|
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 city tour
upon your return to Lima.
|
|
2-3
|
A short flight this morning brings us
to Cuzco, capital of the old Inca Empire. On an
included city tour, we'll have time to explore
Cuzco's markets and churches and visit the imposing
Inca fortress of Sacsaywaman. Over the course of
today and your free day tomorrow, there is the opportunity to
visit Cuzco's excellent Inca Museum, retrace the
steps of the conquistador Pizarro and the Inca
rebellion that almost retook Cuzco, take walks to
little known Inca sites above town, and generally
take in the splendor and beauty of this fascinating
region.
|
|
4
|
This morning we're off to the Sacred
Valley, a short and scenic ride from Cuzco. Fifteen
hundred feet lower than Cuzco, the warm and fertile
Sacred Valley was of immense strategic and
agricultural importance to the Incas. We'll visit
two sites today: Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Pisac is
a beautiful Andean town with a great handicrafts
market. After shopping and bargaining for Andean
goods, we'll head up to the imposing Inca
fortress/temple above the town. Then in the early
afternoon, we'll head down the valley to
Ollantaytambo, the only Inca village still inhabited
today. Peer through ancient, trapezoidal doorways
into courtyards where life has changed little in 500
years, then explore the huge ruins which loom above
the town. Return to Cuzco in the afternoon.
|
|
5 |
A beautiful morning train journey across
the high plain above Cuzco then
down the Urubamba Valley to Machu Picchu. After
your guided tour, take time to independently explore the
site, or try a day hike on one of the many surrounding
trails. Return to Cuzco by train in the afternoon.
|
|
6 |
After a morning flight to Lima, it's
a free day or an included city tour, depending upon
your itinerary. For your free time, we include our
own useful guide to Lima and are always happy to
recommend activities or make restaurant
reservations. Just ask! |
|
7 |
Departure Day. International flights
may depart any time today, or on Day 7 if you've got
less time. |
TRIP DETAILS
7 days:
US$1695 per person
Currency Converter
Depart any day!
Is this trip for me?
Inca Heartland: Econoclass
is a seven-day tour which includes walking in various
ruins and on city tours. 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 guide
·
All other internal transport
(excluding transport to optional restaurants,
bars, sights and excursions)
·
Internal flights,
Lima-Cuzco, Cuzco-Lima
·
Six nights of Econoclass hotel accommodation
·
Breakfast
included with all hotel stays
·
Machu Picchu excursion,
including bilingual guide, round trip train fare, transportation
to/from ruins/Aguas Calientes, and day entrance to the Machu
Picchu sanctuary
·
Sacred Valley excursion
·
Cuzco city tour
·
Lima city tour
·
Cuzco Visitor's Ticket,
which gives entrance to the major ruins, churches and museums in
and around Cuzco
·
Southern Crossings T-Shirt or Cap
What's not included
International flight to/from Lima, airport
taxes (approx. US$40), 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: $80 double/$60 single
In Cuzco: $80 double/$60 single
Single Person Supplement: $225
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. No areas visited on this trip are
malarial or yellow fever zones. 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. A list of things to
bring would include:
· Passport and, if necessary, visa
· Traveler’s checks and/or cash card
· Airline ticket and Travel Insurance Policy
· 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.
Machu Picchu: similar to Cuzco but a
bit warmer and with more chance of rain.
Lima:
warm to hot days, cool evenings, almost never any rain but often
overcast.
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 Money
Grams 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.
