INCA TRAIL + MACHUPICCHU 2D-1N

2018 DEPARTURES

Price per person: US$397 (Group tour)
Price upon Request: (Private tour)
The tour INCLUDES land tourist transportation from Cusco hotel to Ollanta train station, train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Km 104 start of the Inca Trail (chachabamba), the combined Inca Trail permit & Machupicchu entrance fees (US$85 + US$15 sales tax 18%) which is about US$100, bus tickets Aguas Calientes to Machupicchu ruins, Expedition class train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, land tourist transportation back from Ollantaytambo station to Cusco and others. Besides pre-trip information + organization and all local taxes. There are not hidden extras in our prices. Other local companies 2016 prices 02DAYS-01NIGHT INCA TRAIL, by group service: US$565 (2016), US$450 (2016), US$495 (2016). The price includes all money transfer fees. For full details see below.

DAY 1: CUSCO – CHACHABAMBA – WIÑAYHUAYNA – AGUAS CALIENTES:
Early morning (04:00-04:30am) a driver and guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Ollantaytambo village, a car trip of 1:40hrs, passing on the way Chincheros, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo villages in the sacred valley, place where you will take the train until Chachabamba km 104 on the Cusco-Machupicchu railroad (starting point of the hike). Arrival to Chachabamba (km 104), place where we will pass a footbridge and the check point to start with our trek, visiting the archaeological site of Chachabamba (2150m/7052ft), with fountains and water channels. Then we continue uphill for about 3 hours until the archaeological complex of Wiñayhuayna (2650m/8690ft), where on the way we may enjoy a panorama of the Urubamba River. We reach to Wiñayhuayna (forever young), where our guided will explain about this magnificent construction as ceremonial baths, farming terraces, religious and an urban sectors and the Choquesuysuy archaeological complex. Lunch included during the trip. Then we continue climbing to Intipunku (the Sun Gate) for about 1hour, place from where we may contemplate the citadel of Machupicchu. Then we start to descend to Machupicchu, enjoying along the way the Mountains of Machupicchu and Huaynapicchu. We take the bus 25 minutes to go down Aguas Calientes village. Overnight at Aguas Calientes.

• Land transport: Cusco – Ollantaytambo
• Train journey: Ollantaytambo – Chachabamba km 104
• Walking distance: 13 km / 8 miles
• Estimated walking time: 6 -7 hrs
• Maximum altitude: 2650m / 8,690ft
• Weather conditions: Hot, rainy December-March, dry
• Trail conditions: Rocky, narrow and slippery

DAY 2: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHUPICCHU – CUSCO:
Breakfast included at Hotel. Early morning the guide will pick you up from your hotel and take to bus station, from where you will take the local bus up to Machupicchu ruins, which is about 25 minutes. (Machupicchu ruins opens its gates at 6:00am). Guided tour of Machupicchu ruins (2:30hours) with English-Spanish speaking guide as temples, palaces, priest houses, a sundial, the industrial sector and the farming fields. Then you will have extra time to explore the site on your own. Optional if you have booked Huaynapicchu Mountain (2720m/8920ft) is a good choice for the ones who want to explore more this area, which takes 2:30hours round trip from the check point, (extra cost of ticket and pre-booked in advance US$12). If entrance tickets for Huaynapicchu Mountain is sold out, we have more options as hiking to Sun Gate 2:30hours round trip, or hiking to the Inca Bridge which is 1:30hour round trip. Once you had finished exploring Machupicchu and surroundings, you may go back to the buses and head down to Aguas Calientes to enjoy lunch in some restaurants. After lunch you will take the train back from Aguas Calientes station to Ollantaytambo and finally transfer by tourist bus from Ollantaytambo station to your hotel in Cusco.

• Walking distance: 5 km
• Estimated walking time: 2:30 hours
• Maximum altitude: 2720m / 8920pies
• Cusco city elevation: 3400m/11,152ft
• Weather conditions: Hot, rainy December-March, dry
• Trail conditions: Rocky, narrow, slippery (Machupicchu o Huaynapicchu)
• Land transport: Ollantaytambo – Cusco 2:30 hrs

WHAT IS INCLUDED: The tour INCLUDES land tourist transportation from Cusco hotel to Ollanta train station, train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Km104 start of the Inca Trail (chachabamba), the combined Inca Trail permit & Machupicchu entrance fees (US$85 + US$15 sales tax 18%) which is about US$100, English-Spanish speaking guide for 02Days, box lunch, bus down from Machupicchu ruins to Aguas Calientes, 01Night hotel in Aguas Calientes, next day round trip bus tickets Aguas Calientes to Machupicchu ruins, second entrance fees to Machupicchu ruins, guided visit of Machupicchu ruins with English-Spanish speaking guide, Expedition class train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, land tourist transportation back from Ollantaytambo station to Cusco. Besides pre-trip information + organization and all local taxes. There are no hidden extras in our prices. Our company, in shared operation with our partner in Cusco provides for our guest comfortable Tents as Eureka, North Face and Doite, in single & double occupancy, besides oxygen & first aid kit, exclusive for foreign.

NOT INCLUDED: Breakfast (1° day) but it can be offered early morning in some hotels in Cusco, lunch at the end of the tour (2° day), we recommend in Aguas Calientes where there are many restaurants. Optional hotsprings US$3.5, entrance fees to climb Huaynapicchu Mountain (optional) and gratuities for the guide, cook and porters. Our staff is well paid so tipping is voluntary, as desired.
Note: Machupicchu village or Aguas Calientes is the same. For private or shared tours is not included the insurance coverage during trekking.

USEFUL INFORMATION:

You can see that in Rumbo Explora we have developed for you tailor-made itineraries with the best price as competitive as possible, providing an excellent service and paying our guides 10% above the legal wage agreed with association of the tour guides – Cusco. Our staff are some of the best paid in Cusco & Machupicchu, which allows us to attract only the Best Tour Guides and Land Transportation with national permit, to none other local company, that can only provide a cheaper price by providing a far inferior service and saving on staff costs, ¿How? Hiring tour guides in training without experience and not paying them, besides avoiding taxes to government.

Big Travel companies from Europe, North America, Australia and others work with the Peruvian Tour Operators located in Lima-Peru, who work as middlemen receiving from them good prices from the Tours & Packages, and paying to us 40 to 50% minor the normal price, besides 2 to 3 months delayed, being this the reason that Rumbo Explora have decided to offer tours & packages directly to travelers.

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Inca Trail Equipment

TENTS & LAMPS FOR OUR CLIENTS:
All of our tents are made of waterproof materials. Rumbo Explora, in shared operation with our partner in Cusco offer deluxe & private services for our demanding clients. For Inca Trail Trekking is employed solar-powered lamps, for giving an excellent service at night, thus substitute the gas lamps currently employed by many local companies. The camping equipment with some brands or models:

• Eureka Tunnel Vision – larger groups
• Eureka Timberline 4 Outfitter – double occupancy
• Eureka Timberline 2XT – single occupancy
• Eureka K2XT – double & single occupancy
• Eureka Equinox – single occupancy
• The North Face VE25 – double & single occupancy
• Doite Cima 4 – single & double occupancy
• Doite Kailas 3 – single & double occupancy
• Doite Himalaya – single & double occupancy

TENTS & LAMPS FOR OUR STAFF (GUIDES, COOKS AND PORTERS):
Tents, sleeping bags, sleeping foams, rain ponchos and shoes for our staff are manufactured in Peru. We can guarantee the comfort of our staff during the excursion. For Inca Trail Trekking our company, in shared operation with our partner in Cusco employ solar-powered lamps for our staff, to give an excellent service at night, thus substitute the gas lamps currently employed by many local companies.

COLLECTIVE TENTS:
For Inca Trail program it is employed dining tents, kitchen tents, toilet tents, and shower tents available. Additional to camping equipment we have porter backpacks, support belts, shoes, duffle bags, porter jackets, all manufactured in Peru. Besides our partner in Cusco have provided free insurance for all Inca Trail staff, we can guarantee that our staff are well paid in Cusco region, we consider them as the absolute minimum requirements for treating our camp staff fairly and as human beings.

SLEEPING MATS/PADS & SLEEPING BAGS:
For giving a top comfort service for all our clients at Inca Trail we work widely with three layers of orthopedic foamy pads, to guarantee a good rest, after a long hiking. Our company, in shared operation with our partner in Cusco provide for our guests clean and comfortable sleeping bags (eureka), who offers different models in remote areas far away from city for different temperatures.

KITCHEN EQUIPMENT / TABLEWARE & CUTLERY:
For ensuring a maximum hygiene and the best service possible, our company, in shared operation with our partner in Cusco buy all fresh produce and food directly from local markets, where we can find out fresh fruits, meat, fish, potatoes, vegetables and others. Also it is employed for Inca Trail cutlery which is stainless steel, dishes, cups and glassware made in China, as Machupicchu is located on the way to jungle, and the weather is warmer and plastic equipment not good. Besides the kitchen is equipped also with ovens, exclusive for our clients.

WATER FILTERS FACILITIES:
Rumbo Explora guarantee all meals and food along the Inca Trail. Travellers do not have to bring water purification tablets or water filters on the trek. Be sure that we operate in areas where water source is clean besides it is filtered for cooking and boiled for drinking purposes, and it is regularly monitored, for not put our clients’ health at risk. We use biodegradable soup and detergent. For luxury & private services our company, in shared operation with our partner in Cusco offer to visitors shower tents facilities (30L) exclusive for clients of Rumbo Explora.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSABILITY:
Toilet facilities: As Salkantay Trek program takes 05Days or perhaps only 04Days, our company, in shared operation with our partner in Cusco employ (toilet tent) portable toilet facilities including biodegradable bags (manufactured in United States). Some organic wastes are taken out and buried in remote areas far away from Inca Trail, or carried back to Cusco. On the Inca Trail there are not proper flush toilets.
In Cusco & Machupicchu: On Inca Trail (protected area) is not allowed drop-off rubbish or polluting the environment that is why our Company put in operation the collecting of garbage from all our excursions where we operate following the Peruvian regulations, respecting the protection to environment.
In Puno & Lake Titicaca: Rumbo Explora recommends to all our drivers during the excursions, put on tourist transportations and motor boats a small rubbish bin and all this will be taken to the garbage collector and then to the Municipal dump, to avoid the pollution in Lake Titicaca region.
In Arequipa & Colca Valley: As the excursion to Colca Valley takes 02Days or more, people carry water in plastic bottles for several days, which produces garbage against the environment. We decided to collect all wastes possible from all our tours, especially from our Trekking program in Colca Valley where we operate, taking back to Arequipa to send to Municipal dump.
Lima & Nazca-Paracas and other places: Lima, Nazca and Paracas are towns located on the desert, where the temperature in summer gets warm up to 30°-35° degrees, and wastes produce contamination. We suggest to all our visitors put the wastes into the rubbish bin.

FOR EMERGENCIES – FIRST-AID-KITS & OXYGEN BOTTLES:
Inca Trail program, Salkantay & Ausangate Mountain, Lares Trek and others implies downs and ups along the trekking and not medical centers, in some areas our clients will cross hiking over 4300m/14,100feet, is our priority to carry for emergencies oxygen & first aid kit, exclusive for foreign. Our guides are trained in first aid, and we can guarantee the trekking for the Inca Trail program and all treks where we operate. In a future not far away we will provide satellite phone as a priority for our services on Inca Trail program, exclusive for our clients and staff, just for emergencies.