FASCINATING VILCABAMBA

ABOUT VILCABAMBA:

This is a beautiful, diverse alternative trekking route through the Vilcabamba range - the last refuge of the Incas. We start our adventure with the visit of the ruins of Vitcos and Ñusta Hispanan before we hike through spectacular snow covered mountain scenery, passing by turquoise glacier lagoons - home of the cute andean chinchillas and condors. From here we descend into the high cloud forest with its rich flora and fauna, passing by the coffee and cacao plantations of the locals. At the end of our adventure, we explore the legendary lost city of the Incas: Mystical Machupicchu with all its splendour. A unique adventure!

ITINERARY:

DAY 1: LIMA

Reception at Lima Airport and transfer to your selected hotel. Free time to rest and prepare for starting your trip around our magical country.

DAY 2: LIMA - CUSCO

Breakfast.

Transfer to Lima's Airport. Flight Lima- Cusco,

Reception at Cusco Airport or bus station and transfer to your selected hotel. Free time available to rest and so avoid altitude sickness.

In the afternoon, sightseeing tour of Cusco visiting the Main Square, the Cathedral ( built between 1560 and 1664 is considered one of the most imposing strutures in the city). and the Temple of the Sun or Korikancha (the most important temple dedicated to the worship of the Sun and whose walls were plated with sheets of gold). Take a pleasant walk in the bohemian District of San Blas, home to the best known craftsmen of Cusco. Visit its beautiful church, to admire its impressive carved wooden pulpit, with images of local fruits carved into it in filigree. Pop into some of the craft shops in its small Main Square. On your way back to the Centre of Cusco go through Hatunrumiyoc Street with its famous Twelve-angled stone.

Then, we drive out of the City to visit the Inca sites of Kenko, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara and the impressive Fortress of Sacsayhuaman. The latter site is strategically built on a hill overlooking Cusco and is famous for its enormous carved stones, some of them standing over 9m / 30ft tall, and weighing over 350 tons, set together with astounding precision to form the outer walls.

Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 3: CUSCO - SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS

Early morning bus to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. On the way we visit a weaving centre/museum, where the local weavers explain the textile making process from shearing, spinning and dying with plant extracts to the actual weaving.

We continue our tour with a visit to the archaeological site of Pisaq, fascinating for its location and architecture. We will have plenty of time to explore this beautiful place. After a picnic with fantastic views of the valley below, we visit the colorful handicraft market in the village of Pisac. In the afternoon we drive to the typical village of Ollantaytambo, often described as a living museum, for the descendants of the Incas continue to live in the houses built by their ancestors. Return to Cusco. Overnight in Cusco.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.

DAY 4: CUSCO - HUANCACALLE - PACCHA PATA

Early morning a scenic busride (appr. 8 hrs) brings us through the Andes to the village of Huancacalle where we meet our wranglers with their mules and saddle horses. We start our adventure with the visit of the ruins of Vitcos and ÑustaHispanan from where we hike towards the community of Pacchapata. Here is our first camp in the andes (3600 m).

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 5: PACCHA PATA - RAQA CHACA

After breakfast we start early with the climb up the Aputinya pass (3900 m). From here, a long and easy descent passing by Inkawasi brings us towards the Raqa chaca pass where we camp with fantastic views onto the near glaciers (4400 m).

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 6: RAQA CHACA - 5 LAGOONS

We start early our ascent of the pass from where we can enjoy unique panoramas of the surrounding snow capped mountains and the fertile valleys below. In the afternoon we descend towards the lagoon area where we camp (4000 m).

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 7: 5 LAGOONS - SEJAPATA

Today we start early as always in order to take advantage of the cool morning hours. A 2 hours climb brings us to the Ismaelnyoc pass from where we have great views towards the Inca Trail and Machupicchu mountains. From here we start our long but easy descent towards the cloudforest with its rich flora and fauna, passing by coffee plantations of the locals. In the afternoon we arrive at our camp at Sejapata where we can relax in a semi-tropical climate.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 8: SEJAPATA - LLAQTAPATA - AGUAS CALIENTES

After breakfast we cross the river and start climbing - passing through some coffee plantations- up to El Mirador (2860 m) from where we have an exceptional view of the Lost City of the Incas: legendary Machupicchu, from a different angle. We enjoy a last lunch in nature at the look out point of Llaqtapata (2650 m) from where we can view both Machupicchu and Salkantay and take a good rest. A 2 hour descent brings us to the hydro-electric plant of Machupicchu from where we get to the village of Aguas Calientes in the late afternoon. Here we can choose to relax in the natural hot springs before dinner and a deserved rest in our hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch. 

DAY 9: MACHUPICCHU - CUSCO

After an early breakfast we take the first bus up to Machupicchu to enjoy sunrise in this magical place before tourists arrive from Cusco. We enjoy this enigma in a guided tour and have enough free time available to explore the site by ourselves or do some hikes before we descend to Aguas Calientes in the afternoon. Train ride back to Cusco, transfer to the hotel and overnight. Meals Included: Breakfast.

DAY 10: CUSCO - LIMA

Breakfast.

At proper time transfer to the airport in Cusco.

Flight Cusco - Lima. Reception at Lima's Airport and transfer to your selected hotel.

In the afternoon sightseeing tour of Lima which consist of the best combination of attractions in Lima from pre-Hispanic, Colonial and Modern times.

You will have a guided tour of Huaca Pucllana, a magnificent ceremonial and administrative site, dating back to the IV century A.D. You will also visit Huaca Huallmarca, a typical pyramid characteristic of sacred pre-Hispanic edifications found along the Peruvian coast.

Then you will have a visit to Lima's historic downtown, including Paseo de la República , Plaza San Martín, the Main Plaza and the surrounding monuments: the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace, City Hall, the Desamparados train station, the Museum of the Banco Central de Reserva and the Moorish-style houses and balconies along Lima's old streets.

The next stop will be San Francisco Convent, with the best exhibition of Colonial Art in Latin America . The tour includes the Choir Hall, the Monks' Library and the Sacristy, featuring a collection of Zurbarán and Rivera oil paintings. After visiting the Main Patio of the Cloister to see its fine XVI century Seville tiles and Moorish Arches, the tour will proceed to the Underground Crypts known as the Catacombs.

Finally you will have a visit to the traditional neighborhood near the San Isidro Golf Club, the Olive Grove park and the modern LarcoMar shopping and entertainment complex, a distinctive landmark of Modern Lima offering a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean . The tour of LarcoMar features a splendid exhibit of Peruvian alpaca textiles, and jewellery and handicrafts from the many regions and civilizations of historic Peru . Lunch

Return to your selected hotel for overnight.

Overnight in Lima.

DAY 11: LIMA - OUT

Breakfast.

At proper time transfer to the airport and assistance on your departure.

 INCLUDED

Flight Tickets Lima- Cusco - Lima.

Train ticket from Aguas Calientes - Cusco.

Bus ticket from Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes.

02 Nights accommodation at a selected hotel in Lima.

03 Nights accommodation at a selected hotel in Cusco.

01 Night accommodation at a selected hotel in Aguas Calientes.

04 Nights camping (double tents)

In and out transfers

City tour in Cusco.

Full day excursion to the Sacred Valley.

City tour in Lima.

All applicable taxes.

Bilingual guided tours (English/Spanish).

Entrance fees for the excursions mentioned above.

Entrance fees to national park & sanctuary of Machupicchu

All meals as indicated in the itinerary.

Private transport Cusco- Huancacalle

Camping equipment (double-, dining- and kitchen-tents, mats, etc.),

Bilingual guide, cook, porters, wranglers,

Mules for equipment and support saddle horses,

 NOT INCLUDED:

Baggage excess.

Additional nights or flights cancellation.

Sleeping bags

Alcoholic drinks soda or bottled mineral water.

Snacks.

Laundry.

Not mentioned or optional tours/meals and extra services such as tips and laundry

Entrances to hot springs in Aguas Calientes

International or National personal telephone calls.

SEASON: April-November

FITNESS-LEVEL: Very active (heights, long distances)