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Peru Flight Information
  Trekking on the Ausangate Mountain circuit Enjoy two nights in Machu Picchu!
Note: You will need to depart a day earlier. The trip begins at the airport in Lima, on Day 1. We can make any additional reservations for you in Lima or Cusco. Detailed information will be included with the pre-departure information. Day 1 Thursday - August 12: Lima/Cusco This morning you will be met at the Lima airport by an Andes Adventures representative, who will assist you with connecting flights to Cusco. Depart on a one-hour flight to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire and the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city. Our trip leader will meet you at the Cusco airport. Upon arrival in Cusco, we transfer to the hotel where a traditional welcome cup of coca leaf tea is served to help with the acclimatization to the 11,150 feet altitude. This afternoon we will have a guided sightseeing tour of the city, visiting the Cathedral, the Inca temple Qorikancha, and the Santo Domingo Monastery. You will receive a tourist ticket valid for the length of the trip enabling you to visit the many archaeological sites, temples and other places of interest. Welcome dinner and overnight in Cusco. Overnight: Picoaga Hotel in Cusco. Day 2 Friday - August 13: Cusco/Yucay Morning visit to the archaeological sites surrounding Cusco, beginning with the fortress and temple of Sacsayhuaman, perched on a hillside overlooking Cusco at 12,136 feet. It is still a mystery how this fortress was constructed. Gigantic stones, some of them weighing 125 tons, were carved into huge trapezoidal blocks that fit together with extraordinary precision. The tour continues with visits to the semicircular shrine of Kenko, Puca Pucara and the Royal Baths of Tambomachay, a beautiful ceremonial bath, adorned with waterfalls, which continues to flow 500 years after being built. Our tour takes us on a scenic drive to Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We travel across a high plain with splendid views of the Cordillera Urubamba. We will have a hike to help you acclimatize, passing through the salt mines of Maras and hiking down a picturesque trail leading to the Urubamba River. Overnight: Sonesta Posada del Inca Hotel in Yucay. Day 3 Saturday - August 14: River Rafting/ Yucay We are picked up at the hotel for a 2 hour whitewater adventure on the Urubamba River where everyone shares in the paddling. Trained river guides will give us a safety and familiarization orientation. Instead of the rafting you may choose to take a nature walk. We return to Yucay where we rest and prepare for our Inca Trail adventure. After lunch, we will spend the afternoon relaxing in Yucay and its surroundings. Overnight: Sonesta Posada del Inca Hotel in Yucay. Day 4 Sunday - August 15: Ollantaytambo/Llactapata This morning we visit the village of Ollanta and Ollantaytambo, the best surviving example of an Inca town. Most of its buildings sit upon Inca walls and the street plan is still the original laid out by its Inca builders. Its stonework, narrow cobbled streets, family courtyards and water system are exactly as built in Inca times. You will be able to appreciate the Inca agricultural terraces that create small tiers of fertile land on very steep slopes. After lunch we continue our drive to the trailhead at km 82 "Piscacucho," where we begin our trek. An easy hike along the Urubamba River brings us to our camp in the archaeological site of Llactapata "Town on Hillside" at 8,400 feet. Upon arrival in camp we enjoy hot coca tea and a great view of the Urubamba mountain range. Overnight: Camp at Llactapata. Day 5 Monday - August 16: Llulluchapampa The trail continues along the Cusichaca River and follows it upstream on a gradual climb leaving behind the Urubamba valley and a magnificent view of snow capped Mount Veronica (18,865'), the highest peak in the Cordillera Urubamba. We reach the Quechua village of Huayllabamba at 9,650 feet, the last inhabited village on the Inca trail. Entering spectacular Llulluchayoc gorge, the trail becomes steeper. We continue our uphill climb through a thick, mossy forest, before emerging into a large meadow - Llulluchapampa high above the tree line. We camp for the night at about 12,450 feet. Overnight: Camp at Llulluchapampa. Day 6 Tuesday - August 17: Phuyupatamarca Today is our most challenging day as we reach Warmiwañusq'a pass "Pass of the Dead Woman" at 13,779 feet, the highest pass on the Inca Trail. If the weather is clear you will be delighted with the views of the Cusichaca Valley and the Pacaymayo "Sunrise" gorge ahead of us. A short rocky descent into the valley brings us to the Pacaymayo River at 10,950’. We begin the climb toward the second pass, on the way we encounter the Runkurakay watchtower ruins at 12,464 feet and pass by a couple of small lakes, before reaching the Runkurakay pass at 13,100 feet. From here you will have excellent views of the glaciated peaks of the Cordillera Vilcabamba. Most of the climb is behind us; the trail descends rocky slopes and reaches the strategic fortress of Sayacmarca "Dominant Town" at 12,234 feet. The trail enters dense groves and you will find impressive evidence of Inca road construction, with its six feet wide and carefully constructed stone-paved trails. An amazing engineering accomplishment! We will negotiate a 20 meter Inca tunnel with carved steps and soon the trail becomes a magnificent stone staircase leading to Phuyupatamarca "Town in the Clouds" at 11,674 feet. We summit the third pass and have our first look into the deep gorge of the Urubamba River. Just below, we find our camp in Phuyupatamarca. Overnight: Camp at Phuyupatamarca. Day 7 Wednesday - August 18: Machu Picchu The trail follows down a series of hundreds of steps, passing by ceremonial Inca baths where mountain water still flows through carved stone channels. As we descend into the cloud forest, we will be surrounded by an abundance of exotic varieties of plants, orchids and flowers until reaching the ruins of Wiñay Wayna "Forever Young." We hike down a dirt trail about three and a half miles to Intipunku, "Gateway of the Sun" at 8,860 feet. Suddenly, the full grandeur of the world's greatest ruins are revealed, the domed peak of Huayna Picchu and the lost City of the Incas, MACHU PICCHU at 7,900 feet. Our evening includes Machu Picchu Pueblo (previously known as Aguas Calientes). Overnight: El Mapi Hotel Machu Picchu. Day 8 Thursday - August 19: Machu Picchu We spend the early part of the morning with our expert guide, for a tour of the mysterious city, its magnificent temples, terraced hillsides, archaeological curiosities, irrigation channels, fountains, elaborate stone work and chambers of unknown purpose. As we listen to the theories about the mysteries of Machu Picchu, we wonder how and why this city was built in such a remote place and what its purpose might have been. Fortunately this outstanding citadel was never discovered by the Spaniards and was spared from destruction. After lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, continue exploring the ruins of Machu Picchu, or relax in Aguas Calientes. You may also choose from several additional (unguided) activities such as a moderate hike or run to the Inca Bridge; a more strenuous hike to the 9,500 feet summit of Machu Picchu mountain; or a steep climb to the airy summit of Huayna Picchu at 9,000 feet. Overnight: El Mapi Hotel Machu Picchu. Day 9 Friday - August 20: Cusco This morning we board the train to Urubamba and continue by bus to visit the Andean village of Pisac. Our guide takes us through the village to visit its colorful market where extensive selections of colorful weavings, ceramics, sweaters and other handicrafts are sold at bargain prices. The afternoon is free for shopping and enjoying Cusco. Overnight: Picoaga Hotel in Cusco. Day 10 Saturday - August 21: Tinqui This morning, we are picked up at the hotel for a 2 1/2 hour drive to the trailhead of the Ausangate circuit, in the highland village of Tinqui at 12,400 feet. We enjoy authentic Sunday markets as we drive by the Andean towns of Andahuaylillas, Urcos and Ccauri. We continue to Ocongate before reaching the village of Tinqui. Overnight in a rustic hostel. Overnight: Rustic lodgings in Tinqui. Day 11 Sunday - August 22: Upis We start our uphill trek crossing the Mapocho River. The terrain turns into open arid grasslands known as puna. Scattered clumps of coarse grasses collectively called ichu characterize the treeless puna (this highland grass is used for roof thatch and fodder for grazing llamas and alpacas). We hike over rolling hills passing by stone walls and a few thatched houses. The trail continues up toward the north face of Mount Ausangate (20,905'), considered by these highlanders as the sacred Apu "Mountain Spirit." We will hike to Huahuayocrumi (14,765'), before descending into Upis at 14,400 feet. We camp by thermal pools. Overnight: Upis Camp. Day 12 Monday - August 23: Ausangatecocha We start early this morning crossing the green Upismayo valley, filled with grazing llamas and alpacas. We begin our climb up to the Arapa pass at 15,585 feet and descend to Laguna Pucacocha at 15,080 feet. We have excellent views of the surrounding lakes and the glaciated west face of Mount Ausangate. We will continue up the Apacheta pass at 15,750 feet and a descent to our camp in Ausangatecocha. Overnight: Camp at Lake Ausangatecocha. Day 13 Tuesday - August 24: Jampa We start our day going up Palomani Pass at 16,600 feet, our highest pass. From the southern face of Ausangate, we will have a fantastic view of Santa Catalina peak. In these high mountains, we might see the giant condor soaring high in the blue skies and a variety of highland birds like coots, Andean geese, cacaraca, hawks, puna ibis as well as the marmot like vizcacha. These remote mountain areas are also refuges for the protected vicuña. We descend towards Pampacancha (14,900'). We continue to Uchuy Finaya on the south side of Mount Ausangate and hike along the Jampamayo River valley, passing the remote village of Jampa. The views are overwhelming with the glaciers and the snow-capped mountains surrounding us; Colque-Cruz (19,554') and Tres Picos (19,990'). A short climb brings us to Jampa, our highest camp at 15,500 feet. Overnight: Jampa Camp. Day 14 Wednesday - August 25: Pacchanta Today we climb the Campa pass (16,400'), where we will be surrounded by spectacular views of glaciers and ice covered peaks. Looking down on our trail, we will see Lakes Comercocha and Caycocha. From the pass, we descend to Lake Minaparayoc. A moderate downhill takes us to the village of Pacchanta at 13,950 feet. We will enjoy a specially prepared traditional "pachamanca" dinner feast, prepared in an ancient Quechua method of cooking meat and vegetables underground with heated stones. We camp in Pacchanta for the night and enjoy the local hot springs. Overnight: Pacchanta Camp. Day 15 Thursday - August 26: Tinqui/Cusco Our last day on the circuit we continue to enjoy magnificent alpine scenery, with views of Mount Ausangate and the nearby snow-capped peaks of the Vilcanota range. We pass the small communities of Cullpacata, Yanama, Mojonpata and Quimsapuccio giving us our last chance to see remote Andean villagers. Herds of llamas, alpacas and their herders, in their colorful traditional clothing, work along the hillsides. Most speak no Spanish, only the ancient Quechua language. After returning to Tinqui we drive back to Cusco. In the evening, we will have our farewell dinner at one of Cusco's finest restaurants. Overnight in Cusco. Overnight: Picoaga Hotel in Cusco. Day 16 Friday - August 27: Cusco/Lima After an early breakfast, transfer to the Cusco airport for the flight to Lima. We will be met at the airport and transferred to a hotel in the residential district of Miraflores, where a day use room is available. After lunch, we are picked up at the hotel and taken on a sightseeing guided city tour of colonial and modern Lima. Highlights include Lima’s Cathedral, government palace in Plaza Mayor, San Francisco monastery, San Isidro, Miraflores and a scenic view of the coastline. Those departing tonight transfer to the airport and depart on homeward-bound flights. Overnight: Posada del Inca Miraflores Hotel. Day 17 Saturday - August 28: Lima/USA Those departing today will be transferred to the airport this morning. Meals: B (Or continue on Extension). |
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