Trek to Machu Picchu+Virgen del Carmen Festival, 7/5-18, 2013

Day 1: Arrive In Cusco, City Walking Tour

Travelers arrive Cusco throughout the morning and are escorted to the Garden House Hotel on the southern edge of the city. Free time to rest and settle in before we meet our guide for an afternoon half- day guided orientation of ancient Inca temples, Spanish churches and the surrounding ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Qenko, Puca Pucara and Tambo Machay. In the evening we gather as a group for dinner at the outstanding restaurant, Limo. Overnight at the comfortable and welcoming Garden House Hotel, a short distance from the city center.

*Note: Passengers arriving Lima the day before can be accommodated at the Ramada Airport hotel. Details available on request.

Accomodations: The Garden House Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 2: Urumbamba Valley Exploration

Full day exploration with an expert guide through the Sacred Valley of the Incas including the village of Pisac and the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. Visit pottery or weaving workshops, markets, and Quechua villages where highland Indians tend their fields and sell handcrafts in outdoor markets. Walk through Ollantaytambo a living Inca village and former Inca temple and fortress, one of the few places where the Spanish were defeated in their conquest. Here we can see Inca canchas, enclosures of multi-family living quarters that share just one exit to the street, ingenious stonework, cobblestone streets, and an extensive communal water delivery system that is used to this day. Lunch will be enjoyed at a local restaurant featuring exceptional Nuevo Andino cuisine. Return to Cusco and overnight at the Garden House Hotel.

*Note: A pre-trek briefing will be held this evening at Green’s Organic restaurant near the Plaza de Armas. The meeting will last approximately 45 minutes to ensure that all travelers are prepared and ready to depart for the mountains tomorrow. Afterwards we will have 2 hours in central Cusco to enjoy dinner (on your own) before our transfer collects us for return to Garden House Hotel at approximately 10:00 PM.

Accomodations: The Garden House Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Soraypampa, Salkantay Lodge

Pick up at 8 am in Cuzco and drive 3.5 hours to the Salkantay Lodge our base for two nights (11,800’). En route we visit the impressive Inca ruins of Tarawasi, a center for Inca rituals representing the finest masonry built with highly polished granite. Stop in at the mountain village of Mollepata near the trail head where you can begin hiking on a local trail or continue by car on a winding mountain track leading into to the spectacular valley of Soraypampa. The Salkantay Lodge takes its name from the majestic peak at the head of the valley, the most sacred peak in Inca mythology and at 20,574’, the highest in the region. An evening briefing around the fire is followed by aperitifs and dinner. Overnight Salkantay Lodge at 3,600m/11,800 ft.

*Note: Due to the logistics of carrying gear by pack animals and weight restrictions on Peru Rail, individual luggage weight should not exceed 33 lbs – 22 lbs to be carried by pack animals in a soft-sided travel bag and 11 lbs in your day pack. You are invited to leave other belongings in separate luggage for storage in Cusco. We provide a detailed packing list for this tour to Peru upon receipt of your reservation.

Accomodations: Salkantay Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Soraypampa

The high Andean valley of Soraypampa is a spectacular place for a free day to acclimatize on site walking around the meadow, photographing the unimpeded view of Mt. Salkantay and visiting with local people, or head out with a local guide to hike up to a spectacular alpine lake and viewpoint. A pack lunch is available for those choosing to venture out for the day. Prepare for the start of our trek to Machu Picchu with an evening briefing about the next four days and we’ll experience a special “Pago a la Tierra” ceremony with a local Quechua shaman who will bless us all for a good journeys. Then enjoy a Jacuzzi soak under the southern constellations. Overnight Salkantay Lodge.

Accomodations: Salkantay Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Huayraccmachay, Huayra Lodge

5-6 hours hiking, 5 miles, 11,800-12,000 feet with a 14,700 ft pass
Today you begin the four-day Peru trek to Machu Picchu hiking up the Rio Blanco Valley approaching Humantay Peak across from Mt. Salkantay. The highest point on the trek is a pass at 4,470m (14,700ft) where you rest on the shores of Lake Salkantaycocha surrounded by views of snow-capped peaks of the Vilcabama Range in every direction. Descend toward Huayra Lodge to soak in the Jacuzzi under the stars. Overnight at Huayra Lodge.

Accomodations: Huayra Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Collpapampa, Colpa Lodge

3-4 hours hiking, 12,000-9200 feet

After a leisurely breakfast you continue downhill into the Colpapampa Valley descending into lush Andean cloud forest teeming with orchids, giant hummingbirds and beautiful views of endless valleys and waterfalls before us. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic spot along the way. Colpa Lodge is located in a lovely pasture amidst lush vegetation teaming with birds in this transition habitat between cloud forest and sub-tropical vegetation. In the afternoon you are invited into the homes in of a local Quechua Indian village that has benefited from the lodge by supplying much of the fresh food used during the trek. Dinner and overnight at Colpa Lodge.

Accomodations: Colpa Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Lucmabamba & Maychayhuaycco Village, Lucma Lodge

5-7 hours hiking, 7 miles, 9200-6900 feet
After a light breakfast at 6:30 AM, we begin an approximate two hour trek descending to the Santa Theresa river valley through populated rural areas with avocado orchards and coffee plantations as the terrain becomes more lush and tropical. At the village of Maychayhuaycco, we pause to visit the local elementary school, an educational project sponsored by Yanapana Peru. Yanapana Peru is a non-profit association created by the founders of our lodges that was established to reduce poverty and foster tourism-related growth in the communities impacted by the lodges. As a model for responsible and sustainable trips to Peru, Wildland Adventures is proud to support the work of Yanapana Peru and our trek includes a donation to their projects. After a question and answer session with a representative from the school, we share a late breakfast with the school children and have an opportunity to interact with them, playing soccer, dancing together or practicing our Spanish and Quechua!

Mid-day we bid farewell to the school children and meet the vehicle that takes us on a short drive to the trail-head of an original Inca Trail protected by the Ministry of Culture from which point it is a short walk to Lucma Lodge, set in a tropical wooded enclave surrounded by avocado groves and lush coffee plantations. Often you’ll visit with native Quechua members of the local community who are small scale farmers, producing what is considered by some to be one of the finest shade-grown coffees in the world. Overnight Lucma Lodge.

Accomodations: Lucma Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Inca Trail & Llactapata Ruins Complex

5-6 hours hiking/5 miles, 6900 – 8000 feet

Fit and acclimated, rise early to tackle the last day of our Peru trek to Machu Picchu, heading uphill for 3- 4 hours through lush cloud forest over the Pallayata Pass (2,600m/8,500ft). This is one of the most beautiful protected remnants of an Inca Trail trek that leads to the recently discovered and incredibly extensive Inca ruins complex of Llactapata. Thought to have been the primary residential complex for workers who built Machu Picchu, it is located just 4 1⁄2 km across a deep chasm with spectacular views of Machu Picchu’s legendary Watchman’s Tower. We explore Llactapata including the sun temple, residential areas, and remnants still unexcavated just as Hiram Bingham stumbled upon them in 1912. Descend a winding trail to the Urubamba River through lush bamboo forests, crossing a long, hanging bridge under the gushing waterfall of the hydroelectric station where the trail opens up at the railway line. Hop the rail for a short ride up the tracks to the village of Aguas Calientes to check into our hotel for the following two nights and celebrate the end of our trekking adventure! Overnight at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel at 8,000’.

Accomodations: Hotel Machu Picchu Pueblo

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Machu Picchu

Be among the first to arrive in Machu Picchu on one of the early shuttle buses up to the site. Our expert guide will accompany us on an orientation walk through the mysterious maze of streets and stone buildings of this magnificent site including the temples of Inca royalty and the Intiwatana, the ancient stone sun dial. Enjoy the rest of the day to hike the towering Huayna Picchu peak (hiking permits included) and explore and photograph the most impressive archaeological monument in the Andes at your own pace. Overnight at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel.

Accomodations: Hotel Machu Picchu Pueblo

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Machu Picchu - Return To Cusco

Bus tickets and entrance fees are included though you’ll enjoy half a day on your own to visit the Machu Picchu Sanctuary for a second time, exploring the maze-like temples and complexes at your own pace. Or opt to relax and have a morning spa treatment (not included). In the afternoon we depart Machu Picchu via train and connect by private vehicle to arrive Cusco in the early evening. Overnight at the Garden House Hotel.

Accomodations: The Garden House Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 11: Paucartambo Village Virgen Del Carmen Festival

Leaving our larger luggage at the hotel, we continue our Peru adventure on a 3-hour through the heart of the Andes, traveling to the Quechua village of Paucartambo for the Virgen del Carmen celebration on July 16. The festival merriment is in full swing, and crowds gather in the streets. Accompanied by local guides, we gain special access to the homes where the dancers prepare for their performances, perfect the elaborate costumes and practice in anticipation of the procession. Most of this beautiful town consists of stately white colonial buildings, with its balconies, doors and window frames painted a deep blue. A unique fountain in the middle of the town is filled with brass statues depicting humorous Andean personalities. Our camp is set in a quiet area outside of town where camp staff sets up kitchen and dining tents with private tents for two people, sleeping pads, sleeping bags and a latrine. Overnight in full- service camp.

Wildland Adventures Virgin del Carmen Festival video

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Paucartambo Village Virgen Del Carmen Festival

Thousands of devotees gather today in honor of the Virgen del Carmen, known locally as Mamacha Carmen, patron saint of the mestizo population. Today, on July 16, the virgin is borne aloft in a procession to bless those present and scare away demons to protect the village for another year. The costumed devils take to the rooftops, cast away by the virgin, and all the dancing troupes proudly parade behind the statue as local people toss rose pedals through the air crying with joy. At the end of the procession the demons are banished and the faithful emerge in triumph. Overnight in full-service camp.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Return To Cusco Or Depart For manu

This morning we make our way to the cemetery where representatives from surrounding communities come in procession accompanied by their band of Andean musicians to render homage to the souls of the dead. For travelers returning home tomorrow, return to Cusco by comfortable bus. You’ll arrive at the Garden House Hotel in the early afternoon and will have the balance of the day at your leisure to venture into Cusco on your own for shopping, photography or relaxation.

Optional Extension: Explore the Amazon lowlands of southern Peru traveling over the Andes through the cloud forest and into the lowland Amazon rainforest to Manu National Park and the Manu Biosphere Region, one of the most biologically diverse regions of the Earth and one of the best wildlife viewing areas in all of the Amazon. This 7-night journey is escorted by Wildland Adventures Peru program director and explores a vast array of ecosystems found nowhere else on the planet in such close proximity. For more information on this extension, please see our Manu National Park Anniversary Extension.

Accomodations: The Garden House Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 14: Departure

Transfer from the Garden House Hotel to the Cusco airport in time for your flight to Lima. For additional services in Lima such as transfers, city tours or hotel nights, Wildland is happy to assist. Otherwise commence independent arrangements and international departure.