QUITO ARRIVAL DAY
Meet your AJ trip leader from 16:00 pm to 18:00 pm
Welcome to Quito! The largest, best preserved colonial city of America - declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano.
In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel’s lobby for a welcome briefing at 16:00 hours. At this time, we will discuss the details and questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an acclimation and information day.
Accommodation: Swissôtel Quito.
Meals: In-flight.
Swissotel Quito
Property Location
Swissotel Quito is in the heart of Quito, walking distance from Trude Sojka Cultural House and Gabriela Mistral Square. This 4.5-star hotel is within close proximity of National Polytechnic School and Foch Square.
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Depart from Quito in the morning on the road that leads to the Amazon Jungle. After an hour and a half ride, we will make a brief stop at the Papallacta Lagoon, located in the Páramo vegetation, with cold weather but beautiful landscapes. We continue to the hot springs and Touristic Complex of "Termas de Papallacta" where short hikes can be done, where your guide will explain about the richness of this ecosystem called the Cloud Forest, along the trail you can find orchids and colorful birds, later you will have some time so you can soak into the volcanic pools and take some optional treatments at the Spa. Your guide will recomend a place to have lunch and later you will get back to Quito. We arrive back to Quito in the late afternoon. Accommodation: Swissôtel Quito. Meals: Breakfast. Entrance fee: Termas de Papallacta Spa & Resort entrance fee |
Swissotel Quito
Property Location
Swissotel Quito is in the heart of Quito, walking distance from Trude Sojka Cultural House and Gabriela Mistral Square. This 4.5-star hotel is within close proximity of National Polytechnic School and Foch Square.
Fifty minutes from the northwest of Quito (Ecuador) you will find this amazing “Middle of the World” experience. You will visit the current equatorial line and straddle the two hemispheres. In addition you’ll have a chance to participate in several experiments on Intiñan Museum (such as watching water go down a drain in a different direction only inches away from either side of the equator, or balancing an egg on a nail, or using an ancient sun dial, etc…) In The Middle of the World city´s complex, you will be able to visit a fascinating ethnographical museum that gives a great overview of the many distinct cultures of this small country. You will also enjoy of the amazing landscape in Pululahua inhabited crater just 5 minutes from the latitud cero inside of the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve. We arrive back to Quito in the late afternoon. Accommodation: Swissôtel Quito. Meals: Breakfast. Entrance fee: Inti ñañ solar museum ticket, VIP entrance to attractions in the Middle of the World Complex, entrance to the lookout point at the Pululahua Crater. (Coaching workshops in hotel before we go and after we get back – 2 hours total) |
Swissotel Quito
Property Location
Swissotel Quito is in the heart of Quito, walking distance from Trude Sojka Cultural House and Gabriela Mistral Square. This 4.5-star hotel is within close proximity of National Polytechnic School and Foch Square.
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Your full-day tour begins with early morning pickup from your hotel/accommodation in Quito. You will drive south of Quito through the Avenue of the Volcanoes and pass through the towns of Latacunga and Pujilí. You will also visit an indigenous local house from the “Paramos” to learn about their traditions and way of life. Enter their home, made of straw and enjoy time interacting with them. After your visit, head to the town of Tigua, famous for its native paintings. Continue up to the Quilotoa volcano and Quilotoa Lagoon, where you will be able to descend to the lake located inside the crater or just walk around the crater. You will also be able to enjoy time by kayaking in this enchanted lagoon before hiking back up. Enjoy lunch and stand in one of the most beautiful landscapes in the highlands and traditional indigenous villages. Accommodation: Swissotel Quito Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Entrance fee: Quilotoa Loop, kayaking tickets. |
Swissotel Quito
Property Location
Swissotel Quito is in the heart of Quito, walking distance from Trude Sojka Cultural House and Gabriela Mistral Square. This 4.5-star hotel is within close proximity of National Polytechnic School and Foch Square.
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The excursion starts at 8 am from your hotel. Meet your guide and board a vehicle heading south of Quito and towards Cotopaxi National Park. On the way, you will enjoy the beautiful views of the Andes mountain range and gorgeous natural scenery. Once you reach the Cotopaxi National Park, you will visit the Interpretation Center and Limpiopungo lagoon. Take a short hike in the surrounding of Limpiopungo valley. After that take a (3 – 4-hour hike – flexible time) to the glazier of stunning Cotopaxi volcano and enjoy your own time by getting there. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with typical Ecuadorian meals and finally return to Quito and be dropped-off at your hotel. Accommodation: Swissotel Quito Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Entrance fee: Cotopaxi National Park |
Swissotel Quito
Property Location
Swissotel Quito is in the heart of Quito, walking distance from Trude Sojka Cultural House and Gabriela Mistral Square. This 4.5-star hotel is within close proximity of National Polytechnic School and Foch Square.
DEPARTURE & END OF SERVICES.
Today our trip to Ecuador will end with your departure tp Peru.
Take your memories and photos and leave a piece of your heart, as you will want to return to Ecuador soon to experience more of this spectacular paradise. We wish you ¡Buen viaje!
Meals: Breakfast.
After your arrival to Cusco, your guide will we waiting for you and take you to the sacred valley, in your way to the Sacred Valley, we’ll do a short stop in Ccaccaccollo. One of those small and scenic towns lost in the Peruvian Andes. There, some 50 families live out of agriculture and textiles. The women do the weaving and the men are in charge of the farm.
Women received the transmission from their mother or grandmother, who in turn received it from their mother; and so on. Here we’ll have the great opportunity to attend to a talk and demonstration about how the textile are made and have been made for years. But not only to watch but to be involved and make an interpretation of the different styles and shapes on the textiles they made since hundreds of years ago. A member of one the families will tell us in Quechua (translation in English); the best techniques to understand the secrets of traditional iconography. We will observe all the process from the shearing of the wool, spinning, the washing of the wool with natural soap, the collection of plants and flowers used for natural dyeing, for this a local guide will direct us and tell us what plants we will pick up for this purpose and finally we will see the process of weaving clothes (blankets, ponchos, chullos, etc.) ... Then spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
Services Included:
Private Transport: Cusco Airport – Sacred Valley. (3 hours approx).
Tour Guide: Spanish/English.
Excursion: Ccaccaccollo.
Entrance Fee: General Ticket Tourist.
Overnight: Hotel Pakaritampu. Accommodation in Standard Room with private bath.
From your hotel, we’ll head to the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first stop is village of Pisac. In Pisac, we stop to visit a traditional market, where you can browse and buy some local souvenirs if desired. Then, we drive up to the ruins of Pisac. Here, we explore the extensive ruins whilst enjoying stunning views over the valley. You will be given a guided tour of the Citadel of Pisac, in which we will see temples, homes, altars, carvings, tunnels, caves and the famous Intihuatana, "The hitching post of the sun". We have about 90 minutes to explore the ruins. We continue. After explore the indigenous community and all it has to offer on this tour of the Potato Park! Meet the local community, learn about the unique process of potato cultivation, and see the beautiful flora and fauna of Peru! Travel to the Chawaytire community and have a tasty lunch made from local products and the native potatoes you have learned so much about with the Qachum Waqchi. Return to the Pisac community.
Afterward, it’s time to visit Ollantaytambo. The narrow streets along with their canals have not changed much from the time of the Inca Empire. At the end of the tour in the Hotel.
Services Included:
Excursion: Full day Sacred Valley (8 hours approx.)
Experience: Potato Park.
Tour Guide: Spanish/English.
Entrance Fee: General Tourist Ticket
Overnight: Hotel Pakaritampu. Accommodation in Standard Room with private bath.
After breakfast, you will continue on to the Ollantaytambo Archeological Complex. Discover here the perfection of the Imperial Period Incan stonework. Ollantaytambo is a lovely village that preserves the original design of the Incan planners. Among its most impressive attractions is the spectacular Temple of the Sun. This magnificent fortress was needed to guard the entrance to the Sacred Valley of the Incas including to the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu... Then spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
In the afternoon, briefing to prepare for the Inca Trail
Services Included:
Excursion: Half day Ollantaytambo (8 hours approx.)
Tour Guide: Spanish/English.
Entrance Fee: General Tourist Ticket
Overnight: Hotel Pakaritampu. Accommodation in Standard Room with private bath.
The meeting point will be at Hotel 07h00 we will continue until we get to ‘Piscacucho’ and get our check-in. We will need to show our passport, tickets, etc. at the control point. Remember there is limited access to the Inca Trail. This is the moment to use restrooms, applying sunscreen, insect repellent, etc. We have ahead a marvelous Inca Valley, used by the great Inca master himself and its royal courtship, to get to Machu Picchu. Now, you are so lucky in tracing the Inca steps all the way of what it was for them a meaningful sacred journey. The Trail begins at 2,720m / 8,923 ft and we will be heading across the Vilcanota River on the right side. But the path soon begins to get abruptly lean through the cloud forest. In time will spot the great views of an Inca Fortress called 'Huillca Raccay', as well as the vast and incredible Inca site of 'Patallacta'. Also, we will see the Urubamba mountain range that divides the jungle, the Andes and the beautiful snow-capped peak of 'W'akay Willca' at 5, 860m /19,225 ft, known as Veronica. There was so much beauty to admire on this first day out of the Inca Trail 4-day hike, an incredible encounter with the Andean nature. Now we will set up our first campsite near the small village of Wayllabamba 3, 000m / 9, 842ft in the temperate valley of the same name. Temperatures at night are around 5ºC (depending on the month).
Services Included:
Transport: Cusco – KM 82 (4 hours approx.).
Tour Guide: Spanish/English (+9 Paxs – 1 Assistant Guide).
Entrance Fee: Inca Trail.
Porters: They carry cooking and camping equipment.
Overnight: Ayapata Camp (Tent per 2 people).
After you have finished your breakfast made by our cooks we will get ready for the day ahead of us. It is 5:30 am but we will need most of the daylight and strength for what it comes next on our trek. We will climb a steep ascent which it will take us some hours to achieve. For the Inca, this was part of pilgrimage route, a sacred one, to become one with the Apus (mountains) or the gods protecting the Andes. After some hours we have reached the highest pass at Abra de Warrmihuañusca or 'Dead Woman's Pass' at 4,200 m / 13,779 ft. This was not an easy task, and you should be proud of yourself because is not easy to get to this point. After a rest, we begin the descent to our lunch stop which is located at Pacaymayu at 3, 550m /11,646 ft. As we are passing, we will be able to see lots of hummingbirds as well as other birds species. Also, we will appreciate an incredible variety of native plants, trees such as the ´Polylepis´ which only grow in the cloud forest located at 3,650m /11,972ft.
After lunch, we will take another 2 hours steep climb to Runkurakay pass at almost 4,000m and set up our campsite by 5 pm. Temperatures at this campsite are around 4ºC during the night.
Services Included:
Tour Guide: Spanish/English (+9 Paxs – 1 Assistant Guide).
Porters: They carry cooking and camping equipment.
Overnight: Chaquicocha Camp (Tent per 2 people).
It’s great camping surrounded by incredible landscapes and seeing a unique Andean flora and fauna.
Total distance to be covered on day 3: 10km (5 hours more or less). Once you have uploaded all the energy you need by finishing your breakfast, we will get ready to follow our trail. A gentle climb will lead us to our first stop at the archaeological site of 'Phuyupatamarca' meaning 'Town in the Clouds' and reach the third highest point on the trail 3, 680 m. The views of the mountains, canyons, and surrounding areas are spectacular! As we are walking to third pass the Inca site of 'Phuyupatamarca'. Then we continue walking 3,000 steps through the cloud forest at the impressive agricultural Inca site of 'Intipata'. Later on, during our trail, we will arrive at our third campsite Wiñay Wayna at 2,680m/8, 792 ft. We have walked so far between 4 to 5 hours and will arrive at camp by lunchtime. A short distance from our campsite is located the Inca site of the same name 'Wiñay Wayna' or 'Forever Young' which is a must to visit and now we are close to complete the Inca Trail hike.
Temperatures during the night are about 12º.
Services Included:
Tour Guide: Spanish/English (+9 Paxs – 1 Assistant Guide).
Porters: They carry cooking and camping equipment.
Overnight: Wiñay Wayña Camp (Tent per 2 people).
The Inca was the son of 'Inti' (The Sun) and only him was allowed to do this trail as it was its path to the glory among the Apus and enjoyment of his royal house, Machu Picchu. You are now become part of the Royalty too or feel like it as you have mixed with the Apus on this spiritual journey. Thus, after completing the Inca Trail things are not going to be the same any longer. Total distance to be covered on day 4: 5 km (around 2 hours). It is time to wake up, have an early breakfast and get on the road again. On this early start, we have to get to 'Intipunku' ('Sun gate') (2,730 m / 8,792 ft) before sunrise. You will get your first great view of Machu Picchu (2,400m / 7,873 ft) with the sun rising over it. We will spend some time there taking the impressive tour of the ancient city, including the royal house of the Inca. After some time there, we will walk down the last part of the trail to a spot where you can take the classic postcard picture of the city, and then you´ll have the guided tour to know everything about the archeological site. Our guide will let you enjoy 2 more hours’ tour on your own to discover the citadel or to make the hike to any of the mountains: Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Mountain. Once you’ve finished we will meet our guide in Aguas Calientes, you can get there whether by bus or by foot. We will have lunch in Aguas Calientes (not Included) and our guide will give you the tickets back to Cusco. The first train to Ollantaytambo and then private bus to Cusco.
Services Included:
Tour Guide: Spanish/English.
Entrance Fee: Machu Picchu City.
Bus Tickets Consetur: Machu Picchu – Aguas Caliente (15 minutes approx.).
Train Tickets: Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo (Expedition Train – 2 hours approx.).
Transport: Ollantaytambo Train Station – Hotel in Cusco (2 hours approx.).
Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel. Accommodation in Standard Room with private bath.
Private Service: The "Inti Raymi" or "Fiesta del Sol" was the biggest, most important, spectacular and magnificent feast carried out at the time of the Tahuantinsuyo Empire, which based its religion on the cult of the Sun festival. The Inti Raymi was made to worship the "Apu Inti" (Sun God) also known in some quarters as "Apu P'unchau" (God Day). The subjects of the Inca continued celebrating the feast hidden from the Spanish authorities, and a mongrel named Garcilaso de la Vega collected in his famous Royal Commentaries, descriptions of this unique and incomparable party.
Description:
The Inti Raymi is an ancient Inca religious celebration, as we all know the Incas worshiped their god: The God Inti or Sun in its translation into Spanish. Formerly the Inti Raymi lasted about 15 days; People made sacrifices and presented dances to worship the sun god. The last Inti Raymi held with the presence of Emperor Inca was in the year 1535, a year before the Spanish conquest, but it was the Spanish invasion in 1536. Actually, the Inti Raymi is a play, cusquenians and millions of people from all over the world meet at this event, which is one of the most attractive, traditional and cultural manifestations. This Inca celebration makes each of us, feel through our veins Inca blood running; and revalue our past.
Starts: The first part takes place at Koricancha (Temple of the Sun)
08:30 – 09:00: Pick up from your hotel and transfer to Koricancha.
09:00 – 09:30: Part 1 of the celebration of the Inti Raymi in the Koricancha.
09:30 – 10:00: Transfer from Koricancha to the Plaza de Armas.
Ceremony: 10:30 a.m. (Hawqaypata Square (Main Square of Cusco/Plaza de Armas).
10:30 – 11:30: Part 2 of the Inti Raymi celebration in the Plaza de Armas
12:30 – 13:00: Transfer by bus from the main square to Sacsayhuaman.
Central Ceremony: 01:30 p.m. - Sacsayhuaman
13:30 – 15.30: Part 3 of the celebration of the Inti Raymi in Sacsayhuaman.
Central part in which we will appreciate the rituals and the sacrifice of the Flame.
15:30 – 16:00: Transfer by bus from Sacsayhuaman to your hotel in the city of Cusco.
Date: On 24 June every year the winter solstice is celebrated, in other words the beginning of the Andean New Year: Inti Raymi.
Services Included:
Private Services: Full Day Inti Raymi (8 hours approx.).
Entrance fees: Koricancha, Cathedral & General Tourist (BTC).
Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel. Accommodation in Standard Room with private bath.
After breakfast, you’ll have a full Cusco city tour, starting at the city center viewing the Incan foundations of many buildings, the famous Cathedral, and the Temple of the Sun. You will also visit the typical market of San Pedro. In the end, you will visit the hills around Cusco to get a full tour of four ruins: Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay.
At 19h00, briefing to prepare for the Rainbow Mountain.
Optional
Folklore Show and Dinner – Cost per person $24
Head to the Tunupa restaurant, located just the central Plaza de Armas of Cusco (3 minutes walking from Hotel), and get ready for a fabulous buffet dinner. There is a large selection of typical dishes, meat, fish, vegetables, and desserts they are amazing and delicious dishes. The night is more enjoyable when the traditional dance show begins and you can get involved with folk, traditional, classical music, and sweeten your ears with the Andean instruments: Quena, charango, flute, zampoña. If you wish, you can also share the dance floor with the dancers and get a great experience.
Services Included:
Private Services: Cusco City Tour (4 hours approx.).
Entrance fees: Koricancha, Cathedral & General Tourist (BTC).
Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel. Accommodation in Standard Room with private bath.
We will Pick you up from your hotel around 05h30. We´ll head to the community of CUSIPATA, we’ll get there in about 2 hours. Then we continue some 30 minutes more, to the Town of CHILLIHUANIl, where we will pass through picturesque places like TINTINKO and RIO TIGRE and the Mountain of Surina in LLACTO, where you will also could enjoy the flora and fauna in its natural habitat. (Llamas, Alpacas, Vicunas, etc.). 20 minutes later we will reach the starting point of our walk to the Rainbow Mountain. This walk will last about 1 hour and a half, We’ll enjoy panoramic views such as the Red Valley and Nevado Ausangate and small lagoons just before arrive to the spot where we can watch the whole colourful mountain. Our guide will explain you the science behind the colors and we`ll have some hot tea and something to eat. Then we will begin to descend to our starting point. Our vehicle will be waiting for us there to return to your hotel in Cusco, arriving around 6:00 p.m.
Services Included:
Private Services: Rainbow Mountain (10 hours approx.)
Tour Guide: Spanish/English
Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel. Accommodation in Standard Room with private bath.
After breakfast enjoy your last day at leisure before transferring to the airport for your return flight home via Lima.
Services Included:
Transport: Hotel – Lima Airport (1 hour) - Assistant SPS/ENG.
Every part of the trip has been carefully planned to give you the best experience possible.
The Inti Rami festival only happens once each year and you will get to experience this on top of the magical Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain.
