The Beautiful Surrender

DURATION: 4 days / 3 nights.
SEASON: From January / to December 2008
DEPARTURE: Daily
PRICE PER PERSON
ADULT US$385
STUDENTS AND KIDS UNDER 12 YEARS OLD: US$360
RETURN : Back Packer Train
Note: return in Vista dome available for an additional of US$30 per person

ITINERARY:

DAY 1 PISKAKUCHO (KM. 82) – WAYLLABAMBA 
A spectacular early morning drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas takes us to our trailhead at Km. 82 of the Machu Picchu railroad. After getting acquainted with our trail crew we set out, crossing a footbridge to hike a gentle two hours down the Urubamba canyon, and then visit imposing sculpted Inca farming terraces and the settlement of Llaqtapata on the banks of the Cusichaca side river. We then climb a short way up the Cusichaca valley to Wayllabamba, the last inhabited village on the trail, where we camp.

DAY 2 WAYLLABAMBA – PAKASMAYU
We climb the steep-sided Llullucha valley past a rushing stream and through enchanted native polylepis woodland. Crossing the rim of a small plateau, we abruptly find ourselves in the puna, the treeless grasslands of the high Andes. The trail traverses an open slope opposite mighty mountain crags as we ascend to the first and highest pass, Warmiwañusca (4,200m/13,776ft).
Here we encounter spectacular views of the trail ahead to the second pass, and look back to the sweeping snowpeaks and valleys of the Huayanay massif.
The trail to the floor of the forested Pakasmayu valley, where we make camp.

DAY 3 PAKASMAYU – WIÑAY WAYNA
We pick up an Inca stairway and ascend again past the small Inca site of Runkuracay. As we reach the second pass, the landscape opens onto spectacular new views to the snowpeaks of the Pumasillo range. We descend to the ruins of Sayacmarca (Inaccessible Town), an intricate labyrinth of houses, plazas and water channels, perched precariously on a rocky spur overlooking the Aobamba valley. The Inca trail, now a massive buttressed structure of granite paving stones, continues along the steep upper fringes of the cloud forest through a colorful riot of orchids, bromeliads, mosses and ferns. At the third pass pinnacles topped with Inca viewing platforms overlook the archaeological complex of Phuyupatamarca (Cloud-level Town).
Pausing to explore the wondrous maze of Inca stone towers, fountains and stairways that spillins down the mountainside here, we begin a long descent through ever-changing layers of cloud forest. An Inca stairway partly cut from living granite leads us finally to our camp by the ruins of Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young), the largest and most exquisite of the Inca Trail sites.

DAY 4 WIÑAY WAYNA – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO 
An early morning hike takes us across a steep mountainside through lush, humid cloud-forest of giant ferns and broad-leaf vegetation. Suddenly we cross the stone threshold of Intipunku (Sun Gate) and encounter an unforgettable sweep of natural beauty and human artistry -a backdrop of twisting gorge and forested peaks framing the magical city of Machu Picchu.
We complete the final leg down the royal flagstone walkway, past outlying shrines and buildings and into the heart of Machu Picchu, where we spend the rest of the morning with a guided tour of the highlights and some individual exploring among Machu Picchu’s multitude of hidden nooks and corners. In the early afternoon a bus takes us to the small town of Aguas Calientes, where we board our return train to Cusco.

SERVICE INCLUDED: Transportation to the Km. 82,bilingual guide, cook, meals during the tour , entrance fee to Machu Picchu Sanctuary. Return train ticket to Cusco Back Packer, porters to carry the camping equipment, bus from Machupicchu to Aguas Calientes town First aid kit, tents.

NOT INCLUDED:
Excess baggage charges,
Sleeping bag,
gratuities to the guide
*sleeping bag rental US $30.00 per person for the 4 days available upon request 
*extra porter for your personal items: Available for US$105 for 16 pounds for the 4days 3nights
Both additional services has to be pay in full when booking your Inca trail 

WE SUGGEST YOU TO:
- Use boots during treks and sneakers during long walks.
- Drinking lots of liquids on long excursions, specially during the Inka Trail
- Always taking an umbrella or rainwear.

YOU SHOULD BRING
-Personal sleeping bag
-Warm Jacket or Sweater
-RainGear (from nov to april)
-T-shirt , short, long pants.
-Back pack, trekking shoes, sandals
-Sun Hat , wool hat , sun glasses
-Water bottle,flash light, hat
-Personal clothing for trek
-Insect repellent – Suncream
-Personal medication
-Water Purification Tablets.
-Towels
-Toilet paper,
-Extra US$50 changed in soles for any emergency and for tipping the porters, use the hot shower on day 3 – 2 soles and for luch on day 4