Peru Multi Activity

Day 1 Cusco

On arrival from your spectacular flight along the Andes to Cusco, you will be transferred to your hotel and where you can start acclimatising to the rarefied air of this beautiful city (3326m). In the afternoon, take a short walking tour of the centre of Cusco to familiarise you with the main sights, restaurants and a chance to stretch your legs and experience hiking at 3300m. At a convenient time your guide will arrange a full briefing for the days ahead.

Day 2 Cusco Local Ruins & Horse Ride (B,L)

Head out of Cusco to visit the main Inca ruins in the Cusco valley. Visit Tambo Machay, Puca pucara, Kenko and Sacsayhuaman fort and some less known ones too. You will use a mix of vehicles, on foot and also meet up with your horses for some fun easy horse-riding to break up the journey and give you a chance to try your hand at horse-trekking and to explore the spectacular Cusco scenery whilst at the same time acclimatising to the rarefied air of the Andes. You will enjoy a picnic lunch and end with a before returning to Cusco for the night

Day 3 White Water Rafing & Pisac Market (B,L)

From Cusco drive to the upper Urubamba, the sacred river of the Incas for some fun grade III-IV rafting. Full instruction and safety talk are given so no previous experience is necessary. Following the rafting you take a rarely used road along the Urubamba valley to Pisac where we will check into to your charming hotel and then visit the local artisan market and maybe a local bakery. Tonight you can choose to dine in one of the several good local restaurants in town.

Day 4 Mountain Biking (B,L)

A short transfer along the Sacred valley to Urubamba and then up to Chinchero plain for the start of probably the best one day mountain bike adventure in Peru. Again largely downhill,  pass Lake Huaypo, famous for UFO sightings and enjoy great views of the Vilcanota mountain range. Enjoy a fantastic downhill on old Inca trails to the village of Maras and then a “descent of a life time” on donkey trails into the spectacular salt pans. Then continue along the Sacred Valley to your hotel for the night in the charming village of Ollantaytambo. This lovely village is fun to explore and you can shop for any last minute Inca trail purchases or souvenirs around the plaza. There are several good restaurants to choose from for dining.

Day 5 Start Inca Trail (B,L,D)

If time permits, you can visit the impressive Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo (entrance not included) before the  Inca Trail guides pick you up this morning for the an interesting drive to the end of the road at Chilca. Here, you meet your support team of traditional porters before embarking on the famous Inca trail to Machu Picchu. The trek undulates along the banks of the Urubamba river and you camp the night at Llactapata (2,788m) beside some spectacular ruins which, if you have the energy, you have time to explore. This is camping and trekking in style. Whilst walking all you need to carry is a daypack, all camping equipment is carried by the porters. All camp chores are done for us and delicious food is served by a cook and his helpers.

Day 6 Llactapata - Llulluchupampa (B,LD)

Trek up the Cusichaca valley to the small hamlet of Huallyabamba, the last inhabited place on the trail. The path continues on up beautiful Inca path, past humming birds and stunted cloud forest. Your camp is at Llulluchupampa (3680m) - a beautiful grassy area with outstanding views down the valley.

Day 7 Llulluchupampa - Phuyopatamarac (B,L,D)

Possibly the hardest day of the trek, you rise early and head to the top of Warmiwanusca (Dead woman’s pass 4200m). This is the highest point of the trail before we descend into the Pacasmayo valley and then climb again passing the first of many Inca ruins Runkuracay. Your second pass of the day (3998m) gives you spectacular views of the Vilcabamba range. Walking on well preserved Inca pathway you pass Sayacmarca ruins with plenty of time for an in depth tour and explanation before passing through a tunnel and a gentle climb which brings you to Phuyupatamarca ruins (the place above the clouds) where we camp (3650m). 

Day 8 Arrive Machu Picchu (B,L)

After an early morning chance to catch the sunrise on the surrounding snow capped mountains of Salcantay (6,200m) and Veronica (5,800m), say a farewell to your porters with a traditional song and dance. Your final day hiking brings you down into the cloud forest on a series of Inca stairway to Winay Wayna, another interesting ruin full of swallows and orchids. Finally you contour through cloud-forest to Inti Punku, the gateway of the Sun and your first glimpse of Machu Picchu. Pass through the ruins and catch a bus down to your hotel in the colourful town Machu Picchu Pueblo (formally known as Aguas Calientes) and celebrate your return to civilisation.

Day 9 Machu Picchu - Cusco (B)

First thing in the morning you have Machu Picchu virtually to yurselves for a full guided tour, with time afterwards to climb Huayna Picchu (due to permit restrictions, please let us know when booking if you want to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain) or else just wander through the ruins, soaking up the amazing atmosphere. In the afternoon, you board the train for an exhilarating ride along the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Here your waiting bus whisks you back to Cusco and your hotel. Then if you have the energy you can explore Cusco’s excellent nightlife.

Day 10 Cusco (B)

Today is at your leisure.  There is so much to see and do in Cusco that we dedicate a whole day to doing just that. Whether your interest is exploring Inca ruins, visiting Colonial churches, bargain hunting in Indian markets or just relaxing over a cappuccino on a terrace overlooking the Plaza de Armas, Cusco has it all.

Day 11 Depart Cusco (B)

Today you will be transferred to the airport in time for your outbound flight.

Dates & Prices

Departures:  Daily

Prices Per Person  Double/Twin          

2022/3                          NZ$2650      

Inclusions:

Accommodation, local service charges & hotel taxes, all airport transfers and transport in private vehicles.  All horses and horse riding equipment including horse riding helmets. State-of-the-art rafting equipment including self-bailing rafts, Hi-flotation life-jackets, helmets, wet suits, wet suit boots, spray jackets, dry bags for personal gear and special containers for cameras. Professional English and Spanish speaking river guides, trained in wilderness first-aid, swift-water rescue and C.P.R. Full safety cover at all times. Extensive first-aid kit including oxygen. Full suspension mountain-bikes, gloves and helmets. Entrances & guided tour of Cusco Inca sites, Maras saltpans, Inca trail.Sleeping bag & liner,  Meals as indicated in the itinerary

Exclusions:

National or International flights, items of personal nature, airport taxes, excess baggage fee, insurance, tips & gratuities, sleeping bag (available for rent $10 a night), cycling shorts, mountain bike toe-clips, entrances to Huayna Picchu

WHAT TO BRING:

On this expedition we will be experiencing all extremes of Peruvian climate, from freezing Altiplano to extremely hot sunshine.  During the day hopefully it will be generally sunny enough for shorts and T-shirts though having a fleece and rain gear handy is advisable.  It will get cold (as low as -5’C whilst camping) especially in the evenings so bring a warm fleece jacket, a good waterproof and some warm clothes including thermal underwear, gloves, scarf and woolly hat as well as one set of smarter clothes for Cusco. Good quality Alpaca jumpers are available in Cusco.  A good quality sleeping bag is essential for your enjoyment of this trip.

General:

Smart clothes for nightlife, comfortable clothes for journeys, sunglasses with attaching string, peaked cap, water bottle, head torch, suntan lotion factor 15+ / lip balm, warm night-clothes, personal toilet kit, camera & spare memory, book, notepaper & pen, moneybelt, personal first aid kit to include: painkillers, plasters (band-aids), moleskin, antiseptic cream, after-bite, anti-diarrhoea tablets, throat lozenges, re-hydration salts & personal medication. (Amazonas Explorer carry an extensive first aid kit and oxygen on all trips, but these are generally for emergencies only)

Biking: 

Full-suspension mountain bikes, bike helmets & gloves are provided.  Suggest have long-sleeved t-shirt, fleece jacket, cycling shorts, suitable shoes         

Rafting: 

Wet suits, splash jackets and wetsuit boots are provided.  Thermal top, towel, swim suit, 

Trekking: 

Zip-off shorts, Long-sleeved t-shirts, small Towel, warm fleece or down jacket, thermal underwear, warm hat, gloves, scarf, sweater (available in Cusco), raincoat / rain trousers / poncho, socks / underwear, trekking trousers, after trekking trousers & t-shirt, good well worn-in walking boots, after trek shoes (sandals), trekking-poles & rubber tips, day-sack & rain-cover