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The Inca Trail and the Alternatives There is nothing else in South America with quite the same `pulling' power as Machu Picchu. So to make sure your encounter with Machu Picchu is exactly how you imagine, Budget Expeditions give YOU the choice of how you visit the spectacular lost city of the Incas.
Option A The Inca Trail £210 · 320 · CHF530 · US$420 · C$450 · A$500 · NZ$570 This is the original route to the breathtaking mountaintop Inca city of Machu Picchu. Spread over 4 days, the 44km trail through the Andes crosses three stunning high passes and encounters many archaeological sites. The trail can be demanding at times, but it can be completed by anyone who leads a reasonably active life you certainly don't need to be an expert! (For more details about the trail facilities, equipment, preparation etc, please ask your Travel Agent for an `Inca Trail Information Sheet'). In order to preserve the Inca Trail and its surrounds, the Peruvian authorities currently cap the number of Inca Trail trekking permits to 500 per day (including porters and guides). The popularity of the trail means that permits often sell out several months in advance so you MUST book well ahead to ensure your place on the trail. Booking If the Inca Trail is your `once in a lifetime', the best chance of securing a permit is to make your booking as far in advance as possible and you will need to provide Budget Expeditions or your Travel Agent with your passport details in writing at the time of booking, along with a deposit (see booking conditions) or the full amount if booking within 60 days of departure. We strongly recommend that you book the Inca Trail excursion 3 or more months in advance. This is particularly important during peak season from June to September when places are at an absolute premium. If you choose to book the trail within 60 days of your tour departure (90 days during high season) we will still attempt to secure you a permit but limited availability is likely to greatly reduce your chances of success especially in peak season.
Your passport Important information You MUST apply for your permit with the same passport as you will use to travel to Peru. It is therefore extremely important to check that it has a minimum of 6 months validity after the end of your tour before you apply. Your permit is linked to your name and passport number and if you amend or renew your passport after we have confirmed your permit it will no longer be valid. Cancellation Once your place on the trail has been confirmed we cannot make any amendments to your trek permit or trek date. Cancellation by you is subject to our standard booking conditions (see clause 4a on page 97). Please see the `Inca Trail Information Sheet' on our website for full booking conditions. Option B The Lares Trek - US$320 (based on minimum of 4 passengers trekking) An exceptional alternative to the Inca Trail, the Lares Valley is so off the beaten track it has changed little over the last 500 years. With original Inca trails, spectacular scenery (even more so than the main Inca Trail) and the promise of a glimpse of life the way it used to be with markets trading as they have done for centuries, thatched stone and adobe houses and herds of llamas and alpacas roaming free, it is amazing that the area has remained untouched by tourism. Yet somehow it has slipped from view and retains an authenticity like nowhere else in Peru. The Lares Trek is fully escorted and includes 2 nights camping while trekking (the trek is a very similar grade to the Inca Trail and includes a challenging high pass) and one night in Aguas Calientes in preparation for an early bus ride up to Machu Picchu where you will meet the rest of your tour group. We can accommodate groups of less than 4 passengers on this trek, however a higher price will apply, please see the `Lares Trek information sheet' on our website.
Option C Overnight train US$200 This option allows you to beat the crowds to Machu Picchu, arriving at the same time as those completing the Inca Trail or Lares Treks. Leaving Cuzco by train you will spend the night in the village of Aguas Calientes before catching the early morning bus up the winding mountain road to Machu Picchu where you will have a guided tour and plenty of time to explore. Aguas Calientes is named after its nearby hot springs and you can easily take a relaxing soak, wandering through the many markets or watching the world go by from a quaint little café or restaurant overlooking the Urubamba River. Please note: if you choose not to trek, your accomodation in Cuzco during this time is not included in the Local Fund. Booking Options B & C If you choose to visit Machu Picchu on option B or C you do not need to book in advance, however we recommend that you give an indication of your intentions by showing your preference when booking. This will allow us to plan approximate numbers for each excursion. Your full payment (non refundable) for either option B or C will then be collected in US dollars cash by your tour leader on Day 1 of your tour. Price Changes Please note that the prices quoted in this brochure for all routes to Machu Picchu are subject to local regulation and prices for permits, porter costs and transportation may change without notice. Although we will endeavour to keep to the excursion fees listed above, it may become necessary to increase our prices accordingly. Therefore, the cost of each option is based on the trek date and not the booking date. Any changes in these excursion prices will be posted on our website; all up to date prices are shown on the relevant trek fact sheets and advised at the time of booking. Any price increase will be paid locally in Cuzco in US$ cash.
Lares
3200m
Chancachaca
can cha
The Inca Trail Trek & The Lares Valley Trek
Km112
3400m
Wacawasi
3800m
Passipsayqasa Patacancha
3730m
Quishuarani Sondor
4220m
Cuncani
3755m
Pata
Aguas Calientes
Km110
X Wacawasi Pass
Wayruruyoc Pass 4520m
4560m
Rio
Bus to Ruins
U Rio
m ruba
ba
Km88
X
Hatunwayqo Pumamarca
3450m
Inti Punku Sun Gate
2700m
Km104
Marcacocha
3400m
am ayo
Pacchaspata Llactapata
Cancha Cancha
Pac
Chachabamba Winay Wayna
2700m
Rio
Ascasmarca
Rio
ca
Inca Steps Phuyupatamarca
3600m 3700m
Uru
bam
ba
Inca Tunnel
Rio
Cus
tcha
Yanahuara
X
Runkurakay Pacamayo
3800m 3600m
Urubamba Llulluchapampa
Rio Ur ub
Sayacmarca
3600m
Yucay
am b a
Calca
X
3850m
X
Warmiwanusca Dead Woman's Pass
4200m
Wayllabamba
3000m
Huayllabamba
Not to
scale
Pisac
KEY
Inca Trail starting at Km82 and finishing at Machu Picchu Lares Trek staring at Chancachaca and finishing at Ollantaytambo Camp sites normally used Camp sites less frequently used Inca Ruins Railway line Railway station Roads Rivers
Km0
Cuzco
X
High Pass
© Budget Expeditions 2007
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Budget Expeditions · Price Does Matter · Tours for 18-35's
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G et t ing t o Ma c hu Pic c hu
Getting to Machu Picchu
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