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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:

SOUTH AMERICAN EXPLORERS / LONELY PLANET / FROMMERS / NYTIMES / TRIP ADVISOR / REAL TRAVELERS REVIEWS. SPECIAL DISCOUNTS 2011 (for tour that Includes Machupicchu only ( By Quechuas Expeditions) • SAE MEMBERS: US$20.00 discount on full program price (valid South American Explorers Club membership card required). This discount may not be applicable in case a promotional price is offered • STUDENTS DISCOUNTS: US$20.00 (students require a valid International Student Identity Green Card (ISIC) ( click here to get your isic card) and must be below 26 years of age. Please beware that Youth Travel Cards are not valid). If the trips go to Machupicchu only. • TEENAGERS: US$ 20.00 (up to 15 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings). • CHILDREN: US$ 45.00 (up to 10 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings). 1.-QUECHUAS EXPEDITIONS GROUP TOP QUALITY SERVICE: (GROUP SIZE 08 PEOPLE MAXIMUN) our most popular trek and offers to visitors the most economical method to trek the Inca Trail and alternative Inca Trails to Machu Picchu. you'll be joining a group of other hikkers like you coming from overseas, a great opportunity to have fun and make new friends. 2.-PRIVATE SERVICE: (GROUP SIZE UPON REQUEST) for Families, Honeymooners and Couples. special trek program just for you, and you can depart any day you wish and choose the group size, we don´t add any people, is arranged just for you. All private groups include additional services, such as: extra porters, horses to ride and to carry your personal gear( for alternate treks), First class Vistadome train, Machupicchu bus up & down, 1st breakfast & last lunch, sleeping bags, walking poles, North face tents and among others.      Write us at: privateservice@quechuasexpeditions.com 3.-LARGE GROUPS SPECIAL DISCOUNTS: 02 Guides Over 08 people If you are a group  of 06 people or more Please contact us at: info@quechuasexpeditions.com VERY IMPORTANT !!!: If you are using a SPAM filter, Our E-mails could be caught in your filter. Please check your filter if you do not receive the E-mail within 5 minutes.Some of our passengers E-mail us saying our confirmation E-mails are placed to their spam folder rather than their inbox. We recommend to modify your JUNK or SPAM FILTER SETTINGS to receive our E-mails of Quechuas Expeditions: info@quechuasexpeditions.com, reservations@quechuasexpeditions.com, quechuasexpeditions@hotmail.com on the correct inbox. You may also want to add this email address to your list of known contacts. This will prevent our responses from being filtered into your Junk or Spam mail folder. SEE WHAT OUR HAPPY CUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT US ( REAL TESTIMONIES ) | Fixed Departures 2011-12  |  Terms & Conditions  |  Methods of Payments | | Quechuas Expeditions Food | Accomodation in Aguas Calientes| | Camping, Cycling Equipment | Hot Springs | Backpacker-Vistadome Train | Inca Treks Maps to download  |  Booking File 2011

The Inca Trail system - inca Trail path to machu picchu - Pilgrimage Inca Trail.
Inca trail was constructed in pre-Columbian South America, the Inca Trail system, or Qhapaq Ñan. was the most extensive. The network was based on two north-south Inca Trail roads. The eastern Inca Trail route ran high in Puna and mountain valleys from Quito, Ecuador to Mendoza, Argentina. The western Inca Trail route followed the coastal plain except in coastal deserts where it hugged the foothills. More than twenty Inca Trail routes ran over the western mountains, while others traversed the eastern cordillera in the montana and lowlands. Some of these Inca Trail roads reach heights of over 5,000 m ( 16,500 ft ) above sea level. The Inca 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 Trail road system linked together about 40,000 km of roadway and provided access to over three million km² of territory.the Inca Trail 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 Inca 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 messages 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 on The Inca Trail per day.
There were approximately 2,000 inns, or tambos, placed at even intervals along the Inca 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 Inca Trail 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 trail 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 Inca Trail or Camino Real traversed the mountain ranges of the Andes, with peak altitudes of more than 5,000 m . Inca Trail or Camino de la Costa , the coastal Inca Trail, with a length of 4,000 km ( 2,420 mi ), ran parallel to the sea and was linked with the Inca Trail or 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 Inca Trails are known as the Mollepata, Classic Inca Trail and One Day Inca Trail, with Mollepata being the longest of the three. Located in the Andes mountain range, the Inca Trail passes through several types of Andean environments including cloud forest and alpine tundra. Settlements, tunnels, and many Incan ruins are located along the Inca 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 Inca 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 Inca Trail every day. As a result, the high season books out very quickly.

For those who have missed out on permits for the Classic Inca Trail since most dates have already run out..there are great alternatives in the Inka Jungle, Cachicata Trek, Lares Trek and Salkantay trek which also spend their last day of Tour in Machu Picchu.

CLASSIC INCA TRAIL TREKKING TO MACHUPICCHU 5 DAYS AND 4 NIGHTS
DAY BY DAY INCA TRAIL ITINERARY

Classic Inca Trail 5D/4N (Special) Sacred Valley fo the Incas( Pisaq and Ollantaytambo
	DAY 1 –Cusco-Pisac-Ollantaytambo We pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and proceed to the charming town of Pisac to explore its Inca archaeological site and famous market. We then continue to Ollantaytambo and after exploring we stay at town of ollantaytambo in a hostel.
SECOND DAY INCA TRAIL DAY: OLLANTAYTAMBO - PISKACUCHO - KM 82 - WAYLLABAMBA We will leave from Ollaytaytambo where you can buy last minute gear and personal needing, then we move on to Piskacuchu (Km 82) Inca Trail Control Point .and then we start our hike of Inca Trail to Wayllabamba(first camping spot). along on the Inca Trail We will have lunch at Miskay (first Inca Trail Village) and relax a bit before hiking to our first Inca Trail Archaelogical site of Patallacta or Llactapata (biggest Inca Trail Quechuan Site) after an explanation of your guide about Llactapata ,you will keep going for 2 more hours to get Wayllabamba (first Inca Trail Camping spot 2900 m.a.s.l)
	THIRD INCA TRAIL DAY: WAYLLABAMBA - WARMIWAÑUSCA - PACAYMAYO We'll start our Inca Trail day, early in the morning, just to take advantage of the shade of the mountains ,its much better to hike up to thefirst Inca Trail pass (Warmihuañusca which means dead woman pass 4200 m.a.s.l) highest point of the Inca Trail. Here, we can literally see the various Inca Trail ecological zones and microclimates, which make up the area, mapped out in front of us. We will cross the Warmiwañusca pass and once we are on the top. we are going to see many snow-capped Mountains around and after we take a our group pciture we keep going dow to Pacaymayo (second Inca Trail Camping spot 3600 m.a.s.l) where we have our Lunch and then we will have a free afternoon to explore by ourselves.
FOURTH INCA TRAIL DAY: PACAYMAYO - CHAQUICOCHA - WIÑAYWAYNA Inca Trail begins with a nutritious breakfast and then a 45-minute hike up to Runcurakay Pass (second highest pass on the Trail 3,850 m.a.s.l), and along the way we will visit the Runcuracay archeological site. During the day's hike, we will also visit the Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca quechuan archeological sites of the Inca Trail. After lunch we will head to the Wiñaywayna site , where we will spend our last night on the inca Trail and then we will have a celebratory dinner to then say good bye to our Inca Trail porters.
	SIXTH INCA TRAIL DAY:WIÑAYWAYNA - MACHUPICCHU - CUSCO Inca Trail Important 4 th Day After an early breakfast, we begin the final leg of the Inca Trail to the lost city of Machu picchu. First, we will hike to Inti Punku ("Sun Gate"), Gate of the Inca Trail where we will take in an inspiring and panoramic view of the Machu picchu citadel. After a short hike down to Machu picchu, we will register and then enjoy a 2-hours guided tour of the sanctuary-city. After the tour of Machupicchu, we will take the bus down or walk Part of the Inca Trail to Aguas Calientes where we will enjoy a lunch and free time to enjoy the town before returning to ollantaytambo by train and then 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. we recommend to book your INCA TRAIL in advance in order to get Wiñayhuayna as your last camping spot ( 02 hours walk far from Wiñayhuayna to Machupicchu)

SACRED VALLEY ( PISAQ AND OLLANTAYTAMBO INCLUDES:

• Transportation( Tourist Bus to Explore the Best places of the Sacred valley of the Incas) Pisaq and Ollantaytambo
• English Speaking Guide
• Overnight (hostel) at Ollantaytambo
• Dinner and Brekfast

SACRED VALLEY ( PISAQ AND OLLANTAYTAMBO DOESNT INCLUDE:

• Lunch along the Sacred Valley
• Tourist Pass to see Sacred Valley Places  (known as Boleto turistico) US$25 Aprox.

CLASSIC INCA TRAIL INCLUDES:

• Transportation( Tourist Bus to Explore the Best places of the Sacred valley of the Incas) Pisaq and Ollantaytambo all Guided Tour
• Pre-departure inca trail briefing at Hotel or Office *Give us details of the place you are going to stay in cusco please.
• Professional Quechua Spanish and English speaking inca trail tour guide
• Collection from your hotel (we pick you up where you are staying from) from 6:00 to 6:30 am
• Private Transportation Van to KM 82 Piscacucho( trailhead of the Inca Trail)
• Tourist train (cerrojo-backpacker ) back from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (2 hours aprox.) and then bus back to Cusco(1 and half hours aprox. )
• Entrance fee to the Inca Trail and Machu picchu
•  Inca Trail Food is The best : *3 breakfasts,3 lunches, 3 afternoon snacks (hot drinks, biscuits and popcorn) and 3 dinners (click here to see a sample of quechuas expeditions food)
• 4 season HIGH QUALITY PROPER MOUNTAIN TENT (Best Mountain Hardwear & kayla Doite Tents )(We use only the finest quality aluminum tent poles) 4 man tent for 2-people so there will be plenty of space to set up your backpacks (click here to see details of quechuas expeditions Camping Equipment)
• Camping equipment (tent for the Inca Trail staff, cooking and eating tents. portables chairs and tables )
• THERM-A-REST self-inflating air Sleeping mattresses ( a whole new way to sleep in comfort.) (click here to see details of quechuas expeditions Camping Equipment)
• Inca Trail Cook ,who is in charge of making the food,
• Porters (they carry cooking stuff and camping equipment )
• Health Insurance for our porters, cooks,guides, field crew and Quechuas Expeditions staff
• Wake up coca tea each morning in your tent for a gentle start
• Quechuas Expeditions Free duffel bag for your personal stuff • Sleeping bag (not included) it can be hired from us and it must be carried by passengers.Sleeping pad (included). we include THERM-A-REST self-inflating air Sleeping mattresses ( a whole new way to sleep in comfort.) and it must be carried by passengers as well. ( you can hire an extra porter US$100 (15kg Max) or half porter US$50 (7kg Max) for the entire trek ).
• Oxygen balloon for any emergency
• Others: hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes 
• Boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunch time if requested with enough time ahead
• Two-hours guided tour upon your arrival in Machu Picchu( to explore every important temple of the Santuary).
• Single Tents and vegetarian meals available upon request with no extra cost
• Free "I survived " T-shirt and certificate (only for PEOPLE who successfully complete the trek!!)
• Transfer train or bus station-hotel in Cusco
• First Aid kit for Emergencies.
• 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.

Quechuas Expeditions Additional Things Include From March 1st 2012 - January 31st 2013

• Portables Tent & Biodegradable Toilet (toilet waste bags) Quechuas Expeditions allows you to bring the comforts of home along for an enjoyable trip.Having a toilet in your home away from home may be convenience at its finest. Camping. so you don't have to go out into the woods in the middle of the night to do your business.( Click here to see inca treks toilets)
• Escorted Guide from cusco to cusco ( it means your Guide will come with you by taking the same train back from Machupicchu to ollantaytambo and then bus back to cusco)
NOTE: a good TREATMENT to our guides; they are not second class citizens. They dont need to be rushed to take the local train. we want you to be happy with your guide in machupicchu. so we include to your guide (Train Ticket from Aguas calientes to Ollantaytambo and Bus back to Cusco as well)
• (4 Season Expeditions Tents) By Quechuas Expeditions.(click here to see detailed page)
• Responsible Tourism and Well-paid and well-treated porters(HOW YOU CAN HELP ENSURE PROPER TREATMENT)(Click here to see a detailed page)
• Since the beginning of 2006 we have provided free life insurance to ALL of our Inca Trail porters
• Quechuas Expeditions Bottle for free. Get one for free at the office.

Please help us to reduce or eliminate the generation of plastic waste by refilling this bottle in any of the water stations located throughout on the treks. This is part of our efforts towards a cleaner and healthier environment. Sponsored by Quechuas Expeditions (The Best Local Tour Operator) No more plastic Bottles on the Inca Trail. Get one of this Bottle for Fee at our Office!!!

NOTE: Train included in all tours is the Cerrojo-backpacker (Aguas calientes to Ollantaytambo) Train times will only be confirmed once full amount of tour is paid. The earliest train you could take is the 14:00 and being the 9:00 pm 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$ 40 let us know please.

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

INCA TRAIL DOESN'T INCLUDE:
• Breakfast on the first morning (ask at the hotel)
• Entrance to the hot spring in Aguas Calientes 10 soles (click here to see hot springs)
• Sleeping bag (goose down) -15ºC-extreme. it can be hired from us US$20 for all trek mummy form and include a sleeping liner. They are cleaned after every use and have a maximum usage of 25 trips.
• Last Lunch aguas calientes town
• Bus down tickets from Machupicchu to Aguas Calientes town US$8 one way
• 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 THE INCA TRAIL:
• Original passport and copies (and Student card (ISIC) green card if you are student ). Note ( you have to bring your student card to machu picchu because you are going to be required to show at the Machupicchu control point of the Inca Trail
Note .- If for any reason you organize a new passport after we have purchased your permits.… you MUST bring with you, the old passport or 2 very clear copies of the old passport along with your new passport on the trail.
• Travel Insurance card is essential
• Sleeping bag (not included) it can be hired from us and it must be carried by passengers.Sleeping pad (included). we include THERM-A-REST self-inflating air Sleeping mattresses ( a whole new way to sleep in comfort.) and it must be carried by passengers as well. ( you can hire an extra porter US$100 (15kg Max) or half porter US$50 (7kg Max) for the entire trek ).
• hiking water proof boots (with ankle protectors )
• Waterproof jacket or rain poncho
• Warm jacket
• Sun hat and gloves
• T-shirts / shirts
• Comfortable hiking zip off trousers
• Rain pants
• Bathing suit (for hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
• Sun protection cream ( factor 35 recommended ) sun is strong
• Insect Repellent ( for mosquitos )15 % of deet at least
• Water bottle.
• Water purifying tablets (Micropur recommended)
• Toilet paper and wet wipes
• Personal medication
• Camera and films
• Torch with spare batteries (flashlight) we recommend headlights
• Extra contribution suggested in soles money for tipping porters, cook and guide. and for any emergency.
Tips: please note that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip or not as you wish

OPTIONAL ITEMS TO BRING ON THE INCA TRAIL:
• Short pants , Plaster and bandages
• Walking poles (with rubber tips) they can also be hired from us (they can be used on the Inca Trail if they have rubber tips)
NOTE walking poles are not allowed into machu picchu city.

Antes de imprimir seleccione solo lo necesario y piense en el MEDIO AMBIENTE / Think of our environment and select only what is necessary before printing.

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