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THE INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU BASIC ITINERARY (04 DAYS-03 NIGHTS).
Day 01: EARLY DEPARTURE FROM CUSCO. TWO AND A HALF HOUR DRlVE IN PRIVATE COACH TO ARRIVE AT START OF INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU IN THE VILLAGE OF CHILLCA (KM. 77 OF CUSCO-QUILLABAMBA TRAIN LINE. FROM HERE, MODERATE TREKKlNG -7 KILOMETERS AT 2500 METERS ALTITUDE FOR APPROX. 4 HOURS- FOLLOWING THE COURSE QF THE URUBAMBA RIVER. CAMP AT THE SPECTACULAR INCA RUINS OF LLAKTAPATA. IMPRESSIVE VIEWS OF THE SNOW-CAPPED PEAKS OF THE CORDILLERA URUBAMBA, MANY OF THEM OVER 5,500 METERS (18,000 FEET) IN ALTITUDE.
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Day 02: FULL DAY TREK. FIRST, UP THE CUSICHAKA RIVER VALLEY, CROSSING FARMLAND, SMALL VILLAGES AND ENCOUNTERING,ALONG THE WAY, NUMEROUS INCA RUINS, AQUEDUCTS, VIADUCTS, WALLS. ETC. THEN, LEAVING THE MAIN VALLEY, STEEP CLIMB UP THE TRIBUTARY VALLEY OF HATUN WAYRURO, FOLLOWING THE REMAINS OF A MAJOR INCA ROAD THROUGH THE CLOUD FOREST OF LLULLUCHAYOC, EVENTUALLY EMERGING INTO THE HIGHLAND PUNA AND SURMOUNTING THE PASS OF WARMIWAÑUNKA (4250 METERS ALT.) TREMENDOUS VIEWS OF THE CORDILLERA VILCABAMBA. FROM THE TOP OF THIS PASS, FOLLOWS AN IMMEDIATE AND MARKEDLY STEEP DESCENT INTO THE CLOUD FOREST TO CAMP IN THE VALLEY OF PACAYMAYO (3,400 MTS.ALT.) OR AT RUINS OF RUNKURAKAY.
Day 03: FROM CAMP, ASCENT TO 3,950 MTS -PASSING THE INCA RUIN OF RUNKURAKAY- TO CROSS ANOTHER HIGH PASS (RUNKURAKAY PASS). THEREAFTER, TO FOLLOW A REMARKABLY WELL PRESERVED AS WELL AS PARTIALLY RESTORED INCA ROAD. WINDING THROUGH CLOUD FOREST AND OCCASIONAL HIGH PUNA GRASSLAND, SKIRTlNG AROUND HIGH CRAGS, THROUGH TUNNELS, VIADUCTS. ALONG THE WAY VISITING THE BEAUTIFUL RUINS OF SAYACMARKA, QONCHAMARKA, AND THE VERY IMPRESSIVE RUINS AT PHUYUPATAMARCA. AWESOME VIEWS OF THE GRAND CANYON OF THE URUBAMBA RIVER, 6000 FEET BELOW. YET ANOTHER VERY IMPRESSIVE VIEW OF THE HIGHEST PEAK IN THE CORDILLERA VILCABAMBA, 21,000 FOOT HIGH SALKANTAY. IN THE AFTERNOON, BEGIN A 1400 METER DESCENT ON A GRAND INCA STAIRWAY (DISCOVERED ONLY IN 1987), SEVERAL KILOMETERS IN LENGTH, TO EVENTUALLY ARRIVE AT THE RUINS OF WlÍÑAYWAYNA -ONLY THREE KILOMETERS AWAY FROM MACHU PICCHU- TO CAMP. THIS IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED THE MOST REWARDING DAY OF THE TREK.
Day 04: EARLY DEPARTURE FROM WIÑAYWAYNA IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE AN EQUALLY EARLY ARRIVAL AT MACHU PICCHU RUINS. THIS LAST SECTION OF THE TREK IS PARTICULARLY BEAUTIFUL AND SCENIC. A HIKE OF 2 HRS. FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL INCA ROAD THROUGH THE MIDLAND CLOUD FOREST. THROUGH GROVES OF GIANT CENTENARY FERNS AND CYCADS. MANY ORCHIDS, FUCHSIAS AND CONVOLVULACEAE AS WELL AS TROPICAL BIRDS SUCH AS TROGONS, ANDEAN COCK-OF-THE-ROCK AND ORPÉNDULA CAN BE SIGHTED. ENTRANCE INTO MACHU PICCHU TAKES PLACE THROUGH THE SUN GATE. MACHU PICCHU UNFOLDS MAJESTICALLY SEVERAL HUNDRED METERS BELOW WITH THE SPLENDID BACKDROP OF HUAYNA PICCHU AND THE PEAKS OF THE CORDILLERAS. BREATHTAKING VIEW. ARRIVAL THERE TAKES PLACE SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE THE REGULAR DAILY LOADS OF TOURISTS ARRIVE BY TRAIN, SO THE RUINS ARE RELATIVELY DESERTED AND VERY QUIET. ALL DAY PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR OF THE "LOST CITY OF THE INCAS". IN DEPTH AND DETAILED VISITS TO ALL PRINCIPAL SECTORS, THE ARTISAN'S NEIGHBORHOODS, TEMPLES, MILITARY SECTORBRIDGE, THE NECROPOLIS, WAYNA PICCHU, ETC. P.M. TRANSFER TO MACHU PICCHU TRAIN STATION FOR RETURN TRIP TO CUSCO. ARRIVAL IN CUSCO TRANSFER TO HOTEL.
SERVICES INCLUDE:
PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION ON A GROUP COACH TO THE INCA TRAILHEAD. ENTRANCE TICKETS TO THE INCA TRAIL VALID FOR 04 DAYS. A BILINGUAL, LICENSED PROFESSIONAL GUIDE FOR THE TRAIL AND AN ASSISTANT GUIDE (REQUIRED BY LOCAL REGULATIONS) GUIDED TOURS ALONG THE INCA TRAIL AND THE MACU PICCHU RUINS. ALL CAMPING EQUIPMENT AND COOKING-COMMISSARY EQUIPMENT, ALL MEALS INCLUDED-SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS ARE TO BE PROVIDED WHEN REQUESTED. PORTERS TO CARRY THE GENERAL CAMPING-COOKING-COMMISSARY EQUIPMENT AND FUEL, PROFESSIONAL COOK STAFF- LIMITED EXTRA PORTERS TO CARRY PERSONAL GEAR (SUCH AS SLEEPING BAGS), ENTRANCE FEES FOR ASSISTANT GUIDE AND FIELD PERSONNEL BASIC FIRST AID KIT, PERMIT TO ENTER THE MACHU PICCHU SANCTUARY INCA TRAILS. TRAIN. P.M. TOURIST TRAIN RIDE FROM AGUAS CALIENTES TO CUSCO (BACKPACKER TOURIST CLASS SERVICE).
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