- Itinerary Days 1 - 5
- Days 6 to 10
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Peruvian Watercolor Itinerary: Days 1 to 5 of 10 Tour Length: 10 days / 09 nights. Activities: Trecking, Outdoor, Archaeological, Ecological. Spots to visit: Lima / Cusco / Inca Trail to Machu Picchu / Tambopata Reserve. Best day Departures: Every Saturday of 2011 / 2012 Domestic or Int'l flights: Not included. Min. Paxs: 02 pax, max. 14 pax. Day 1 LIMA-CUSCO Arrival, meeting and immediate connection flight to Cusco, arrival and transfer to selected hotel. P. M Half day tour visiting Sacsayhuaman- an impressive Inca fortress-and Quenko then on to the Temple of the Water -Tambo Machay- finally a visit to the Cathedral with its unique paintings of the Cusqueña School. Day 2 CUSCO - SACRED VALLEY After a delicious breakfast departure to Huambutio; a brief lesson on padding from our crew and then set off on a wet and wild morning for rafting on the Urubamba river. After a picnic lunch, hike to the Pisaq ruins where will visit the best architectonical work of the Incas, late afternoon arrival and overnight at a cozy Inn in Ollantaytambo. Day 3 OLLANTAYTAMBO KM 82- WAYLLABAMBA Breakfast. Between 8:00-08:30 am we will pick you up from your hotel and transfer to Piskacuchu (2700m) which is a small community located 82 along the railroad from Cusco to Machu Picchu (also known simply as km82). Hikers cross the VilcanotaRiver and follow the trail to the right as it climbs steeply up from the river. After passing through the small village of Miskay, the ruins of the Inca hill fort of Huillca Raccay come into view high above the mouth of the river Cusichaca (´happy bridge´). It is a simple descent down to the Cusichaca River. From parts of this trail there are great views of the Cordillera Urubamba and the snow capped peak of Veronica 5860m. You´ll also get a great view over the extensive Inca ruins of Llactapata also known as Patallactaon some maps). Llactapata 2750m means ´upper town´ in Quechua and was first discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and was primarily an agricultural station used to supply Machu Picchu with maize, the staple crop of the Incas. The settlement comprised over one hundred buildings, houses for the workers and soldiers, including five baths. For a further 7 km the path follows the left bank of the river up to the small village of Wayllabamba (3,000m). The name in Quechua means 'grassy plain'. This is the last place along the trek that you can buy snacks and drinks. Day 4 WAYLLABAMBA-PACAMAYO We will wake up at about 6:00 am and after breakfast we will leave Wayllabamba behind and begin the most difficult part of the trek. Following the left bank of the LlulluchayocRiver for about 1 hour brings you to 'Tres Piedras' three stones) and a small bridge over the Huayruro river The stream is named after the Huayruro which is an ornamental tree. It's seeds are red and black. Many of the porters from the Ollantaytambo district are also known as Huayruro because of their traditional red and black ponchos! A little further on you'll enter a beautiful cloud forest passing a waterfall. A further three hours trek through steepening woods and increasingly spectacular terrain brings you to the tree line and a meadow known as Llulluchapampa (3,680m). It is another 1½ hours climb to the first and highest pass of the trail (Abra de Huarmihuañusca or 'Dead Woman's Pass) at 4,200m. Once in the top hikers can celebrate having completed the most difficult section of the trail. The decent from the pass is steep although not difficult, following the trail on the left side of the valley to the valley floor and to the 2nd night's campsite at Pacamayo (3,600m). There are toilet facilities here. Day 5 PACAMAYO-WIÑAY HUAYNA This day is the longest but also the most impressive and most interesting due to the many Inca ruins that we will visit along the way. From the campsite at Pacamayo it takes about an hour to climb up to the ruins of Runkuracay (3800m). These small circular ruins occupy a commanding position overlooking the Pacamayo valley below. Another 45 minute hike will bring you to the top of the second pass: Abra de Runkuracay (4,000m). At last you'll feel that you are walking along the trail of the Incas with paving, for the most part, being original. The descent down the steps from the pass is steep so take care. This section of the trail, up till the 3rd pass, is particularly beautiful as the path crosses high stone embankments and skirts deep precipices. After about 1 hour from the 2nd pass you'll arrive at Sayacmarca (3624m) by way of a superbly designed stone staircase. The name Sayacmarca means 'InaccessibleTown' and describes the position of the ruins perfectly, protected on three sides by sheer cliffs. No one knows the exact purpose of these ruins. From here on the path descends into magnificent cloudforest full of orchids, hanging mosses, tree ferns and flowers, passing through an impressive Inca tunnel, carved into the rock, on the way. The trail then climbs up to the 3rd pass (3,700m). The view from the pass offers excellent views of several snow-capped peaks including Salkantay (6,180m) and Veronica (5,750m). A few minutes after the pass is Phuyupatamarca, the most impressive Inca ruin so far. The name means 'Town in the Clouds'. Access to the ruins is down a steep flight of stairs passing six 'Inca Baths' probably used for the ritual worship of water. Leaving the site via an impressive Inca staircase you descend a thousand or so steps. Be careful with your knees which will feel the strain by the end of the day. After about an hour of walking through cloudforest you may just be able to see the tin roof of the trekkers Hostel at Winay Huayna, although it probably won't be for another 2 hours until you arrive. Winay Huayna is the last official campsite before Machu Picchu; there is a restaurant where you can purchase drinks and even a well deserved cold beer, as well as hot showers ($1.5) and toilet facilities. A short trail leaves from the southern end of the hostel to the ruins of Winay Huayna. The name in Quechua means 'forever young' and is named after a variety of pink orchid which grows here. The ruins comprise magnificent agricultural terraces set in an impressive location. There are also many buildings of good quality stonework and a sequence of 10 baths, suggesting thin the site was probably a religious center associated with the worship of water. Ritual cleansing may have taken place here for pilgrims on the final leg of the trail to Machu Picchu. |
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Peruvian Watercoler Itinerary: Days 6 to 10 of 10 |
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Inclusions
We reserve the right to make changes in the itinerary in order to assure the success of the trip, without prior notice due changes in climate conditions, river water levels, flight or bus arrival and departure times or any other reason relevant to the best development of the trip.
 We do have the lowest prices according the level of services. We will meet or beat any internet published rates from companies outside Inca Xpress Peru for all package tours. All HOTELS and TOURS are based on US standards. |
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