Trip Highlights

Day 1-2 Fly to Lima, then to Cusco before taking van to Sacred Valley... Day 3 Visit ruins in Ollantaytambo... Day 4 Tour Pisac, visit Artisans Market... Day 5 Tour archeological sites of Tipon and Sacsayhuman; Shaman ceremony... Day 6 Group meeting for Inca Trail trek; free afternoon and evening... Days 7-9 Meet Quechuan porters, begin hike of Inca Trail... Day 10 Sunrise arrival in Machu Picchu, exploration of ruins, return to Cusco by train... Day 11 Rest day in Cusco for sightseeing, markets, and local artisans... Days 12-13 Return to Lima, fly back to U.S.

Accommodations: 8 nights lodging, 3 nights camping

Machu Picchu

A Women's Trek Along the Inca Trail

We'll spend the first five days of our trip acclimating in the Sacred Valley at 9,600 feet. We'll be staying at a lovely B&B, K'uychi Rumi, which means "The Rainbow Stone'' in Quechuan. The cottages have cozy fireplaces with expansive views of the Andes.

A highlight of our trip will be a visit to the Sacsayhuaman ruins with a local Shaman. We'll participate in a traditional Quechua ceremony honoring Mother Earth.

We'll also sample the local cuisine, visit cathedrals and museums, and go to the markets to see the vibrant Andean culture of the present. There you can shop for alpaca sweaters, colorful textiles, and other crafts.

Our four-day hike on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu will take us through the heart of the Andes. We'll cross exotic landscapes of grassland, alpine meadows, high jungle, and cloud forest, as well as hike over high mountain passes. Our highest pass, at 13,700', is called Warmiwanusqa—Dead Woman's Pass!

On this trek Quechuan porters will carry our gear. We'll hike only with light daypacks, feeling free to enjoy the views.

The climax of our journey will be our arrival at Intipunku, "the gate of the sun." Below us will be Machu Picchu, with its magnificent stone ruins, and towering above us will be the peak of Huayna Picchu. All around us will be the green jungle peaks of the Andes. Join us for an unforgettable journey to Machu Picchu.

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• Activity:
  Hiking Light
• Dates: September 15-26, 2007
• Rating: Challenging
• Cost: $2,995
• Deposit: $500
  
  Inca Trail: Sold Out, Train Option Available to Machu Picchu

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• Take the train to Machu Picchu, contact us for details

Permits to hike the Inca Trail are in great demand. To guarantee your permit, you must reserve early as spaces book quickly this time of year. Last year we had to turn away participants who waited too late for us to obtain permits. New Peruvian government restrictions regarding trail usage limit availability.

For questions about this trip, e-mail us.
(Note: We will not give out your e-mail address, phone number or mailing address to others.

A Pre-Trip Class is included when you sign up for this trip. Go to Pre-Trip Classes.

For photos of this trip and others, visit Our Photo Album.