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Set amidst hills in the altiplano, the Imperial City of the Incas, Cuzco (3,400) was the geographic, cultural and political centre of a vast empire which, at its peak, stretched from present-day Quito in Ecuador to Santiago in Chile. After the Spanish conquistadores invaded the city they started building on top of the Incan structures, resulting in unique architecture, a fusion of the Incan and Spanish colonial styles. The group flight usually arrives around midday, giving time for a short orientation tour around the city or free time to wander the cobbled streets admiring the old houses, visiting its interesting museums, churches and pre-Columbian buildings, or to sit in a café and sample a coca-tea. 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 (3,400m). There will be a welcome briefing in the hotel lobby this afternoon/evening. *Hotel Warari / Koyllur (or similar)*
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. Outside the town are more Inca ruins, notably the fortress of Sacsayhuaman where the Inca armies made their last stand against the Conquistadores. Cuzco is also the gateway to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and should you wish to visit the sites, your leader can help organise an excursion, including Pisac Market (optional). 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. In the evening you will need to pack and weigh your duffel bag ready for the Inca Trail tomorrow – remember to keep your passport somewhere accessible for the Inca Trail checkpoint. *Hotel Warari / Koyllur (or similar)*
The Classic Inca Trail is a tangential branch part of a 45,000km road network linking the whole empire to Cuzco. It was built in the 15th Century to reach Machu Picchu but was abandoned soon after the Spanish conquest. American adventurer Hiram Bingham travelled along the trail when he came across Machu Picchu in 1911. The trail opened to the public in 1970. We leave Cuzco early and drive for roughly two hours to Ollantaytambo, our last chance to buy any items needed for the trek. From here we veer off the road and follow a track beside the river (45 minutes) to the start of the Inca Trail at Piscacucho, commonly known as Km82. After greeting our trekking crew, we show our passports at the checkpoint and begin the Inca Trail trek. The trail runs alongside the Vilcanota River beneath the impressive snow-capped Nevado Veronica, passing through cactus gardens and fields of corn until we reach the enormous Inca ruins of Llactapata, where we continue up a side valley to camp near the hamlet of Huayllabamba. *Walk Profile: approx. 11km / 6‐7hrs walking* *Full-service Camping - Huayllabamba Camp* *Inca Trail - Meals Included: /breakfast lunch dinner/*
Distance in Km: 11
Distance in Miles: 6.8
Activity Hours: 6-7
This is the longest and most strenuous day of the trek. A long climb takes us first through an area of cloud forest to the meadows of Llulluchapampa, then over the Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman's) Pass – at 4215m the highest point on the trek. After quite a long, steep descent we camp in the scenic valley of the Pacamayo River (3600m). *Walk Profile: approx. 10km / 6‐7hrs walking* *Full-service Camping - Pacamayo Camp* *Inca Trail - Meals Included: /breakfast lunch dinner/*
Distance in Km: 10
Distance in Miles: 6.2
Activity Hours: 6-7
We start the day with an easier climb which takes us past the ruins of Runquracay and over the Runquracay Pass (3930m). From now on the Inca Trail becomes a clearly defined path made of flat boulders. As we leave behind the ruins of Sayajmarca, we suddenly enter rainforest; at one point the trail passes through an Inca tunnel. We spend the night at a spectacular campsite on the ridge above the Inca site of Phuyupatamarca (3680m) to benefit from the views of sunset and sunrise. *Walk Profile: approx. 12km / 5-6hrs walking* *Full-service Camping - Phuyupatamarca Camp* *Inca Trail - Meals Included: /breakfast lunch dinner/*
Distance in Km: 12
Distance in Miles: 7.5
Activity Hours: 5-6
From the ridge, we embark on the infamous Inca steps: a two kilometre stone staircase taking us rapidly downhill amid a panorama of overwhelming immensity, with the peaks of the Vilcabamba range above, and the river thousands of metres below. 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. Traditionally busy with groups of trekkers clamouring for photos, we plan our arrival at Inti Punku later in the day so we can enjoy unobstructed views of the magnificent ruins. Whilst most groups choose to visit Machu Picchu today, we'll pass around the edge of the ruins and exit the site, descending to Aguas Calientes for a well-earned rest, a shower and a comfortable bed for the night. Our trekking permits allow us one entry into the site, which we use for our tour tomorrow when we are refreshed and more able to enjoy it. There is usually time for an optional visit to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes, however in recent years they have become over-crowded and the water quality can suffer as a result. We will be reunited with those who have been on the Moonstone Trek or the Train Option at the hotel this afternoon. *Walk Profile: approx. 9km / 6-7hrs walking* *Hotel Inti Punku El Tambo (or similar)** * *Inca Trail - Meals Included: /breakfast lunch/*
Distance in Km: 9
Distance in Miles: 5.6
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). *Hotel Warari / Koyllur (or similar)** *
For land only travellers, the trip ends in Cuzco after breakfast today. Those who are travelling on the group flights will be taken to Cuzco airport to catch the overnight flight back to London.
* 4 nights hotels in en suite rooms, 3 nights full-service camping with
dining and toilet tents
* 4 days point-to-point walking with full porterage
* Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Min. age 16 yrs
* Altitude maximum 4215m, average 3050m
* 7kg personal weight limit on Inca Trail
* Travel by private bus and by train
All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners 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; boiled and filtered drinking water is provided on the trek
and elsewhere 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 in Cuzco/Aguas Calientes we'll visit
a variety of cafes and restaurants.
During the Inca Trail (or Moonstone Trek) hearty breakfasts are served and
good quality cooked lunches and dinners are provided, and usually consist of
soup or a starter, a main course with meat/fish and some form of
carbohydrates, followed by a dessert. Some snacks between meals are also
provided. Bed tea/coffee is brought to your tent each morning and juice or
hot drinks are provided with all meals during the trek.
* 4 nights hotels in en suite rooms, 3 nights full-service camping with
dining and toilet tents
* 4 days point-to-point walking with full porterage
* Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Min. age 16 yrs
* Altitude maximum 4215m, average 3050m
* 7kg personal weight limit on Inca Trail
* Travel by private bus and by train
This is a Moderate grade trek (level 3) – please refer to our activity
level guidelines [1]. There are four days point-to-point walking with full
porterage, reaching a maximum altitude of 4215m, average 3050m. Though not
without its difficulties (in particular the ascent and descent of the first
pass, known as Dead Woman's Pass!) this trek is certainly possible for anyone
in a good state of health and fitness, but we would not recommend it as a
beginner's trek to anyone with no previous walking experience. If you are not
a regular walker you should put in some physical preparation beforehand. The
trek is also not particularly suitable for those with bad knees due to the
number of steep and uneven steps, particularly on the third and fourth days
of the trek. The use of trekking poles will help to reduce strain on the
knees.
You may find our
https://www.exodus.co.uk/assets/pdf/Exodus_WT_Fitness_Training_Guide.pdf"
target="_blank"Fitness Training Guide a useful reference.
As this trip spends considerable time at altitude, we ask you to refer to the
altitude warning within the Trip Notes. We spend two days in Cuzco (3400m)
acclimatising before starting the trek.
Protest action/strikes are not uncommon in Peru, and whilst these are
generally peaceful, they can involve roadblocks and cause disruption to
travel. Occasionally your leader may have to adapt your itinerary in response
to this.
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.
*Inca Trail Regulations*
There are a number of important regulations regarding the Inca Trail that we
would like to make you aware of:
1) Spaces on the Inca Trail are on a first come, first served basis and we
urge you to book as early as possible.
2) If you cancel your booking more than 8 weeks before departure and wish to
transfer your deposit to another departure or another trip the transfer
fee is £150 as we will lose the permit we have purchased on your behalf.
This is an amendment to our Booking Conditions. No transfers are possible
within 8 weeks of departure.
3) Bookings can only be made if we are supplied with your full name,
passport details, date of birth and nationality, exactly as per the
passport you will be using to travel to Peru (this information is used to
purchase your Inca Trail permit). If your passport details do not match
those on your permit you will be refused entry to the Inca Trail by the
local authorities.
4) Should the passport used to purchase your permit be lost, stolen or
expire before your Inca Trail start date, you must purchase a new
passport and notify Exodus immediately as we will need to apply to amend
your Inca Trail permit. To do so, you must supply copies of both your old
and new passports to Exodus in advance of travel and pay an
administration fee of £25. For this reason, we strongly recommend that
you make a copy of your passport at the time of booking and keep it
somewhere safe.
5) Please be aware that these regulations may change at any time, and Exodus
is not responsible for the decisions made by Peruvian authorities.
6) There is a possibility that the Peruvian authorities may increase the
entrance fees to the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and other major sights at
any time. If they do so, we will inform you of this increase and the
extra amount will need to be paid locally in cash in Peru.
*Please Note: *Whilst your departure date may be 'Guaranteed', your Inca
Trail permit itself will initially be 'On Request'. If travelling within the
current year we will try to purchase your permit immediately upon receiving
your booking. If travelling next year, we will apply for your permit as soon
as they are released for sale. In either case, in the event that we are
unable to get your permit, we will contact you to discuss your options. *
*
*Alternative Moonstone Trek*
Once Inca Trail permits have sold out for a given date, we can no longer
accept bookings for the classic Inca Trail trek. However, we can offer an
equally spectacular alternative trek (not requiring a permit) in its place.
The remote high altitude Moonstone Trek takes in a number of recently
discovered Inca and pre-Inca archaeological sites and there are practically
no other tourists along the route. (Alternatively, we have a One Day
Inca Trail Option which we can also offer in place of the Inca Trail which
includes the One Day Inca Trail as well as time in the Sacred Valley and
Cuzco)
If selected, the Moonstone Trek will replace days 3 to 6 of the standard land
only itinerary. The maximum altitude on the Moonstone Trek is 4625m (higher
than that of the classic Inca Trail) and the route is slightly more
strenuous. Therefore we class it as a Moderate/Challenging trek (level 4).
Depending on the split of the group between the Inca Trail and Moonstone
Trek, you may find small group sizes on the Moonstone Trek. It is even
possible that the Moonstone trek will be provided for solo travellers. Please
ask your Sales Consultant if you would like to know how many people are
booked on each, and/or have any specific questions or concerns.
Whilst the Moonstone Trek can also be booked preferentially while Inca Trail
permits are still available, a small group supplement may apply.
*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 & Camping
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.
The Inca Trail (and Moonstone trek) is on a full-service camping basis with
full porterage, meaning that our camp staff will erect and dismantle the
tents for you, cook, and do all of the camp chores for you. You need only
carry your daypack. The tents used are 4 season Eureka tents purchased in
2019 and there is a separate dining tent for meal times, as well as a toilet
tent for use both in camp and during lunch stops. On the Inca Trail we stay
in organised campsites which are administered by the Regional Cultural
Directorate, whilst on the Moonstone Trek we use wild campsites.
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 (including tents) can be arranged,
subject to availability. Please request this at the time of booking.
On the Inca Trail (and Moonstone Trek) there will be a full trek crew of
porters (horses on the Moonstone Trek), cooks and assistant guides.
All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners 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; boiled and filtered drinking water is provided on the trek
and elsewhere 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 in Cuzco/Aguas Calientes we'll visit
a variety of cafes and restaurants.
During the Inca Trail (or Moonstone Trek) hearty breakfasts are served and
good quality cooked lunches and dinners are provided, and usually consist of
soup or a starter, a main course with meat/fish and some form of
carbohydrates, followed by a dessert. Some snacks between meals are also
provided. Bed tea/coffee is brought to your tent each morning and juice or
hot drinks are provided with all meals during the trek.
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 7 (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.
This point to point trekking holiday requires customers to walk between each
overnight stay under their own steam. Other forms of transport may be
available along the route (horses, jeeps etc) but Exodus is not able to take
responsibility for the safety or the cost of any transport that customers
choose to take even if provided with the assistance of our leader or staff.
*Travelling flight inclusive from London: 10 days*
The group flight from London is an overnight flight departing the day before
Day 1 of the itinerary.
*Flights from London*
We will normally use Avianca (depending on availability). As flight timings
and schedules change regularly we recommend you call one of our specialist
sales staff or your agent to confirm up‐to‐date timings. Please note
timings may change at a later date and cannot be confirmed until
approximately two weeks before departure.
*Collecting Baggage in Lima*
If you are travelling on the group flights via Lima, please note that you
will need to collect your baggage in Lima, even if your bag has been checked
all the way through to Cuzco (and even if you are told in London that you do
not need to pick it up). After collecting the bag, you are required to clear
customs, and you should then drop it off at the bag drop for the onward
flight. If you do not pick up your bag, there is a chance it may not reach
Cuzco for the start of the trek. This is a requirement of Lima airport and
also applies to your return flight.
*Travelling land only: 8**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.
Peru's diverse geography results in a very varied climate between different
regions.
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.
For full details of what to take, please see our
https://assets.exodus.co.uk/travelink/Inca_Trail_Kitlist.pdf"
target="_blank"Inca Trail kit list.
* A 3 or 4-season sleeping bag (4-season for May-August departures)
* Warm jacket
* Several layers of clothing to cope with varying temperatures during the
trek
* Leather or lightweight walking boots
* Warm hat and gloves
* Waterproof jacket and over trousers
* Sun hat, sunglasses and sun cream
* 2 x 1-litre water bottles (ideally metal or reusable Nalgene due to trail
restrictions)
* Daypack (between 25 and 35 litres should be sufficient for trekking days)
* A lightweight quick-drying towel
* Head-torch
* Insect repellent
* Small trek towel
Exodus provides (in Cuzco) an inflatable Thermarest sleeping mat for the
duration of the trek. The mat is full length and approximately 4cm thick when
inflated.
A sleeping bag is not included but is required for the trek – these can be
hired locally through your leader in Cuzco from US$26 (PEN66).
*Inca Trail Baggage *
Whilst any type of normal luggage or suitcase can be used for this holiday, a
soft kitbag or duffel bag (measuring approximately 70cm x 30cm) will need to
be used for the trek portion (since porters cannot carry hard suitcases or
bags with wheels etc.).
If you book this trip, we provide an Exodus kitbag to pack your luggage in
whilst on trek. Once you have booked you will be sent instructions on how to
claim your free bag (they will not be sent out automatically). There are also
details on how to claim for another item from the Exodus shop should you
already have one of these. If you book via an agent, it is at the agent’s
discretion and you should speak directly to them to arrange delivery. Please
note that if you book less than three weeks before the departure date we
cannot guarantee that your kitbag will arrive before your trip starts, so if
this is the case please contact us on
*datateam"mailto:datateam@exodus.co.uk"*datateam**
@exodus.co.uk to let us know. For full T&Cs see
https://www.exodus.co.uk/about-exodus/our-kitbags"
target="_blank"*
.*
www.exodus.co.uk/kitbags.
style="background-color: transparent;"As the kitbags do not have wheels, you
may prefer to pack it inside your own wheelie case for ease of travelling to,
and moving through, the airport. Your suitcase can then be left in
Cuzco with anything not needed for the trek, whilst the kitbag will be
carried by your porter on the trek. If however, you can't fit the Exodus
kitbag in your main luggage (or do not receive one in time) then our local
partners will provide a soft duffel bag in Cuzco (this should be returned to
your leader after the trek).
*Inca Trail Weight Restriction *
There are strict regulations regarding luggage on the Inca Trail. These
regulations are strictly enforced and were created to reduce environmental
damage to the Inca Trail and to comply with porters work laws.
Porterage for up to 7kg of personal gear is allowed on the Inca Trail trek.
This is inclusive of your sleeping bag, which usually weights approx. 1.8kg.
Your sleeping mat, however, does not count towards your personal weight
limit. If your packed duffel bag exceeds the allowed weight, you will have to
transfer excess items from your duffel bag to your daypack.
The above weight restrictions do not apply to the alternative Moonstone Trek
as porterage is by horses/mules. Nevertheless, on the Moonstone trek please
try to keep your duffel bag to a maximum of about 10kg (give or take a couple
of kgs) so as not to overladen the animals.
*Donations for porters*
The porters we work with are mostly from rural farming communities. If you
have any old walking gear you no longer need, or any unwanted warm
children’s clothing, these would be much appreciated by the porters and
their families. Please leave any donations with your leader in Cuzco, or
alternatively, you can give items directly to your porters on the last night
of the trek.
We strongly recommend taking trekking poles for the Inca Trail as the number
of steps can be hard on the knees, but note that due to recent environmental
legislation, poles must have a plastic tip or protector fitted on the end.
Walking poles with rubber tips can be hired through your leader in Cuzco from
US$8 (PEN26) per pole. Please note that walking poles are not permitted
inside the ruins of Machu Picchu without a medical certificate detailing
their necessity.
We also recommend: A small sewing kit (with safety pins), wet wipes, cold
water detergent or laundry soap (biodegradable), a personal music
player/books/pack of cards, swimwear for hot springs.
We strongly recommend storing electronics (cameras etc.) in a sealed
waterproof bag to prevent damage during rain.
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,
minimum 2 participants. 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 Inca Trail (or Moonstone) trekking crew and the Tour Leader. The
contribution we suggest is US$6 (PEN 15) per person per day.
*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$6 (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. Those on the Moonstone Trek may decide to give a little less
to the Tour Leader as they will not accompany you on the Moonstone Trek for
which you will have another guide.
*Tipping of your trekking crew: *The trekking crew is made up of guides,
cooks, kitchen staff, and porters (or horsemen on the Moonstone Trek). 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.
*Inca Trail Trek:* **the recommended contribution per group member is
PEN160-210 (or PEN 180-230 pp for small groups of 6 or less).
*Moonstone Trek*: 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
* Sleeping bag (hire locally from US$20)
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.