Lima, Paracas, Nazca, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Cusco, Inca Trail, Titicaca Lake 17 days and 16 nights
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:
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SOUTH AMERICAN EXPLORERS / LONELY PLANET / FROMMERS / NYTIMES / TRIP ADVISOR / REAL TRAVELERS REVIEWS.
1.-QUECHUAS EXPEDITIONS GROUP TOP QUALITY SERVICE: (GROUP SIZE 02 Min - 08 Max) 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.
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REAL TRAVELLERS REVIEWS OF
QUECHUAS EXPEDITIONS
Lima, Paracas, Nazca, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Cusco, Inca Trail, Titicaca Lake 17 days and 16 nights
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Prices shown below are per person, in US Dollars ($). CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE DETAILS OF HOTELS |
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| GROUP SIZE (02 MIN) (16 MAX) ( ESCORTED TOUR LEADER OVER 06 PEOPLE) | |||||
| OCUPANCY TYPE |
TOURIST HOSTEL |
3 STAR | 4 STAR | 5 STAR | |
| TRAIN TYPE | BACKPACKER | BACKPACKER | VISTADOME | HIRAN BINGHAM | |
| DOUBLE ROOM | US$ 1950 | US$ 2250 | US$ 2850 | US$ 5450 | |
| SINGLE ROOM | US$ 2350 | US$ 2850 | US$ 3970 | US$ 8450 | |
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VISTADOME TRAIN TYPE (CLICK HERE TO SEE DETAILS |
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LIMA (HOTEL)
CUSCO (HOTEL)
Machu Picchu (AGUAS CALIENTES) (HOTEL) |
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ITINERARY:
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY: Walking and journey times are approximate
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FIRST DAY : City Tour of Lima Pick-up at the airport and transfer to your comfortable hotel and in the afternoon, you will enjoy a city tour. One city tour will take you to the historical center where colonial and modern Lima still co-exist. In the city center’s Plaza Mayor (main square) you will find beautifully designed architecture, such as gates, altars and colonial balconies. Here you will be able to appreciate the buildings and landmarks that hold the most political and religious significance to the city such as the Cathedral, the Government Palace and city hall. You will also visit other recently restored landmarks such as San Martin Square, the Central Railway and Muralla Park. In another city tour you will discover the Pre-Colombian history of Lima by visiting one of its most important sanctuaries: The Huaca (Temple) Pucllana. Built before the era of the Incas, the Huaca is an immense flat-top pyramid situated in Miraflores, one of the most modern districts of Lima. This provides an interesting contrast between the city’s past and present. After visiting the Huaca Pucllana, your tour will take you to the districts of Barranco and Miraflores where you will be able to appreciate the Pacific Ocean from the cliffs of Lima. |
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SECOND DAY: Lima Departure – Ica Arrival You will take a luxury bus from Lima to Ica or nearby Huacachina to simply enjoy some sun and sand-filled leisure time. You may wish to visit the nearby oasis of Huacachina. |
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THIRD DAY: Ica – Paracas Bay - Ballestas Islands - Nazca In the morning you will be transferred to Paracas Bay where you will go on an adventurous boat trip to the Ballestas Islands. Here you will be able to spot sea lions, seals, penguins, guano birds and turtles (rarely found at this latitude) can be seen. The boat ride there will take you past the Candelabra (candlestick), a 50 meter long sketching in the hills of the mainland thought to be connected to the Nazca Lines. Some relate it to the Southern Cross constellation, while others say it is a drawing of a cactus, a symbol of power from the Chavin. After your trip to the Ballestas Islands, you may wish to have lunch in the Oasis town of Huacachina before taking the bus to Nazca in the afternoon. Upon your arrival in Nazca you will be transferred to you comfortable hotel. You will be able to spend the evening at your leisure. |
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FOURTH DAY: Nazca Lines - Departure After enjoying a delicious breakfast at your hotel you will be taken to view the extraordinary Nazca Lines. These geoglyphs, which were drawn between 500 B.C. and 500 A .D. are among the most impenetrable enigmas of archaeology by virtue of their quantity, nature and size, as well as their continuity. Some of the geoglyphs depict living creatures, plants or imaginary figures, as well as geometric figures several kilometers long. The lines are best viewed from the sky and during your flight you will be able to see the ornately designed drawings, including the condor, hummingbird, and monkey Many theories and studies exist to explain who made the lines and why, but the answer remains a mystery today. In the afternoon you will take a bus to Arequipa. |
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FIFTH DAY: Arequipa Arrival & City Tour You will be picked up at the bus terminal and taken to your comfortable hotel to relax and acclimatize to the altitude. In the afternoon you will be taken on an Arequipa city tour to view what is considered by many to be the most attractive city in Peru, where many of the colonial buildings are made of white ashler stone. |
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.jpg "COLCA CANYON BY QUECHUAS EXPEDITIONS") |
| In the afternoon of day 7 you will return to your hotel in Arequipa- the White City. |
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NINTH DAY: Sacred Valley – Ollantaytambo & Pisac Tour After an early breakfast and early start you will be taken through the Sacred Valley of the Inca where life has remained almost unchanged for 500 years. The drive from Cuzco is not very long and on the way you will see some typical Andean villages and scenery. Upon descent into the Sacred Valley you will know that you have arrived in the area the Inca revered for its lush fertile soils. You will visit the impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo. These ancient ruins look out as outposts over the valley and are a wonder to view. This was the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti during the Inca Empire and served as a stronghold for Manco Inca Yupanqui. Later on, you will have the opportunity of visiting the lively local market in Pisac to enjoy the beautiful handicrafts on sale. It is here that many fine Andean garments are for sale. For lunch you will have the chance to try out traditional Andean foods.and after you enjoy your sacred valley tour you spend the night in ollantaytambo. |
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ELEVENTH DAY : START THE INCA TRAIL (FROM KM 82) INCA TRAIL MUST BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE ( OR ALTERNATIVE INCA TRAILS TO MACHUPICCHU) We travel from ollantaytambo 1 hour to Km82(Piscacucho)to Start the Inca Trail: Depart from Km 82 and cross the Urubamba River Bridge and begin our walk in the footsteps of the Incas. We travel along the winding path that skirts the river, offering views of the Vilcanota mountain range. Our route journeys through the narrow Cusishaca valley and later we’ll reach the indigenous community of Huayllabamba. Our local crew of porters cook and guide look after us well for the duration of the hike. Porters carry the majority of the gear for the hike, so those passengers doing the hike only need carry a small daypack for the daily essentials. We camp at Wayllabamba. Approx. walking time 5 hours |
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TWELVETH DAY: On the second day we climb the long steep path to Warmiwañusca, or Dead Woman’s Pass. Don’t be put off by the name – with your guide’s encouragement you’ll make it to the top and enjoy the fantastic view that awaits you! At 4215 m (13769 ft) above sea level, this pass is the highest point of the trek. The second pass of the hike is Runcuracay (3998m)(13113ft) where on clear days, we enjoy superb views of the snow- capped Cordillera Vilcabamba. Tonight we camp at Pacaymayo. Approx. walking time 7 hours |
.jpg "INCA TRAIL TO MACHUPICCHU BY QUECHUAS EXPEDITIONS") |
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.jpg "MACHUPICCHU BY QUECHUAS EXPEDITIONS") |
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SIXTEENTH DAY: puno Island Visit - Amantani (Overnight Amantanti home stay):Today we leave the port of Puno by way of a tourist boat and cruise Lake Titcaca (the highest navigable lake in the world at 3800m). Our destination – the Island of Amananti. We lunch on the island and then we split into smaller groups and billet into family homes where we stay with the locals and experience their style of living first hand for a once in a lifetime cultural exchange. In the late afternoon we can enjoy the breathtaking sunset over Lake Titicaca from the top of the island. On a clear day we will even be able to see the distant peaks of the Cordillera Real in Bolivia. |
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SEVENTEENTH DAY: Island Visits - Taquile & Uros (Overnight Puno): Say our farewells to our host families and return to Puno today via our first stop on Lake Titicaca is Taquile Island. The people of Taquile Island’s unique culture, style of dress and lifestyle make for a memorable visit. The island is characterised by the quality of their textiles. Here, the men of the community do all the knitting, as this is strictly a male domain, while the women do the spinning. High quality, locally knitted goods are available for purchase at various cooperatives on the island. We lunch on Taquile before resuming our boat trip to the floating islands of the Uros people. The Uros began their unusual floating existence centuries ago in an effort to isolate themselves from the Colla and Inca tribes. Arrive in Puno. |
.jpg "TITICACA LAKE UROS BY QUECHUAS EXPEDITIONS") |
IMPORTANT:
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) there are some Alternative Inca Trails to Machupicchu ( INCA JUNGLE, SALKANTAY, LARES)
INCLUDES:
• English Speaking Tour GUIDE leader (who is your guide in the Sacred Valley, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and Cusco)
• Cook who is charge of making the food,
• 4 season (MOUNTAIN HARD WEAR Tent) 4 man tent for 2-people so there will be plenty of space to set up your backpacks ,
• THERM-A-REST Sleeping mattresses ( a whole new way to sleep in comfort.), equipment (double-, dining- and kitchen-tents, mats, table, chairs etc.)
• Entrance and guided tour of Machu Picchu.
• English speaking local tour guides at Colca Canyon and Puno.
• All internal Transport connections
• Group Size: 6 – 16 Group Leader: Bilingual tour leader from Arequipa to Cusco.
• Accommodation: Hotel (10 Nights), camping (3 Nights), homestay – basic with the locals (1 Night)
• Transport: Train, Bus, Plane, Boat, Hiking
• Meals Included: All meals while on the Inca Trail. This includes snacks and fresh drinking water. Meals while on the island tour. Breakfasts included when staying in the hotels.
DOESNT INCLUDE:
• Meal Budget : Allow approx. US$10 US$15 for every meal not included.
• Sleeping bags, and hiking poles can be easily rented in Cusco at a price of 5US$ per day. Just ask your tour leader.
• Tips for the guides, porters and other staff.
• Lunch and dinner whilst staying at hotels. City tours of Lima and Cusco.
• All airport departure tax - Lima International Departure tax is approximately US$35 and Lima Domestic Departure tax is approximately US$8 US$.
• Alcoholic drinks, tickets for the hot springs at Aguas Calientes,
• Travel Insurance and things of a personal nature – laundry and telephone calls, personal taxis, souvenirs etc.
• 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:
Most people automatically assume that the weather is hot in South America, but because of the higher altitude in the Andes, the temperature can feel quite cold, especially at night. We recommend the use of a duffel bag or backpack, whichever is easiest for you to carry. A good size daypack is also essential.
List of things you must bring:
• Original Passport (and some copies)
• Travel insurance (and some copies)
• Airline tickets (and some copies)
• US$ cash and travellers cheques
• Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
• Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
• Camera and films
• Rechargeable batteries and adapters
• Reading/writing material
• Binoculars
• Cover for backpacks
• Pocketknife.
• Fleece top
• Windproof/waterproof jacket
• Small towel and swim wear
• shirts/t-shirts
• Sun hat
• 2 pairs of shorts
• 2 pairs of long trousers *zipp off
• 1 pair hiking pants/track pants
• Hiking boots/ sturdy walking shoes
• Knee-length socks (to be used with rubber boots, if provided at the jungle lodge)
• Sport hiking sandals
• Sun block
• Sunglasses
• Toiletries (biodegradable)
• Watch or alarm clock
• Water bottle
• Purifying tablets or filter (Micropur recommeded)
• Flashlight (head light recommended)
• Money belt
• Sleeping silk liner (for sleeping bags)
• Wool hat, mitts or gloves (preferably waterproof)
• Rain poncho, plastic bags for your personal stuff to keep dry
• Sleeping bag (it can be hired form us )
• Anti-inflammatory tablets (e.g. Ibuprofen)
• Thermal underwear
• Personal first-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhoea, re-hydration powder, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
Money Exchange: Credit cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances. Visa cards are the most widely accepted cards. While ATMs are widely available, there are no guarantees that your credit cards or debit cards will actually work in Peru. Check with your bank. You should be aware that to purchase products or services on a credit card a fee of 5%-10% usually applies. Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. A combination of US$ dollar cash, travellers cheques and cards is best, although you will usually be charged a commission or given a less-favourable exchange rate for travellers cheques. Always take more rather than less.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE TIP: Please be advised that slightly torn notes, notes that have been heavily marked or are faded may be difficult to exchange. It is best to bring notes in fairly good condition, in denominations lower than 100 US$ (or equivalent).
• Permits are subject to availability - book at least 5 months in advance for peak season (May to September) departure dates.Up to date permit availability can be viewed at : ( INCA TRAIL AVAILABILITY 2010) and for those who have missed the Classic Inca Trail ( We have some Alternative Inca Treks to Machupicchu. SALKANTAY / INKA JUNGLE / LARES MACHUPICCHU / CHOQUEQUIRAO / CACHICATA TREK.
• PLEASE NOTE: that we are not in control of the camping spots we are issued with from the Institute of National Culture (INC). In general your camping spot allocation is dependent on how early you book, or rather, how many permits are left. The first 250 spaces are generally given to Winay Wayna (3rd camping spot that affords you sunrise over Machupicchu 2 hours walking to Machupicchu) otherwise we could get Phuyupatamarca as your 3rd camping spot.(6 hours walking to Machupichu. so BOOK IN ADVANCE !!! Trains are subject to availability - book early to get the best schedules.
• If you want to stay 1 night in Aguas Calientes, let us know and we can arrange your hotel and return train for the required dates.
• We can start the trail from the Sacred Valley if you are staying there.
• We are committed to departing with 02 of you on this trek - we will never pass you onto another operator! We are the sole operators of all our treks!
• Extra porters (Porters carry a maximum load of 15kg): Please note that if you want to hire an extra 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!
