Inca Trail Tour

Classic Inca
Trail Tour
trip itinerary and details

Classic Inca Trail
8 days: US$1985 with internal flights included
(What's Included)

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Give us eight days and we'll give you the best Inca Trail Tour to be had today. Our operators are the best in the business, with excellent service, great knowledge of the trail, the Incas, the flora and fauna, and fluent English to go along with it. Our cooks are also top-notch, serving up delicious food the entire way. All you've got to do is walk and enjoy the incredible sights and vistas unfolding before you. You've also got days for shopping and city tours in Lima and Cuzco. And as on all Southern Crossings tours, you're taken care of from beginning to end: airport transfers and internal flights are included!

NOTE: IF YOUR PASSPORT NUMBER CHANGES, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU ARE HIKING THE INCA TRAIL, YOU MUST BRING AT LEAST A COPY OF THE PASSPORT WITH WHICH WE PROCURED YOUR INCA TRAIL PERMIT.

Add on Lake Titicaca, the Nazca Lines, the Amazon Rainforest, the Colca Canyon or a Pacific Beach Getaway. Click here for more info!

Day

Location

1

Arrive Lima. City tour today or upon your return

2-3

Flight to Cuzco. City and ruins tour

4-7

Inca Trail, Machu Picchu

8

Flight to Lima, departure day

Next date with permits available: Mar 6, 2010
Next open date with full moon: Apr 29, 2010

Depart any day if permits are available. Customize your trip at no extra charge.

Other Inca Trail trips:

Inca Trail + Multisport - 8 days

Inca Trail + Amazon and Lake Titicaca - 15 days

Peru Explorer - 21 days

CLASSIC INCA TRAIL TRIP ITINERARY

Day	Activity/Location
1	Arrive in Lima and transfer to our hotel. If arriving during the day, your hotel will be in the neighborhood of Miraflores, with good shopping and restaurants, and you'll have an included city tour in the afternoon. If arriving late at night, you'll be close to the airport for a bit more sleep before your next day's flight, and you'll have a tour of Lima upon your return.
2	Morning flight over the Andes to Cuzco. After checking into our hotel, we'll head to the Plaza de Armas, the center of old Cuzco, then climb up to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman above town for great afternoon views over the city. Depending on your arrival time, there may be time for shopping or more sightseeing in the afternoon.
3	A free day in Cuzco to acclimate to the high altitude before hiking the Inca Trail. Shopping, strolling and visiting some extra sites on your Cuzco Visitor's Ticket can easily fill a day, but if you'd like to ride horses, go mountain biking, or visit the Sacred Valley, just let us know and we can arrange it for you! Early to bed as the Inca Trail begins tomorrow!
4	Walking the Inca Trail! A morning bus trip brings us to kilometer 82, start of the world-famous Inca Trail. Our first day is an easy one to get acclimated, as we gently climb through Andean valleys to the village of Huallabamba, making our first camp just above it. Along the entire trek we are well taken care of by our team of porters and cooks, freeing us up to fully enjoy the Inca sites and vistas unfolding before us.
5	Up up up to Dead Woman's Pass, near the top of the world at 4200 meters (14,000 ft.). The air is thin, but the view is not to be believed. We then continue on to Runku Rakay, tonight's campsite and the first Inca ruins along the trail.
6	Today we continue trekking past three of the most beautiful Inca sites anywhere in Peru: Sayacmarka, Phuyupatamarka, and Winyaywaina. We camp at the Inca terraces of Intipata or at the nearby youth hostal.
7	A pre-dawn departure brings us to the Gate of the Sun to watch the first rays of sunlight strike the sacred city of Machu Picchu. We'll descend to the ruins and have a tour by our guide before setting off for independent exploration. In the afternoon we'll catch a train back to a hot shower and the other comforts of Cuzco.
8	Early morning flight to Lima. International flights may depart any time after 12pm.

TRIP DETAILS

8 days: US$1985 per person
Currency Converter
Daily departures based on availability

Is this trip for me?
Classic Inca Trail is an eight day tour which includes a four-day, moderate trek. No trekking experience is required, but one should be in average physical shape and not suffer from any heart or respiratory conditions. As always, a certain patience is required for the inconsistencies and delays of developing-world travel.

Joining the tour
On all Southern Crossings tours, you are met at the airport by one of our representatives (holding a Southern Crossings placard), who will accompany you to our joining hotel. No bargaining or being ripped off by airport taxis!

What's included in the trip

· Airport pickup at the beginning of trip and drop off at end of the trip

· Southern Crossings bilingual guides

· All other internal transport (excluding transport to optional restaurants, bars, sights and excursions)

· Internal flights, Lima-Cuzco, Cuzco-Lima

· Four nights of hotel accommodation, three nights of camping (on the Inca Trail)

· Four day Inca Trail excursion, including bilingual guide, cooks, porters, tent, sleeping bag and mat.

· All meals while on the Inca Trail

· Breakfasts with every hotel stay

· The Cuzco Visitor's Ticket, which includes entrance to the ruins in and around Cuzco and the Sacred Valley, and many churches and museums in Cuzco

· Cuzco city tour

· Lima city tour

· Machu Picchu excursion, including bilingual guide, return train fare, transportation to/from ruins/Aguas Calientes, and entrance to the Machu Picchu sanctuary

· Southern Crossings T-Shirt or Cap

What's not included
International flight to/from Lima, airport taxes (approx. US$38), pre- & post- tour accommodation, visas, vaccinations, personal insurance, meals except where specified above, drinks, laundry, souvenirs, tips while on optional excursions and other items of a personal nature. Medical travel insurance is not included through Southern Crossings though we do require that you have a policy. Check www.travelguard.com to purchase a policy for your trip.

Extra Accommodation
We will gladly arrange additional accommodation for you before or after your trip:
In Lima: $110 double/$90 single
In Cuzco: $120 double/$100 single

Single Person Supplement: $480
Please add this to your total payment if you will be travelling alone or wish to have private accommodation

PRE-TRIP PLANNER

Required documents

All travelers to Peru are required to have a passport valid for at least six months from date of entry. Visas are not required for E.U., U.S., Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport holders. For other nationalities, please consult the nearest Peruvian embassy or consulate. An onward ticket and proof of funds may also be required at entry and should be available to show to immigration. Traveler’s checks, currency, or a bank statement, from the bank or printed off the internet, are sufficient for proof of funds.

Required immunizations

No immunizations are required of travelers to these areas of Peru. Travelers may wish to receive hepatitis vaccinations and should be current on all other standard vaccinations. There is no yellow fever or malaria in the areas you will be visiting. Please consult your physician or local health department for more information.

Things to bring

One should come well prepared for outdoor activity at temperatures ranging from 30 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and for extremes of sun and the possibility of rain. Please note: We provide a sleeping bag, foam mat, and of course tent. While hiking the Inca Trail, porters will accompany us to carry most of our things, including all the camping gear. Each passenger is allowed 15 pounds of personal items which will also be carried by the porters. Such items would include warm clothing for camping, toiletries, a book, CD player, or other entertainment, etc. During the day we’ll be using a daypack and will just need to carry water, snacks, rain gear, and a layer or two for changing weather conditions. Most people also carry a camera.

· Passport and, if necessary, visa

· Traveler’s checks and/or cash card

· Airline ticket

· Photocopies of airline ticket and documents

· Wearable pouch for documents and money

· Large, sturdy backpack or suitcase

· Smaller, comfortable day pack

· Trekking/walking boots, comfortable and worn-in

· Sandals or flip-flops

· Rain poncho or jacket

· Waterproof pants

· Sun hat

· Hat for cold weather

· Good, warm clothing for cold weather (think layers!)

· Scarf and gloves

· T-shirts

· Socks (thin wool or biking socks are best), undergarments

· Towel and swimsuit for hot springs

· Camelback or Nalgene bottle (optional)

· Flashlight (head lamps are very handy)

· Sunscreen

· Insect repellent (15% DEET recommended)

· Lip balm

· Earplugs

· Alarm clock or watch

· Sanitizing hand wipes or gel

· Camera and film/digital memory cards

· Camera batteries

· Playing cards, games, reading material

· Prescription medications

· Toiletries

Note that common clothing, batteries, film, medications, and such toiletries as toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet paper, deodorant and feminine hygiene items are available in Peru.
It is best to bring from home such items as prescription meds, eyewear and care, extra large clothing, shoes, unusual film and camera batteries. Also note that most digital camera memory cards can be downloaded and burned onto a CD in internet cafes in any large city.

Climate

Rain is possible at any time of year, especially in high mountains and cloud forest, and one should always be prepared. The climate in sites we will visit is as follows:

Cuzco: days are warm if sunny, slightly chilly if cloudy. Nights are cold in Cuzco.

Lima: warm to hot days, cool evenings, almost never any rain. Often overcast.

Inca Trail: variable depending on altitude, from hot to very cold, with rain always a possibility.

Machu Picchu: lower and warmer than Cuzco, with rain possible all year round.

Baggage
For your international flights, please check with your airline. Within Peru, you are allowed 20 kilos (44 lbs) of checked baggage, as well as one carry-on and another small, purse-like item. The carry-on size regulations are the same as international carry-on size regulations.

Money guide

The unit of currency in Peru is the nuevo sol. Current currency conversion

Currency Converter

Automatic cash points are available in Lima and Cuzco. Visa, MasterCard, Plus, and Cirrus are the most common usable types of cards. Traveler's checks (American Express is best!) or a Visa or MasterCard for cash advances are also options. Do not bring MoneyGrams or International Money Orders, as they are extremely difficult to exchange. Banks and exchange houses are available in Lima and Cuzco. For currency, U.S. dollars are recommended and most easily exchanged. Please note that cash must be untorn. It can be older-looking, but even the slightest tear on an edge will make it un-changeable. Acceptable bills come out of the ATMs in country.

Expect to spend about US$3-10 on a meal, US$2 on a beer, water or soft drink in Peru. Shopping prices are usually lower than people expect. Alpaca sweaters, for example, run between $5 and $30.

info@southerncrossings.com

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"Southern Crossings took care of me from the beginning of my trip, planning all the way, to putting me on the plane for my return. The accommodations were excellent, the actual tours relaxed and informative and generally the whole thing met my expectations and then some. I would definitely consider traveling with Southern Crossings again."

- Ali Smith, USA, Classic Inca Trail, October 2006

"You guys really do set the standard for what a travel adventure company should be. You came through on your promise of personalized service from the beginning to the end of the trip. During our trip (especially at the train station), we heard horror stories from tourists that booked their vacations with other companies. We are so glad that we found you guys! Margo and Kris were extremely helpful from something as routine as where to exchange our currency to helping us not only to book, but arrange for us to sit in an oceanfront restaurant serving ceviche! We're gonna be recommending you guys to our friends and family. Top notch!

- Ray and Katherine Ky, USA, The Sun Gate, September 2008

"I found Southern Crossings to be wonderful. I went to Peru in October, 2006 (alone) and and then went again in May, 2007, to Brazil (with my adult daughter). I really can't say enough about how much I enjoyed working with Doug and the crew...They are highly recommended!!!!! Hope you have a wonderful, wonderful trip."

- Helen Vanston, USA, Inca Heartland October 2006 and Brazil Custom Tour May 2007

"In June 2002 I went on the "Ultimate Inca Trails" trip with Southern Crossings. I still look back on that trek as being one of the most beautiful and inspiring experiences of my life. I had never been so connected to nature before; the scenery was incredible and the pace was challenging, but not overwhelming. One night as we were setting up camp, a meteor flashed across the sky, lighting up the entire valley. We drank water from mountain streams, bathed in natural hot springs, and visited ruins that were virtually unknown to the regular tourist trail. It was like nothing I had ever experienced before! I will always look back on that trip as being one of the most inspiring experiences of my life."

- Jenn Sharman, Canada, Ultimate Inca Trails, June 2002

info@southerncrossings.com