Inca Trail & the Amazon Rainforest

The group flights to Lima depart London this evening.
**

Day 2

The group flights are scheduled to arrive this morning. A group arrival
transfer is provided; you will be met at the airport and transferred to the
hotel. Check-in is in the early afternoon, and the morning is free for you to
explore the local area, change money or visit Lima's many museums until the
rooms become available. There will be an Exodus noticeboard in the hotel
reception with details of where and when the group welcome briefing will be
held. 

*Hotel El Tambo 1 (or similar)*

Day 3

We have an early start today for the flight via Cuzco to Puerto Maldonado, a
small jungle town. After a short drive via the lodge office (where we will
store our main luggage) to the river, we take a boat to our jungle lodge in
the Tambopata Reserve (generally between 1½ and 3 hours depending on the
lodge used). On the way we may see caimans (alligators), river turtles and a
wide variety of birdlife.

Our rainforest lodge is basic but all accommodation has en suite facilities
with cold showers. Electricity is by generator and only available for a few
hours a day in the dining room area. 

*Cayman Lodge (or similar)*

Day 4-5

The next two days are spent exploring the forest, rivers and lakes
surrounding the lodge, on foot and in both motorised and paddle canoes.
Although a lot of the wildlife tends to hide in the dense foliage, we should
expect to see a wide variety of birds, including herons and egrets, jacanas,
macaws and the almost prehistoric-looking hoatzin, as well as several species
of monkey, reptiles and insects, and with luck the Giant otters which live in
the rivers of the Amazon basin.

*Cayman Lodge (or similar)*

Day 6

A dawn start is required for the boat trip back to Puerto Maldonado, giving
memorable views of the sunrise over the river. Look out for the early morning
wildlife, which is particularly active at this time; Howler monkeys are
frequently heard as they stake out their territories. After our flight to
Cuzco, there is usually time for an afternoon orientation tour of the city.
At 3400m Cuzco is an extremely high city and you may find yourself short of
breath on arrival.

*Hotel Warari / Hotel Koyllur (or similar)**
*

Day 7

We have a free day in Cuzco today. The Inca Capital is among the most
attractive cities in South America, with many interesting buildings, museums
and sites. There are various optional activities that can be arranged through
your leader, such as a full day tour of the Sacred Valley (including the
fortresses of Pisac and Ollantaytambo) or a visit to the ruins of
Sacsayhuaman, situated on a hillside above the city.

You will have a full trek briefing this afternoon (usually around 6pm).

*Hotel Warari / Hotel Koyllur (or similar)*

Day 8

The Classic Inca Trail is a tangential branch part of a 45,000km road network
linking the whole empire to Cuzco. It was built in the 15th Century to reach
Machu Picchu but was abandoned soon after the Spanish conquest. American
adventurer, Hiram Bingham travelled along the trail when he came across Machu
Picchu in 1911. The trail opened to the public in 1970.

We leave Cuzco early and drive for roughly two hours to Ollantaytambo; our
last chance to buy any items needed for the trek. From here we veer off the
road and follow a track beside the river (45 minutes) to the start of the
Inca Trail at Piscacucho, commonly known as Km82. After greeting our trekking
crew, we show our passports at the checkpoint and begin the Inca Trail trek.
The trail runs alongside the Vilcanota River beneath the impressive
snow-capped Nevado Veronica, passing through cactus gardens and fields of
corn until we reach the enormous Inca ruins of Llactapata, where we continue
up a side valley to camp near the hamlet of Huayllabamba.

*Walk Profile: approx. 11km / 6-7hrs walking*

*Full-service Camping - Huayllabamba Camp*

*Inca Trail - Meals Included: /breakfast lunch dinner/*

Day 9

This is the longest and most strenuous day. A long climb (largely up stone
staircases) takes us first through an area of cloud forest to the meadows of
Llulluchapampa, then over the Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman's) pass, at 4215m
the highest point on the trek. After quite a long, steep descent we camp in
the scenic valley of the Pacamayo River (3600m).

*Walk Profile: approx. 10km / 6-7hrs walking*

*Full-service Camping - Pacamayo Camp*

*Inca Trail - Meals Included: /breakfast lunch dinner/*

Day 10

We start the day with an easier climb which takes us past the ruins of
Runquracay and over the Runquracay Pass (3930m). From now on the Inca Trail
becomes a clearly defined path made of flat boulders. We pass the ruins of
Sayajmarca and suddenly enter rainforest; at one point the trail passes
through an Inca tunnel. We camp at a spectacular campsite on the ridge above
the Inca site of Phuyupatamarca (3680m) to benefit from the views of sunset
and sunrise.

*Walk Profile: approx. 12km / 5-6hrs walking*

*Full-service Camping - Phuyupatamarca Camp*

*Inca Trail - Meals Included: /breakfast  lunch  dinner/*

Day 11

From the ridge, we embark on the infamous Inca steps: a two kilometre stone
staircase taking us rapidly downhill amid a panorama of overwhelming
immensity, with the peaks of the Vilcabamba range above and the river
thousands of metres below. After visiting the attractive ruins of Wiñay
Wayna, we have an undulating walk through cloud forest high above the river
to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. From here we get our first full sight of Machu
Picchu itself, with Huayna Picchu rising behind.

Traditionally busy with groups of trekkers clamouring for photos, we plan our
arrival at Inti Punku later in the day so we can enjoy unobstructed views of
the magnificent ruins. Passing around the edge of the ruins, we exit the site
and descend to Aguas Calientes for a well-earned rest, a shower and a
comfortable bed for the night. Our trekking permits allow us one entry into
the site, which we use for our tour tomorrow, but anyone wishing to visit the
citadel on both days can purchase an additional entry ticket today - your
tour leader will assist with this.

There is usually time for an optional visit to the hot springs in Aguas
Calientes, however, in recent years they have become over-crowded and the
water quality can suffer as a result. We will be reunited with those who have
been on the Moonstone Trek at the hotel this afternoon.

*Walk Profile: approx. 9km / 6-7hrs walking*

*Hotel Inti Punku El Tambo (or similar)*

*Inca Trail - Meals Included: /breakfast lunch/*

Day 12

In order to beat the day-trippers arriving from Cuzco and reach the ruins as
early as possible, a very early start is required to queue for Machu Picchu;
only government-registered buses can make the 30-minute drive up the winding
road to the site entrance and during high season (May-October) queues can be
hours long. 

Machu Picchu is one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the
ancient world and what makes it all the more dramatic is its mountain
backdrop of staggering immensity. The Spaniards never found it, the Incas
left no records of it, and so Machu Picchu remained a great enigma, a city
lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the
American historian Hiram Bingham. 

New regulations for visiting Machu Picchu are now fully enforced; of the
three possible visiting slots, Exodus will purchase the morning slot from
06:00 until 12:00 (unless unavailable), you will be limited to a maximum of
four hours within the site and must be accompanied by a guide. There will
also be three set routes to follow around Machu Picchu; Exodus selects the
most comprehensive route. 

We catch an afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30 mins) and continue
by private bus to Cuzco (2hrs 30 mins).

*Hotel Warari / Hotel Koyllur (or similar)**
*

Day 13

Today we take a bus ride across the altiplano, the high plains separating the
Andes from the jungles. Although it is quite a long drive (10 hours including
stops), the views are spectacular. There are scheduled stops along the route
to visit some of the most interesting sites which helps break up the day and
we get a feel for the immensity of the Andean landscapes. A packed lunch is
included today.  We arrive in the evening in Puno, a high, chilly town on
the shores of Lake Titicaca.

*Casona Plaza Hotel (or similar)**
*

Day 14

We explore Lake Titicaca, visiting the lesser-known Titinos communities who
live on islands of floating reeds and produce some fine textiles. Though the
altitude here (3850m) is tiring, the air is very clear and the lakeside views
can be magnificent, with the snow-capped peaks of the Andes towering in the
background. There is the option to go on a walk to the top of the island to
watch the sunset. We spend the night on Amantani Island where we experience a
homestay with the local villagers - this really allows us to see what life is
like for the people in an isolated island community.

*Titicaca Homestay (basic accommodation)*

Day 15

We take a boat to Chifron Bay and spend some time exploring the peninsula
before flying back to Lima (from nearby Juliaca airport). Depending on the
flight taken, we may have some time free for shopping and sightseeing,
including an optional visit to the Gold Museum. Flight times do vary and some
groups will not arrive into Lima until late afternoon or early evening.

*Hotel El Tambo 1 (or similar)**
*

Day 16

Those on group flights will be transferred to the airport in the morning for
the overnight flight to London.
**

Day 17

The group flights arrive in London this afternoon.
**