Down to earth holidays

Description

This is an excellent adventure holiday which introduces you to the culture and heritage of modern and ancient Peru. It is an active itinerary for those of us who like to get out and do some trekking in this spectacular mountain scenery. Travel to the heart of the Inca empire and trek on the ancient mountain paths many of which were originally used by the Incas!

In Cusco, high in the Andes, your brush with Incan culture begins. This is the historical capital of the Incan Empire. Even today you can see walls made of huge interlocking granite stones which were carved so precisely that no mortar was needed to keep them together. And many of the city's buildings are built on the foundations of Inca buildings, such as Korikancha and the cathedral. But you don't just come here for the fascinating past, you also come for the vibrant and colourful present. Cusco is a bit of a ‘mecca' for travellers, and is an exciting place to be. Enjoy the bars and restaurants, watch the Quechuan people go by in indigenous dress, and even bump into the odd llama. The shopping here is excellent too, so be warned!

About an hour's drive out of Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas was probably called this because of its great fertility. The Urubamba Valley (as it is officially known) was the bread basket of the area, and actually still is. You can still see people working the terraced hillsides which have been farmed like this for hundreds of years. It is a very scenic area with lots of small traditional villages. This is where we will start three days of high altitude trekking, passing through small communities and getting the most amazing panoramic views of the moutain ranges and the Sacred Valley below. The trekking section ends at Ollantaytambo which was one of the Inca's last strongholds, and today it retains superbly preserved ruins.

But of course the jewel of Incan heritage is the famous ruins of Machu Picchu. A tour of the ancient city will undoubtedly be one of the most unforgettable parts of your holiday. Arriving by train at the small town of Machu Picchu (formerly called Aguas Calientes) at the foot of the mountain on which Machu Picchu itself stands, you then take a zig-zag bus journey up to the ruins. Enjoy the spectacle of this magical set of ruins in this dramatic mountain landscape, explore the city with a guide to get all the history and hearsay, then come back and just wander around and soak up the magical atmosphere.

Your last stop is Lima. This is a busy modern city, but has an interesting historical quarter which is well worth exploring if you have the time. Miraflores with its mix of trendy bars and shops is a popular place to hang out and watch the world go by, before you return home.

Detailed Itinerary

1. DAY 1 (Thurs): Depart the UK on the day flight to Lima (if selected). You'll be met on arrival and taken to your hotel.
2. DAY 2 (Fri): This morning you will be driven back to the airport for the short flight to Cusco (approximately 1 hour). On arrival you'll be met and transferred to your hotel which is within easy walking distance of the centre of this lively and bustling city. We have left the rest of the day free, allowing you to do as much or as little as you like. If you just want to take it easy at the hotel that's fine. Alternatively you can indulge in our optional culinary tour and get your first true taste of Peru! B
3. DAY 3 (Sat): You have a free morning to relax, further explore Cusco or maybe go shopping. In the afternoon you'll join a tour of Cusco which will give you some insight into the history of this remarkable town and will take in the main sites within the town such as Korikancha (The Sun Temple) and the Cathedral, and the nearby Inca ruins such as Sacsayhuaman and Tambomachay. B
4. DAY 4(Sun): Another free day in Cusco. Why not join our optional tour to Chinchero village, the salt pans at Maras and the bizarre circles at Moray which are thought to be an agricultural station. It's Sunday and the market at Chincheero is full on. B
5. DAY 5 (Mon): It is about an hour and a half's drive down to the Sacred Valley where your trekking itinerary begins. You start with a short 20 minutes walk from Pomatale Bridge to an Inca temple called Chokekilla. It's located on the side of a mountain where there are lots of stone terraces. You'll be given an introduction to the Inca's beliefs of the relationship betwen the cosmos and the natural world. After this you will be taken to the start of the trail which is just ten minutes away. The first section takes you to Soccma community where you will start to get an insight into Andean village life. We'll have a picnic lunch here and then continue trekking uphill to a lovely 100 mtr high waterfall at Piruchayo. The trek continues past the waterfall and on to our first camp at Piruchayoc. The views here are amazing, looking down to the Soccma Valley, the Maras plateau and the snow-capped mountain Chicon.
   Camp altitude: 2,900 metres
   Hiking distance: 7 kilometres uphill. About 5 to 6 hours hiking in total. B,L,D.
6. DAY 6 (Tues): Piruchayoc to Chancachuco. After breakfast we start to walk following an old Inca water channel. The trail takes us up through the Corimarca Valley, through the ancient terraces that are still used for crop-growing today. From the first pass we have a fabulous panoramic view of the Urubamba range dominated by Veronica and Chicon, and also to Ausangate, Pachatusan, Salcantay and to the fields of the Chincheros, Morey and Maras plateau. After a break and a snack we continue through the small valley of Chancachuco, where we will have lunch next to the Andean lake of Maracocha which feeds water into the Chancachuco stream through an 18 kilometer long Inca water channel. At this point we have the opportunity to see some interesting Andean birdlife such as Andean goose, Cara Cara, Andean flicker, and some of many raptors. After a rest and our picnic lunch we continue downhill to our next campsite. Another spectacular view! This time it's the snow peak Huayanay, located in the Vilcabamba range (North). We have the opportunity to visit a local family house whose economy is based on potato farming and breeding sheep.
   Camp altitude: 4,200 metres
   Hiking distance: 5 kilometres to the pass (4 hrs) then 4 kilometres to the camp (2 hrs). About 6 hours hiking in total. B,L,D.
7. DAY 7 (Wed):Chancachuco to Cachiccata. We start trekking to the second pass over the Apu Buena Negra from where we have a spectacular view of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the snow peaks of the Urubamba range. From the pass we hike downhill following the trail until we join the Inca water channel. From here we reach a temple called Intiwatana, on the edge of the Apu Alambre mountain. It is in front of the Veronica snow peak, and many offerings are made here. We also have a great view of Pakaritampu pyramid. Then we continue downhill to Choquetacarpo, an archaeological site, where we will have lunch. Then we will walk downhill to visit one of the biggest Inca quarries in the Cusco region, which once supplied stones for the town and fortress of Ollantaytambo. They would have been slid downhill and taken across the river to reach the fortress. We camp overnight at a great campsite owned by a group of young local people from Cachiccata community.
   Camp altitude: 2,750 metres. Second Pass altitude: 4,300 metres.
   Hiking distance: 8 kilometres. About 7 hours hiking in total. B,L,D.
8. DAY 8 (Thurs): To Machu Picchu! In the morning you can take a short hike around the community or just relax. You'll be boarding the train to the world famous site of Machu Picchu, 'the city in the clouds' and your opportunity to explore this ancient Inca city. Discovered as recently as 1911, Machu Picchu will not fail to impress. You will have a guided tour of the citadel to help you understand just what this magical place is all about. You overnight in Aguas Calientas, at the foot of Machu Picchu. B
9. DAY 9 (Fri). A free morning - you can spend more time soaking up the atmosphere of Machu Picchu and taking shots to impress your friends back home (a second visit to the ruins is optional and the entry price is therefore not included). In the afternoon you'll take the train back to Cusco and your hotel. Maybe enjoy a sundowner in the Plaza da Armas and then have dinner in one of the city's many restaurants. B
10. DAY 10 (Sat): All day at leisure. What would you like to do? Maybe take in some more of the city sights, visit a museum or find a cafe and watch the world go by. Or if you are still looking for more active pursuits why not try our optional white water rafting or you could do a day's mountain biking making the most of this spectacular mountain location. B
11. DAY 11 (Sun): After breakfast you'll be taken to the airport for the morning flight to Lima, to connect with your onward overnight flight back to the UK (if selected). Depending on the flight timings you may like to take the optional city tour of Lima. Alternatively you can extend your trip in which case you would be continuing from Cusco to connect with our Arequipa, Lake Titicaca, or Amazon extensions. B