Peru “a la Tropic” is a selection of some of our favorites experiences in this colorful and historic country. We have prepared a blend of culture, history and adventure, meeting the local champions though our May I Introduce You experiences, getting in touch with the heart and soul of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, its people, in our The Other Side of the Sacred Valley experiences and doing a magnificent 5D/4N lodge to lodge trek in Apu Ausangate Mountain, the highest mountain in the Cusco region where you will walk hand in hand with the local communities of Chilca and Osefina, the last ancestral alpaca and llama herders.
CUSCO, THE SACRED VALLEY AND
LODGE TO LODGE TREK IN
AUSANGATE MOUNTAIN
10D/9N – Oct 6-15
Day 1: Friday 06th, October Lima
Arrival in Lima, meet and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Lima Meals included: None
Day 2: Saturday 07th October: Lima – Cusco - Sacred Valley
Today we flight over the Andes!
At the scheduled time, you will be transferred to the airport to board your departure flight.
Flight from Lima to Cusco (not included, remember to book a window seat on the left side of the plane on the Lima-Cusco flight. Like this you will enjoy the magnificent views of Salkantay and other snowcapped mountains).
Suggested flight: LIM – CUSCO to depart around 09:15 am – 10:35 am
Upon arrival, we will be transferred to the Sacred Valley.
The perfect place to start our explorations. We will enjoy a Welcome Lunch to greet you in to the Andes where will be sharing some information of our trip and then have the afternoon at leisure to unwind and take it easy as it is our first day at the mountains.
Overnight in the Sacred Valley.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 3: Sunday 08th October: Sacred Valley
Full day immersion and traditional community life
(Duration: 7 hours approximately)
Our cultural immersion starts with a visit to the traditional Andean community of Misminay, located in a stunning mountain setting in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and on the way enjoying magnificent panoramic views of the valley. As we arrive at this colorful traditional community, the local people will offer us a warm welcome and a colorful first insight into Andean culture. We will then take part in a traditional daily activity and learn about the Andean lifestyle directly from our local hosts. Our activities here include a small hike to the community’s lookout point, to enjoy a superb view of the Moray ancient agroarchaeological site.
Arriving here is a very special moment so we will take our time in this beautiful place.
After a delicious lunch prepared with fresh local products, you’ll get the chance to learn about Andean Weavings, what they mean, their importance, how they are traditional made and the natural dyes that are being used.
Participation in these activities and your time in the community, represent an opportunity for a profound cultural exchange that will broaden your horizons and restore your equilibrium, as well as having a positive impact on the economy of our local hosts.
After spending time with our friends in Misminay you will meet Manuel Choque, agricultural engineer, otherwise known as ‘the potato whisperer’, who will initiate you into the secret world of the Andean potato and other tubers. You’ll be fascinated by this truly unique food experience that will reveal the incredible food diversity of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Peru. Manuel researches and experiments with native potatoes and tubers, producing the wildest colored varieties, and improving their nutritional quality. After saying our goodbyes to Manuel, you will then be transferred back to your hotel.
Overnight in the Sacred Valley.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
DAY 4: MONDAY 09TH OCTOBER: SACRED VALLEY – SHORT INCA TRAIL - PANORAMIC MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO
This short version of the Inca Trail trek is the perfect alternative for those on a tight schedule or looking for a less arduous option. The hike may be shorter, but it still comes with all the excitement of following the footsteps of the Incas, on one of the most emblematic sections o f the Qhapaq Ñan (Great Inca Trail). Starting out at what is arguably the most thrilling part of the route, you’ll walk the last 12km before arriving at Machu Picchu just as the Incas did, through the Inti Punku (Sun Gate).
You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the Ollantaytambo train station, where you’ll take the train to Km 104. There you’ll begin the first part of your trek, enjoying the outstanding landscapes of the Sacred Valley on your way to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna. When you arrive, you’ll be able to appreciate the beauty of this archaeological complex, with its impressive agricultural terraces. You will have time to rest and enjoy a re-energizing lunch, before returning to the trail, hiking through highland jungle scenery towards the Inti Punku or Sun Gate, which announces arrival at Machu Picchu. And from here you’ll be able to see the famous Inca sanctuary from a truly unique angle: a fitting reward at the end of the hike. You will then walk down to the complex itself and board the bus that will take you to the town of Aguas Calientes (the town at the foot of Machu Picchu), where you will board your train back to Cusco.
*Important Note: Today you will only see Machu Picchu in a panoramic view. As this is a Fam and we have time restriction, we are prioritizing the trekking experience as most of you already have been in Machu Picchu. In a normal itinerary, when doing the short version of the Inca Trail, your clients should always stay one night in Aguas Calientes and do Machu Picchu the next day.
Overnight in Cusco
Meals included: Breakfast and Box Lunch
Hiking: 7.5 miles, 1,800 ft elevation gain. Approx 6 hours.
Day 5: Tuesday 10th October: Cusco – Chillca
In a comfortable coach we head along the Vilcanota River to visit the temple of Checacupe, then the upper valley of Pitumarca. At Japura, we’ll trek a short distance to Chillca. Locals and musicians playing Andean instruments greet us in your first “Andean Lodge”, as we sip coca tea. Hot showers and full bathrooms as well as 8 double and matrimonial bedrooms are available. We emphasize tasty and nutritious local cuisine (such as Alpaca meat) but vegetarian and other preferences are welcome.
Overnight in Chillca Tambo
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Hiking: 3.3 km, 1.5 hrs. 200ft gain, final elevation 14,270 ft
Day 6: Wednesday 11th October: Chillca - Machuraccay
After breakfast we trek alongside thousands of alpacas and llamas in the glacier valley of Phinaya. On the way to more glaciers at Santa Catalina, we climb by the inspiring Pjachaj waterfalls. Above, our picnic lunch await us. Then, surrounded by moraine walls, glaciers and lagoons we walk about 5 hours to Machuracay Tambo. Our bags, carried by a llama caravan, meet us there and the family that runs the lodge will welcome us.
Overnight in Machuraccay
Tambo Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Hiking: 10km, 6 hrs. 1,640 ft gain, between 14,271 ft and 15,912 ft
Day 7: Thurdsay 12th October: Machuraccay – Anantapata
Today we take in ourfirst mountain pass (16 587 ft.) which has spectacular panoramic views. Descending alongside the glaciers, we hike to the Ausangate Cocha Lake for lunch. Here, the landscape dramatically shifts due to the existence of red sandstone formations where we will see vicuñas and sometimes condors. After a day of great hiking we arrive at the third “Andean Lodge” ready to relax and enjoy.
Overnight in Anantapata Tambo
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Hiking: 10km, 5 hrs. 1,250 gain, 1,640 loss. Final elevation 16,896ft.
Day 8: Friday 13th October: Anantapata – Huampococha
After breakfast, we take the trail to another mountain pass. Dropping down, we’ll hike by Lake Kayrawiri, surrounded by rugged mountain peaks and the great valley below. Striations of color are imbedded in the hillsides. Then we go on to Cerro Laya Grande via massive glacier del Inca, and find the most striking colors in the sediments of Vinicunca (recently known as the “Rainbow Mountain”). We eat lunch here while taking in this unique landscape. On our way to the fourth Andean Lodge we may see hundreds of Andean geese nesting in the cliffs of Anta, and the flatiron formations of Apu Labrayani near Huampococha Tambo where we will spend the night.
Overnight in Huampococha Tambo
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Hiking: 10km, 6 hours. 1,470 ft gain, 1,174 loss, between 15,518 ft and 16,355 ft.
Day 9: Saturday 14th October: Huampococha – Cusco
As we hike up; enjoying a great view of the mountains, we reach the top of our final pass. It’s all downhill from here! We encounter some of the most capricious shapes of limestone formations from the Cretaceous age and hike until the end of the trail in Trapiche. Here, we have lunch and return by bus to Cusco while reminiscing on the wonderful experiences we shared in the Andes.
Overnight in Cusco.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Hiking: 9km, 5 hours. 460 ft gain, 3,260 loss, between 16,270 ft to 13,000 ft
Day 10: Sunday 15th October: Cusco- Lima- home
Half day City tour – San Pedro Market – Sacsayhuaman & Sapantiana (Duration:4 hours approximately)
This fascinating Tour of Cusco, also known as the Imperial City of the Incas, will give you insights into the city’s history, the daily life of its people and its importance for the Andean region.
We begin at the city’s iconic local market – for local people the city’s real, beating heart – where we‘ll have the chance to explore the colors, flavors and traditions of a modern and at the same time traditional Cusco. We’ll then continue to the Koricancha, also known as the golden temple, the most important temple in the Inca Empire and center of worship of Inti, the Sun God. Although the Spanish Dominican order built a church on top of the original temple, the Koricancha foundations and stonework are still visible. Leaving this Inca temple, we continue to the fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Built with massive blocks of stone, this imposing example of Inca military architecture is located on the outskirts of the city.
From here we’ll continue foot along picturesque cobble-stoned streets, passing through beautiful and recently recovered colonial acueduct of Sapantiana and then onto the famous artisan neighborhood of San Blas on our way down to the Plaza de Armas (main square), where we’ll visit the Cathedral, a beautiful representation of Andean Baroque architecture.
Farewell Lunch
Departure for the the airport. Flight Cusco – Lima suggested flights to depart Cusco 17:30- 1830 to then connect in Lima with International flights.
| Net rate: | Tropic Fam Rate: |
| USD 3,100.00 | USD 990.00 |
| ** Single supplement USD 360.00 | |
Included
- All services, lodging in ½ double room in boutique hotels (to be confirmed) and Andean Lodges, food, and beverages mentioned in the trip description, plus taxes, tourist tickets, and entrance fees.
- Lodging in ½ double room (single accommodation is available with additional supplement – if your are interested in this option please check with Katia Juarez katia.juarez@tropiceco.com).
Not including
- Early check-in, late check-out, services and food not listed in the itinerary, beverages during the meals, hotel extras, and personal expenses.
- Domestic and international
- Tips for guides, drivers, and waitresses, if not specified in the