Our tour take us to the Inca civilization times, discovering the centre of its culture: the wonderful city of Cusco. A place that will inspire your awe because of art, popular markets, religion and old traditions, valuable monuments and kindness of the local people. After exploring Cusco we will head to the Sacred Valley, the most important area for Incas because its unique beauty and fertility, the place they chose for their sacred cities.
Later our adventure will begin: four days of hiking on the Inca trail to Machu Picchu (the Inca’s Royal Road to Machu Picchu), the lost city of the Incas. We will see numerous Inca cities on the way, they will help us understand Machu Picchu in the economic, social, and military context it had for its citizens. We pass among wheat-colored high mountains, under stunning Mount Salkantay and her glaciers, and through the richly diverse forests in the interstitial niches between jungle and highland. At dawn on the fourth day we will pass through the Intipunku, the dramatic ridge top "Gateway to the Sun." The first glimpse of Machu Picchu is a stunning, dramatic overview of one of the world's greatest cultural treasures. Then we will have a guided tour there and free time for our personal experience before heading down to Aguas Calientes town, to take the train back to Cusco.
Finally we will have in Cusco city time for a last exploring.

Important note: There is a 500 people daily quota to start the Inca Trail, so you have to book it at least 3 months in advance during the high season (Jun to Aug), and 2 moths the rest of the year. In Feb the park is closed because rains.

Please note that you can link this trip with our “Sailing in Madre de Dios jungle...” or “From Cusco to La Paz” tours, also with tailored itineraries visiting Lima, Titicaca Lake, Nazca and Arequipa. Transfers, pre- and post-accommodation and optional activities can be booked through your agent or the Latitud Sur office.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, S=Afternoon Snack, D= Dinner

Day 2 Cusco City Tour Hotel B
After a delicious breakfast at the hotel we will start our city tour around Cusco city and neighboring ruins. A local guide will show us the down town, visiting the Qorikancha Inca Temple (the most sacred one during Inca times. Spanish conquerors partially destroyed it and built over the Santo Domingo church), the Plaza de Armas beautiful main square and the huge Cathedral, before heading up to the monumental Saqsaywaman fortification, on a hill next to the city. We will explore the ruins made with massive stones, famous because the perfection of their assembly. The tour will continue to visit Quenco, Puca Pucara and Tambo Machay ruins.
City Tour takes around 4 hs, the rest of the afternoon will be free to explore Cusco city.

Day 3 Sacred Valley and Cusco Hotel BL
Around 8:30 am our local guide will pick up us for our tour to the Sacred Valley, a fertile area watered by the Urubamba river and used by the Incas to produce a big variety of growing, such as maize, potatoes, cereals, etc. Our first stop will be in Pisaq town, a colorful place famous because the local market. You will have time to enjoy buying handicrafts and we strongly advise you to taste a big choclo con queso (corn with cheese) in the main square. We will continue to visit later the Ollantaytambo ruins, an Inca city that couldn’t be finished because the Spanish arrival, being nowadays a real museum to show the ingenious techniques the natives used to build their cities.
After a time for lunch in a restaurant we will continue to little Chinchero town, the highest in the area, with a charming local market and a picturesque small Jesuit church, with fresco covered walls painted by natives. We will see many women working in crafts and drying potatoes (the hot temperature during the day and cold at night is perfect for this popular practice)
We will be back in Cusco at evening, feeling we learnt a lot about history, traditions and daily life of Peruvian people.

Day 4 Inca Trail: Km 82 to Hayllabamba Camp Camp BLSD
At six in the morning, we pick up you at the hotel and travel by bus to Chilca where we will pick up the porters and the cook. Then we will travel to Km 82, the start of the Inca Trail. We start our trek escorted by native “Quechua'' porters and will travel through the semi-arid terrain along the Urubamba river with magnificent views of snow capped Mount Veronica (5,682 masl). We walk past the Inca Hamlet of Huayllabamba, and camp at Huayllabamba, an ancient Inca citadel that protected the entrance to two valleys.

Day 5 Inca Trail trekking to Pacamayo Camp BLSD
We will begin to climb the first pass, Warmiwañusca (4,200 m. alt.), where there is a spectacular view of the valley below. At this pass we move from the dry puna ecology to the forest, the highest of the tropical forest types where gnarled trees grow to two meters amid fog and low clouds, habitat for a profusion of orchids and strange animals. On this night, we will camp along the river Pacamayo at the bottom of the pass.

Day 6 Inca Trail trekking to Wiñayhuayna Camp BLSD
After breakfast, we will hike towards Runku Rakay and traverse the second pass of the same name (3,800 masl). We will descend to Sayaçmarca, an important archaeological complex, where we will have lunch. We will spend the third and final night near the ruins of Wiñayhuayna, which means “City above the Clouds".

Day 7 Inca Trail trekking to Machu Picchu Hotel B

We will leave the camp very early so that we may watch the sunrise from Inti Punku and have our first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. We will spend two hours in a guided tour, where the guide will explain the significance of important sites within the Lost City of the Incas. In the afternoon, we will take the train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco, arriving at approximately 8:30 PM.

Day 8 Cusco Hotel B
Today we will have a lazy breakfast and a day completely free to walk through the intricate and colorful streets of Cusco city. Our tour conductor will prepare an optional itinerary visiting the San Blas artist’s area, museums and temples, the crafts market and the local market.

Day 9 Cusco B Transfer to the airport or bus station.

PRICE:

Services included: Mentioned transfers, five nights of lodging in hotel in Cusco, three nights sleeping in camping, igloo-style tents for two people. City tour and Sacred Valley excursion with all the necessary entrance tickets. All the detailed meals (optional vegetarian menu) During the hike expedition our guide will carry communications equipment and first aid kit. Porters to carry food, tents, and cooking gear. Necessary permits. English speaking staff. Guided tour in Machu Picchu and entrance ticket.

Not inlcuded: Drinks before and after the expedition. Tips. Porterage of personal gear (clothes).
International and domestic airfares.
Personal gear, medications, ground or air evacuations, phone communications and items of personal nature, insurance liability, hospitalization or medicals of any kind, any other service not mentioned in this condition sheet.

OPTIONAL ACCOMMODATION IN CUSCO:
Hotel 3* double room: 55 dolars the room
Hotel 4* double room: 75 dolars the room

OPTIONAL TOURS IN CUSCO: one day trekking to Machu Picchu, visit to Maras and Moray archaeological site, mountain biking, 1 or 4 days long rafting, horseback riding nearby Cusco, etc.

PRE DEPARTURE INFORMATION

Thank you for choosing a tour in South America with Latitud Sur Group. The following information is provided to assist you in preparing for your trip.
Our itineraries are not luxury tours. At times it may be dusty, dirty, wet, hot or all of this at the same time! If you approach your trip with a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude, you and your fellow travelers will get the most out of the journey.
Difficulty level: this expedition is for people who enjoy adventure experiences, foreign cultures and imposing landscapes. It requires normal physical conditioning and its difficulty is moderate. Prior experience is not required. We recommend you to use the time before your trip to do some training (walking or running).

Personal travel insurance is required (bring a copy with you to give to the tour conductor).

It is compulsory you inform us if you suffer asthma, diabetes, allergy, cardiac problems, back or legs pain or surgery, reduced vision or other problem we should know.

CAMPSITES: in areas demarcated by the Park, with basic services and facilities (baths). We also carry camp equipment (mess tent, table, chairs, stove and kitchen stuff, igloo tents for two people)

ACCOMMODATION IN CUSCO: 3* hotel, a beautiful restored old house close to the main square

BEVERAGE: We recommend you drink bottle water while in Peru. During the expedition drinking water will be provided.

FOOD: the menu will include pastas, meats, rice, salads, cold meat and sausage, some fruits, vegetables, etc. During the trekking time you will have snacks like cereals, sweets, candies, etc.
While in cities: Peruvian food is amazing, because variety and taste. A normal meal costs 15 soles.

YOUR PARTICIPATION: although you don’t have to, we will appreciate your help in the daily chores such as cooking, washing up, going for water, cleaning and packing.

DOCUMENTS: passport is required. You will need to have a copy with you during the expedition. Visas are not our responsibility, contact your embassy to get information about countries that require a visa to visit Peru.

CLIMATE: we conduct the expedition during the dry season, so the climate should be temperate, with sunny days and cold nights. However except in Jun, July and Aug rain is very possible, so your personal equipment has to prepare you for all these possibilities.

MONEY AND CHANGE: the local money is the “sol”, 3.25 soles are equivalent to 1 dollar. ATM machines are available in Cusco, Pisaq, Aguas Calientes and Ollantaytambo.

SPECIAL VACCINATION: is not required.

LINK YOUR TOUR: this trip can be linked with optional activities in Cusco, also with our “Sailing in Madre de Dios Jungle” or “From Cusco to La Paz” tours. We also can organize tailored itineraries visiting Lima, Nazca, Titicaca Lake and Arequipa.

IMPORTANT NOTE: the itinerary and camp sites can be changed because security reasons. Prices and all the information is subject to change without prior notice. The order of the activities can change.

NECESSARY PERSONAL EQUIPMENT:
Personal sleeping bag (- 8 degree comfort temperature) and roll mat.
Backpack and Daypack
Hiking shoes or boots
Raincoat or poncho
Water bottle (2 l)
Hat, sun block, sunglasses
Heavy sweeter or polar and light sweeter, jacket, gloves, scarf
4 pairs of socks
2 long trousers
2 long-sleeved shirts
Insect repellent
Small sewing kit
Plastic bags
chocolates, candies or other snacks
Passport (plus photocopy)
Camera and film
Personal toiletries and towel
Torch/flashlight and spare batteries
Swimsuit.

Our guides carry a first aid kit, however we advise you to bring a personal medical kit, including: lip balm, sunscreen, painkillers, moisturizer, band-aids, sterile dressings, anti-histamine cream or tablets, anti-diarrhea remedy, dehydration salts, antiseptic cream.