From lost empires to vibrant modern cities, taking in a wealth of unforgettable scenery and wildlife on the way. Your epic eight week journey will blend the deep rainforest experience; the high trail to Machu Picchu, haunting deserts with boiling geysers, and lively beach parties too.

Potosi and Sucre.  We spend day 9 travelling from Uyuni to the town of Potosi, which is an interesting, colonial town and the highest city of its size in the world (4,070 metres altitude). Centuries ago the Spanish extracted silver here, shipping it back to Spain, and it soon became the worlds most prolific silver mine. Mining still continues today under harsh conditions and we have the opportunity to visit the Co-operative Mines (optional). Our guide takes us inside “Cerro Rico”, the famous mountain of silver, where local miners still work in primitive conditions extracting tin and silver by hand.

We then make a short transfer to the World Heritage Site of Sucre, a couple of hours away. Sucre is a lively university town and all the buildings in the city centre are painted white, giving it a colonial feel. We spend a couple of days here, giving you plenty of time to participate in optional excursions including the excellent archaeological tour to see the largest dinosaur tracks in the world. We then catch an overnight bus to La Paz.  

Puno, Lake Titicaca, Floating Islands. We depart from La Paz on day 16 after breakfast and travel into Peru, following the lakeshore to our next destination - the town of Puno, which lies on the shores of the legendary Lake Titicaca. At an altitude of 3820m, Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. The lake has great spiritual significance for the local people, and particularly the Inca culture, as it was here that Inca legend says that the first Inca Emperor, Manco Capac rose from its waters to begin the Inca Empire. Titicaca means Rock of the Puma.

After spending the night in Puno, the next morning we take a boat trip across the blue waters of the lake to the Floating Reed Islands of the Uros Indians. They make the islands from the tortoro reeds that grow on the lakeside. Our experienced local guide will give us information on the various customs of these people and you have the chance of buying some of their handicrafts and taking a short boat ride on one of their traditional fishing boats.

From there we travel across the lake to Amantani Island where the Ayamara Indians live. Here we spend the night with a friendly local family, and get to know about how they live -a very different life from our own. In the early evening we climb to the top of the island for spectacular views of the sunset around Lake Titicaca. That night after dinner your family will dress you up in traditional costumes and take you dancing. Dance the night away to traditional music and learn some of the local dance moves.

The next day we cross to the nearby island of Taquille. After a 45-minute hike to the top of the island you arrive at the small plaza, which has fantastic views of the lake. Taquille Island is famous for its superb handicrafts, which you can see in the cooperative market in the plaza. After a delicious fish lunch we return on the boat back to Puno one more night before heading to our next destination, the beautiful city of Cuzco.

Arequipa and Colca Canyon.  Peru’s second largest city, Arequipa is set against a spectacular backdrop of snow-capped peaks. Arequipa is a very attractive colonial city with beautiful plaza, cathedral and cobble stoned streets. We visit the once mysterious Monasterio de Santa Catalina, which was built in the 16th century and became a secret city within a city. Behind its walls up to 450 nuns and their servants lived lives that no one else knew about. It was opened to the public gaze in the 1970s, and you are now able to take a guided tour through its maze of alleyways and gardens.

Another interesting is to visit Juanita (optional). Juanita is an Inca mummy, sacrificed to the Inca gods over 500 years ago, and then found by a team of archaeologists at the top of the Volcano near Ambato, over 5000 metres high, in 1995. Many of the textiles and gold which adorned her were very well preserved, and they continue to be well preserved, along with many other artifacts, at her home in the Universidad Catolica near the Santa Catalina monastery.

From Arequipa, we take an overnight excursion to Colca Canyon.Chivay is our base to do our trip to see the Condors in Colca Canyon nearby and is a very traditional mountain town with many of the locals dressed in traditional costume.  Another great attraction of Chivay is the nearby hot springs. You can enjoy a drink as you relax in the soothing waters of the baths.

We head to Cruz del Condor, the edge of the mighty Colca Canyon. Not only does this spot provide some spectacular mountain views, but we are in a prime position at 1,200 metres above the canyon floor to get a memorable sight of the magnificent Condors, the heaviest flying bird in the world, and a wingspan of 3 metres, soaring majestically up the canyon on the thermals. Great photo opportunity! Our route from Colca Canyon takes us past amazing Inca farming terraces and away from the valley as we continue further down into the Peruvian Andes towards Arequipa. On the way we drive though spectacular mountain scenery, and over a pass at 4900 metres altitude. We also see many of the South American Camelids, the most well known being the Llama, along with its smaller relations the Alpaca and the Vicuña, which is said to have the finest wool in the world. We then return to Arequipa for a free day, before boarding an overnight bus to Nazca.

Lima.  Lima, the capital city of Peru, is a huge, sprawling and very busy city with a population of 8 million people - one third of the population of Peru. After the conquest of the Incas, the leader of the Spanish Conquerors, Francisco Pizarro looked to establish a capital for the new Spanish colonies in South America. The Inca capital of Cusco was not considered suitable as the Spanish were sea-faring people, and so Lima was founded in 1535. It was originally known as the City of Kings. Lima became the seat of the Spanish Viceroyalty of South America. Lima has some great colonial architecture and some of the best museums in Peru. The Plaza de Armas has the main Cathedral, which houses the remains of Francisco Pizarro as well as many beautiful monuments. Also on the Plaza is the Presidential Palace, where each morning the palace guards perform a changing of the guard ceremony. The fabulous Gold Museum houses a private collection of gold and weapons, and the Museo de la Nacion houses many exhibits and artifacts from the ancient cultures of Peru.

Our hotel is in downtown Lima, a delightfully colonial area full of museums, churches and lovely architecture, while the coastal suburb of Miraflores is a striking contrast with outdoor bars, nightclubs and modern shops.

Punta Sal.  Punta Sal is a fantastic place to relax and soak up the sun and play in the surf for a few days. A fishing trip is available here, as well as the chance to learn some of the local dance moves with some Salsa classes.

Cuenca to Rio Verde/Banos.  From Cuenca we head north to the delightful resort town of Baños. The town is tucked into the foothills of the active volcano, Tungurahua, and affords spectacular views down the valley in both directions, with many waterfalls in the surrounding area. In such a setting, it is no wonder Baños is one of the adventure capitals of Ecuador. It’s a great place for walking, white water rafting, canyoning, mountain biking and horse riding (optional). But Baños is most famous for the hot springs, which give the town its name. After a day exploring the area, a relaxing soak in the baths is a perfect end to the day (optional).

We base ourselves just outside the town, in the rainforest setting of Rio Verde, surrounded by mountains and waterfalls. This is an idyllic location with easy access to Baños.  

Misahaulli and the Amazon Jungle. From Puerto Misahualli, we transfer to the river where we board motorized dugout canoes to navigate down this river to the mouth of the Arajuno river on which we continue up river to our lodge (1 hour). We set off on a 4-day jungle trip, exploring the jungle vegetation and searching for the local wildlife. The terrain is rich and lush, and alive with hundreds of species of plant and trees. A shaman explains the many medicinal uses for these plants and trees, which are practiced by the local people, and talks about how he uses jungle plants to treat many of the rainforest illnesses. As well as hikes through the jungle and a visit to the Kichwa Indians, you will also have the opportunity to swim in a lagoon and spot wildlife  – including early morning bird watching. We may even see some of the rarest birds of the Amazon, the “hoatzins” , a living fossil.

Please be aware that arrival times and the itinerary may change due to unforeseen delays or events such as festivals and public holidays. However, we shall endeavour to ensure all sites are visited and that your tour runs as smoothly as possible but please note that Latin America does not run like clockwork, therefore do not expect the streamlined travel arrangements associated with some other continents. Things do not always go to plan; there will be times when you will need to be patient and philosophical about your travels. Conditions in South America can change rapidly and changes to the itinerary may be necessary.

Be flexible, you will enjoy your tour much more. We make a point of visiting the indigenous populations of each country you visit, in order to give a true reflection of the country; please treat the local people and their customs with respect.

Lastly, your tour leader is always conscious of everybody's views, but sometimes he/she will have to make an unpopular decision and your understanding will be appreciated in these circumstances.

The Pre-Departure meeting is held at 6pm THE DAY BEFORE the scheduled departure date. The pre-departure meeting is held to discuss the tour itinerary in more detail, meet your crew and fellow passengers.

In addition the crew will check that all passengers have the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour. It is IMPORTANT that you attend this meeting. Please advise TRAVEL AMAZING SOUTH AMERICA if you CANNOT attend this meeting.

All passengers MUST bring:
1. Passport.
2. Vaccination Certificate.
3. Travel Voucher.
4. Travel Insurance Policy.

It is important that you obtain the appropriate visas before you embark on your South America trip. Please consult your Travel Agent or relevant embassy for all details such as opening hours or costs.

EACH CLIENT IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING ALL NECESSARY VISAS BEFORE JOINING A TOUR.

Please note that clients travelling on SA6 Buenos Aires to Rio tours should be aware that Brazilian visas (if required) can take up to 3-4 working days to issue.  We strongly advise that you arrive into Buenos Aires at least 4 working days before your trip starts in order to ensure that you have sufficient time to obtain your Brazilian visa.

We for changes in regulations or requirements for visas. The information provided is given in good faith.

Vaccinations:
It is necessary to obtain an International Certificate of Vaccination before travelling. This is a record of your injections and should be issued with your first inoculation. Make sure that after each injection your certificate is dated, signed and stamped.

Compulsory Inoculations:
Yellow Fever for Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru but only if arriving from an infected area.

Please refer to the Yellow Fever information under the Latest News section on our website. Yellow Fever vaccination is now recommended for parts of Argentina, Bolivia (if arriving from Paraguay or Brazil) and parts of Brazil. We srongly recommend that you consult your GP or Travel Clinic at least several weeks prior to departure to check current Yellow Fever vaccination requirements. Your Yellow Fever vaccination certificate should be carried with you at all times.

Recommended inoculations:
Yellow fever, hepatitis A, diphtheria, typhoid, tetanus and polio.

We also recommend:
- A dental check-up prior to travelling.
- That you know your blood group in case of emergency.
- That if you have any pre-existing medical conditions which might affect you on tour, you make these known to your tour leader and your Travel Amazing South America at the time of your booking.

Medical Supplies:

We advise that all passengers bring along their own personal first aid kit.  Below is a list of some recommended items:
Band Aids/Bandages, Laxatives, Upset stomach remedy, Anti-diarrhoea remedy, Panadol/Aspirin, Rehydration remedy, Antiseptic cream/powder, Sterile dressing, Any relevant course of medication such as contraceptive pills.
A complete Travellers Medical Pack can be purchased for approximately US$25 at most Vaccination Centres, Chemists and outdoor travel shops.

Prophylactic tablets are essential in some areas of South America. They are prescribed by your vaccinating doctor and should be taken as directed.

• We recommend that you do not take unnecessary valuables with you. Wearing jewellery and expensive watches will attract attention.
• A money belt, or something similar, worn close to your body is the best way to carry passports, airline tickets and money.
• DO NOT leave any valuables in ANY hotel room, please use SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES. Items are left at your own risk.
• Pickpockets operate everywhere, particularly in tourist areas and in crowded markets; you must always exercise care. Be aware that anything left lying around will also be liable to theft.

We suggest passengers budget for between US$25-30 per day for personal expenses, souvenirs, evening out, alcoholic drinks etc. Be aware that some countries are more expensive than others and that if you are travelling through several your expenses will vary enormously. Similarly there will be some days when you spend nothing at all and others when you exceed your budget.

Take your money is US dollars only. This the only foreign currency readily exchanged in Latin America

Traveller’s cheques should be AMERICAN EXPRESS. American Express is the most widely accepted. Cash is far easier to exchange than Travellers Cheques, but also more risky as once lost, is irreplaceable.

However, we do recommend that you take some US dollars cash in small denominations ($10 and $20). In many countries, you may exchange US Dollars traveller’s cheques for US cash, or retrieve US dollars cash from ATMs (with a credit card), usually for a small commission but please do not rely solely on this option.

Credit cards are accepted frequently, particularly in the larger cities. They can also be used to get money from ATMs. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are the most widely accepted credit cards. Visa being the most useful.

How much should I take?

• The best rule for packing is to limit your self to a weight limit of 15 KGs. It will inconvenience you and your fellow passengers if you bring more. If your luggage does not arrive at the airport, please inform your crew at the Pre Departure Meeting.
• A frameless or internally framed backpack is the best way to carry your belongings since it is easy to lift on and off vehicles. Please note that we do not recommend that passengers bring suitcases.
• A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions. This can also be used for carrying 2 days of clothing so it is not always necessary to unload the large backpacks every night.

You will be in hotels and hostels for the majority of the tour but you may wish to bring the following for the Inca trail, although these can be hired in Cuzco for a small cost of approximately US$8 per day.

• Sleeping Bag - a good quality sleeping bag, rated for sub-zero conditions is the best for tours, which travel through the Andes and Patagonia. You can purchase extra blankets in South America cheaply. We recommend a Four Seasons sleeping bag.
• Inner Sheet - for your sleeping bag. Can also be used as a sleeping bag when it's hot.
• We also recommend that you keep your passport, credit cards travellers cheques etc. on you at all times, preferably in a money belt worn under your clothes.

TRAVEL TIP: You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Most passengers will travel with digital cameras. Should you run out of memory you can download your photos onto CD at the local internet cafes or camera shops on your tour. Alternatively, you may be able to purchase extra memory cards.

With regards to film, all types of camera film are readily available in South America. However, it is often cheaper to purchase it in your country of origin or through duty free.

Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission. Most Latin American countries have very strict rules about taking photos of army, police or any official personnel; restrictions apply at borders, bridges and any government building. Please exercise care in this regard as the penalty may be to have your camera confiscated. It is absolutely forbidden by law to take photos at any borders, as they are all active military installations.

We have put a lot of thought and effort into locating the most appropriate type of accommodation for each tour. We choose our hotels, guesthouses and hostels for their location, comfort, security and hygiene standards. All are located near the city centre usually within easy walking distance of services and facilities. Most rooms are on a twin, double or triple share basis with private bathrooms.

Accommodation is not included in the city of departure or arrival (unless within the specified tour dates). Passengers doing a combination tour will have accommodation included when passing through a joining city (maximum 2 nights) providing they have booked on the combination tour code.

You should allow US$25 to US$40 per day to cover food and accommodation during this time.

The more you put into your tour the greater the experience you will get from your trip. It is all about participation and mucking in with your fellow passengers!

Please note: The longer tours are combinations of shorter tours. Lima and La Paz are also pickup and drop off points for passengers so new faces and personalities will join the tours.

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad. You can opt to use an International SIM Card.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers.

Blog – You can keep your friends and family updated by blogging about your adventures.

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

Tour Questionnaire - We would like to hear about your experiences on tour. Seven days after your tour ends you will automatically receive a feedback questionnaire via email. If we do not have your email address you can still write a review on the tour page you've done on our site.

Email - If you have any specific comments about your tour then please write to us by email at tours [at] travel-amazing-southamerica.com

Introduction

This is a moderate to strenuous hiking trek to the Lost City of Machu Picchu. The gateway for this trek is Cuzco, where passengers leave their luggage at the hotel and only need to take their mats, sleeping bags and personal items necessary for the duration of the excursion (4 days).

Porters

Porters are included. General porters carry tents, food, cooking equipment. We also include personal porters for approx 6kgs per person. They carry sleeping bags, clothes etc. You need to carry a day pack with water bottle, jacket, camera etc. As porters are split between group members, 6kgs is a rough guide as to the weight that a personal porter will carry. Additionally, it may sometimes be possible to hire extra porters on Day 2 (the most difficult day of the trek) if you require, to carry day packs etc to second campsite. Approx cost is USD25 - this is not organised through us or our ground handler. Foam sleeping mats are provided by the ground handler, weighing 800g and counted as part of the 6kgs carried by personal porters.

Tipping

Tipping is entirely at your discretion although it is commonplace for trekkers to tip their guides and porters on the during the Inca Trail and Lares treks. We recommend you carry approximately USD35-40 to cover the tipping tradition.

Itinerary and Distances

This is a guideline to the average distances and altitudes during the Inca Trail (please note all the information is a guideline only and every person must judge their own physical condition personally). Should you believe you are not fit enough for this hike, you can go to Machu Picchu by train, please advise your tour leader.

• Day 1 - trailhead to first camp Huayllabamaba (2700 m), distance 13 km, an average hiking time 7 hours with stops.
• Day 2 - hardest day, ascending to 4200m, distance 15KM, average hiking time 8 hours with breaks.
• Day 3 - very scenic day with many Ruins en route, distance 14 KM, camp at Winaywayna 2700m. 7-8 hours hiking.
• Day 4 - start in the dark to get to Machu Picchu at sunrise, 3 hours hike and free morning to explore Machu Picchu. If you wish to climb Wayna Picchu, please co-ordinate this with your guide as the park has restricted climbing times and numbers. Return to Aguas Calientes (bus down from Machu Picchu payable locally). For those who have hired personal porters, blue sacks will be given out a lunchtime for you to transport your belongings back to Cusco. Train back to Ollantaytambo.

Permit Availability

Availability of Inca Trail permits is limited, particularly during high season when the number of tourists wishing to walk the Inca Trail is greater than the number of permits available. Whilst we will endeavour to organise an Inca Trail permit for you, these are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. In the event that permits for the Inca Trail are unavailable, we will advise you as soon as possible about the two possible alternatives for reaching Machu Picchu 1- The 4 day Lares trek and 2- The 2 day Classic Train trip. Our website tour departure dates are updated frequently to indicate availability or non-availability of Inca Trail permits, however, permit availability can change with little warning: whilst we endeavour to keep this information as current as possible, we cannot guarantee permit availability.

Passport Details

Please ensure that you provide Travel Amazing South America with your passport details at the time of booking. Failure to do so may mean that you miss out on an Inca Trail permit as these can sell out very quickly. We will apply for your Inca Trail permit with the passport details which you provide us at the time of booking. If you hold more than one passport you must advise us which passport details we should use in order to apply for the Inca Trail permit.

Pre-payment of Inca Trail deposit
The cost of the Inca Trail deposit  must be paid in full at the time of booking. This is in addition to the tour deposit and is non refundable. Inca Trail permits will be applied for ONLY once full payment of deposit,  and written confirmation of your full name, passport number and date of birth have been received. These deposits are  included in the total tour price, and this amount will be deducted from the tour balance once paid.

Late Permit Applications
Late Inca Trail permit applications may occasionally incur an extra charge as we may need to organise an additional guide and pay for their trekking permit in order to secure your permit. We will advise you at the time of booking.

Changes and Amendments
Note that fees apply if you need to make changes and/ or amendments to your Inca Trail permit due to factors such as passport loss or renewal, illness, failure to provide us with correct details, date changes and tour transfers.

No Permit Availability
We can normally arrange the alternative 4 day Lares trek. Lares departures generally coincide with high season. Due to lesser demand and inclement weather, departures on the Lares Trail are limited during the low season. If there is no availability for either the Inca Trail or the Lares trek, we can normally arrange for you to spend 2 extra days in Cusco and then take the 2 day Classic Train trip to Machu Picchu, where you will meet with your original group for the guided visit to Machu Picchu. Please note that if we are unable to secure you an Inca Trail permit and you do not wish to hike the alternative Lares trek or take the Classic Train trip, your deposit will be returned to you.

High Season/ Low Season Information
November to March is considered low season. We can often obtain permits at short notice during this time. April to October is considered high season. We require your passport details as far in advance as possible during this time. The trail is closed during the month of February for maintenance. If your tour coincides with the Inca Trail closure, we can normally offer Lares or the Classic Train.