Peru Trek Final Itinerary
Joyce Yan Zhang
GSB Peru Trip 2013: Itinerary
August 18
Meals included: none
● Arrive in Cusco
○ Note: the market rate for a taxi from the airport to the Plaza de Armas is 10-15 soles (~$7). “Official” airport taxis will charge 30 soles but it is not necessary to use them. To use the unofficial cabs, just walk along the sidewalk to the street after you exit the terminal.
● 12pm - check in to/meet at hotel
○ Casa Andina Classic - Koricancha (be sure to specify “Koricancha” to your cab driver, there are multiple locations!) telephone: +51 (84) 233661
■ Calle San Agustin 371, Cusco
■ Reservation is under Jelena Djordjevic
○ If you arrive to Cusco early, you may drop off your luggage at Casa Andina before check-in time
○ If you arrive in the morning, let’s plan to meet back at the hotel around 12:30. If folks are up for lunch and exploring Cusco, we can head out together from there.
● Rest or explore Cusco on your own or in small groups
○ For ideas, see http://wikitravel.org/en/Cuzco and http://www.go2peru.com/cuzco_travel_guide.htm
○ Many sites require the Boleto Turistico. More info: http://www.boletoturisticocusco.net/. If you purchase the Boleto, please be advised that you will need “circuit 2” on the 19th when we visit the Cusco area ruins. We plan to pay for Koricancha separately ($8) and not pay for Circuit 1. If you purchase Circuit 1 because you want to see other sights on the 18th, you will not need to pay the $8.
○ If the altitude is getting to you, please take this time to rest!
● 6pm - Planning team meeting with tour operators
○ Meet in hotel lobby
● 6:30-6:45pm - meet in hotel lobby to go to dinner
○ 7pm reservation at Deva Restaurant Tipico, Calle San Agustin 280, Cusco 0000, Peru (half block north from the hotel, on/near the corner)
● Overnight at Casa Adina
August 19
Meals included: breakfast
● Breakfast
○ At Casa Adina
● 9am - Trip briefing and introductions
○ We will meet with our tour operator, Cusi Travel, in hotel lobby for introductions and a briefing on the week
● 10am - Depart hotel
● San Pedro market
○ Traditional Peruvian market for Peruvians. Vendors sell everything from different cuts of meat, bread, and spices to Peruvian delicacies such as frogs, fruits, medicinal plants, etc.
● Koricancha/Santo Domingo
○ Koricancha, the Sun Temple, was the most important temple of the Incan Empire. Here, you can observe detailed and intact architecture, and within the temple you will see smaller temples dedicated to the moon, rainbow, stars, lightning and thunder, among others. Today, the Santo Domingo church stands on top of the temple. You will see fine Incan and European architecture, paintings, woodcarvings, ceramics, metallurgy and more
● Lunch
○ At Tunupa, Portal Confiturias 233 (2ºpiso), Plaza de Armas Cusco
○ Lunch will be a buffet for 50 soles (~$17)
● Cusco area ruins
○ Sacsayhuamán - Impressive megalithic ruins first thought to be for military purposes but later determine to be a religious site. The walls are formed by enormous stone blocks that reach up to 9 m. height, 5 m. width and 4 m. thickness.
○ Q’enqo - Sanctuary dedicated to the adoration of animals, ruins formed by a rocky place with stairs in zigzag.
○ Puca pucara - a military position and an administrative center
○ Tambomachay - temple of water, where Incas practiced religious traditions tied to water to rejuvenate the land
● 7:30pm -- group dinner
○ Meet in the hotel lobby at 7:15pm
○ Pachapapa, Plazoleta San Blas 120, Cusco, Peru
○ From hotel: walk north on San Augustin, R on street after JW Marriot, R on Recoleta, L on Chihuampata, L on Carmen Alto
● Overnight at Casa Adina
August 20
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
● 7:30am - Store luggage
○ All luggage that you will not take with you on the Inca trail should be brought to the hotel lobby to be stored by our tour operator. If you’re late or miss this, you’ll have to carry it with you!
● Breakfast
○ At hotel
● Check out of hotel
● 9am - depart hotel
○ Store possessions not needed on Inca trail
● 10:30am - arrive in Mahuaypampa
● Explore life in Mahuaypampa
a. Exact activities TBD. Possibilities include
i. Learn about the agriculture in the region; help with planting and harvesting potatoes
ii. Go to a textile shop to learn about the ancient tradition of weaving
iii. Go to a local "chichería" and try a corn-based alcoholic drink called "chicha."
iv. Visit with local school children; see their traditional dances; do a cultural exchange; provide children with notebooks, pens, and English children’s books
● Lunch
○ In Mahuaypampa
○ Perhaps a BBQ where we will roast a lamb an learn how to make huatia (baked potatoes cooked in the ground). We will bring a chef with us to cook additional foods for those who want other options not found in the village
● Explore life in Mahuaypampa
○ Exact activities TBD. See possibilities above.
● Dinner
○ In Mahuaypampa
○ We may roast Cuy (guinea pigs), a Peruvian delicacy. We will bring a chef with us to cook additional foods for those who want other options not found in the village
● Overnight
○ Campsite in Mahuaypampa
August 21
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
● Breakfast
○ In Mahuaypampa
● Inca trail
○ We will drive to a site called "Kilometer 82" where we will begin the hike, warming up on a relatively flat part of the trail. We will stop at an archaeological center called Patallaqta, have lunch in a semi-tropical valley, and then proceed to the first campsite, Wayllabamba. This is at 3,000 meters, or 9,842 feet.
August 22
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
● Inca trail
○ The second day is the most challenging. After enjoying a good, hearty breakfast, we will pass through different climactic and ecological zones. The longest stretch of hiking will take about five hours, and then we will take a well-deserved break at the highest point of the trail, known to many as "Dead Woman's Pass." The highest point is 4,215 meters or 13,828 feet. If we're lucky, we will spot condors in flight, and pass among thick clouds in the sky. We will rest at the pass, and then move down towards our second campsite, called Pacaymayu.
August 23
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
● Inca trail
○ The third day begins with a climb up the opposite side of the valley wall to reach the second pass. About halfway up we will see a small, round, roofless stone building, known to the Incas and local people as Runkuracay. This building is thought to have been an astrological center and a sort of checkpoint for couriers following the trail to Machu Picchu. Our guide will give a fun history lesson about the site before we continue to the second pass, Runkuracay, at 3,900 meters, or 12,800 feet. After reaching the pass, we will descend to other Inca ruins, such as Sayaqmarka, translated to "Town in a Steep Place." We will also see a stone aqueduct, which once carried water to the surrounding farmlands. Before the end of the day, we will come to Phuyupatamarka, translated to "Cloud-level Town." Here, we will see where the Incas took their final baths before reaching Machu Picchu. Later, we will reach Wiñaywayna, translated to "Forever Young," where we will eat dinner and camp for the night. The altitude here is 2,650 meters, or 8,694 feet.
August 24
Meals included: breakfast
● Inca trail
○ We will wake before sunrise and follow a wide, relatively flat path that leads to the famous sun gate.
● Machu Picchu
○ 3 hour guided tour
○ Climb Machu Picchu mountain if desired for $60 (note: this is not Huayna Picchu. We do not have permits to climb Huayana Picchu) or explore ruins on your own
● Bus to Aguas Calientes
● Lunch
○ In Agua Calientes
○ Take a dip in the hot springs if desired
● Train to Cusco
● Dinner
○ In Cusco, in small groups; no large group reservation
● Overnight at Milhouse Backpackers and Hotel
○ Calle Quera 270, Cusco, Peru 084
○ Website: http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/peru/cusco/81530/
○ Directions: 200 m away from street El Sol, which surrounds Plaza de Armas. Short-distance taxi from airport and bus stations. Taxi from Airport: 15-20 soles. Taxi from Bus Station: 5 soles
August 25
Meals included: breakfast
● Breakfast
○ At Milhouse Backpackers and Hotel
● Check out of hostel
● Departures
Rebecca Yu
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Peyton Edwards
Joyce Yan Zhang
If you have an unlocked phone, SIM cards with basic plan are usually just a few dollars! But we'll all be together, no real need to make calls...if in a taxi and the driver is lost, have him/her call the hotel
Jelena Djordjevic
Lucas Mendes
Sydney Larson
I've been in lima a few days and so far it has worked great to turn off data and connect to wifi to check email and use what's app. No need for phone calls, but there are ppl stationed right after immigration in the airport that can get you set up with something.
On the airport note- right after customs you get to a counter that has hertz and other vendors. Dont take a taxi from here! My husband and I way overpaid. Instead, walk through another door and you will get to another official taxi stand called green taxi or something like that. Should be around $20 to miraflores.
Dawson Shamblin
Daniel Slate
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Jelena Djordjevic
Cheryl Davenport
Um, I just met with Jose to get a photo CD and drop off the quechua bags... And he showed me pics of him taking Nick Kroll on a trek. Whoa.
Joyce Yan Zhang
Jose: so understated yet awesome. Can't wait to see the pictures!!
Sending the remaining friends in Cusco good vibes from Bogota that you don't experience a day of delays and running for planes as we did...