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Ecological Sustainable Adventure Travel Tours
Quechuas Expeditions Authorized Inca Trail Adventure Tour Operator
Under Local Mountain-jungle & cultural Multilingual Guides Management
QUECHUAS EXPEDITIONS Highly Recommended By:

Large groups Fixed Departure 2010 - 2011 ( by clicking here)

Inca Trail was constructed in pre-Columbian South America, the Inca road system, or Qhapaq Ñan.was the most extensive. The network was based on two north-south roads. The eastern route ran high in Puna and mountain valleys from Quito, Ecuador to Mendoza, Argentina. The western route followed the coastal plain except in coastal deserts where it hugged the foothills. More than twenty routes ran over the western mountains, while others traversed the eastern cordilla in the montana and lowlands. Some of these roads reach heights of over 5,000 m ( 16,500 ft ) above sea level. The trails connected the regions of the Inca empire from the northern provincial capital in Quito, Ecuador past the modern city of Santiago, Chile in the south. The Inca road system linked together about 40,000 km of roadway and provided access to over three million km² of territory.

The roads provided routes for rapid communication, personnel movement, and logistical support. The prime users were soldiers, porters and llama caravans, along with the nobility and individuals on official duty. Permission was required before others could walk along the roads, and tolls were charged at some bridges. Althought the Inca roads varied greatly in scale, construction and appearance, for the most part they varied between about one and four meters in width.

Because the Incas did not make use of the wheel for transportation, and did not have horses until the arrival of the Spanish in Peru in the 16th century, the trails were used almost exclusively by people walking, sometimes accompanied by pack animals, usually the llama.

Relay messengers, or chasqui, stationed at intervals of 6 to 9 km , carried both messaegs and objects such as fresh marine fish for the rulers in the sierra. Messages consisted of knotted-cord records known as quipu along with a spoken message. Chaskis could cover an estimated 240 km per day.[6]

There were approximately 2,000 inns, or tambos, placed at even intervals along the trails. The inns provided food, shelter and military supplies to the tens of thousands who traveled the roads. There were corrals for llamas and stored provisions such as corn, lima beans, dried potatoes, and llama jerky. Along the roads, local villagers would plant fruit trees that were watered by irrigation ditches. This enabled chasqui runners and other travelers to be refreshed while on their journeys. Inca rope bridges provided access across valleys.

The most important Inca road was the Camino Real, as it is known in Spanish, with a length of 5,200 km ( 3,230 mi ). It began in Quito, Ecuador, passed through Cusco, and ended in what is now Tucumán, Argentina. The Camino Real traversed the mountain ranges of the Andes, with peak altitudes of more than 5,000 m . El Camino de la Costa , the coastal trail, with a length of 4,000 km ( 2,420 mi ), ran parallel to the sea and was linked with the Camino Real by many smaller routes.

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is actually three routes, which all meet up near Inti-Pata, the 'Sun Gate' and entrance to Machu Picchu. The three trails are known as the Mollepata, Classic and One Day trails, with Mollepata being the longest of the three. Located in the Andes mountain range, the Trail passes through several types of Andean environments including cloud forest and alpine tundra. Settlements, tunnels, and many Incan ruins are located along the trail before ending the terminus at the Sun Gate on Machu Picchu mountain. The two longer routes require an ascent to beyond 12,000 ft ( 3,660 m ) above sea level, which can result in altitude sickness.

Concern about overuse leading to erosion has led the Peruvian government to place a limit on the number of people who may hike this trail per season, and to sharply limit the companies that can provide guides. As a result, advance booking is mandatory. A maximum of 500 people, including guides and porters, are permitted to begin the trail every day. As a result, the high season books out very quickly.

Note: that the inca trail is closed every February for cleaning

CLASSIC INCA TRAIL TREKKING TO MACHUPICCHU 2 DAYS AND 1 NIGHTS
DAY BY DAY INCA TRAIL ITINERARY

FIRST INCA TRAIL DAY : CUSCO-104 KILOMETER TO WIÑAYWAYNA Transfer from the hotel to the train station. Train to KM 104. At this point we start trek for 3 hours approximately to the well preserved remains of the ruins of Wiñay Wayna (2900 mts. altitude). On the way we can see beautiful waterfalls. After lunch, we keep walking for about 2 more hours to get the sungate and then we go down to Machupicchu town ( aguas calientes )

SECOND INCA TRAIL DAY : AGUAS CALIENTES TO MACHU PICCHU After breakfast we have an early start and we will walk for 1 hour and half to get one of the greatest archaeological discovery of modern times is revealed. machupicchu so get where the most beatiful spot is , the postcard site to take postcard pictures and the the guide will expalin you the story of machupicchu for about two hours an then you will get free time to you will have plenty of time to explore by yourself ( you can climb huaynapicchu mountain ( it takes one hour up and one hour down ). And the after you enjoy machupicchu ypu must be at Aguas Calientes station to take the train back to ollanta and bus back to cusco.

Note: All itineraries are subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control including, weather, road or trail conditions and flight schedules.

SHORT INCA TRAIL INCLUDES:

• Pre-departure inca trail briefing
• English speaking Private inca trail tour guide
• Entrance fee to inca trail and Machu picchu
• Train Ticket (cerrojo-backpacker) Round Trip /poroy/km104/and aguas calientes /ollantaytambo or poroy see below
• Meals 1Lunch, 1Dinner, 1Breakfast.
• 1night in a hostal in aguas calientes
• Transfer Hotel - Station - Hotel 
• Bus down from machupicchu to aguas calientes ( where we sleep first night ).
• first aid kit, oxigen baloom and Free Luggage storage. When you go on the trek it is best to leave any luggage that you are not going to need behind in Cusco. Nearly all the hotels in Cusco provide a secure luggage deposit. Put any valuables in their safe. Very rarely do hotels charge for this service especially if you are returning to the same hotel after the trek. If there are any problems with your hotel we can arrange to store your luggage at our quechuas expeditions office.

NOTE:Train included in all tours is the Cerrojo backpacker (to Ollantaytambo) Train times will only be confirmed once full amount of tour is paid. The earliest train you could take is the 12:26 and being the 9:20pm the last train. Quechuas expeditions will organize the transport back to Cusco (by taxi or by bus).
Please Note: train times are subject to change depending on Peru rail click here to see timestable and availability.If organized in advance, the train can be upgraded to Vistadome (larger windows than the backpaker cerrojo train to ollantaytambo ) for an increased price of US$ 60.let us know please.

(click Below to see Train details)
| Backpacker Train | Vistadome Train | Hiram Bigham Train |

SHORT INCA TRAIL DOESNT INCLUDE:

• Breakfast on the First day
• Lunch on the last day
• Bus ticket from Aguas calientes to Machu Picchu (optional) one way US$7 and round trip US$14
• Travel and health insurance.(bring copies with you please):Quechuas Expeditions highly recommend to get an insurance of trip cancellation/interruption insurance to protect your travel investment. Included with your pre-departure package, bring your travel insurance to cover trip cancellation, interruption, baggage loss and delay, emergency medical evacuation insurance and emergency medical expense insurance.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING ON SHORT INCA TRAIL :

• Original passport (and *International Student card (ISIC) if applicable)
• Travel Insurance card is essential
• Walking boots
• Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
• T-shirts
• Comfortable trousers (zip off pants )
• Sun hat , Bathing suit (for hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
• Water Purification tablets ( recommended micropur)
• Sun protection cream (factor 35 recommended)
• Insect repellent ( for Aguas Calientes and Machupicchu )
• Toilet paper
• Personal medication
• Camera and films
• Torch with spare batteries ( we recommend head lights )
• Some extra snacks ( like chocolates ,candies )

Tips: please note that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip or not as you wish

Options:

(1) Single room at Aguas Calientes town (evening on day 4) the accommodations at Aguas Calientes on the 4th night is based on double or triple occupancy
(DWB or TWB). If a client would like to have a single room, need to add US$15.00 to the base price of the tour. You must decide if you want to have a single room in advance and let Us know when making your trek reservation since we need to purchase the hotel booking in advance as well. You cannot decide it at a later date or once you arrive in Cusco.
(2) An extra night in Aguas Calientes can easily be arranged for you if required. Hotels costs and costs associated with returning to Machu Picchu the following day are additional to trek costs. It is best to make your hotel reservation directly.

(3) Vegetarian Meals. We can provide vegetarian meals or cater for special diets with no extra cost. Just let us know at least 2 days prior to trek departure.
(4) Single tent.if you don't want to shared your tent with somebody extra cost of US$15 a day
(5) Sleeping bag hire. If you haven't got a sleeping bag or you don't want the hassle of bringing one all the the to Peru with you then we have sleeping bags in our office for rent. The price is US$ 5 a day .

Reservation details:
All trek reservations must be made at least specially classic inca trail .2 or 3 months in advance (however 3 months in advance is recommended especially during the peak season May, June, July , August and September)

Other information:
(1) Luggage storage. When you go on the trek it is best to leave any luggage that you are not going to need behind in Cusco. Nearly all the hotels in Cusco provide a secure luggage deposit. Put any valuables in their safe. Very rarely do hotels charge for this service especially if you are returning to the same hotel after the trek. If there are any problems with your hotel we can arrange to store your luggage at our office.
(2) Time of arrival in Cusco. Unless you plan to stay an extra night in Aguas Calientes, you will return to your hotel in Cusco for approximately 10:30 pm on the last day of the trek.
(3) Trek Itinerary: For a detailed description of our trekking tour itinerary see above.

NOTE ABOUT CAMPSITES ON THE INCA TRAIL AND ALTERNATIVE INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU
Please note that we are not in control of the campsites we are issued with from the Institute of National Culture. In general your campsite allocation is depends on how early you book, or rather, how many inca trail permits are left. The first 250 spaces are generally given to Winay Wayna (3rd campsite 2 hours far from machupicchu and 1 hour away from sungate) and thereafter you will have a longer walk to Machupicchu on the last day and it could mean you do not make it for sunrise. Do not let this disappoint you as Machupicchu is marvellous in itself!

CAMPSITES ON THE ALTERNATIVES TREK TO MACHU`PICCHU
campsites are going to be according to the progress of the group (how fast you walk) our guides will try to get the best places to camp.

UP TO DATE INCA TRAIL PERMIT AVAILABILITY
If you wish to check on permit availability you can view spaces at : INCA TRAIL The Inca Trail is regulated by 500 spaces per day including support staff. Availability can shift very quickly so we advise you to book well in advance especially for the peak season months of May, June, July and August.

IMPORTANT NOTE: personal inca trail porters
Our Porters carry a maximum load of 15kg, but we kindly ask you to not exceed your 6kg stated allowance as we need to adhere to the INC regulations and more importantly not damage the health and welfare of our Porters! Please note that if you want to hire a personal porter you need to tell us this at the time of making your reservation as our Porters also require permits to enter the trail and we cannot add on more porters after we have obtained your permits!
and if you want to hire an horse for any of our alternative inca trail will cost you US$20 a day.

INCA TRAIL AND ALTERNATIVE INCA TRAILS SERVICE:( TO CLOSE YOUR GROUP)

If you would like your group to be "closed", no other persons added to it, then this is possible to arrange for an extra $80 per person. With this service you are given more flexibility to walk at your own pace, you will have the guide to yourselves and an all round more personal service! At the time of making your reservation kindly indicate to us that you would prefer this option.

STUDENTS DISCOUNTS:
If you have a valid ISIC Student Card you are entitled to US$30 discount for classic inca trail and US$ 20 for alternative inca trails. When making your booking please send us a scanned in version of your Student Card to entitle you to the discount.

INCA TRAIL REGULATION:
The national historical sanctuary is protected by law to conserve its biodiversity as well as the Inka ruins. Machupicchu comes under intense pressure, with over 300,000 visitors each year. From May to September, an average of 2000 people explore the ruins daily, of whom 150 / 200 have hiked the trail, and the rest by train.
Compared with many other tourist attractions, the Inka trail is well maintained. The Peruvians have worked hard at limiting the erosion, litter and other damage caused by its popularity. This is a long term campaign which needs and deserves your support. By choosing an environmentally conscious tour operator and be careful about handling litter, where you go the toilet, and the use the poles you can help them preserve this wonderful place. Fortunately, controversial plans to build a cable car and large hotel at machupicchu have been widely opposed, and the rules announced in 2000 were being enforced from 2001.
• All hikers must be acompanied by a licensed tour guide.
• Entry fee...for the full trail ...for some other treks ...
• Group size must not exceed 16 visitors.
• A maximum of 500 people per day will be allowed to embark on the inca trail.
• inka trail Porters are not allowed to carry more than 25 kg.
• The inka trail will be closed for one month each year for maintenance (from February 2002).
• Since you are walking on ancient stones, the rule about protecting pole tips makes sense.
• No disposable water bottles may be used to reduce the litter problem.
• When visiting ruins, never climb on the stones or put your rusksack anywhere except on the ground.
• Although you may not see the rucksack rule displayed local guides enforce it, as well as being a precaution against damage, it is a courtesy to other hikers.
• Other rules prohibit acts of vandalism (such as picking wild flowers, camping in the archeological sites or making open fires) that no readers of this would consider.
• Additional rules govern machupicchu itself.

General Comments About quechuas expeditions.
Peru Travel Companies from Last Week: I was too late to reply to last week's poster who was looking for outfitting companies in Peru. Last summer, eight friends and I used Quechuas Expeditions, based in Cusco. http://www.quechuasexpeditions.com/ Wayra, the owner, was fantastic and very responsive via email prior to our trip as we were planning things. Our group did two day trips near Cusco through Quechuas (white water rafting and an archeological tour on horseback), as well as a four-day hike on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Our guide on the hike was great, the food prepared on the trail by our cooks and porters was fantastic, and the equipment we rented from Quechuas(tents, sleeping bags, coats, hiking poles, etc.) were all in great shape. Highly recommend them!
Christina Talcott: Better late than never. Thanks!
- Christina Talcott
We are just back from an amazing 2 week trip to Peru. Lima was fine to rest for a couple of nights (we flew from Ireland - a long frickin way for 2 weeks!). But it was in Cusco where our trip really took off.

General Comments About quechuas expeditions.
I recommend Quechuas Expeditions on Procuradores st. in Cusco www.quechuasexpeditions.com (you can book everything online with them and talk to them). They were really excellent - so helpful, spoke excellent English and all the guides were so professional and awesome! Wayra - the owner - gave us so much advice about everything - and didn't seem to be just interested in our money. Also they were all so passionate about their country and the culture that it was catching.
We did bungee jumps, paragliding (definitely recommended - not that scary either!), trips to the sacred valley, Puno and of course Macchu Picchu. Quechuas Expeditions organised everything.
We had an awesome time. Just some advice on the altitude - take it easy - I know everyone says that but it must be respected. We did too much boozing early on! Also I recommend bringing lightweight jacket - you have to carry one around all the time as it's hot in the day and freezing at night and I had a realy heavy one!

Enjoy your trip people!

INCA TRAIL INFORMATIONS: Inca Trail Introductions / How to Book iInca Trail /How to Get Winayhuayana as your last Inca Trail camping spot /Inca Trail Day 1 / Inca Trail Day 2 / Inca Trail Day 3 / Inca Trail Day 4 / Weather & Trek Preparations / inca trail via llactapata / Inca Trail Porters/Inca Trail Food/Inca Trail Equipment/camping equipment |
INCA TRAIL TREKS: Classic Inca Trail (4D) | Inca Trail Private (4D) | Inca Trail (5D) | Short Inca Trail (2D) | inka trail via salkantay (7D) | Inca Trail (3D) |short inka trail via llactapata (2D) |
ALTERNATIVE INCA TRAIL TREKS: Lares Valley Trek (4D) | Salkantay Trek (5D) |Salkantay Trek (4D) | Mandor Pampa & Putucusi (2D) | Ausangate Trek (6D) | Choquequirao Trek (4D) | Choquequirao (5D) | Choquequirao to machupicchu (9D) | Inka Jungle Trail (4D)
SALKANTAY TREK : salkantay trek (7D) | salkantay trek Private (5D) | salkantay trek (5D) | salkantay trek (2D) | Salkantay inka trail (7D) | salkantay trek (3D) | salkantay trek (2D) | salkantay trek (4D) | salkantay trek (10D)
INKA JUNGLE PERU : Inka jungle peru camping (4D) | Inka jungle peru Private (4D) | Inka jungleTrail (5D) | Inka jungle peru (2D) | Inka jungle peru(7D) | Inka jungle peru Trail (3D) | Inka jungle cusco Trail (2D)
LARES TREK : lares trek (4D) | lares trek Private (4D) | lares trek (5D) | lares trek patacancha and willoq(2D) | lares trek (7D) | lares trek (3D) | lares trek to huaran(4D) | lares trek (7D) | lares trek peru (6D) | lares trek communities (5D) |
CHOQUEQUIRAO TO MACHUPICCHU : choquequirao trek (4D) | choquequirao trek Private (4D) | choquequirao trek 5D) | choquequirao /machupicchu trek (9D) | choquequirao trek (7D) | choquequirao trek to Huanipaca (5D) | choquequirao trek (6D) |
AUSANGATE TREK : ausangate trek (4D) | ausangate trek Private (4D) | ausangate trek to singrinacocha (5D) | ausangate trek (3D) | ausangate trek (7D) | ausangate trek (12D) | ausangate ice climbing trek (11D) |
MANU NATIONAL PARK : manu jungle trip (3D) | manu jungle trip Private (4D) | manu jungle trip (5D) | manu jungle trip (6D) | manu jungle trip (7D) | manu jungle trip (8D) | manu jungle trip (9D) manu jungle trip (10D) | manu jungle trip (12D) | manu jungle trip reserved zone(8D) |
PERU CULTURAL HOLIDAYS: sacred valley of the inkas | cusco city tour | machupicchu by train | machupicchu by car | south valley tours| |  Maras & Moray Tours | Machupicchu full day
PERU SPORT HOLIDAYS: Whitewater rafting Urubamba | Whitewater rafting Apurimac | Whitewater rafting jungle |Biking Maras & Moray Tours | paragliding over the sacred valley | horseback riding cusco peru - sacred valley of the incas |
PERU OTHER SERVICES: hotel peru | hostels cusco | lodges cusco peru | rental shops cusco | camping shops | camping equipment to sell & rent | freelance tour guides to machupicchu | free maps cusco peru | free information | disco night clubs cusco peru |restaurant cusco peru | local markets cusco peru | Booking Bus and Train Tickets| Booking Flights Booking Bus and Train Tickets| Booking Flights |
PERU TRAVEL INFORMATION: Peru package holidays | southamerican package holidays | Weather | Health | Machu Picchu | Choquequirao | Salkantay | Inka Jungle | Lares | Hotels | About Cusco | About Peru | Calendar Events of Cusco | Community of Canacchimpa |Aymaras Expeditions lodges Peru | rafting machupicchu | quechuas lodges | Peru maps | trekking holidays itineraries | jungle holidays intineraries | cultural holidays intineraries |

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