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salkantay-journey
Lima
Lago Titicaca - Puno
Arequipa
Hiking in
Southern Peru you will enjoy the outstanding natural beauty of southern Peru
during two memorable hikes in the Colca Canyon and in the heart of the Andes!
Moreover, this tour leads you to the most fascinating sites in Peru, like the
“White City” Arequipa, the legendary Lake Titicaca, the former capital of the
Inca Empire Cusco and the mystical Machu Picchu.
DAY 1:
WELCOME TO PERU
Upon your arrival at the airport of Lima, you will be welcomed by our personnel and taken to your hotel.
English speaking assistance from airport to hotel.
Private transfer from airport to hotel.
Accommodation in The Place Hostel 3*** or similar.
DAY 2: CITY
TOUR IN AREQUIPA (THE WHITE CITY).
Early in
the morning you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight to
Arequipa. After your arrival and check-in to your hotel you will start a guided
city tour discovering the colonial center of Arequipa, which is also called the
“White City” because it is dominated by white buildings. First you visit the
Plaza de Armas (the main square) and the Santa Catalina convent, a city within
the city with alleys and colourful buildings. Afterwards you will be
transferred to the viewpoints of Yanahuara and Cayma, which both offer
panoramic views of the city and the nearby volcanoes Misti and Chachani.
Alternatively you can visit the museum “Santuarios Andinos” (on your own
account, not included), which is famous for its exhibition of “Juanita” and
other mummies from the Inca period found in the glacier ice of the surrounding
mountains. After your city tour you will return to your hotel.
Very early
in the morning you leave Arequipa heading for the Colca Canyon, one of the
deepest canyons of the world (approximately 3500m deep). After passing the town
Chivay and driving along the beautiful canyon you finally reach Cruz del
Condor, which is an ideal place to observe the flight of the condor, the
largest flying bird of the world. Besides, you also have a phenomenal view of
the canyon illuminated in the morning sun. After leaving Cruz del Condor you
soon reach the small town Cabanaconde and the viewpoint San Miguel. There you
start hiking until you arrive in the village San Juan de Chuccho, where you
will spend the night. While your guide is preparing your supper, you can make
yourself comfortable in your bungalow.
Your hiking-equipment
will be carried by pack animals, while you will carry your personal belongings
by yourself. Further animals which could carry your backpack are available for
an extra charge. Your luggage which you don’t need during the hiking, can be
stored in Chivay.
DAY 4: OASIS
SANGALLE
After
breakfast you start the second day of your hiking. On the way, you visit
mountain villages, like Cosnirhua and Malata, and meet local people. Finally
you reach the oasis Sangalle, which is a peaceful place, where you can enjoy
the pool and relax under palm trees. Free evening.
DAY 5: COLCA
CANYON HIKE
Early in
the morning you leave the idyllic oasis Sangalle and start going uphill. After
a hike of 3 hours you reach Cabanaconde, where you will have breakfast.
Afterwards you take your bus to Chivay. On the way, you make a stop at Maca
village and at several viewpoints to enjoy the breath-taking landscape before
you leave the Colca Canyon. Upon your arrival in Chivay, you have time for
lunch (not included). In the afternoon, you finally take your bus to Puno,
located on the bank of Lake Titicaca.
DAY 6:
TITICACA LAKE
Today you
will discover the legendary Titicaca Lake. In the morning you are transferred
from your hotel to the dock in Puno. There you start your boat trip on the Titicaca
Lake until you reach the Floating Islands, inhabited by the Uros people. These
artificial islands are made of reed (totoras) and fastened on pegs to avoid
drifting away. After visiting one of the islands, you continue to the natural
island Amantani. After visiting the archaeological complex Pachatata, you meet
your local hosts and spend the night in their houses.*
*If you do not wish to spend the night on the islands, you can visit Taquile Island and the Floating Islands on a day trip.
Early in
the morning you leave Amantani, heading for Taquile, an island shaped by
terraces. The inhabitants still live according to the rules and the
organization inherited from the Inca period. Though property is private, labor
is collective: the 300 inhabitants of the island work one day for themselves
and the other day for the community. They are self-sufficient and live
according to the Inca principles: “do not steal, do not lie, and don’t be
lazy”. From the heights of the island you have a superb view of the lake, the
Puno bay and the Royal Bolivian Mountain Range. In the afternoon you take the
boat to Puno. Transfer to your hotel and free evening.
DAY 8: PUNO
TO CUSCO
Early in
the morning departure towards Cusco. You will cross the Colla plateau, where
you make a stop in Pucara, which is one of the last remaining arquaeological
sites of the pre-Inca Pucara culture. You will then traverse the La Raya pass
(4360m), which marks the end of the plateau and the beginning of the Cusco
region. In Sicuani you try a typical lunch before continuing towards Raqchi
where you will visit the spectacular Inca sanctuary built by Pachacutec in honor
of the Incan God Wiracocha. You will then continue your journey towards the
village Andahuaylillas visiting the church San Pedro, known as the “Sistine
Chapel” of South America notably due to its lavishly painted ceiling. Arrival
in Cusco at the end of the day.
Today you
will start your city tour visiting the Inca site of Tambomachay, one of the
four archaeological sites in the periphery of Cusco, the former capital of the
Inca Empire. From there you will walk down to the other Inca sites Puca Pucara,
Qenqo and finally Saqsayhuamán, a stunning fortress built on a hill over the
city of Cusco. This site is characterized by its gigantic blocks of stone,
accurately interlocked, with some being over 9 meters tall and weighing more
than 550 tons. After visiting the four sites, you continue walking down towards
the colonial center of Cusco until you reach and visit the Cathedral, an
impressive building which is situated on the Plaza de Armas (the main square)
and houses many paintings of the famous Cusco School. You will finish your city
tour visiting the Santo Domingo monastery, the ancient temple of the Sun, also
known as Coricancha. End of the day free.
This day you
will discover the main Inca sites and the natural beauty of the Sacred Valley.
In the morning you visit the Pisac archaeological site, which is composed of
terraces, fountains, observatories and even a necropolis, the largest of the
region (nearly 10000 people were buried there). On your way back down, you will
stop at the traditional artisanal market of Pisac before continuing your itinerary
towards Ollantaytambo, driving along the bank of the sacred Urubamba River.
Upon your arrival, you visit the impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo, from where
the Inca once guarded the Sacred Valley from invasions by tribes coming from
the rain forest. Afterwards you take a stroll through the paved streets and
alleys of the small town, which has remained almost unchanged since the Inca
period. Finally, you take the train to Aguas Calientes, a small town located at
the foot of the famous Machu Picchu, where you will spend the night.
Very early
in the morning, you take the bus which brings you up to the most famous and
impressive Inca site: Machu Picchu, which means “old summit” in Quechua.
Together with your guide you will start to discover the archaeological complex,
still covered by the morning mist, built on top of a ridge and surrounded by
precipices: a stunning view that evolves with the progression of the sun. You
will roam through the alleys of the citadel, its quarters, squares, royal
houses, agricultural zones, paths and observatories. After the guided tour you
have the opportunity to climb the mountain Huayna Picchu (entrance at 10
o’clock*) or to visit the Inca bridge and the Sun Gate (“Inti Punku”), situated
at 2700 meters. Alternatively, you can also wander about the alleys and squares
of Machu Picchu. In the afternoon you return to Aguas Calientes to take the
train back to Ollantaytambo, where you will spend the night.
*We have
chosen the entrance to Huayna Picchu at 10 o’clock so that you have enough time
to visit Machu Picchu with your guide and enjoy a clearer view of the citadel,
before you start to climb Huayna Picchu. However, since the number of daily
visitors allowed to enter Huayna Picchu is restricted, we cannot guarantee the
access to this part of the site.
DAY 12:
MARAS SALT MINES AND MORAY
TToday you will visit the Inca site of Moray and the Maras Salt Mines. In the morning you leave your hotel in Ollantaytambo and drive along the riverbank until you reach Urubamba, the principal town in the Sacred Valley. Then you leave the valley, turning towards the beautiful mountain landscape. Finally you arrive in Moray, a former Inca agricultural laboratory. This place was used more than 500 years ago to test the resistance to altitude of certain species of plants. Your next stop is the Maras salt mines, which dates back to the pre-Inca period and is still used like in old times by the inhabitants of the village: The water coming from a salted source is canalized to a series of ponds where it evaporates gradually until a fine layer of salt is left and can be collected. After visiting the saline, you have a typical lunch prepared by a local family. In the afternoon you will be transferred to your hotel in Cusco.
DAY 13:
FREE DAY IN CUSCO
Today you have the opportunity to buy souvenirs, to relax or to explore the streets and squares of the historic center of Cusco on your own.
DAY 14: AUSANGATE
TREK
In the morning you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the village Tinqui. On the way you can enjoy for the first time the view of the sacred glacier Apu Ausangate. According to Andean belief and Incan mythology “Apu” is a deity or the spirit of a sacred mountain. Upon your arrival in Tinqui (3900 m), you get to know the hiking team and start hiking towards Upis (4380 m), a village located at the foot of the Ausangate. There you have the opportunity to take a bath in the hot springs (optional, not included) or to watch the sunset, before you go to sleep in your tent.
The second
stage of the hike leads you up to the first pass of the route (4800 m). On the
way you can enjoy the magnificent scenery, such as mountain lakes, waterfalls
and snow-covered peaks. Later on, you pass by the mountain lake Hatun Pucacocha
(4585 m), which is located on the southern flank of the Ausangate, and reach
the highest point of today’s hike, which is called Apacheta (4840 m). Finally
you descend to the mountain lake Ausangatecocha (4600 m), where you will spend
the night.
DAY 16: HIGHEST
POINT OF THE HIKE
In the
morning you start walking towards the pass of Palomani (5050 m), which is the
highest point of the whole hiking. Upon your arrival at the pass, you make a
stop in order to enjoy the spectacular view and the atmosphere of peace and tranquility.
Afterwards you descend to your place for the night (4800 m).
After
breakfast you follow the path to the last pass of the hiking (4986m). At this
point you are surrounded by majestic glaciers. Then you start walking downhill,
passing beautiful mountain lakes, until you reach the village Pacchanta (4230
m), where you can have a rest or take a bath in the thermal springs (optional,
entrance fee not included).
The last stage of the hiking is the shortest one. In the morning you walk back to the starting point in Tinqui, from where you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cusco.
Today you
have to say goodbye to this wonderful country and its people. After your
transfer to the airport in Cusco, you take the flight to Lima and afterwards connecting
flight to your country.
If you would like bring some gifts for the children of the Andean communities we are staying with, it would be much appreciated. You could bring for example, coloring books, coloring pencils or some small toys. Small children’s gifts are also for sale in Cusco; feel free to ask your guide.
Prices and discounts
A mínimum group size would be 2 persons. The bigger the group, the lower our cost per person: please, find our prices and discounts below!
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