16 Days: Machupicchu & Salkantay Trek

DAY 1: ARRIVE IN LIMA

Flight from US. to Lima, Peru. Usually you will arrive in Lima around midnight. Our staff will transfer you to the Hotel for overnight in Lima. Dinner on your own (usually on the plane.) Welcome to Peru. www.costadelsolperu.com/peru/hotels/lima or similar

DAY 2: LIMA – CUSCO – OLLANTAYTAMBO

Morning pick up from hotel after breakfast and transfer to airport (specific time to be arranged) Fly to the Inca capital city of Cusco. Pick up from the airport and transfer to hotel in Ollantaytambo. Exchange currency and learn about the day’s activities. Delicious lunch provided. Rest at the hotel. Welcoming ceremony in the afternoon at the hotel with Guide. Dinner on your own.
Note: Ollantaytambo is lower than Cusco which is why we begin here to ease your acclimation to the altitude. For your convenience, we provide water and energy bars for all days. (B, L) www.pakaritampu.com

DAY 3: CUSCO OLLANTAYTAMBO – MORAY AND SALT MINES

After breakfast we begin our day boarding a private bus and drive for 45 minutes to stop and visit the circular terraces of Moray – the Navel of the Earth. At this sacred site we will feel the connection with the three worlds represented by the Condor, Puma and Snake sacred animals. See how our ancestors built an amphitheater-like structure to study different microclimates. We will also visit an amazing salt flats operation en route to Ollantaytambo, and for those who want to stretch their legs and get a little exercise, there is an opportunity to hike down into the valley for a while and meet up with the bus further down the road. Buffet Lunch at Tunupa Restaurant at the Sacred Valley. Then, spend the remainder of the day at leisure in this picturesque and magical setting Hotel. Dinner on your own. (B, L) www.pakaritampu.com

DAY 4: OLLANTAYTAMBO ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE

  • Breakfast starting at 6:00 a.m.
  • Pickup at your hotel at 9:00.a.m. and walk to the archeological site in Ollantaytambo. Visit the site for approximately 3 hrs. See many temples of pink granite stone and the famous Princess’ Bath.
  • Lunch together at a restaurant in Ollantaytambo.
  • We have some options for this afternoon: go fishing at the river with a guide, hike the Pinkulluna Mountain noted for the storage houses there or expend the Afternoon getting ready for the Inca Trail.
  • Dinner on your own. (B, L) www.pakaritampu.com or similar

DAY 5: 1st DAY SALKANTAY TREK – SUYRUCOCHA

After an early breakfast, you’ll check out of the hotel and join our bilingual guide who will accompany you to Soraypampa where our starting point for this trail. The first part of the trip is by vehicle. You’ll stop at the Inca ruins of Tarawasi near the town of Limatambo, have coffee in the mountain village of Mollepata and ascend a winding mountain road to SorayPampa. After Lunch the Inca Trail hike takes three to four hours to the Camp site and travels along the old scenic Camino Real (Royal Path), a good way to begin acclimatizing to the increasing elevation. You will see the highest mountain in the region, a sacred 20,600-ft Andean peak in Inca mythology. Aperitif and dinner. (B, L, D)

DAY 6: 2ND DAY SALKANTAY TREK – COLLPA PAMPA

Your four-day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu continues. Today’s after breakfast, along the Rio Blanco Valley circling the Humantay peak. When you reach the highest point of today’s trek, a 15,213 feet pass, you’ll stop for breathtaking views of the snowcapped Vilcabamba Range and the south face of Sacred Mt. Salkantay where the Andean condor is a common sight. A hot lunch is provided en route. From the pass, you’ll descend to your welcoming destination 9514ft, the Collpapampa Camp site. You’ll enjoy dinner and overnight at small hot springs. (B, L, D)

Note: we will cook underground food this day or the next day, learn the ancient ways of cooking on this part of the Andes.

DAY 7: 3RD DAY SALKANTAY TREK – LA PLAYA – BIG HOT SPRINGS

Our destination today is the village of La Playa and the big Hot Springs about 12km down the valley Walking from Colpapampa. Our route takes us along the Lluskamayo River through an area that is teeming with life and that has various coffee and fruit plantations. The scenery in this area is not as stunning as the previous day but the warmth and lush vegetation are a welcome respite from the high mountains we’ve left behind. The hotsprings are at 5000ft. that you will enjoy for about 3 hour in the sacred valley of the Incas. (B, L, D)

DAY 8: 4th DAY SALKANTAY TREK – MACHU PICCHU

After breakfast on this last day of your Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. The first two hours are an ascent to Llactapata pass, elevation 8,900 feet, where you’ll get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu from the southwest, a perspective seen by few tourists. Along the way, you’ll stop at the recently restored Llactapata ruins. With lunch at the observatory you’ll get your next tantalizing view of Machu Picchu. The final two to three hour descent takes you through lush bamboo forests, orchards and plantations to the Aobamba River. Arrive at the hydroelectric train station where you’ll board the train for the short ride to Aguas Calientes. You’ll spend the night at a local hotel in the town of Aguas Calientes, gateway to the Inca city of Machu Picchu. (B, L, D) http://www.inkaterra.com/inkaterra/inkaterra-machu-picchu-pueblo-hotel/

DAY 9: MACHU PICCHU – CHINCHEROS TEXTILE MARKET – CUSCO

The morning is dedicated to exploring extraordinary Machu Picchu for about 4 hours. You have various opportunities for your own exploration, including a climb to the sacred Gate of the Sun. For those looking for the picture perfect view of the ruins, getting up early is essential as sunrise is not to be missed! The afternoon train takes you back to Ollantaytambo, where you will meet your private driver and travel to the Chincheros Market. This traditional weaving community is known for is impressive textile works and artisan products. Here the local artisans will give you an introduction to their handy work including their processes for shearing, dyeing, spooling, and weaving from alpaca. Take advantage of last minute shopping before you are transferred to your Hotel www.aranwahotels.com (B, L)

DAY 10: CUSCO CITY TOUR

Morning free to relax pick up at the Hotel around 1:00 p.m. First we will see the 12 square stone at Inca Roca Palace in Cusco. We will also visit the Temple of the Sun. Lunch on the main square at a good Peruvian Japanese restaurant. Afternoon visit to Sacsayhuaman Temple, Tambomachay and Qenqo, famous sites around Cusco. Return to hotel by 6:00 p.m. to get ready for our next adventure. www.aranwahotels.com (B, L)

DAY 11: CUSCO TO LAKE TITICACA

  • Breakfast beginning at 6:00 am.
  • Pickup from the hotel at 7:30 am.
  • On the way we visit the site of Racchi also known as the Temple of Wiracocha, the spiritual God of the Incas.
  • Picnic lunch at the site.
  • Stop at various attractions on the way.
  • Dinner on your own in Puno
  • Lake Titicaca is at 12,500 ft.
  • Accomodation at: www.casa-andina.com/private-collection-puno (B, L)

DAY 12: FLOATING ISLANDS

  • Breakfast beginning at 6:00 am.
  • Pickup at 7:30 a.m. from the hotel for a boat ride to the floating islands, There are more than 40 islands.
  • We will take a ride in the same type of reed boat the ancient people used. Learn how these people live and how they build their islands.
  • Return to Puno via boat.
  • Drive to Amaramamuro an ancient temple near Lake Titicaca. We will perform and Inca Ceremony. Local people call this place Willca Uta. It means a place where people were initiated.
  • Lunch together
  • Afternoon free to rest or to explore Puno.
  • Dinner on your own. www.casa-andina.com/private-collection-puno (B, L)

DAY 13: PUNO TO AREQUIPA

  • Breakfast starting at 6:00 a.m.
  • We will pick you up at 9:00 a.m. from the Hotel for your private transportation to Chivay town, Arequipa passing stop points to see the Sacred Andes in these part of Peru, where the Incas burry their gifs to mother earth (Pachamama), colorful customs and beautiful native people, well the mountain that we are going to see is the Ampato, very sacred mountain and the native people used to come from different places, from the Inca nation to pay, here is where they have found the Juanita Moomy.
  • Check in Our Nice hotel looking over the Colca canyon and hot springs to relax.
  • Diner show on your own. www.aranwahotels.com/colca.php (B,L)

DAY 14: COLCA CANYON – CONDOR CROSS

  • Breakfast starting at 5: 00 a.m.
  • Pick up at 6:00 a.m. to drive to the Condor cross, where we will enjoy seeing very closet majestic bird from the Andes flying few feet from us.
  • We have here the Opportunity to take Good Photos of the second Deepest canyon of the world and the native communities, were we will share our gifs with them (Hot chocolate, Pencils, note books and more) with these happy children.
  • We will be back in Chivay town for a Buffett Lunch with amazing choices from Vegetarian to meet eaters.
  • Afternoon you will be transfer to Arequipa for another night at the Hotel. Accomodation at: http://www.casa-andina.com/casa-andina-private-collection-arequipa/ for next day transport to Nazca Town. (B, L)

DAY 15: AREQUIPA – NAZCA

Breakfast at the hotel and Lunch on the way to Nazca town. Morning take the private transportation 8 hour Aprox. In to an amazing Place call Nazca. After check inn at hotel Evening walk in town. Expend the night at amazing hotel. Amazing choices for dinner on your own. www.hotelmajoro.com (B, L)

DAY 16: NAZCA LINES – LIMA.

Breakfast starting at 7:00 a.m. Pick up at 10:00 a.m. and then private transportation to the Aeropodromo for Your flight to see all the Nazca Lines.
The Nazca Lines are a series of ancient geoglyphs located in the Nazca Desert of Peru. They have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The high, arid plateau stretches more than 80 kilometres (50 mi) between the towns of Nazca and Palpa on the Pampas de Jumana. Although some local geoglyphs resemble Paracas motifs, scholars believe the Nazca Lines were created by the Nazca culture between 400 and 650 AD.[1] The hundreds of individual figures range in complexity from simple lines to stylized hummingbirds, spiders, monkeys, fish, sharks or orcas, llamas, lizards, etc.

The lines are shallow designs made in the ground by removing the ubiquitous reddish pebbles and uncovering the whitish ground beneath. Hundreds are simple lines or geometric shapes; more than seventy are designs of animal, bird, fish or human figures. The largest figures are over 200 metres (660 ft) across. Scholars differ in interpreting the purpose of the designs, but they generally ascribe religious significance to them, as they were major works that required vision, planning and coordination of people to achieve.
After Your flight you will have a good Lunch. Pick up luggage’s to return to Lima for your international flights to home OR ANOTHER night at the Lima Hotel to relax.

End of the service by Magical Tours Peru.
Key: (B)reakfast (L)unch (D)inner

*Please note that exact pick up times and tour start times will be reconfirmed daily with your local guides.

HOTELES: Are listed in each day, you can get more information by entering to their Web page; all of them have Wi-Fi in room.

INCLUDES:

  1. Flights from Lima – Cusco, Arequipa – Lima.
  2. Private ground transportation for all trips in Cusco and to Lake Titicaca / Puno to Colca Canyon / Colca Canyon to Arequipa, Nazca to Lima.
  3. Hotels for all nights.
  4. All breakfasts and lunches
  5. 3 diners on the Inca Trail.
  6. Farewell diner in Arequipa.
  7. Shaman-trained Guide and expenses.
  8. Boat in Lake Titicaca
  9. Entrance fees to Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Cusco, Lake Titicaca and Colca Canyon.
  10. Train fares.
  11. Inca Trail expenses.
  12. Airplane for Nazca Lines.
  13. Entrance fees to Nazca Lines
  14. Bottle drinking water every day
  15. Bread and Hot Chocolate to share with the children.
  16. Snack every day for the trekking.

Not Included:

  • International airfares.
  • Most Dinners.
  • Extra beverages.
  • Tips. (bellmen, waiters, guides, cooks, drivers)

What to bring:

  • Comfortable walking shoes and shoes you can hike in.
  • Waterproof Jacket and pants
  • Wind proof jacket, mostly clothes for mild weather 60-70 degrees F. Warm jacket, hat and gloves for high altitude evenings.
  • Good camera and extra battery and memory card
  • Good flash light
  • 220/ 110V ( plug) adaptor
  • Insect repellent (you can buy it there if needed)
  • Sun block, sunglasses, hat
  • Some school supplies to share with the children while visiting communities. (Pencils, Pens, notebooks etc.)