LUXURY INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 5D

Overview

Trekking to Machu Picchu is a dream of many in the world; explore the legendary Inca trail has always been considered in the wishing list of visitor to Peru. Now you can experience escorted by expert guides and porters who will take care of moving the equipment which allows you to trek in comfort.

Our Luxury Inca Trail is one of the most handsome and most fascinating treks in Peru; this trek is spectacular and offers some magnificent views of Mt Salcantay, the Vilcabamba Mountain range and the great “Aobamba” valley and in general the awesome mountain scenery; the trail features some striking vegetation changes ranging from forest, grassland, heath to moorland. The fast ascend by walk to 4,200 m / 13,977 fts  will require additional acclimatization, after which it will be possible to reach to Machu Picchu.

In the 5-day Luxury Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, everyone takes their own time and will visit every Inca site along the route. Luxury Inca Trail is highly recommended for inexperienced customers and for families interested to have an experience of a lifetime. The TREKKING to Machu Picchu is considered as one of the seventh most beautiful treks in the world; it leads through the protected wild nature of the Peruvian Andes and the cloud forest, passes several archeological Inca sights and offers impressive views.

5-Day Luxury Inca Trail initiates when we pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and drive for four hours to the village of Pisqhakucho known as the km 82 followed by scenic cultural and natural sightseeing. The adventure continues with four days trekking over the mountains and through the cloud forest and one full day will be dedicated to explore the stunning Machu Picchu.

Highlights

• Hike the 45 km or 26 miles of the famous trek to Machu Picchu
• Beautiful and special Inca ruins along the way
• Guided tour in every Inca archaeological site along the Inca Trail
• Your first sight of Machu Picchu from Inti Punku (the Sun Gate)
• Many photo opportunities
• Experience the Sunset and sunrise over Machu Picchu (If weather allows)
• Top quality service

At a Glance

• Location: The trek begins about 3 hours from Cusco in the zone of Pisaqhakucho known as the Kilometre 82, near Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
• Timing: 5 days/ 4 nights
• Level: Moderate, though still difficult if you have average fitness.
• Departure Dates: Any date with two people.
• Acclimatization: Minimum 2 days at recommended altitude.
• When to go: The best time to visit is from April until november, it’s the busy season (especially June to August), but it’s also the dry season.
• Altitude:  The Inca Trail begins at 2,750 masl/8,875 ft and the maximum altitude is  4,200 masl /13,818 ft. “Warmiwañusqha” or Dead Woman pass.
• Temperatures: From minus 4ºC to 28ºC.

Short Trek itinerary

Day 1: Easy trekking day:

4-hour bus journey from Cusco to Km. 82 (starting point) and trek 11km through stunning valley. Today, we will visit Patallacta Inca ruins.

Day 2: The hardest day because the highest pass – 4,200m

Enjoy the most puzzling section of the Inca trail because we will arrive to the highest point: Dead woman pass (4,200 m / 13,779 fts).

Day 3: Beautiful trekking day

13 km of trek over the Andes with spectacular landscape; we will visit Runkuraqhay and Sayacmarka Inca ruins.

Day 4: Reach Machu Picchu for sunset

Enjoy trekking through the cloud forest observing different types of flowers, birds, and hummingbirds.

Day 5: Explore Machu Picchu and return to Cusco

Very early, we’ll will visit the Stunning Machu Picchu; in the afternoon, we will return to Cusco.

Day to Day Trek Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Piskacucho (km. 82) –  Patallacta – Huayllabamba

The Luxury Inca Trail to Machu Picchu starts once we pick you up from your hotel in Cscuo and we travel in our private bus to km 82 (the starting point of the Trek); the bus journey will be approximately 4 hours; we will stop in the town of Ollantaytambo to purchase some items for the trek like: water, cookies, etc. Then, we’ll continue to the control point.

From Pisqhacucho or Km 82, the Inca trail crosses the bridge and starts with a short up by the left site of Urubamba river; then, we’ll continue through spectacular Andean valley passing small communities where people maintaining their traditions.

After a 3-hour of trekking, we will arrive to Llcatapata (Up city) a very impressive Inca town with 100 rooms located on top of Inca terraces which probably was used by one of the Inca’s Curaca or local representative of the main Inca.

From the Inca ruins of Llactapata, the route turns to the left and continues gradually up by the right site of the Cusichaca River (tributary of the Urubamba). We’ll continue the trek and we will arrive to Huayllabamba (3,000 m / 9,840 fts) here, we will set up our camp.

• Meals Included: L & D.
• Accommodation: Double occupancy camping tent.
• Maximum Altitude: 3,000 m / 9,840 fts.
• Minimum Altitude:  2,750 m / 9,022 fts.
• Distance Travelled: 11 km / 6.8 mls.
• Approximate walking time: 6 – 7 hours.

Day 2: Huayllbamba – Dead Woman Pass – Pacaymayo

After breakfast in the camp, we start walking at 7:30am; we’ll continue walking towards the challenging point of Dead Women’s Pass (Warmiwañusca 4,200 m / 13,997 fts), the highest point. This is our longest day, but one rewarded with spectacular views down several valleys and up the surrounding snow-covered peaks like “La Veronica” (5,750 m /18,860 fts), “Wayanay” (5,640 m / 18,500 fts) “Qesqa” (5,570 m / 18,270 fts).

From Huayllabamba camp the trail continues up to Yunkachimpa that takes you 1: 30 hours, where you can stop to purchase some waters or energy drinks;  then, the trail continues zigzag up through “Wayruru” Valley where you can enjoy mountain forest with impressive water falls,  this mountain forest is formed by native trees called Qeuñas  or polileypies; the trail ascend steeply uphill through the “Wayruru” Valley to the Llulluchayoc Zone where you can see several species of birds with luck, we’ll see hummingbirds, falcons and black-chested buzzard eagles; here our lunch will be served.

After the lunch and well deserved rest, Then we’ll continue the trekkking for two hours along a large number of steps, some of them newly laid to protect the mountain from erosion. You can walk at your own pace, stopping to catch your breath whenever you like. This last hard climb brings us to Dead Woman’s Pass 4,200 m / 13,997 fts. Once the full group arrives to the pass, we’ll take a rest break before starting a steep descent into the Paqhaymayo Valley on the other side where our camp will be set up.

• Meals Included:  B, L & D.
• Accommodation: Double occupancy camping tent.
• Maximum Altitude: 3,000 m / 9,840 fts.
• Minimum Altitude:  4,200 m / 13,997 fts.
• Distance Travelled: 11 km / 6.8 mls
• Approximate walking time: 7 – 8 hours.

Day 3: Pacaymayo – Rukuraqhay  – Phuyupatamarca

Exceptionally beautiful day because there are many XV century Inca ruins to explore and incredible stone paved Inca trail is for today, also a lot of birds and flowers to see.

At 07:00 a.m will be our breakfast and continue the second ascent; we will stop at the ruins of Runkuraqhay (Round shaped balcony) which probably where used by the Inca massagers or runners (The Chaskis).

Runkuraqhay is located a bit below the Runkuraqhay Pass (4,000 m / 13,120 fts) or the second pass; from here in clear weather, you can look back to the Dead Woman’s Pass and forward to a breathtaking sweep of snowcapped peaks, these includes the 6,500 m / 21, 300 fts of Pumasillo (Puma’s Claw) massive mountain.

From the second pass, most of the trail is downhill or gently undulating until we reach the impressive Inca ruins of Sayacmarka, discovered in 1915 by Mr. Hiram Bingham. After some exploration of the ruins we’ll continue walk for 20-minutes until the zone of Chakicocha where our lunch will be served. Then, we’ll continue gently undulating stone paved trail for two hours through beautiful landscape until our camp in “Puyupatamarca”.

• Meals Included: B, L & D.
• Accommodation: Double occupancy camping tent.
• Maximum Altitude: 4,000 m / 13,120 fts.
• Minimum Altitude:  3,600 m / 11,800 fts.
• Distance Travelled: 13 km / 8 mls
• Approximate walking time: 7-8 hours

Day 4: Phuyupatamarka – Wiñaywayna – Machu Picchu – “Aguas Calientes” Town

Our stroll along the Inca Trail leads us to the cloud forest, Here is where begins the Amazon Jungle. After breakfast we will visit the Inca ruins of Phuyupatamarka (Phuyupatamarka means the town in the clouds); then we’ll descend the original Inca trail with several steps until we arrive the zone of Wiñaywayna a spectacular place to explore and visit, we’ll have an early lunch to continue the last part of our trek toward Intipunku or the Sun gate. The Sun gate is the principal entrance to Machu Picchu.

We will arrive in a perfect time to see and enjoy the sunset at Machu Picchu and surrounded mountains. After this amazing time, we’ll continue to a bus stop to board the bus and continue to the town of “Aguas Calientes” . the bus journey will be for 30 minutes. One we arrive to Aguas Calientes we’ll have accommodation in the hotel, there is time to go to the hot springs to relax.

• Meals included: B, L & D.
• Accommodation: Double occupancy camping tent.
• Maximum Altitude: 3,600 m / 11,800.
• Minimum Altitude:  2,400 m / 7,800 fts.
• Distance Travelled: 10 km / 6.2 mls.
• Approximate walking time: 7-8 hours.

Day 5: “Aguas Calientes” – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Today will be dedicated to explore this extraordinary Inca treasure – Machu Picchu!… Early in the morning, we will take the first bus to see the sunrise at the Machu Picchu. Our expert guide will take you on a relaxing tour.

During the tour you’ll visit the most important sites of Machu Picchu and you’ll have plenty of time to take pictures. Later in the afternoon, we’ll take the train back to Cusco; arrive there in the evening after which you will be transferred to your hotel.

• Meals included: Breakfast in the Hotel

Luxury Inca Trail Includes

• Transportation:Transfer from your hotel in our tourist bus to Piscakucho (km 82), starting point of the TREK. Bus up and down from Machu Picchu to “Aguas Calientes”. Tourist train expeditions class from Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo. Transfer from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco.
• Camping Equipment:We provide four people capacity tent for two people, brand new four season tents, therm-a-rest, dinning room tent, kitchen tent, toiled tent, seats, tables, tent for guides and porters, cooking gear, backpacks for the porters, warm clothes for the porters and life insurance for the porters.
• Meals:4 breakfasts, 4 hot lunches, 4 hot dinners and delicious meals prepared by professional chef food includes pancakes, omelets, soups, fresh fruit, avocado, pasta, chicken, fish, meat, rice, all rich in carbohydrates and suitable for trekking, hot drinks including coca leaf tea which is excellent for the altitude. Teatime everyday (tea, coffee, biscuits, popcorn), we offer vegetarian option, we provide available boil water each morning for your water bottles.
• Entrace Fees:for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu… Inca Trail Permits provided by “Sunrise Peru Trek”
• Guide:English-speaking professional guides, 2 guides over 8 people.
• –Professional chef and Chef Assistants.
• General Porters:For camping equipment, food and cooking gear.
• Extra Porter:To carry your personal items (6kg) in duffel bags that we provide.
• Others:Hot water every morning and evening before and after the trek for washing purposes; First aid kit and emergency oxygen bottle.

Excluded

• Breakfast:Breakfast on the first morning; Some hotels offer early morning breakfast. If not, we’re gonna stop at the town of Ollantaytambo on the way to the starting point of the trek where you can have breakfast and buy some items that you need for the trek.
• Meals:Lunch in the town of “Aguas Calientes” on the final day, you must consider a budget from 15.00 to $25.00 USD for this meal. Entrance to the thermal baths in “Aguas Calientes” (optional) $6.00 USD.
• Sleeping Bag:Can be rented in our office for $20.00 USD for the entire trek (every sleeping bag is washed prior to each use).
• Tips for the staff.

PRICE INFORMATION

Daily Departure
Minimum 2 persons

Luxury Inca Trail Optional Extras:

• Sleeping Bag US$25
• Walking Pole US$10
• Single Tent Supplement US$30

PRIVATE TREK SERVICE PRICE:

• 2  people $990 USD PP
• 3  people $940 USD PP
• 4  people $910 USD PP
• 5  people $880 USD PP
• 6 + people $850 USD PP

HOTEL IN AGUAS CALIENTES

HOSTEL PRESIDENTE  OR SIMILAR
Address: Agua Calientes town – Cusco
Rating: 3 star
Web: http://hostalpresidente.com/rooms.html

This is the Hotel that included for Luxury Inca Trail

FACILITIES

• Restaurant (open to public for breakfast, lunch and dinner)
• Bar-Cafeteria
• Telephones with international and national dial up
• Fax services
• Luggage porters
• Laundry service

Payment Facts

For Luxury Inca Trail, we will require a non-refundable trek deposit of $300 USD per person. The deposit can be sent by a WESTERN UNION or to our BANK ACCOUNT by money transfer. This is the fastest and most secure form of payment in Peru.

The money transfer should be in the name of “SUNRISE PERU TREK TOUR OPERATOR E.I.R.L”. Once you arrive in Cusco, you must pay the remaining balance in cash prior to beginning your tour. We accept both US Dollars and Peruvian Soles (local currency).

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS THAT WILL HELP ON LUXURY INCA TRAIL

Please read carefully the following information; it will help with your questions about our services and the trek to Machu Picchu”

THE TOUR BRIEFING

It will take place the night before the trekking departure at 6pm or 7pm at our office or in your hotel.

CAN I STORE MY LUGGAGE AT YOUR OFFICE?

Of course! During the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu your main luggage can be stored at our office or at your hotel in Cusco, both are for free.

HOW TO BOOK THE TOUR

To book your Luxury Inca Trail, we need the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT):
Personal information (name, last name, same as on your passport);Gender;Passport number;D.O.B (dd / mm / yyyy);Nationality.We then request a deposit: In order to confirm a space (Permit) for the Inca Trail, a deposit of USD $250.00 per person is required. The deposit can be sent via PAYPAL… The linck you’ll find in our website.

MAY I CHANGE THE DEPARTURE DATE AFTER THE TICKETS HAVE BEEN BOUGHT?

Unfortunately the answer is “No”. Once the tickets have been bought the government does not allow any changes, so we can’t change any departure dates. Tickets are neither transferable nor refundable.
*** If you cancel your Inca Trail Trek, the deposit is not refundable at all!

DO I NEED MY ORIGINAL PASSPORT ON THE INCA TRAIL??

OF COURSE! You have to bring your original passport and it is very important that it is the same passport number that you sent to us to book your Inca Trail permit. The rangers check each day and also when you enter Machu Picchu. The train company will check your passport before allowing you to board the train. In case you are renewing your passport, go ahead and send us your old number to secure your permit, we can make the changes when you get your new passport number…if so, please send the new passport number as soon as possible.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THERE PER GROUP?

For Luxury Inca Trail tour, the maximum group size is 8 persons. Usually our groups are between 2-8 persons. SUNRISE PEREU TREK Specializes in SMALL; PRIVATE groups and provides a personalized service.

HOW MANY COOKS/PORTERS FOR THE GROUP?

You will have 1 cook per group. The number of porters depends of the size of the group. For a group of 2 trekkers, there will have 4 porters, 4 trekkers will have 6 porters, 6 trekkers will have 9 porters, 8 trekkers will have 12 porters.

HIKING TO MACHU PICCHU

Fort Luxury Inca Trail, the evening before you start your trek, you will be given a SMALL DUFFLE BAG to pack your clothes for the next four days. Your weight allowance is up to 6kg/12p. Your team of porters will carry your duffle bag for you, together with the food and camping gear. It’s important to be aware, that you will not have access to your items in the duffle bag until the end of each day, as the porters will always be ahead of the group.

During the trek, you need a day backpack big enough to carry your personal belongings such as a warm jacket, a rain jacket, your camera, sunscreen, snacks, water, etc. Usually a 30 to 50 litre backpack is sufficient.

ARE THERE TOILETS ON THE TRAIL?

Toilets have improved a lot in the last couple of years and all of the larger campsites have toilet blocks with flush toilets and running water.

ARE WE GOING TO BE DROPPED AT OUR HOTEL AFTER THE TREK?

Absolutely!! Included in the package and on the last day we will drop you at your hotel! If you have booked your hotel in the Sacred Valley like Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, we will drop you there too!
If you spend the night at Ollantaytambo before the trek, for sure we will pick you up!

AT WHAT TIME IS THE TRAIN DEPARTURE?

It will depend on the train’s availability BUT the idea is to give you as much time as possible in Machu Picchu and enjoy the amazing views on the way back to Cusco from the train. Therefore you will take the train at 4:22pm. With this train schedule, you will have more than 9 hours for Machu Picchu

WHY THE INCA TRAIL IS BETTER THAN THE OTHERS?

The Inca Trail is the only trek that leads you directly up to the Sun Gate, having the first amazing view of Machu Picchu. This trail has also a historical significance because along the Inca Trail, you will explore many religious Inca Cities and it will take you through many different microclimates, offering amazing views of the Andes, the valleys, the waterfalls, the flora and fauna.

HOW MANY DAYS DO I NEED TO ACCLIMATE BEFORE THE TREK?

It is really important to be well acclimated to the altitude before exerting yourself on a trek. We do recommend that you arrive in Cuzco at least 2 days before the trek departs to help you become acclimatized to the altitude and avoid possible problems with altitude illness while on trek. All treks from Cuzco gain altitude quickly on the first day(s) with some treks gaining more than 1000m in altitude in a single day and it is important to be well acclimatized before commencing the trek.

It is advisable to have two full days in Cuzco to recover from your travel and to do at least one day hike to higher altitudes help with acclimatization. We can organize day hikes & other tours around Cuzco for you. If you have already been in another area of Peru at high altitude before arriving in Cuzco, we still recommend you have a complete day in Cuzco to rest, recover from your travel and enjoy the sights and sounds of Cuzco before departing for the trek.

To avoid altitude sickness on the trek, we recommend that you spend time in Cusco or in the Sacred Valley. If you have never been in high altitude, we recommend that you spend a day in the Sacred Valley because it is at lower altitude than Cusco city.

ESSENTIAL INFO FOR 5-DAY LUXURY INCA TRAIL

Dear customer, please read the following information carefully; this will help answer your questions about our services.

Your Arrival in Cusco

You will be met at the Cusco airport and transferred to your hotel, make sure to let us know your flight details at least 14 days before your arrival. In the airport Look for our representative with a Blue “SPT Travel & Tours” sign at the exit of the arrival terminal.

The Briefing

Your briefing will take place the same day you arrive to Cusco, which will last for half hour; it will be in your hotel. During the briefing your guide will coordinate all detail of the trip and if you still have some questions you can do it here. As well you’ll pay the remining balance in cash (US$ dollars or Peruvian soles).

Can i store my luggage in your office?

Of course! During theTrek to Machu Picchu, your main luggage can be stored at our office or at your hotel, whichever is more convenient for you; both are free.

How to book the tour?

FIRST, to book a tour, you’ll need you to complete our booking form by clicking BOOK NOW on our home page or click the BOOK NOW link here.

Please be ready with the following information (FOR EACH PARTICIPANT in your group). We cannot purchase the permit without the following information:

• Personal information (your full name, exactly as in your passport):
• Gender
• Passport number
• Date of birth. (dd/mm/yyyy)
• Nationality
• We will need the passport of each participant at the time of booking. They must, in order, buy tickets.

SECOND, we require a deposit of 40% of the total cost of the tour and per person to purchase a permit, the train tickets and reserve hotels. You can make your deposit by clicking on PAYPAL symbols in our website.

What about the balance?

If you want to avoid high credit card fees in Peru, you can pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. There are many ATMs in the historic center to withdraw money. You can also pay with VISA or PAYPAL online, but you will have to pay a 5.5% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you must log in to your PAYPAL account and use our email address: sunrisetrek@gmail.com.

The Inca Trail Group

Maximum group size is 8 passengers. Passengers come from a range of countries worldwide (average of 3 nationalities per group) and many will be solo travellers. You will find you have many things in common with your fellow travellers, including a passion for discovery and a strong interest in exploring the National Parks. “SUNRISE PERU TREK” is designed for adults over 18 years old. While most passengers are aged 25-55, every year we get many people both above and below this age range.

All travellers over the age of 70 will be requested to complete a self-declaration of fitness form prior to travel. Our tours are a unique holiday experience and much of your enjoyment will come from the team spirit of your group and the fun you’ll have together, as well as from the local setting. We cannot stress strongly enough the importance of bringing a positive attitude with you on tour; a sure guarantee to enjoying each and every moment, even in the adversity of the odd rainstorm!

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)

Acute Mountain Sickness is also referred to as “Altitude Sickness”, and as the name indicates the illness is commonly encountered at exceptionally high altitudes, such as the summit area of the highest pass. AMS, once apparent, can be most effectively treated by immediately taking the affected person to a lower altitude. Often a drop as little as 500m will be sufficient. The symptoms of AMS include in the order normally experienced; headaches, nausea, anorexia, exhaustion, lassitude, rapid pulse, insomnia, swelling of the hands and feet and reduced urine output.

Trekkers can take precautions to at least minimize the severity of the illness, by maintaining a slow steady pace from day one, include an extra day of acclimatization at a high altitude and by drinking at least 3-4 liters of water every day. Preventative medicine is also available and you should consult your physician for specialist advice. Fluid build-up may cause a condition known as edema (or oedema), which can affect the lungs (pulmonary), preventing effective oxygen exchange, or affect the brain (cerebral) which will result in the swelling of the brain tissue.

The latter can be lethal if not treated immediately or if symptoms are ignored. Probably 40% of all people trekking the Inca trail will suffer to some extent from AMS. You should familiarize yourself with this condition and take preventative care. For more information on this sickness please click on the Action Guide to High Altitude.

Guides and Porters

Once on the Mountain, your well-equipped guides and porters will rank second only to your mental determination, in terms of important factors contributing to a successful Machu Picchu attempt. For the duration of your Inca Trail trek, your guide will be your advisor, he will lead you through the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, and he will bring you very safely. It will be important that you work closely with him and take note of his advice.

Porters and cook

The porters do not only transport your gear and the supplies up to the mountain. Arriving at every camp site long before you, they will have already erected your tent on your arrival. In the evening they will also boil drinking and washing water and the cook will prepare dinner of a quality that has surprised many previous clients.

CONTACT US

Should you encounter any difficulties meeting your transfer from the airport to the starting hotel, depending on which country you are in you can contact a SUNRISE PERU TREK representative on the following:

• Mauro Pedraza – Operations Manager
  Mobile: +(51) 984 734633
• Henrry Chauca – Operations
  Mobile: +(51) 950 313131
• Sharon Ovalle – SUNRISE PERU TREK Representatives Supervisor
  Mobile: +(51) 974 359484

Please remember if it is a genuine emergency, we of course want you to call us; however, if it can wait until the next day, we ask that you call during our office hours. Thank you.