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CUSCO ADVENTURE TOUR - 10 DAYS

Machu Picchu trek - biking and rafting (10 days / 9 nights).

Cusco Adventure tour is designed for people who are looking for adventure. Cusco is an area where you will find the environment for adventure activities. In this tour, we combine 3 activities biking, rafting and trekking. The biking is a downhill from the Peruvian Andean Mountains down to the Amazonian rain forest. The rafting take place in the Urubamba rain forest river with rapids that goes form level I to IV. The trek is through the Peruvian Andean Mountains where, we will visit one of the less explore old Inca city (Huchuy Qosqo), finishing with a complete guided tour around Machu Picchu.  This tour is  without doubt a great adventure package that you will remember forever

Itinerary

DAY 1: Lima

Arrival to Lima at any time of a day. We can organize a transfer from the airport to the hotel; this is not included in the price. At the hotel you will receive information about your flight itinerary for Cusco. Today usually passengers prefer to rest. Please ask for information about where you can change money, restaurants etc. (No meals Included). Hotel in Lima.

DAY 2: Cusco

Cusco toursDepending on your flight itinerary, we will pick you up from your hotel and drive towards the airport. The flight takes about 50 minutes until Cusco. During the flight you will be able to see the impressive Andean mountains; also you will see part to the Amazonian rain forest. In Cusco we will be waiting for you to transfer you to the hotel.

After a little rest, we can have a walk around the main plaza, and visit some of the principal places from the city. At seven pm you will have a briefing with your guide at your hotel; he will tell you everything about your Huchuy Qosqo trek. Our personal, will recommend some restaurants so you can try the great Peruvian food. (Breakfast Included). Hotel in Cusco.

Day 3: Huchuy Qosqo trek.

We will collect the passengers from their hotels and we will drive to the small village of Tauca, located in between the main road Cuzco-Chinchero. At Tauca, we will meet all our crew, once everything is ready we start with the first trekking day heading northeast, during this trek, we will see small hills and villages with a typical Andean valleys rich in corn, potatoes, barley, quinoa and other Andean vegetables. As we ascend toward the pass at 4050 meters, the landscape begins to change dramatically to a classic high Andean Savannah or Puna, with scant vegetation, mainly ichu or high altitude grass.

The views of the Cordillera Vilcabamba peaks are spectacular “La Veronica, Pitusiray, Chicon and San Juan snow peaks” adorn the trek. Soon after the pass, we will start descending towards Huchuy Qosqo, hiking along a path that leads to the Ccauca gully, where you will be able to see archaeological remains and wild crops such as tarwi, and a large quantity of cacti. After Ccauca, we will walk downhill toward the Leon Punky gully, where you will find remains of an Inca bridge and trails. This canyon has geological formations surrounded by majestic rocks and boulders that direct the river to Huchuy Qosqo.

We will arrive to Huchuy Qosqo (3650 meters) in the afternoon. Huchuy Qosqo (Little Cuzco) is a noteworthy Inca complex. Most of the buildings are made out of very fine stonework in a large Kallanka (rectangular Hall) and adobe (sticks, straw and manure), there is also some residential and defensive quarters and an interesting two-story buildings that we suppose was an storage for food. Huchuy Qosqo is located on a plateau, surrounded by Inca agricultural terracing and commanding superb views of the Vilcabamba range. Overnight in tents. (1 breakfast - 1 lunch - 1 dinner).

DAY 4: HUCHUY QOSQO - OLLANTAYTAMBO - Santa Maria

Early in the morning is the perfect time to visit Huchuy Qosqo at your own pace or with your guide. The location of this site is incredible, it's above 400 meters sea level from the Sacred Valley; this supposed to be a building made for one of the Incas; he could use this place to rest. The view of the Sacred Valley with the Urubamba River and the surrounding snow capped mountains is spectacular. 

After see Huchuy Qosqo, we will begin the descent to the village of Lamay, located on the main sacred valley road, where a vehicle will be expecting us to transfer the group to Ollantaytambo where we are going to rest. (1 breakfast - 1 lunch - 1 dinner). Hostel at Ollantaytambo.

DAY 5: Biking tour

Cusco ToursWe will be pick you up from your hotels at 8:00 am Before we start driving you can buy the last supplies for the trip. We start going up until Malaga path (14,500 ft 4,350 meters above sea level) which is the highest place of the tour, here the scenery is amazing, snow capped mountains, waterfalls and Andean communities. One hour after, we will be in Carrizales which is the beginning of the trip.

Before we start biking, we will try the bikes, following by a briefing about the route and some other safety precautions. Scenery changes while we are biking, from the Andean cold winds to warm rain forest air, the first hours is downhill through paved road and the rest of the trip changes to death road, crossing small rivers, small up and down hills not difficult. In the way we will be able to see banana, papaya and other jungle plantations after this adventure tour, we will arrive to Santa Maria, small town in the rain forest where we will rest and sleep in the double occupancy rooms with shared bathrooms. Guest house at Santa Maria. (1 lunch-1 dinner).

DAY 6:Urubamba rain forest rafting

This rafting is one of the best tours for white water in Peru. Before we start the rafting your guide will give a briefing about the rafting commands, after this you will start going down river running nice rapids with waves and holes. After couple of hours we will have a lunch in side of the river, after we will continue on with the rafting until we arrive to Quillabamba.

The rapids in this section are from II to level IV, the scenery is nice and the weather perfect with 25 to 28 degrees make this place perfect to challenge the river. Overnight at Quillabamba or Santa Teresa. (1-breakfast-1 lunch-1 dinner).

DAY 7-8: Trek to Machu Picchu

Early in the morning, we will take our vehicle towards the small village of Lucamabamba, where you will star hiking towards Llactapata through a very well preserved and authentic Inca trail, 3 hours more, you will be in the top, where you will be able to see Machu Picchu, thereafter, we star descending until Hydroelectric, here we can catch the train or continue walking for two and a half more hours until Aguas Calientes (Town bellow Machu Picchu). The train will take 20 to 30 minutes but this is not included in the price (8 USD). At Aguas Calientes, we are going to stay in a small Hostel, where we can take hot shower and have a nice cold beer. 

The seventh day, we recommend to start our trekking early in the morning. The idea is arrive to Machu Picchu early so we can see and enjoy this place before gets to crowded. Walking from Aguas Calientes, take 2 hours and 30 minutes more or less until Machu Picchu. Our guide will take you around the area for two hours guided tour in the wonders of this impressive complex. Machu Picchu citadel is only located about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Cusco the Inca capital, it was never found by the Spanish and consequently not plundered and destroyed, as it was in the case with many other Inca sites. Over the centuries, the surrounding jungle grew over much of the site, and few knew of its existence. On July 24 1911, Machu Picchu was discovered by Hiram Bingham. After the guided tour there will be plenty of time to take pictures, walk around the places that we like the most and then, we meet with the rest of the group at Aguas Calientes to catch the train to Ollantaytambo. Overnight at Ollantaytambo.

DAY 9: Sacred Valley

We will pick you up from the hotel at 8 am and drive towards the Sacred Valley for a complete guided tour. Sacred Valley offers stunning Andean mountains views, winding roads and mind boggling Inca architecture. This Valley runs parallel to the Urubamba River or Wilkamayu River (Sacred River). The Incas loved the valley for many of the same reasons today’s tourists and local residents do, for its special natural beauty and geographical and climatic qualities.

You will visit Ollantaytambo and Pisaq. Ollantaytambo is a unique place that keeps spectacular archaeological remains of Peru, for its multiplicity of archaeological and the singularity of each one of them, here you will have a guided tour for around 2 hours, thereafter we will drive towards Pisaq, in the way, you will pass through picturesque towns of La May, Qoya and Calca. Before visiting Pisaq, we will have lunch in a local restaurant and try different kind of typical food from the area, after this, you'll visit Pisaq. Pisaq is an Inca complex build in one of the mountains near Pisaq town, you will also see Pisaq market that is a wonderful open-air market where you can buy Peruvian handicrafts, clothing and some souvenirs. Traditional Peruvian attire is worn almost universally and try different typical dishes from the area. After lunch we drive for 30 minutes more until we arrive to Ollantaytambo. Overnight in Cusco. (1 breakfast - 1 lunch).

DAY 10: Lima - Home

Transfer to airport and  flight to Lima there after you can catch your flight to go home.

What is included

  • Meals Included: All breakfast, 5 lunches, 4 dinners. Peruvian Food is incredibly diverse. Each region and even some cities has their own specialties and dishes. In this tour we will make sure that you'll try the best of our food.
  • Accommodation: Our trip prices are based on double occupancy Hotel Rooms and Lodges. If you are travelling alone and wish to share, we will assign a same-sex roommate if one is available, but if for example there are 5 in the group and he/she does not have any one to share, we will pay the expenses to cover the hotel room price. If you wish to have your own room, you need to pay extra to cover the expenses of the room.
    All the accommodation facilities in this Cusco Adventure tour are excellent, safe and clean. The hotels hostels are very nice and they are always located near the city center of each town that we will visit.
    We work with some of these hotels:
  • Transport: Public buses, local flights, train, boat and trekking.
  • Rafting trip: All rafting gear (life vest, wet suits, paddle jacket, helmet, paddle, safety kayak).
  • Biking trip: Guides, bikes with suspension, disc brakes and 26 gear change, helmets, wrist, elbow and knee protection, camping gear.
  • Machu Picchu and Huchuy Qosqo trek: Local guide, all camping gear, guided tour, sleeping bag is not included, entrance fees to the parks, train tickets to go back to Cusco. etc more info Huchuy Qosqo.
  • Sacred Valley tour: Local English speaking guide, transport, entrance fees.
  • Transfers: Transfers inside Peru, but not any transfer from Lima Airport to the hotel on the 1st day and from the hotel to Lima Airport on the final day. This can be arranged for an additional cost per person of $ 20.

What is not included

Sleeping bag is not included in any of the trips, meals on the 1st and on the 15th day, hotel during the days that passengers want to stay in Cusco, or any of the cities instead of continuing with the trips. For Huchuy Qosqo Trek you need sleeping bag (menus 15 degrees), mosquito repellent, regular mountaineering clothes (hiking shoes and trainers, hat, socks, worm clothes, gloves, woolen hat to cover the ears, rain coat.), sun block, flashlight, personal medical kit, items that you consider very import during this Peru trip.

Cusco Adventure tour - map


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Cusco Tour - notes and regulations

Machu Picchu regulations
In an effort to protect Machu Picchu, the Peruvian government authorities put limit to the number of people who visit Machu Picchu. In 19th of July 2011, no more than 2500 people per day are allowed on Machu Picchu, and is very strictly controlled. Once this limit of 2500 people is reached, Machu Picchu is completely closed off for the day and no further bookings can be made. Reservations are not held on Machu Picchu and all permits for Machu Picchu must be bought as far as possible in advance with complete and correct personal information, and no modifications can be made. Any attempts at modifications result in a loss of the permit and any money paid.

River Explorers is happy to work within the framework of these regulations in order to protect Machu Picchu.

The rules and regulations controlling Machu Picchu are continually changing and it is important to be aware of the issues detailed in this document before embarking on your adventure to Peru.

Inca Trail trekking booking policies

*When booking any trip involving Machu Picchu, please book as far in advance as possible in order to increase the possibility of securing space on Machu Picchu during the high periods of the year (May to October). We ask in order to proceed with your booking your personal Information exactly as it appears on the passport.

Full name
Date of birth
Passport number
Nationality
Date of passport expiry

Thank you for your understanding.

Cusco adventure tour Itinerary Notes.

All the services in this tour package including food, buses and hotels are good, safe and clean. The hotels and hostels are very nice and they are always located in the safe places in all the cities that you will visit. For more information about Peru, go to our link, Peru Travel Info, there you will information of weather, money etc.

*We design carefully this program in order to get adjusted to the altitude, starting the trip in a low place to the highest; in any case we recommend for this Peru adventure - travel, to bring pills for altitude sickness, this is the most frequent trouble for travelers. You can buy these pills in almost any pharmacy here in Peru to.