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Trek an isolated route with unexplored ruins, discovery at every turn and great mountain views – an excellent introduction to high Andean trekking
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 (3400m). There will be a welcome briefing in the hotel lobby this afternoon/evening. *Accommodation: Hotel 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. *Accommodation: Hotel Koyllur (or similar)*
An early start as it's a very busy first day! We take a private minibus to the trailhead, stopping first to explore the nearby ruins from which the trek takes its name. This is a large site with several distinct Inca remnants, clearly of religious importance. As with the rest of the trek, we are most likely to have the site completely to ourselves. The Moonstone itself is a large carving on an enormous boulder, and its significance is not yet understood. The trailhead is in a quiet, dusty valley and we soon climb high enough from the floor to enjoy some great views. At around lunchtime we stop to explore the imposing pre‐Inca fortress of Wata that straddles the trail. The ruin has not yet been accurately dated and pottery can often still be found lying on the ground. The path then traverses along a green side valley as we make our way above a few tiny villages before entering the village of Chillipawa, where we camp. *Walk Profile: approx. 10.5km / 6‐7hrs walking* *Full‐service Camping*
Distance in Km: 10.5
Distance in Miles: 6.5
Activity Hours: 6-7
A long, steady climb with plenty of rest stops to aid acclimatisation takes us above the villages and into the high pampas ‐ rugged meadows of long grass. We normally stop for lunch shortly before the crest of the Accoccosa Pass (and the very rare Andean Flicker is sometimes seen (although often heard!). The last leg of the pass is on loose red scree, but the view from the top makes it all worthwhile: a broad, hidden valley surrounded by snowy peaks ‐ the Huayanay Range on the left, the Urubamba Range straight ahead and beautiful, triangular Mt Veronica (5800m) to the right. We have time to explore this plateau and experience walking in the high altiplano before returning to our camp for a well‐deserved hot dinner. The camp's isolation, well away from any settlements, results in spectacular night skies when clear. *Walk Profile: approx. 8.8km / 4‐5hrs walking* *Full‐service Camping*
Distance in Km: 8.8
Distance in Miles: 5.5
Activity Hours: 4-5
We start after breakfast by following the stream from down this hidden valley into a narrow canyon. Rare polylepis trees grow here and we pass through a small grove as we leave the canyon. Our path then turns North and traverses very high above a deep and steep valley separating us from the Huayanay Mountains. This is probably the most spectacular section of the trek and we roughly follow a (now defunct) Inca aqueduct spectacularly carved out of the cliffs to take water from the hidden valley of our campsite to the Sacred Valley several miles away. At the end of the traverse we have a short but steep climb up to our lunch spot, a flat, ridge‐top meadow facing straight across the Sacred Valley to the snowy Urubamba Range. After lunch we walk down to Huayrapunku. Meaning "Gate of the Wind", this is a ridge‐top Inca shrine oriented to Mt Veronica, of which it has a simply incredible view. A short walk brings us to our final campsite in amongst the granite stones of the Canchiqata Quarry. It was here that huge blocks were cut from the rose‐coloured granite before being dragged down the mountainside and across the river to the Sun Temple at Ollantaytambo. *Walk Profile: approx. 11.8km / 5‐6hrs walking * *Full‐service Camping *
Distance in Km: 11.8
Distance in Miles: 7.3
Activity Hours: 5-6
Photographers are advised to wake up before dawn this morning, to watch the sun rise over the Sacred Valley from our campsite high above it. The sun's first rays catching the glaciers of Mt Veronica certainly makes the effort more than worthwhile. This is our last day on the trek and we descend from the pampas down into the lush valley floor along the enormous stone ramps on which the Incas dragged the stones. We cross the river and explore the huge Sun Temple complex to see where the stones ended and what use they were put to. *Walk Profile: approx. 8km / 2‐3hrs walking * *Accommodation: Tunupa Lodge (or similar)*
Distance in Km: 8
Distance in Miles: 5
Activity Hours: 2-3
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)** *
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.
* 5 nights hotels in en suite rooms, 3 nights full-service camping with
dining and toilet tents
* 5 days point-to-point walking with full porterage
* 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, 5 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 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.
* 5 nights hotels in en suite rooms, 3 nights full-service camping with
dining and toilet tents
* 5 days point-to-point walking with full porterage
* 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 Moderate/Challenging grade trek (level 4) – please refer to our
activity level guidelines [1]. There are 5 days walking with full porterage,
at a maximum altitude of 4600m, average 3600m. A little higher and tougher
than the Inca Trail ‐ this trek is remote and on some fairly rough paths,
some sections of which present mild exposure. Anyone of reasonable fitness
and with prior walking experience should find no real difficulties, except
for a satisfying challenge in ascending the high‐pass (about 800m of ascent
to about 4600m). 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 & Camping
The hotels normally used are indicated within the itinerary, however,
accommodation may differ from those stated depending on your departure date.
All of our Cuzco hotels are small and locally-owned with en-suite bathrooms
and breakfast facilities. All are located within walking distance of the
central Plaza de Armas. Most hotels have a safety deposit box in the room but
if not, there will be one at the reception.
Please note that central heating is very rare in Peru, even in good standard
hotels. Most hotels provide plug-in heaters and spare blankets. Additionally
whilst all of the hotels have a hot water supply, it can be temperamental
when there is high demand.
A railway line 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.
The 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.
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 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 Moonstone Trek there will be a full trek crew including horsemen,
cooks and assistant guides.
All breakfasts, 5 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 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: 11 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: 9 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 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) a 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$20 (PEN66).
*Moonstone Trek 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 the horses 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 horses 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).
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 Moonstone Trek 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$10 (PEN33) 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. 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.
*White Water Rafting (full day – 8 hours): *From US$130 per person
(minimum of 2 participants). Drive to the Chiquicahuana area of the Southern
Valley to start rafting in Vilcanota river. Spend 2-3 hours rafting and
experiencing rapids level III and III+. Finish your adventure with a picnic
lunch before heading back to Cusco. Activity available from April-December.
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$50 (PEN 150) 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
* 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.