Machu Picchu Odyssey

In this brief but unforgettable getaway, you explore Cuzco and Machu Picchu, two of the world's most fascinating adventure destinations. The itinerary works well as a stand-alone visit to Peru, or as one component of a longer exploration of South America. It combines very well with a Galápagos Islands cruise for a two-week holiday of a lifetime.

You may start on any day of the week. According to your arrival date, budget, and special interests, we create a custom program optimized for your visit, starting from the generic 6-night framework described here. Since the program combines structured group touring with some unstructured free time, we can adjust the order of visits so that you can take in a colorful country market, a special festival, a shopping excursion or museum visits. On request, we can arrange a variety of add-ons, from a challenging day-hike along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, to a multi-night excursion into the nearby Amazon rain forest. The potential for adventure is limitless.

Use these Activity Level Ratings as a general guide to help determine which of our adventures is best for you. Your perception of level of difficulty may vary from ours according to your own level of fitness and travel experience. Whether or not you stay in your comfort zone on the trip you select may also be influenced by the pacing we build into the itinerary, and your own preparation for the trip. While relatively high elevations are unavoidable when you're traveling in the Andes Mountains, we may judge a trip as "moderate" so long as passengers have sufficient time for acclimation. Our detailed trip itineraries give much more information about what you can expect. If you are unsure which trip is best for you, please call us. We'll help guide you toward the right fit.

Moderate

These adventures involve fairly easy travel. There is no camping: you sleep in hotels and country inns each evening. Trips may include short hikes and/or walks of two to three hours. Our itineraries include excursions in passenger mini-vans, over roads with many curves and potholes. Elevations rarely exceed 12,600'. At Machu Picchu and other Inca sites, we climb and descend relatively steep stone staircases. Trips to Amazon lodges involve travel by boat and canoe, plus hikes on forest trails at a moderate pace. In the rainforest, you may encounter rain, mud, and pooled water. Trips to the Galapagos include optional hikes on sometimes uneven rocky and/or slippery terrain. Passengers must get into and out of dinghies on beaches and at docks.

Active

These adventures include more hiking than in our moderate trips. You negotiate a variety of terrain, at elevations no more than 15,000'. Some trips include long days of overland travel. You sleep comfortably in hotels each evening.

Strenuous

While we rate all of our treks as strenuous, there is a substantial range of challenge between the easiest and the most demanding of our treks. Expect to hike 6-8 hours each day over steep and rugged terrain. You may hike to elevations of 17,000', with options to hike higher from several camps. Many include camping multiple nights at relatively high elevations. On most treks in the Andes, night-time temperatures can drop below freezing on one or more nights. On our Inn to Inn based treks, you'll spend each evening in a comfortable mountain lodge.

Extreme

Our toughest treks are suitable for those that enjoy a good physical challenge. You trek (and in some cases climb) over steep, rugged terrain at high elevations with substantial altitude gains. Some glacier travel requires knowledge of basic climbing techniques including use of crampons, ice axe, and ropes. These trips are in remote wilderness areas and include camping as high at 17,700'. Successful summit bids top out at 18,871' (Nevado Pisco), 19,347' (Volcan Cotopaxi) and 20,945' (Nevado Ausangate).

 Departures: any day year-round, on request, custom program  

2010 Rates for 7-day program, based on your choice of hotel category.

2010 High season (May 1-Oct 30; Dec 15-Jan 4)

Airfare Lima/Cuzco/Lima: $330 round-trip (we can provide these tickets for you). Air prices are subject to change without prior notice.

Children's Discount:  children 11 years old and younger receive a 20% discount in twinshare or triple rooms if sharing with an adult

Day 1 Lima

Fly to Lima, capital city of Peru, located in Peru’s narrow coastal desert between the Pacific Ocean beaches and the towering Andes mountains. We meet you at Lima’s airport and transfer you to a comfortable hotel for overnight. Please refer to the table on page 2 listing our preferred hotels in each service category.

Day 2 Cuzco

On the hour-long morning flight from Lima you first traverse the arid western slopes and the sparsely-populated highlands before enjoying views toward spectacular snow-capped Andean peaks and tiny villages in jewel-like green valleys beneath high, treeless moorlands. Watch for the classic geometic forms of Inca terracing as we descend into the Cuzco airport. The former capital of the Inca empire now fills the head of a manicured valley at 10,857’ above sea level. We transfer you to your hotel, and brief you on the events of the following days. You have the remainder of the morning free. We suggest you take it very easy for a few hours, to help your body adjust to the altitude. You’ll have ample time later to explore Cuzco’s colorful streets and plazas. In the afternoon we tour the Inca and colonial monuments in the city, including the Cathedral, the Inca Temple of the Sun, and the impressive Plaza de Armas. We also visit the exquisite Inca shrines of Tambo Machay and Kenko in the hills above the city, and Saqsayhuaman, the enormous fortified temple with its massive ramparts of hewn stone, for a condor’s-eye view over the red tiled rooftops of Cuzco.

Day 3 Machu Picchu

We take an exciting train ride down the gorge of the Urubamba River to the ruins of the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu. Because of the natural splendor of the jungle-clad mountains surrounding the ruins, and the artistry of the buildings perched on a ridge high above the Urubamba River, Machu Picchu is one of the archeological wonders of the world. Following your guided tour, you have time for photography and to explore the extensive site in more depth at your own pace. Overnight in a nearby hotel.

Day 4 Machu Picchu

On your second day at this famous site you may opt to explore nearby trails, such as the easy stroll to the Gate of the Sun, the steep adventurous trail to the summit of Huayna Picchu, or to Putucusi Mountain, just outside Aguas Calientes. You may prefer to return to a favorite spot within the main city to sketch, to write in your journal, or simply to contemplate the beauty and the mysteries of this extraordinary site. Take the shuttle bus down to nearby Aguas Calientes in the afternoon for your return to Cuzco by train. Cuzco station reception and transfer, overnight in your hotel.

Day 5 Cuzco

You have the day at leisure to explore the many other fascinating ruins and points of interest in Cuzco’s hinterland. We can assist you in customizing your visit ac¬cording to your personal preferences. While it is possible to omit this day for a lower-cost five-night program, most of our returning passengers indicate they would have preferred more rather than less time to explore Cuzco and its sur¬roundings. This open day may be posi¬tioned before the Machu Picchu trip to take advantage of market days in the Sacred Valley of the Incas (best markets are on Sundays).

Day 6 Lima

Following your morning flight back to Lima, you have the balance of the day free to explore Lima on your own. At your request we may arrange optional visits to the National Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, the Gold Museum, Lima’s colonial heart or other notable points of interest. You’ll find many shops full of excellent folk art, jewelry, ceramics and clothing in Miraflores near your hotel. Lima also boasts excellent restaurants featuring world-class cuisine drawn from the best of coast, highlands and the tropical rain forests.

Day 7 Home

We provide a private transfer to Lima airport for check-in to your onward flight.

Package includes: Meet and assist in LimaPrivate airport transfersPorterage of 2 pieces of luggage per person6 nights hotel accommodations, tax and service includedgroup tours of Cuzco and Machu Picchu with English-speaking guides Cuzco multi-site entrance ticket (BTG)Qorikancha (Sun Temple) entrance ticket, Cuzco cathedral entrance ticketOne-day site entrance ticket to Machu Picchuovernight Machu Picchu excursion includes Cuzco station transfers, return transport with reserved seating in best class Vistadome service, two shuttle bus tickets Aguas Calientes/Machu PicchuDaily breakfast (continental, American or buffet depending on level of program). On the superior + package, 1 dinner is included at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. In the deluxe package, 1 lunch and 1 dinner are included at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodgereconfirmation of onward airline reservationsour field staff in Lima and Cuzco provide professional assistance with add-ons

Package excludes:lunches and dinners (budget an average of $10 for lunch and $15 for dinner, exclusive of bar tab). tips to guides and tour staffairport departure taxesentrance to sites and museums other than those specifiedOn your 2nd Machu Picchu day, shuttle bus tickets ($8.00 each way) and site entrance ($45). Note: site fees are subject to change without prior notice.flights Lima/Cuzco/Lima ($268)

Optional extras:Market and Sacred Valley ToursChachabamba to Machu Picchu hike along the famed Inca TrailWeaving workshopsFolklore dance showsAmazon Lodge Extension (3D/2N, 4D/3N)Lake Titicaca Extension (2D/1N, 3D/2N)Museum visits in LimaPachacamac ruinsNazca Lines extensionupgrades to private guiding

Please note: 1. Since we request space for this program according to your specific travel dates, these hotels are subject to prior sale. If our recommended hotels are unavailable, we will substitute accommodations of comparable value. 2. Hotel Machu Picchu Pueblo includes 1 dinner3. In Deluxe class, the Cuzco city tour and Machu Picchu tour is in private service. Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge includes 1 lunch and 1 dinner, and the tour is provided on private rather than group basis.

• 6 nights in hotels with breakfast included
• In/out Lima
• Guided tours of Cuzco and Machu Picchu
• Customizable program, adaptable to your preferences
• All airport and train transfers; Vistadome train to Machu Picchu

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