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A short introduction to Cuzco and the Sacred Valley of Peru
The trip starts in Cuzco (3400m) today. The group flights usually arrive late morning. The Inca capital - though small enough to be easily manageable - is among the most attractive cities in South America, with much of the centre comprising colonial-era buildings with Inca foundations, and it is full of interesting museums, churches and pre-Columbian sites. We will have a short walking tour of the city including a visit to the Qoricancha Sun Temple. It is recommended to take it easy upon arrival into Cuzco and to drink plenty of water to allow your body time to acclimatise to the altitude. There will be a welcome briefing in the hotel lobby this evening. *Accommodation: Hotel Koyllur (or similar)*
The hills above Cuzco city are dotted with some of the most interesting Inca ruins. We drive to the highest, Tambomachay, and return on foot to Cuzco via Puca Pucara, Qenco and Sacsayhuaman: an easy acclimatisation walk to get used to the altitude. An open-air picnic lunch is included during the hike near the spectacular ruins. *Walk Profile: approx. 6.5km / 5-6hrs walking (inclusive of the time for visiting the sites)* *Accommodation: Hotel Koyllur (or similar)*
Distance in Km: 6.5
Distance in Miles: 4
Activity Hours: 5-6 (inclusive of the time for visiting the sites)
Today has been left free for exploring Cuzco, one of South America's most beautiful cities. The Plaza de Armas is a fantastic spot for people-watching, and Qorikancha – the Sun Temple, located in the Santo Domingo Church and monastery, are worth a visit. The Mercado San Pedro is the place to try some local produce and there are many handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs such as alpaca jumpers and scarves. If you fancy something more active then there are an array of other optional activities available from Cuzco including paddle-boarding on a lake, mountain biking, or a combination of via ferrata and zip-lining in the Sacred Valley. *Accommodation: Hotel Koyllur (or similar)*
Today we drive from Cuzco to Ollantaytambo (approximately 2 hrs drive) and then on to the Pumamarca ruins (approx. 30 minutes). These ruins are the remains of a hillside fortress and are built on a steep slope overlooking the Sacred Valley. Pumamarca ruins are less visited than others in the area so our time here should be relatively uninterrupted. After we finish exploring the Pamamarca ruins, we’ll walk back through the valley to Ollantaytambo, with views of the terraced countryside along the way. The walk should take about 3 hours. *Walk Profile: approx. 3.7km / 3 hrs walking* *Accommodation: Tunupa Lodge (or similar)*
Distance in Km: 3.7
Distance in Miles: 2.3
Activity Hours: 3
Today we have a day walk along a section of the Inca Trail, starting early with a train from Ollantaytambo. After showing our passports at the check point, we will pass by the archaeological site of Chachabamba and start our trek. The trail has impressive views of the valley and the Urubamba river, with orchids and begonias along the way and the sight of magnificent mountains all around. The trail passes the ruins of Wiñay Wayna where we will stop to explore and have our packed lunch. After visiting the attractive ruins of Wiñay Wayna, we have an undulating walk through cloud forest high above the river to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. From here we get our first full sight of Machu Picchu itself, with Huayna Picchu rising behind. *Walk Profile: approx. 11km / 6-7hrs walking* *Accommodation: Intipunku El Tambo (or similar)*
Distance in Km: 11
Distance in Miles: 6.8
Activity Hours: 6-7
In order to beat the day-trippers arriving from Cuzco and reach the ruins as early as possible, a very early start is required to queue for Machu Picchu; only government-registered buses can make the 30-minute drive up the winding road to the site entrance, and during high season (May-October) queues can be hours long. Machu Picchu is one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the ancient world and what makes it all the more dramatic is its mountain backdrop of staggering immensity. The Spaniards never found it; the Incas left no records of it, and so Machu Picchu remained a great enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. New regulations for visiting Machu Picchu are now fully enforced; of the three possible visiting slots, we will purchase the morning slot from 06:00 until 12:00 (unless unavailable), you will be limited to a maximum of four hours within the site and must be accompanied by a guide. There will also be three set routes to follow around Machu Picchu; we select the most comprehensive route. We catch an afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30 mins) and continue by private bus to Cuzco (2hrs 30 mins). *Accommodation: Hotel Koyllur (or similar)** *
* 6 nights hotels in en suite rooms
* Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Min. age 16 yrs
* Altitude maximum 4600m, average 3600m
* Travel by private bus and by train
All breakfasts and 2 lunches are included in the price of the tour.
Peruvian cuisine has developed a reputation for its flavours and originality
and it’s well worth trying out a few of the local delicacies. Amongst these
are ceviche (a spicy dish of seafood or fish marinated in lime juice), lomo
saltado (a Peruvian take on a beef stir-fry) and various hearty soups such as
the delicious quinoa soup. Other dishes include roasted cuy (guinea pig),
alpaca steak, and to drink, the national beverage: Pisco Sour.
Drinking water is included throughout the holiday as the tap water in Peru is
not safe to drink; your leader will buy large water containers for you to
refill your bottle from.
Hotel breakfasts are normally simple buffet-style affairs, usually including
bread/toast and jam, cereal, sometimes eggs or a cooked dishes, sometimes
fruit, tea/coffee and fruit juice. Regrettably, we cannot guarantee that
wheat/gluten-free products will be available for breakfast in all
locations – if you have an intolerance you may wish to bring your own
breakfast food.
Where lunch and dinner are not included we'll visit a variety of cafes and
restaurants.
* 6 nights hotels in en suite rooms
* Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Min. age 16 yrs
* Altitude maximum 4600m, average 3600m
* Travel by private bus and by train
This is a Leisurely/Moderate grade trek (level 2) – please refer to our
activity level guidelines [1]. Anyone of reasonable fitness and with prior
walking experience should find no real difficulties). No prior experience of
trekking at altitude is required.
As this trip spends considerable time at altitude, we ask you to refer to the
altitude warning below. All of our itineraries have built in acclimatisation
days before starting the trek.
Walking hours stated within the itinerary are given as approximates only.
Timings stated include lunch and photo stops and will vary depending on the
pace of your group.
*List of Regulations for visiting Machu Picchu:*
The main points impacting your visit are the following:
1) The tickets are valid only for one entry which means that you cannot
leave the site and re-enter.
2) Once you have done the chosen circuit with your guide, you cannot walk
back to view anything already visited and once you finish the circuit,
you will have to leave the site. You can no longer explore the site
further after the guided tour.
3) The two visit times for visiting the site, either 6am-12pm or 12-16.30pm.
4) The local authorities have restricted the temples which can visited at
Machu Picchu depending on the time of the visit to the site.
These regulations will affect how long you are able to spend at Machu Picchu
and which temples you can visit. In the past, after the guided tour
passengers could stay longer to explore the site, this is not possible
anymore. The alternative that we are implementing on our visits to allow you
further time, is to explore the upper part of Machu Picchu (Sun Gate and Inca
Bridge) before starting the guided tour. The guided tour will be about 2
hrs in duration, and unfortunately at the end of it, you will need to exit
the site. You will be able to visit the Condor’s Temple, but not the Sun
Dial Temple or the Sun Temple on this itinerary.
Schedule of visit to Machu Picchu on this itinerary:
* Early bus to Machu Picchu and explore upper part with the tour leader
* Between 9-10am start the guided tour
* Between 11.30am-12.30pm passengers leave Machu Picchu
[1] node/714
Hotels
The hotels normally used are indicated within the itinerary, however,
accommodation may differ from those stated depending on your departure date.
In Cuzco we will stay at small, locally run hotels where possible, all
located in the historical centre of Cuzco, within walking distance of the
beautiful Plaza de Armas and close to restaurants and shops. The hotels
each feature cozy rooms, buffet breakfasts and free WiFi. Most hotels have
a safety deposit box in the room but if not, there will be one at the
reception.
In Aguas Calientes, we stay in a centrally located hotel with comfortable
rooms, buffet breakfasts and free WiFi. Unfortunately, there is a railway
line that runs straight through the centre of Aguas Calientes and whilst we
try to allocate rooms away from it whenever possible, the trains might be
heard from some rooms.
Please note that central heating is very rare in Peru, even in good standard
hotels, however, most hotels provide plug-in heaters and spare blankets which
should keep you warm. While all of the hotels we use do have a hot water
supply, it can be temperamental when there is high demand.
Should you wish to extend your stay, we can book extra nights
accommodation in Cuzco for you. While we endeavour to book your pre/post
tour accommodation in the same hotel that you will start/end the trip, it may
not always be possible. If your extra accommodation is in a different hotel
to where the group will start/end the trip it is your responsibility to make
arrangements to get to/from that start/end hotel.
We recommend the early booking of single supplements and of pre/post-tour
accommodation. Single accommodation can be arranged, subject to availability.
Please request this at the time of booking.
All breakfasts and 2 lunches are included in the price of the tour.
Peruvian cuisine has developed a reputation for its flavours and originality
and it’s well worth trying out a few of the local delicacies. Amongst these
are ceviche (a spicy dish of seafood or fish marinated in lime juice), lomo
saltado (a Peruvian take on a beef stir-fry) and various hearty soups such as
the delicious quinoa soup. Other dishes include roasted cuy (guinea pig),
alpaca steak, and to drink, the national beverage: Pisco Sour.
Drinking water is included throughout the holiday as the tap water in Peru is
not safe to drink; your leader will buy large water containers for you to
refill your bottle from.
Hotel breakfasts are normally simple buffet-style affairs, usually including
bread/toast and jam, cereal, sometimes eggs or a cooked dishes, sometimes
fruit, tea/coffee and fruit juice. Regrettably, we cannot guarantee that
wheat/gluten-free products will be available for breakfast in all
locations – if you have an intolerance you may wish to bring your own
breakfast food.
Where lunch and dinner are not included we'll visit a variety of cafes and
restaurants.
A variety of transport is used during this tour and vehicle types may vary
depending on group size: travel is by bus and by train.
Airport transfers are by private car or mini-bus. All main road journeys are
by private mini-bus or coach with heating/air-conditioning.
We travel by train (with Peru Rail/Inca Rail) between Ollantaytambo and Aguas
Calientes (the town below Machu Picchu) in Expedition/Executive Class.
Seating is four seats to a table, the carriages have panoramic windows and
there is air conditioning/heating. On day 6 (for the guided tour of Machu
Picchu) we take the public bus for the short journey between Aguas Calientes
and Machu Picchu – this is the only transport option available on this
route as private vehicles are not permitted. Queues can be very long first
thing in the morning, especially during the peak summer months.
*Travelling land only: 7 days starting and ending in Cuzco*
Your trip normally starts at our accommodation in Cuzco in the afternoon of
Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point are provided
in the Final Joining Instructions – sent approximately two weeks before
departure. Accommodation check‐in times are normally from around 3pm.
Peru's diverse geography results in climate which varies greatly by both
region and season.
Cuzco and the Andes have a temperate climate. December to March is the rainy
season in Cuzco/the Andes and April to November is the dry season;
characterised by clear skies and strong sunshine in the mornings, sometimes
clouding over as the day progresses. Daytime temperatures are usually
pleasant (approx. 20 degrees C on average) but night times only 5-10 degrees
C, except for May, June, July and August when days are cooler and nights are
often close to, or a few degrees below, freezing. In the Andes, however,
anything is possible at any time of year, including cloud, rain or even snow,
with rapid and unexpected changes!
Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are in the cloud forest and as such attract
large amounts of precipitation all year as clouds move up from the Amazon
Basin. Rain here can be heavy, but is seldom prolonged. Cold fronts sometimes
occur from July-August.
Peru is affected by the El Niño weather phenomenon whereby warming of
Pacific Ocean surface water off South America drives a shift in the
atmospheric circulation, resulting in abnormally high levels of rainfall over
parts of South America. These events occur at irregular intervals of two to
seven years, and last nine months to two years. A strong El Niño event
occurred in 2014-16.
A daypack or smaller holdall - you will be asked to pack a smaller overnight
bag for the trip to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) as there are luggage
restrictions on the train. Your main luggage will be left at the store room
at the hotel in Cuzco.
Water bottle
Sun hat, sunglasses and sun cream
Insect repellent
Waterproof jacket
Jumper or cardigan
Leather or lightweight walking boots
Comfortable shoes for walking tours
Sandals/flip-flops
Hand sanitiser
Cold water detergent or laundry soap (biodegradable)
Camera and charger
Personal music player / books / travel games etc.
We recommend either taking cash with you to change into Sol locally, or using
local ATMs to withdraw money in Peru as you go, so you are not left with
excess at the end of your trip. It is a good idea to change a small amount
into Sol at the counters in the baggage hall upon arrival. Change is often in
short supply, so ask for small denomination banknotes and try to break up any
large notes at the earliest opportunity. It is possible to obtain Peruvian
Sol before you travel but exchange rates can be lower than exchanging money
locally in Peru. Some larger establishments and hotels accept US Dollars but
the vast majority of places will only accept Sol.
Food, drinks and similar incidentals can vary in price enormously in Peru
and are relatively expensive compared to other developing nations. Allow
about US$15‐20 per meal not included to eat at tourist class restaurants.
Cheaper food is abundant at small local cafes, although sanitary conditions
at these places cannot be guaranteed. Bottled water and soft drinks are
readily available for around US$1‐2 each.
You may want to hire equipment for your trek in Cuzco ‐ please see the
Packing Section for prices.
Peruvian airport taxes are included in the price of your flight ticket and
there will be no need to pay these locally.
Please note that there is a possibility the Peruvian Ministry of Tourism may
increase entrance fees to archaeological sites at any time. If this happens,
we will inform you of the increase and the additional amount will be payable
locally.
*Peruvian Passport or Identity Card Holders*
Please note that the cost of Exodus holidays in Peru is based on the
assumption that you do not hold a Peruvian passport or resident's card. If
you are officially resident in Peru or are a Peruvian passport holder, you
will be liable to an additional 18% tax on the majority of services, and
this extra sum will be payable locally to our local partner. Other
nationalities are exempt from this tax. Please notify us at the time of
booking if you are legally resident in Peru or hold a Peruvian passport
so that we can advise you of the total cost of these taxes.
*Optional Excursions*
Your tour leader will be able to tell you about the full range of optional
excursions available throughout your holiday however the most popular ones
are as follows:
A Partial Tourist Ticket (BTG) is required for entrance to the sites in and
around Cuzco and the Sacred Valley – this is not included in the excursion
prices below but can be purchased locally From PEN70 (approx. US$21).
*City tour and 4 ruins (half day – 5 hours):* From US$48 per person (based
on 4 participants), excludes BTG. This includes visits to the nearby ruins
of Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay and Puca Pucará as well as a tour of the
city itself, including the Plaza de Armas, where the Cathedral is located,
Qorikancha ‘Sun Temple’ (entrance included) and San Pedro Market.
*Sacred Valley tour (full day – 8 hours):* From US$58 per person (based on
4 participants), excludes BTG. Drive to the Sacred Valley, stopping at El
Mirador viewpoint en route. Visit Pisac Market and fortress and
Ollantaytambo; return to Cuzco.
*South Valley tour (full day – 7 hours): *From US$66 per person (based on
4 participants), excludes BTG. Visit the little-known valley to the south of
Cuzco, including the terraces at Tipon, the pre- Inca ruins of Pikillaqta and
the ‘Sistine Chapel of the Americas’ in Andahuaylillas (entrance
included); return to Cuzco.
*Stand Up Paddle (half day – **04 hours **):* From US$55 per person. Fruit,
water and hot drinks included.
*Zip-Line (f**ull** day – 8-9 hours):* From US $66 per person. Includes
Transport security equipment, specialized guide, box Lunch.
*Via Ferrata (f**ull** day – 8-9 hours):* From US$66 per person. Includes
Transport, security equipment, specialized guide, box Lunch.
*Via Ferrata + Zip line**( full day – 8-9 hours)*: From US$100 per
person. Includes Transport, security equipment, specialized guide, box Lunch.
*Mountain Biking Excursion in the Sacred Valley (f**ull day **– **07
hours**):* From US$172 per person (based on 2 participants). Includes
private transfer, security equipment, specialized guide, box Lunch.
Prices of excursions vary depending on the number of people taking part. The
prices given within these Trip Notes are based on 4 participants and are
intended as a guideline only. Actual prices will be more for smaller group
sizes and less for larger group sizes. All tours use private transport and
there will be an English-speaking guide. *Please note that cash is the
preferred method of payment for any of the optional activities. *
For some activities, a minimum number of participants may be required. Some
activities may not always be possible due to weather, seasonality, national
holidays, or unforeseen circumstances.
Exodus encourages customers to tip local support staff if they would like to.
In Peru, it has become customary for local staff to receive tips and these
tips can be an important source of extra income for hard-working crew. While
whether and how much to tip should be a personal decision, customers often
ask us for a suggestion of appropriate amounts for different individuals.
Together with our local partner, we have prepared the below guidelines which
we hope will be useful. Please note that PEN is the preferred currency for
tips.
*Tipping Kitty:* On this trip we recommend running a tipping kitty. A
tipping kitty means we tip as a group, and individuals don’t need to worry
about giving out small tips to various people who have helped during the trip
(i.e. drivers, local guides, hotel staff). The tipping kitty excludes tips
for Moonstone trekking crew and the Tour Leader. The contribution we suggest
is US$35 (PEN 110) per person.
*Tour Leader:* Leaders are fairly paid for their role but are of course
always grateful for recognition of their skills and hard work. Tips for
your leader should be based on their performance and engagement with the
group, and if you are happy with the leader’s work, we recommend somewhere
around US$5 (PEN 15) per person per day, but customers are encouraged to
contribute what they feel happy giving - either less or more than the amount
suggested above.
*Tipping of your trekking crew: *The trekking crew is made up of guides,
cooks, kitchen staff, and horsemen. Tips are best arranged on a group basis,
and a volunteer from the group should gather the money and split the total
collected into smaller amounts for each person. This is normally done on the
last night of the trek. Your leader will be happy to assist as needed. The
recommended contribution per group member is PEN140-190 (or PEN 160-210 pp
for small groups of 6 or less). Around PEN200-300 of the total collection
would normally be allocated to the Main Trek Guide.
Based on the above distributions, tips for absolutely everyone (inclusive of
a tipping kitty and a tip for your trekking crew and tour leader) for the
whole tour duration should amount to a total of approx.US$145-$165 (PEN
445-515) per person, depending on the group size.
* Travel insurance
* Single accommodation (available on request)
* Visas or vaccinations
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.
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