STARTING POINT
Start: Day 1 at 04:00 at the square Regocijo.
End: Day 4 around midnight in Cusco.
GUIDE’S LANGUAGE
ITINERARY
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Day 1: Cusco – Piscacucho – Ayapata (12 km, 6 hours)
We will pick you up early in the morning at the hotel or pick you up at the square Regocijo to start a trip to Ollantaytambo, where we will stop for breakfast (not included). Then, we will return to our vehicle to go to Piscacucho, a place better known as km 82, from where the trekking begins. After the last preparations and organization, we will start walking to pass through the first checkpoint, to show the ticket and our IDs. We will cross the Vilcanota River, following a relatively easy route, since we are at low altitude. We will begin to see part of the landscape and the first ruins along the way. We will have a great panoramic view of the Quechua fortress of Huilca Raccay, the ruins of Llactapata, the Urubamba mountain range and the Veronica mountain, 5860 m high. After 6 hours of hiking, depending on the pace of the group, we will arrive at our first campsite, Ayapata, which is near Wayllabamba village, to have dinner and rest in our tents for the first night.
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Day 2: Ayapata – Runkuraqay (16 km, 8 hours)
We will get up early in the morning to have breakfast and then begin the ascent to the highest part of the trek, the Abra Warmihuañusca or Dead Woman’s Pass, at 4200 m altitude. From this last place, after resting and taking the corresponding photographs, we will begin the descent to Pacaymayu, at 3550 m altitude, where we will have our lunch. After lunch, we will begin a steep climb of 2 hours to the Runkurakay pass, at 4000 m altitude, where our second camp is located. We will rest from how demanding the day can be and prepare for dinner and then sleep in our tents.
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Day 3: Runkurakay – Puyupatamarca – Wiñay Wayna (10 km, 5 hours)
We will get up for breakfast and then begin the day’s hike to visit the archaeological site of Puyupatamarca, at 3680 m altitude. It should be noted that as we continue we will have privileged views of the mountains and canyons that surround the area. Also, we will be able to see Intipata, an agricultural site with very well maintained terraces. After 5 hours of hiking, we will arrive at our next campsite, Wiñay Wayna, at 2680 m altitude, just at lunch time. During the afternoon, we can walk a few meters to the archaeological site of Wiñay Wayna, impressive ruins where we can walk around and take pictures. Then, we will return to the camp to have dinner and rest.
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Day 4: Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco (5 km, 2 hours)
After breakfast, we will leave camp very early in the morning to begin the hike that will take us to the citadel of Machu Picchu. The trek is relatively short compared to what we would be doing the previous days, but we must consider that the idea is to reach the Inti Punku or Sun Gate (2730 m altitude) before sunrise, in order to see the first rays of the sun over Machu Picchu. After this experience, we will continue the last stretch to reach the citadel itself, where we will take a guided tour of approximately 1 hour and a half, in which we will learn more about the mysterious history of this archaeological site. Afterwards, we will have time to walk around on our own and take pictures in the places that caught our attention. If you included the ascent to any mountain, Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu, in your ticket, you must coordinate with your guide so that he gives you the last indications before doing that activity and make the most of the time during your turn. Once our shift is over, we will go to Aguas Calientes, where we will meet again with our guide during lunch, so that he can give us our train tickets. Those who decide to stay in Aguas Calientes for the night (not included), will be able to take advantage of the hot springs and be more rested before returning to Cusco, while the rest of the group will only have free time until it is time to report to the station, half an hour before the departure of the train that will take us to Ollantaytambo. There, there will be a vehicle to transport us to the center of Cusco.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Transfer:
- Shared transportation in vehicle from Cusco to Piscacucho.
- Shared transportation by bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
- Shared transportation by Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
- Shared transportation by vehicle from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.
Lodging:
- 1st night at Ayapata camp (shared double tent).
- 2nd night in Runkurakay camp (shared double tent).
- 3rd night in Wiñay Wayna camp (double shared tent).
Meals:
- Breakfast (every day except the first day).
- Lunch (every day except the last one).
- Dinner (every day, except the last one).
Camping equipment:
- Tent.
- Thermal insulation.
- Dining tent with tables and chairs.
- Water (from the afternoon of the first day).
- Porters (for camping equipment and food).
- Bilingual guide (Spanish and English).
- Entrance ticket to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
- Breakfast on the first day.
- Lunch and dinner on the last day.
- Sleeping bag (US$ 35 per person).
- Inflatable mattress (US$ 25 per person).
- Trekking poles.
- Extra porter for luggage (US$ 120 for 4 days for 14 kg per person).
- Medical insurance.
- Tips (optional).
What to bring:
- Backpack of maximum 40 liters to carry only what is necessary, since you will have to carry it during the whole trip.
- Waterproof backpack cover.
- Sleeping bag.
- Trekking poles (recommended).
- First layer (T-shirts and synthetic pants).
- Short sleeve and long sleeve T-shirts.
- Warm jacket.
- Waterproof clothing (jacket and pants, or rain coat).
- Synthetic underwear.
- Towel.
- Trekking shoes.
- Beach sandals.
- Hat and gloves for the cold.
- Sun hat.
- Sunglasses.
- Personal toiletries.
- Toilet paper.
- Sun block.
- Insect repellent.
- Headlamp.
- External battery.
- Water (1 liter for the first morning).
- Snacks.
- At least S/. 200 for expenses not included in the trekking.
Restrictions:
- Minimum age required to do the activity is 12 years old.
- Not allowed for pregnant women.
RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIGATIONS
- Machu Picchu Tour Services S.A.C. is an agency that operates its tours directly and also hires the services of other operating companies according to the type of service requested by the client, to ensure the best possible service. These service providers are independent of the company and have been previously approved, the company has no direct control over them.
- The payment of the reservation of our tours implies acceptance of the terms and conditions detailed and covers our services and all participants in them.
- The company will provide the passenger with all tickets and/or booking confirmations through the passenger’s e-mail address provided in the booking form.
- The services provided through the company’s system are intangible, therefore if the passengers for any reason do not take the services on the scheduled date and time, they will be responsible for the total cost of these.
- Situations beyond our control that cause the operation of our tours to not develop normally due to strikes, protests, political movements, in case of declaration of a state of emergency, border closures, accidents, flight cancellations, weather conditions, or any other public act beyond the control of the company, which could not be foreseen, possible solutions will be suggested to try to operate the scheduled program, however customers accept and acknowledge that the company has no responsibility for the non-provision of the services offered. Likewise, in these cases, the value of the contracted service will not be refundable.
CANCELLATION, RESCHEDULING AND REFUND POLICIES
- The company is not responsible for cancellations made by the client 45 days or less before the start date of the contracted service, which will be penalized with 100% per passenger.
- Failure to appear on the day and at the time indicated for the provision of the contracted service has a penalty of 100%.
- If the client does not pay the total balance of the trip within the agreed time, there is no refund of 50% of the deposit paid for administrative expenses per passenger.
- For any cancellation, by the client, between 70 and 45 days before the start date of the contracted service will be penalized with 50% of the value of the program per passenger.
- For any cancellation, by the client, between 90 and 70 days before the start date of the contracted service, a penalty of US $ 25 will be applied for administrative expenses per passenger.
- For any rescheduling, by the client, 45 days or less before the start date of the contracted service, the request will be accepted as long as the client has no outstanding balances to pay, and there is no fare difference for the new rescheduling date.
- The clients accept that Machu Picchu Tour Services S.A.C. has no responsibility for the non-provision of the services offered in case of adverse weather conditions or natural disasters that cannot be foreseen. Likewise, it recognizes that there will be no responsibility in case of political movements, accidents, declaration of state of emergency, border closures, strikes or any other public act beyond the control of Machu Picchu Tour Services S.A.C. that could not be foreseen. In these cases, the value of the contracted service will not be refundable.
- Refunds will only be effective when the client requests it more than 90 days before the start date of the contracted service or when the company is unable to provide the contracted service, in the latter case, the company will not pay more than 100% of the amount paid by the client. Refunds will be provided in a period of no less than 30 working days and no more than 120 working days, discounting transaction costs, if any.
- In the event that the passenger does not decide to complete any of the contracted services, the difference will not be refundable.
