Cachin to Machupicchu 4D/3N 2008

Itinerary

Day 2: Cochayoc to Quelcanca

After breakfast we may visit a local house welcome by its owners, having the chance to try chicha, a typical Andean drink made from corn. We give coca leaves as a gift, which are always appreciated by people living in the highlands. Cochayoc is essentially a livestock, agricultural farming and weaving community. We continue the walk up to the Tirihuayjasa Pass (4430m/14534ft). We cross high plains with impressive mountains covered in frost surrounding us, and the Yanacocha lagoon (4292m/14088ft), with a spectacular view of the Tirihuay glacier. We begin the descent of 5 Km towards Jonunapampa (4090m/13418ft), a pampa where we will stop to greet doña Eustanquia Huaman Zuniga, and be able to appreciate the way of life of the people living in the high Andes. We continue on our path, descending around the mountain until we reach the community of Qelcanca (3798m/ 12460ft). We camp at one of the schools in the community, charmed by the friendly teachers. In this community, the people are mainly livestock farmers, and some work in agriculture. The flora that we see mostly is Ichu, a tough Andean grass, and among the birds are the Caracara, Aplomado Falcon, Eagles, Kestrel, Andean Flicker, etc.
Meals: B, L, D

Itinerary

Day 3: Quelcanca to the road

We leave at 7am following the river upstream through the Quelcanca ravine, towards the Yauricunca pass (4350m/ 14271ft), where we arrive after approximately 2 hours walking and from where we can appreciate impressive views of the Tirihuay and Halancoma glaciers. From the pass we take the path to the left and we descend to Ocororuyoc (4229m/ 13874ft), through a flat landscape which takes us to the road to Patacancha. At this point our private transport will be waiting to take us to Patacancha. This is a well known Andean weaving community that still preserves the ancient Quechua traditions and dress code, where we will stop to visit. We continue by road to Ollantaytambo, where we board an afternoon train to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, we will check in to our chosen hotel/hostel.
Meals: B, L

Itinerary

Day 4: Machupicchu to Cusco

After an early breakfast, we board a bus to go up to Machupicchu and then immediately begin a complete guided tour of the Inca citadel that will take approximately two hours. We then have free time to walk around, climb the Huaynapicchu Mountain, where one can appreciate spectacular views of all of Machupicchu, the valleys and mountains that surround it, or visit the Temple of the Moon or the fabulous Inca Bridge. In the afternoon, we meet in the town of Aguas Calientes where, if you like, you can visit and relax in its hot springs. From here we take the train back to the city of Cusco, where we arrive after nightfall.
Meals: -

* Departure and arrival times are approximated.
** Campsites are subject to change according to our guide’s criteria and the group progress

Difficulty degree of this hike

Challenging: The hiking portion of this itinerary is concentrated on the afternoon of day 1, and on days 2 and 3. We cross 2 mountain passes with a maximum altitude of 4430m (14534ft). Day 4 will be spent visiting Machupicchu.

Price Information

Prices per person 2008

Prices per person depend on the group size, the larger the group the lower the price per person.

Please contact us, specifying:

• trekking program
• number of people in the trek
• departure date

Available discounts (these discounts are not cumulative):

• Students: Peruvian Soles s/61.00 (students require a valid International Student Identity Card. Please note that Youth Travel Cards are not valid)
• Teenagers: Peruvian Soles s/61.00 (up to 15 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)
• Children: Peruvian Soles s/122.00 (up to 7 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)

Additional discounts (that may be added to the above-mentioned):

• SAE: 5% on full program price (valid South American Explorers Club membership card required). This discount may not be applicable in case a promotional price is offered

Departure dates 2008

Daily departures are available along the year.

All private service departure dates are adapted to your request.

Group Size

To suit group requirements.

What is included

• Collection from your hotel in the morning and transfer in private transport to Cachín, starting point of the trek
• Personal tents: 2 people in each 4-people-capacity tent, to allow for higher comfort and a safe keeping of backpacks. Our tents are 3-season, highly maintained to ensure an excellent performance in field
• One inflatable sleeping pad per person
• One sleeping bag per person: our sleeping bags are -18ºC-comfort (0ºF), mummy form and include a sleeping liner. They are cleaned after every use and have a maximum usage of 30 trips
• One pillow per person
• Dining tent with tables and chairs
• Kitchen tent
• Toilet tent
• English speaking professional guide (2 guides for groups of over 8 people)
• Chef and cooking equipment
• Horsemen and horses (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment)
• Horses to carry personal gear up to 9 kg per person (including sleeping bag and sleeping pad)
• 1 emergency horse every 6 persons
• Accommodation for all our staff
• Meals (02B, 03L, 02D + daily morning snack +daily tea service except last day). Vegetarian menu is available at no extra cost
• Others: hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunch time if requested with enough time ahead
• First-aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
• Private transport from the road near Quelcanca to Ollantaytambo
• RT train ticket Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo
• 1D Machupicchu entrance fee
• RT bus ticket Aguas Calientes – Cusco – Aguas Calientes
• Private transport Ollantaytambo – Cusco including transfer to your hotel

What is not included

• Accommodation in Aguas Calientes or Machupicchu
• Breakfast on the first day
• Dinner in Aguas Calientes on day 3
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the last day: after the guided tour at Machupicchu, you can enjoy free time to further visit the ruins and choose to have lunch either in Machupicchu or in Aguas Calientes at your own expense. Arrival in Cusco is estimated after nightfall, dinner being at your own expense too
• Visit to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes: a relaxing way to end-up the trek while you’re awaiting the return train to Cusco, only 10 minutes from the village center, entrance fee is Peruvian Soles s/10.00 per person. Towels can be hired in Aguas Calientes
• Tips: please note that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip or not as you wish

What we recommend that you bring

• A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the program
• Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended
• Sandals or jogging shoes for a higher comfort while at camp
• Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping
• Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
• Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
• Sun block
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
• Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported
• Handkerchiefs
• Toilet paper
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc. Please note that we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. This recommendation applies for all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it is not included in our selection
• Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning. Optionally: water- sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far
• Small towel
• Swimsuit (if you wish to take a bath in the hot springs)
• Cash in soles and/or US$
• Original passport
• Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount)
• Optional: walking sticks or poles

Optional services to be hired

• Accommodation in Aguas Calientes or Machupicchu: please let us know if you wish us to make the hotel booking and, in this case, your requested hotel category and accommodation, and the number of nights you wish us to book. Our Reservation Department will provide you with a list of our selected hotels, services and prices for you to choose from. Our hotel choice is based on previous client reports and regularly updated.
• Massage sessions: US$60.00 per 1-hour session (US$50.00 per session if at least 2 sessions are booked). Our massage therapists have the highest recognition in Cusco and offer the following treatments: relaxing massage, stress-relieving massage, spinal column massage, energizing massage, Inca massage, altitude problems, aroma therapy, therapy with honey, therapy with glass, therapy with stones, foot reflexology, shiatzu, reiki and puddle of flowering. We recommend massage sessions before and after your trekking program. Services are at the hotel and are only available in Cusco.

Appropriate clothing along this hike

Hiking pants and T-shirts are commonly used during the day, complemented by sweaters, fleeces and waterproof jackets. It is very convenient to have light raingear available in the daypack (rain poncho or jacket and/or rain pants) as the weather changes easily and rains can suddenly occur. At night, warm clothing is required along the route. The rest of necessary implements are included in the “What we recommend that you bring” list.

Climate

Cusco’s climate is divided into two differentiated seasons: the rainy season, from November to April (the heaviest rainfalls occurring usually between January – March); and the dry season, from May to October. The dry season is colder, so temperatures can drop to below 0 degrees at night.

Along this route, temperatures range from 10-20ºC during the day if it’s sunny, to 5-15ºC during the day if not sunny and depending on the elevation. Temperatures may strongly drop at night, especially in the dry season (May through September), reaching 0-5ºC although rarely below. In Aguas Calientes and Machupicchu, at lower altitude, temperatures are usually warmer though warm clothes are still recommended at night.

How to make a Booking

If you would like to make a reservation for this program, please go directly to the Booking Online section of this website by clicking here.

1. Once you have chosen your tour, please read the Booking Terms & Conditions, as your booking is subject to these terms.
2. Then fill out and submit the Reservation Form that you will find in the Booking Online section of this website.
3. In a maximum of two working days, you will receive an email from one of our travel consultants confirming or denying your booking.
4. In case your reservation is confirmed, a money deposit will be requested to secure your reservation.
5. Once we confirm the deposit reception, your booking is confirmed. A Service Confirmation Form will be sent to you including all the details of your program.

In case you have any doubts, queries or require additional information, please contact us, we will be very glad to assist you. Your request will be answered by return mail within a maximum of 2 working days.

Booking Terms & Conditions

1. CANCELLATION BY ENIGMA ADVENTURE TOUR OPERATOR
ENIGMA Adventure Tour Operator reserves the right to cancel a program in case any of the following circumstances occur:
(i) Client's failure to pay the final balance two days prior to departure date.
(ii) Force majeure: Impossibility to operate the program or trek due to unusual or unforeseen circumstances outside ENIGMA's control. Ie. weather conditions not permitting, strike not allowing operation or putting it at risk, sudden inaccessibility of route, etc.

The following refund policies apply in each case:
(i) In the event of a client's failure to pay the due balance, the client will not have any right for the deposit refund.
(ii) In case force majeure occurs, ENIGMA will propose viable solutions to operate the program within the available dates, or if impossible, will then propose an alternative program. If the alternative program chosen by the client is of lower value than that originally booked then the client is entitled to a refund of the price difference. All costs derived will be at the expense of the client. In case none of these would be feasible, ENIGMA would refund all the money paid except all the incurred expenses so far.

2. CANCELLATION BY THE CLIENT
Please note that the program deposit is non-refundable. The deposit is used to purchase the space within the group and once a space is purchased it cannot be resold afterwards.

In case of cancellation by the client, the following refund policies apply:

Inca Trail or any trek including the Inca Trail
(i) Cancellation up to two days prior to departure: loss of program deposit
(ii) Cancellation between two days and the departure date: will be considered a No Show and no refund will be applicable. The unused trek permit will be returned as well as the return train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Cusco and the bus tickets from Machu Picchu to Cusco. Clients may be able to re-use the tickets by presenting them to the respective authorities and paying an additional amount, which varies depending on the ticket.
(iii) If the trek balance is not paid two days before the trek departure date, ENIGMA will assume the client is canceling the trek and the deposit will not be refunded.

All other treks or programs (excluding custom itineraries and mountain climbing programs)
(i) Cancellation with at least one month prior to departure: ENIGMA will refund 75% of the program costs in case the full amount has been paid, or 50% of the program deposit in case only the deposit has been paid. Cost of the refund transfer will be at the client's expense.
(ii) Cancellation between one month and two days prior to departure: ENIGMA will refund 50% of the program costs in case the full amount has been paid. In case only the 50% deposit has been paid, the client will have no right to refund. Cost of the refund transfer will be at the client's expense.
(iii) Cancellation with less than two days prior to departure: will be considered a No Show and no refund will be applicable.
(iv) If the trek balance is not paid two days before the trek departure date, ENIGMA will assume the client is canceling the trek and the deposit will not be refunded.

Cancellations regarding custom itineraries and mountain climbing programs will depend on each specific program and will therefore be agreed upon between ENIGMA and the client by e-mail accordingly. ENIGMA reserves the right to modify the above-mentioned cancellations and refund policies. All modifications will be immediately informed to the affected client through written communication.

3. PRICES AND SURCHARGES
As we publish our prices well in advance, we may occasionally be faced with significant cost increases due to factors over which we have no control. As such we reserve the right to impose surcharges (or price decreases) up to one month before departure due to increases in entrance fees, train fares or other transport costs, taxes, if government action should require us to do so or others. Any surcharge or price decrease will be fully explained and justified by ENIGMA before implementation. If any surcharge results in an increase of more than 10% of the program cost the client may cancel the booking and obtain a full refund less expenses already incurred, provided the cancellation is made with at least one month prior to departure date.

4. ACCEPTANCE OF RISK
Some of ENIGMA's itineraries have been designed to provide participants with an exposure to the true nature of the environment visited. They therefore involve an element of personal risk and exposure to potential, which could result in physical or emotional injury, paralysis, death, or damage to the client, his/her property or to third parties. The client understands that such risks simply cannot be eliminated without jeopardizing the essential qualities of the activity and therefore assumes them as part of the tour. The client accepts that he/she is aware of his physical and health condition and that, under the knowledge of this he/she decides to undertake the above-mentioned risks. The client excludes ENIGMA from any responsibility linked to any accident or injury that may occur associated to the clients' health, physical condition or other.

5. AUTHORITY ON TOUR
At all times the decision of the company's guide or representative will be final on all matters likely to endanger the safety and well being of the tour group. The client must at all times strictly comply with the laws, customs, and foreign exchange and drug regulations of Peru. Should the client fail to comply with the above, or should the client interfere with the well being of the group then the guide or company representative may order the client to leave the tour without recourse to any refund.

6. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
The client must be in possession of a valid passport and all visas required for the whole of the journey and the client accepts responsibility for obtaining the same. Any information or advice given by the company on visas, vaccinations, climate, clothing, baggage, special equipment, etc is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of the company.

7. FACTORS OUTSIDE THE COMPANY'S CONTROL (FORCE MAJEURE)
The company will do its best to minimize the effects of matters outside its control, but cannot accept any liability for these matters which include political disputes, border closures, refusals of visas, industrial action, delayed flights, unforeseeable climate, landslides, etc. The client accepts to assume all extra costs derived by any of these factors.

8. RESPONSIBILITY
The company shall not be liable for any damage or loss if the failure to carry out the contract is:
1) Attributable to the client
2) Attributable to a third party unconnected with the provision of the services contracted for and the event is unforeseeable or unavoidable
3) Due to unforeseen and unusual circumstances beyond the company's control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had to be exercised
4) Due to political disputes, industrial action, climate or other matters of a similar nature and any other force majeure
5) Due to an event, which the company, even with all due care could not foresee or forestall. Any liability is limited to the full price paid for the tour. In all cases the company specifically excludes all liability for indirect or consequential loss or expense including loss of profits.

9. CLAIMS AND COMPLAINTS
If a client has a complaint against the company the client must first inform the trek guide or company representative while on the tour in order that the guide/representative can attempt to rectify the matter. Any further complaint must be put in writing to the company within 7 days of the end of the tour. I have had sufficient opportunity to read this entire document. I have read and understood it, and I agree to be bound by its terms.

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