Land cost per person:
$2,695 (10-16 participants)
$2,895 (4-9 participants)

12 days (3 nights camping)

This adventure will be offered when Inca Trail permits are sold out.

May 13 to May 24, 2011
June 15 to June 26, 2011*
July 17 to July 28, 2011
August 11 to August 22, 2011 September 9 to September 20, 2011
October 7 to October 18, 2011

*Special departures:

June 15 to June 26, 2011 - Features the Inti Raymi Festival. From $2,875

(The Salcantay Trail is also known as the Salkantay Trail.)

Peru Flight Information

RETURN TO TRIP SUMMARY Land cost: (10-16 participants) (4-9 participants) Flight Info (PDF) $2,695 $2,895 Single Supplement, if requested. *Does not include single tent on the Inca Trail $550* TRIP FEE INCLUDES: • Airport check-in and baggage assistance in Perú. • All airport transfers as scheduled on itinerary. • All ground transportation in comfortable private buses. • All meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Vegetarian meals can be accommodated (please request in advance). • All sightseeing tours and park entrance fees to destinations on the itinerary. • All off-trail accommodations in Perú are in fine hotels. When camping, we use roomy, high quality tents. All accommodations are based on double occupancy. • If you are traveling alone and prefer single accommodations you must pay the single supplement. If you are willing to share accommodations, we will try our best to find a roommate and if that is not possible you will pay only 75% of the single supplement cost. • Inca Trail, Salcantay trail, Ausangate circuit and Huaraz: First-class camping and trekking services by experienced Andean guides, camp and cook staff, Huayruro porters on the Inca Trail and Quechua arrieros with their pack animals in Salcantay, on the Ausangate circuit, and in Huaraz. Horses are available in Salcantay, on the Ausangate circuit, and in Huaraz. All group camping equipment: quality tents, thermarest pads, dining and kitchen tents, tables and camp stools, toilet tents, etc. All meals: Wake up tea, breakfast, lunch, tea meal and dinner. • All tips to porters, animal handlers and cooks. Andes Adventures pays their salaries and all their tips. • The services of professional tour guides. • Our local leaders and guides are knowledgeable about the language, customs, culture and history of their country. They are detail oriented and take great pleasure in sharing their insight and expertise. They help make sure everything runs as safely and smoothly as possible. NOT INCLUDED: • International airfare, internal flights, transfers for independent arrival or departure, airport departure taxes in Perú (approx. $41 U.S), travel insurance (highly recommended) for which an application will be included with your confirmation, passport fees, excess baggage fees, optional tips to trip leader, guides and local staff. All items of personal nature such as: sleeping bag, personal gear, laundry, telephone calls, beverages, etc. Airfare is not included in the land cost of our trips. Andes Adventures can assist you with air ticketing or trip participants may make their own arrangements for air travel. Suggested flight routings and airlines will be provided. Please check with our staff before purchasing tickets. We need to verify your flight schedule and confirm that we have enough participants to guarantee the departure. Note: All itineraries are subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control including, weather, road or trail conditions and flight schedules. 1323 12th Street, Suite F Santa Monica, CA  90401 Toll Free (800) 289-9470 Phone (310) 395-5265  FAX (310) 395-7343 Request Information © 2000-2010 Andes Adventures, Inc. All Rights Reserved. CST #2030675-40 Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. Plan your 2011 Travel Adventure today!

Note: You will need to depart a day earlier. The trip begins at the airport in Lima, on Day 1. We can make any additional reservations for you in Lima or Cusco. Detailed information will be included with the pre-departure information.

Day 1 Friday: Lima/Cusco

This morning you will be met at the Lima airport by an Andes Adventures representative, who will assist you with connecting flights to Cusco. Depart on a one-hour flight to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire and the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city. Our trip leader will meet you at the Cusco airport. Upon arrival in Cusco, we transfer to the hotel where a traditional welcome cup of coca leaf tea is served to help with the acclimatization to the 11,150 feet altitude. This afternoon we will have a guided sightseeing tour of the city, visiting the Cathedral, the Inca temple Qorikancha, and the Santo Domingo Monastery. You will receive a tourist ticket valid for the length of the trip enabling you to visit the many archaeological sites, temples and other places of interest. Welcome dinner and overnight in Cusco.

Overnight: Picoaga Hotel in Cusco.
Meals: L, D.
Today's hike: None scheduled.

Day 2 Saturday: Cusco

Morning visit to the archaeological sites surrounding Cusco, beginning with the fortress and temple of Sacsayhuaman, perched on a hillside overlooking Cusco at 12,136 feet. It is still a mystery how this fortress was constructed. Gigantic stones, some of them weighing 125 tons, were carved into huge trapezoidal blocks that fit together with extraordinary precision. The tour continues with visits to the semicircular shrine of Kenko, Puca Pucara and the Royal Baths of Tambomachay, a beautiful ceremonial bath, adorned with waterfalls, which continues to flow 500 years after being built. After lunch, we will spend the afternoon relaxing, shopping, and sightseeing in beautiful Cusco and its surroundings.

Overnight: Picoaga Hotel in Cusco.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: None scheduled.

Day 3 Sunday: Chinchero/Yucay

Our tour takes us on a scenic drive to Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We travel across a high plain with splendid views of the Cordillera Urubamba to the ancient Inca town of Chinchero at 12,350 feet. Chinchero is a picturesque community that combines both Inca and colonial architecture. It is market day and campesinos of the region still use the weekly market for trading food and other items, using the original method of exchange "trueque". We will observe a demonstration of the traditional weaving process and shop for local handicrafts. We visit the salt mines of Maras and continue with an acclimatization hike down a trail leading to the Urubamba River.

After lunch, we will spend the afternoon relaxing in Yucay and its surroundings.

Overnight: Sonesta Posada del Inca Hotel in Yucay.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: 2.5 miles.

Day 4 Monday: River rafting/Ollantaytambo/Yucay

We are picked up at the hotel for a 2 hour whitewater adventure on the Urubamba River where everyone shares in the paddling. Trained river guides will give us a safety and familiarization orientation. Instead of the rafting you may choose to take a nature walk.

After lunch we visit the village of Ollanta and Ollantaytambo, the best surviving example of an Inca town. Most of its buildings sit upon Inca walls and the street plan is still the original laid out by its Inca builders. Its stonework, narrow cobbled streets, family courtyards and water system are exactly as built in Inca times. You will be able to appreciate the Inca agricultural terraces that create small tiers of fertile land on very steep slopes.

We return to Yucay where we rest and prepare for the Salcantay Trekking adventure.

Overnight: Sonesta Posada del Inca Hotel in Yucay.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: Optional distances.

Day 5 Tuesday: Yucay/Salcantaypampa

We depart early this morning from the Urubamba valley. En route we visit the Inca Ruins of Tarawasi near the town of Limatambo. We drive to the highland village of Mollepata at 9,735’ and to Marcoccasa 10,560’ and continue to Soraypampa at 12,700’. A moderate hike takes us to our camp in Salcantaypampa at about 12,900 feet, located beneath the south face of Mount Salcantay, a glacier covered 20,500 foot massif and the 2nd highest peak in Cusco. It is considered by the Quechua people as a sacred Apu "Mountain Spirit."

Overnight: Camp at Salcantaypampa.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: 2 hours.

Day 6 Wednesday: Salcantaypampa/Colcapampa

We hike the up the winding mountain road (known as “Siete Culebras” - seven snakes) with views of Humantay Mountain 19,240’ on the west and the Salcantay Mountain 20,500’ straight ahead of us on the north. We climb up to the Salcantay Pass at 15,300’ the highest point of our hike. In these high mountains, we might see the giant condor soaring high in the blue skies, and a variety of highland birds as well as the marmot-like vizcacha and others.

From the Salcantay pass we descent to Huayraccmachay at 12,000’. As we descend into the cloud forest - Ceja de Selva "Eyebrow of the Jungle", the scenery changes quickly. We will be surrounded by abundance of exotic varieties of plants, orchids and flowers. We arrive in Colcapampa, our camp at about 9,100 feet.

Note: Salcantay is also known as Salkantay.

Overnight: Camp at Colcapampa.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: Approximately 10 miles 0r 7-8 hours

Day 7 Thursday: Colcapampa/Lucmabamba

Overnight: Camp at Lucmabamba.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: Approximately 9 miles on easy terrain.

Day 8 Friday: Lucmabamba/Aguas Calientes

We hike to the “Llactapata Inca Trail”. We climb through lush bamboo forests to the Inca ruins of Llactapata at approx 8,600’, from where we enjoy a view of the legendary Machu Picchu as well as vistas of the surrounding mountains. We continue on a downhill trail passing above the hydroelectric plant till we reach the Urubamba River at km 122 of the railway track. We rest and later on board a train to Aguas Calientes (below Machu Picchu) at about 6,300 feet

Optional: Those that would like a much longer hike, you can continue along the railroad track till km 112 all the way to the town of Aguas Calientes. (This is an additional 10 Km.)

Overnight: El Mapi Hotel Machu Picchu.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: Approximately 8.5 miles + 6 miles optional.

Day 9 Saturday: Machu Picchu

We spend the early part of the morning with our expert guide, for a tour of the mysterious city, its magnificent temples, terraced hillsides, archaeological curiosities, irrigation channels, fountains, elaborate stone work and chambers of unknown purpose. As we listen to the theories about the mysteries of Machu Picchu, we wonder how and why this city was built in such a remote place and what its purpose might have been. Fortunately this outstanding citadel was never discovered by the Spaniards and was spared from destruction. After lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, continue exploring the ruins of Machu Picchu, or relax in Aguas Calientes. You may also choose from several additional (unguided) activities such as a moderate hike to the Inca Bridge; a more strenuous hike to the 9,500 feet summit of Machu Picchu mountain; or a steep climb to the airy summit of Huayna Picchu at 9,000 feet.

Overnight: El Mapi Hotel Machu Picchu.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: Optional distances.

Day 10 Sunday: Cusco

This morning we board the train to Urubamba and continue by bus to visit the Andean village of Pisac. Our guide takes us through the village to visit its colorful market where extensive selections of colorful weavings, ceramics, sweaters and other handicrafts are sold at bargain prices.

The afternoon is free for last-minute shopping and enjoying Cusco. In the evening, we will have our farewell dinner in one of Cusco’s finest restaurants. Overnight in Cusco.

Overnight: Picoaga Hotel in Cusco.
Meals: B, L, D.
Today's hike: None scheduled.

Day 11 Monday: Cusco/Lima

After an early breakfast, transfer to the Cusco airport for the flight to Lima. We will be met at the airport and transferred to a hotel in the modern district of Miraflores, where a day use room is available. After lunch, we are picked up at the hotel and taken on a sightseeing guided city tour of colonial and modern Lima. Highlights include Lima’s Cathedral, government palace in Plaza Mayor, San Francisco monastery, San Isidro, Miraflores and a scenic view of the coastline. Those departing tonight transfer to the airport and depart on homeward-bound flights.

Overnight: Posada del Inca Miraflores Hotel.
Meals: B, L.
Today's hike: None scheduled.

Day 12 Tuesday: Lima/USA

Those departing today will be transferred to the airport this morning.

Meals: B

(Or continue on Extension).