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Leaving Cusco we reach the road head past highland plateaus and a view of the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Vilcabamba. The trail slowly ascends to a camp below Mt. Salkantay. We go over a high pass to continue on a back-country trail, rocky in places until we join the famed Inca Trail to Machu Picchu for a two day trek. Our support crew is made up initially of pack animals and the last three days our gear is carried by porters.
Note: On day 5 you will be joining the Inca Trail group coming up the valley from the first camp at Qente. At Huayllabamba there is a changeover from horses to porters. Two full days of acclimatization in the mountains of Cusco area are mandatory prior to departure. |
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Itinerary: |
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Day 1 Tocobamba, 2 Tinkoc, 3 Sisaypampa, 4 Paucarcancha, 5 Llulluchapampa, 6 Phuyupatamarca, 7-8 Machu Picchu/Cusco. |
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| Duration |
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8 days / 7 nights |
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| Season |
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April - October |
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| Location |
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| Departures |
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On Request |
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| Price |
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On Request |
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| Minimum |
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2 Passengers |
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| Day by day description |
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| Day 1 CUSCO / TOMACAYA / TOCOBAMBA |
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| Drive over Tika-Tika pass with a first view of Mt. Salkantay and Humantay in the horizon. Cross the plateau of Anta (Antapampa) an area that's considered the breadbasket of Cusco, important for grains and cattle. We reach the pass of Limatambo with an amazing view of both mountains and the panorama of the lush agricultural valley below. We visit the ruins of Tarawasi with its long asymmetric Inca stone wall. Leaving Limatambo we drive up a side-valley to the village of Tomacaya, the roadhead. From this village of farmers we will have great views of the Limatambo valley and down into the Apurimac Valley towards Curawasi. A two hour hike uphill will bring us to Tocobamba at 3400m (11,152 ft) where we camp near a small stream. (Distance: 4 kms, Time: 2 hours). |
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| Day 2 TOCOBAMBA / TINKOC / COLLPA |
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| Leaving our campsite we begin our ascent towards a pass at 3,950 m (12,956 ft), called Muyuhorko for about four hours where we take our lunch break. Here you find a pre-inca ceremonial site from where we can get an astounding circumspective view of Mt. Salkantay, Humantay, Yanantay and Palcay and beyond Ausangate, Ninaparayoc and Qoylluritiy as well as the Pampa de Anta and the Pass of Huilki. We descend to the Tinkoc river at 3500 m (11,480 ft), and camp at Collpa. (Distance: 11 kms, Time: 6 hours). |
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| Day 3 COLLPA / TOCTO / SISAYPAMPA |
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| Leaving Collpa we head up the valley to the confluence of two rivers at 3,800m / 12,464 ft. We take the left fork up over a pass at Tocto at 4,900m (16,072 ft) a long slow ascent uphill. We reach this Pass and have Mt. Salkantay, Yanahorco and Palcay opposite with views of the Pampaccahua valley and our campsite below at Sisaypampa 4,200m (13,690 ft). At first a steep descent and then a two hour hike down the valley floor brings us to our campsite, with a dominating view of the eastern face of the mountain. (Distance: 12 km, Time: 8 hours). |
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| Day 4 SISAYPAMPA / PAMPACAHUA / PAUCARCANCHA |
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| The trail continues to the end of the valley, turns north and enters a wider valley called Pampacahua with an Inca canal running through the middle and small settlements of farmers along its edges. At the end of the Pampa the trail begins to get steeper as we pass the tree line, continuing to our campsite at Paucarcancha, our first Inca site, and the confluence of the Pampacahua and Keska valleys. Here we camp in the vicinity of the ruins at 3,150m (10,260 ft) (Trekking: 5-6 hours, Distance: 10 kms). |
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| Day 5 PAUCARCANCHA / HUAYLLABAMBA / LLULLUCHAPAMPA |
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| A slow day at low altitude at first, visiting the village of Huayllabamba, from where a steep ascent brings us to the Huayruro stream at 3,400m (11,084 ft). Here we stop for lunch at Yunkachimpa. At the village we meet a group coming from the Urubamba Valley and leave our pack animals behind-changing to a new crew of porters. From here we cross over to the Llullucha gorge and traverse a unique forest of Unca trees, a native species, which nowadays is hard to find except in isolated areas. We have now entered the Machu Picchu Sanctuary and will see fewer people living in the area. Once out of the forest we reach Llulluchapampa, with a view of Mt. Huayanay overlooking our campsite at 3,750m (12,225 ft) (Trekking: 5-6 hours, 8 kms). |
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| Day 6 LLULLUCHAMPAMPA / RUNKURAQAY/ SAYACMARCA / PHUYUPATAMARCA |
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| A steady ascent on an Inca Trail up to the Warmiwañusqa pass at 4,200m (13,692 ft) affords a magnificent view of our ascent and the trail ahead of us. We descend on a reconstructed Inca Trail down to the Pacaymayo River to then ascend again to the ruins of Runkuraqay and the second pass at 4,050m (13,200 ft). From here we walk down to the site at Sayacmarca at 3,850m (12,551 ft) on the original Inca Trail, passing a dry lake and the first signs of the cloud forest. A beautiful location overlooking the Aobamba Valley, it affords a respite for a leisurely walk through its imposing structures. Continue along the ridge through amazing landscapes, viewing Mt. Salkantay from the western side and Mt. Pumasillo, a silhouette to the north on the horizon. Walking through a rolling flagstoned trail we arrive at Phuyupatamarca (the village on the edge of the clouds) in whose vicinity we camp. (Trekking: 7-8 hours, Distance 14kms) |
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| Day 7 Day 7 PHUYUPATAMARCA / INTIPATA / WIÑAY WAYNA / MACHU PICCHU |
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| An early departure today will have us trekking along a buttress and passing Phuyupatamarca ruins, the flagstoned trail winds sharply down into the cloud forest to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna located below the ridge on the same water course as the previous site, it has well restored Inca Ruins. After a two hour walk through a cloud forest covered Inca Trail we arrive at Machu Picchu the way the Incas used to come, watching the magnificent citadel at our feet from Intipunku, the door of the sun. Overnight at a hotel in Machu Picchu Pueblo included. (Optional overnight at el Pueblo or Sanctuary luxury hotel available). Dinner on your own. |
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| Day 8 MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO |
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| The whole day can be dedicated to explore these extraordinary Inca remains, including a visit to Wayna Picchu, the mountain overlooking the site. The mid-afternoon train takes you back to Cusco, transfer to your hotel. Lunch and dinner on your own. |
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SERVICES INCLUDED: Transportation by vehicle to start and from the end of trek to Cusco, two man tents, sleeping mats, all meals during the trek, commissary gear as well as a bilingual guide, pack horses and drivers, lunch on day 8.
SERVICES NOT INCLUDED: Inca Trail entrance fee (US$ 80 aprox), hotels in Cusco and Machu Picchu, meals in the main cities, alcoholic beverages, extras, tips, laundry services, additional tours, insurance and airline tickets during trek, hotels in Cusco. |
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