Peru College Trek 2012 (trip)

Peru College Trek 2012

  • Cusco Airport, Peru
  • Active & Adventure
Peru, South America

from $1,200* per person10 DaysMarch, June
Comfort accommodations Exertion level: 3
Operator: Trekking for Kids 12 people max
Our expedition begins at 11,200 ft in Cusco, Peru, the capital of the ancient Incan empire and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cusco is a beautiful city with a vibrant cultural scene, where indigenous styles contrast with the modern western world. The city is filled with colonial churches, museums and Inca ruins. It is at the center of the Inca-Spanish culture that makes the Andes so spectacular.

Trek

We will follow Incan footsteps on a 5-day, 4-night trek through the Andean mountains to the citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the wonders of the world. We will hike the famous Salkantay Trek, named one of the 25 best Treks in the World, by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine. It is an ancient and remote footpath located in the same region as the Inca Trail, but less traveled and with more spectacular views.

Our 50 km trail reaches a height of 15,580 ft, and will take us through a variety of ecological zones, from sparsely vegetated alpine meadows flanking two spectacular 20,000 ft glaciated peaks, down through subtropical forest until we eventually reach Aguas Calientes, a small town at the base of Machu Picchu where we will spend the night. Our last day will be spent exploring the ancient Incan City of Machu Picchu and climbing Wayna Picchu, which over looks Machu Picchu.

Our Trek will be fully supported by a local trekking company and led by experienced local guides. We will walk an average of 5-7 hours a day and sleep in tents. No previous trekking experience needed, but we require that all Trekkers be in excellent physical condition and able to hike for several hours, non-stop, carrying a daypack. It’s important that a good physical conditioning program be undertaken at least two months before departure.
Orphanage

Trekkers will spend several days with the children at our selected orphanage in Cusco. Before the trek we will spend time getting to know the children, play games with them and work on significant improvement projects at their home. After the Trek, we will return to the orphanage for a couple of more days of fun, which will include celebrating the famous Inti Raymi festival (winter solstice), taking the children on a field trip to a nearby point of interest and then celebrating our time together with food, music, and dancing.

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Locations visited/nearby

Peru, South America

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Itinerary

Sat June 16 Depart US

Sun June 17
Cusco Arrive morning to Cuzco
Group Meeting
Walking city tour
Visit orphanage in afternoon
Airport pick-up included
Group lunch
Welcome Dinner
Overnight hotel Cusco

Mon June 18 Cusco
Work Day at orphanage Lunch at orphanage
Group dinner
Overnight hotel Cusco

Tues June 19 Cusco -
Mollepata -
Cruzpata -
Soraypampa -
Salkantaypampa
Depart Cusco drive 3 hrs to Mollepata, visit
ruins and continue for 40 more minutes to
Cruzpata at 10,500 ft. Trek 7 hrs to
Salkantaypampa at 13060 ft at foot of
Salkantay (20,550 ft) & Humantay (17,116 ft)
All meals included
Overnight tent

Wed June 20
Salkantaypampa,
Paso Salkantay
and Sisaypampa
Camp
Reach a high point of 17,000 ft at
Incachiriaska Pass. After the pass we will
descend until Sisaypampa Camp (12,434 ft).
7-8 hrs trekking.
All meals included
Overnight tent

Thurs June 21 Sisaypampa -
Paucarcancha
Descend to a beautiful valley for 3 hours to
Pampacahuana community. Then hike 3 hours
to Paucarcancha, an old Incan ruin where we
will camp for the night. 6 hrs trekking
All meals included
Overnight tent

Fri June 22 Paucarcancha -
Wayllabamba –
Llactapata –
km82 –
Ollantaytambo –
Aguas Calientes
Enter the Inca Trail Sanctuary and Park,
connecting to the famous Inca trail to
Llactapata(1st Incan site of the Classic Inca
Trail). Then walk down to Wayllabamba to
explore this Incan site (9842 ft), return to
Llactapata and continue to KM82. Take a car
to Ollantaytambo and train to Aguas Calientes.
All meals included
Overnight hostel Aguas
Calientes

Sat June 23 Aguas Calientes
– Machu Picchu
– Cusco
Wake up early morning about 4 am to walk
one and a half hours to Machu Picchu, for the
sunrise. Guided tour (approximately 2 hours)
and exploration. Climb Huaynapicchu (8890ft)
which overlooks Machu Picchu. Return to
Aguas Calientes to take the train back to
Ollantaytambo and then bus back Cusco.
Group lunch
Dinner on own
Overnight hotel Cusco

Sun June 24 Cusco Free morning to participate in the Inti Raymi
Festival (winter solstice)
Party at orphanage in the evening
Lunch on own
Dinner at orphanage
Overnight hotel Cusco

Mon June 25 Cusco Field trip with the children Lunch with children
Farewell group dinner
Overnight hotel Cusco

Tues June 26 Cusco Free morning
Depart to US in afternoon
Lunch on own
Flight home

Wed June 27 Arrive to US

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