trail Operator, we can guarantee your clients’ Inca Trail permits, and thanks to our local bilingual Guides and crew of native Quechua Porters we can provide you with only the best memorable experiences for your clients. Your clients will receive full attention to detail in every step of their travel experience. From the moment, they touch down at Lima International Airport until they board their flight to return home, you can be assured that they are in our safe and knowledgeable hands. 2 Contents ➢ Hiking Tours ➢ Classic Tours ➢ Tour Extensions ➢ Airport/Hotel Transfer services ➢ Hotels ➢ How to Book ➢ Terms and Conditions 3 INDEX Welcome ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Contents ....................................................................................................................................................................... 2 I) Hiking Tours ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 1) Inca Trail to Machu Picchu ............................................................................................................................... 4 2) Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu...................................................................................................................... 7 3) Trek to Choquequirao, the other Machu Picchu .............................................................................................. 9 II) Classic Tours.......................................................................................................................................................... 11 1) Cusco .............................................................................................................................................................. 11 2) Machu Picchu ................................................................................................................................................. 14 3) Lima ................................................................................................................................................................ 15 III) Tour Extensions..................................................................................................................................................... 16 1) Tambopata Reserve Tour ............................................................................................................................... 16 2) Lake Titicaca Tour .......................................................................................................................................... 17 IV) Airport and Hotel Transfer services ...................................................................................................................... 18 1) Lima ................................................................................................................................................................ 18 2) Cusco .............................................................................................................................................................. 18 3) Puno ............................................................................................................................................................... 19 V) Hotels .................................................................................................................................................................... 19 1) Lima ................................................................................................................................................................ 19 2) Cusco .............................................................................................................................................................. 19 3) Sacred Valley .................................................................................................................................................. 19 4) Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) ........................................................................................................ 20 5) Puno ............................................................................................................................................................... 20 VI) How to Book ......................................................................................................................................................... 20 VII) Terms and Conditions ........................................................................................................................................ 21 4 I) Hiking Tours 1) Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Please notice this hiking tour may start from Cusco or the sacred valley Trek notes: Tour code: ECSMPT-01 Duration: four days Activity Level: demanding Max Altitude: 4,200 meters (13,780 feet) Season: March to January Service: Private Accommodation: four-season tents Trek Description Day 1: Start your Private Inca Trail Adventure Estimated hiking distance: 7.5 miles/12 kilometers Estimated hiking time: six hours This morning you are picked up by your guide from your hotel, and start with a smooth ride through the spectacular sacred valley of the Incas, after a three-hour ride we arrive at the trailhead at Km 82, where we meet our Inca trail crew of porters and Cook. We start with a six-hour hike on a well-marked path, enjoying the eucalyptus groves, outstanding views of Urubamba River, the Vilcanota Mountain Range, the snow-capped peak of Veronica (19,102 ft./5,822m.) and the agricultural terraces in the Inca complex of Llaqtapata. Overnight in Huayllabamba campsite – REI four-season tents Meals included: Lunch and Dinner Day 2: Dead Woman’s Pass and Pacaymayo Estimated hiking distance: 7 miles/11 kilometers Estimated hiking time: eight hours Today may be the most challenging day of your Inca trail adventure, we will climb steeply almost 4,000 feet (1,220 meters), but no worries your guide and Inca trail crew will ensure you have a safe and unique experience. Before setting off on our second day on the Inca trail, we will have a nutritious breakfast that will give us sufficient fuel and energy to reach the top of the Dead Woman’s Pass (13,780 feet/4,200 meters). If you need to push yourself, keep an eye on the prize, there are no words to describe the overwhelming sense of 5 accomplishment that you will feel when reaching the top of the Dead Woman’s Pass. You will have breathtaking views of the thick forest, snowcapped peaks and the Inca trail. After crossing the Dead Woman’s Pass, we start descending along a rock stepped trail to Pacaymayo valley (11,810 feet/3,600 meters), our campsite for tonight. Overnight in Pacaymayo campsite – REI four-season tents Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Day 3: Amazing Andean scenery on the Royal Inca trail. Estimated hiking distance: 10 miles/16 kilometers Estimated hiking time: eight hours Today, we will have to reach only two mountain passes, cross the cloud forest and visit amazing Inca sites. After a hearty breakfast, we set off on our third day on the Inca trail. We start with a one-hour climb to the circular ruins of Runkurakay, it is believed it was a resting place for Incan couriers during Inca times. After visiting this Inca site, we climb for almost one hour towards Runkurakay Pass (12,960 feet/3,950 meters) here we will have amazing views of the snowcapped peaks of Vilcabamba mountain range. We continue our hike down to Sayacmarca, known as the “inaccessible town”, a well preserved mysterious Inca complex (11,772 feet/3,588 meters), nobody knows exactly what this Inca site was built for but we will enjoy it much. The trail climbs down to the valley floor, and we enjoy the beautiful orchids while walking on the Inca road. The trail starts to climb again, we pass through the Inca tunnel that traverses solid rock. After passing the tunnel, the trail leads up to the third pass, we reach Phuyupatamarka (12,140 feet/3,700 meters), you will have a great opportunity to enjoy stunning views of Salkantay and Veronica Snowcapped Mountains. After crossing our third mountain Pass, we arrive in the “Cloud-Level Town” of Phuyupatamarka , one of the most impressive archaeological Inca centers. Finally, we camp near Wiñaywayna (8,829 feet/2,691 meters), the most spectacular archaeological complex of the entire Inca Trail. Overnight in Wiñaywayna campsite – REI four-season tents Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Day 4: Machu Picchu Estimated hiking distance: 2.5 miles/4 kilometers Estimated hiking time: four hours Today, we will wake up very early, have another hearty breakfast and head to the “Sun Gate” where we will enjoy our first sight of the “lost city” of Machu Picchu. You may want to spend some time sitting and overlooking Machu Picchu! Then, we hike down for just one hour and arrive in Machu Picchu, one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites