| Cost From: | $4995 |
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| Length: | 17 days |
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| Activity: | Hiking / Trekking, Archaeology, Cultural Adventures |
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| Difficulty: |
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Every day brought a challenging hike and even more beautiful vistas or elaborate ruins. I have never seen such majestic mountains, met friendlier people, been more dirty, and had more fun!A. Deimel—Chalfont PA
By adding trips to your “Wish List” (above), you can easily make a side-by-side detailed comparison of as many trips as you like.
Explore the heart of mystical Tibet on this culturally rewarding expedition. Visit the country’s most significant monasteries and cultural sites, cross the soaring Tibetan Plateau under intensely blue skies, and feast your eyes on Everest’s stupendous North Face—the thrill of a lifetime!
Perched on a precipitous ridge 5,000 feet above the roaring Río Apurímac and ringed by the snow-capped Vilcabamba Mountains, Choquequirao is a true “lost city of the Incas.” With its absolutely dazzling location, Choquequirao (“The Cradle of Gold”) is often compared to Machu Picchu, yet this hidden site has no road access, few visitors, and a haunting ambiance unmatched in other Inca realms. Our spectacular and challenging trek first brings us to breathtaking Choquequirao, with its mysterious plazas and shrines, then onward across the entire Vilcabamba range through deep-cut canyons and over high passes, with our final camp offering stunning views of Machu Picchu. Our grand finale is an overnight at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, right at the ruins.
$4995 (9-12 members)
$5395 (6-8 members)
Single supplement: $1095
Internal airfare: $350 (subject to change)
Arequipa/Colca Canyon Exension from: $795
Reserva Amazonica Extension from: $550
Sipan/Chan Chan Extension from: $850
Lake Titicaca Extension from: $795
Prices are for 2010 dates
Jun 13-29, 2010 Peter Boehm
Aug 1-17, 2010 Peter Boehm
Reading list, click here.
With two overnights in the Incas’ storied capital, we explore majestic sites including the great fortress of Saqsayhuaman, the largest and one of the most impressive Inca sites in existence.
We trek to the extraordinary complex of Choquequirao, set high above the glacier-fed Apurímac. Camping just below the ruins, we have the entire following day to scramble around this massive site, including the plaza, great hall, and the imposing ceremonial staircase. This ancient and mysterious city, three times larger than Machu Picchu, still holds many secrets, and archaeologists are just beginning to discover its importance. We have a good chance to spot Andean condors soaring overhead as we explore.
Toward Machu Picchu Last refuge of the rebel Incas, the Cordillera Vilcabamba is a striking combination of plunging canyons backed by an immense sweep of 20,000-foot peaks cloaked in perpetual snow. We trek for nine fantastic days toward Machu Picchu, hiking at altitudes between 10,000 and 15,000 feet. En route we see Qoriwayrachina, an archaeological site of more than 200 structures discovered by WT Trip Leader Peter Frost and his team on an expedition sponsored by the National Geographic Society. As we follow an original Inca route, we contour steep ridges, cross passes, and trek to Yanama, a traditional Andean hamlet where life continues as it has for centuries. Along the way, we feast our eyes on some of the most incredible scenery in the Andes. A hike up an ancient Inca trail brings us to our final campsite, a spectacular one with views of legendary Machu Picchu across the valley.
We arrive at the stronghold of Machu Picchu, a lost city suspended in time and located in an impossibly gorgeous setting. In the company of a specialist guide, we explore Machu Picchu’s many beautiful altars, terraces, fountains, and mysterious chambers with their displays of intricate stonework. Our overnight at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, right at the ruins, gives us a chance to see sunrise on this mystical site. Return to Cusco on Day 16 and depart via Lima on Day 17.
This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure
If you would like to extend your adventure, we offer the following options:
Days 1 to 2 (2 nights),
Day 16 (1 night),
Cusco, Peru
Just three blocks from the Plaza de Armas in the heart of old Cusco, this charming hotel is a renovated colonial manor house. It features a ...
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Days 3 to 14 (12 nights), Choquequirao, Peru
We make hiking and camping in the Andes as comfortable as it can get! On the trail, you are accompanied by our experienced team of trail guides, and all your gear is carried for you (leaving you free to hike with just a light daypack to hold your camera, water bottle, jacket, etc.). Our camp amenities include a dining tent with a dining table, chairs with backs, camp meals prepared by our highly trained staff, and toilet tents. Our camp crew takes care of all camp chores, including bringing tea or coffee to your tent each morning and providing beautiful picnic lunches each day at a scenic spot along the trail. Accommodations are in sturdy mountain-style tents equipped with sleeping pads. Most trip members bring their own sleeping bag, but we can arrange for you to rent one in Cusco if you prefer.
Day 15 (1 night), Machu Picchu Ruins, Peru
You can’t get closer to the Machu Picchu ruins than this! With only 31 rooms, this Orient Express property is famously set right at the gate ...
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Day 17, Lima, Peru
Most trip members only use this stylish hotel as a day room before they depart on a late evening flight for home. Nonetheless, they appreciate ...
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If you would like to view the accommodations offered with our extensions options:
Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
