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Machu Picchu

The 5 day version of the trek is an excellent alternative that allows you to escape from the majority of other trekkers on the Inca Trail. Leaving Cusco early
on day 1, we will visit Ollantaytambo in the sacred Valley before continuing on to Kilometer 82 at the beginning of the Inca Trail. After a few hours easy trek we’ll arrive at the Inca ruins of Llactapata where we will set up camp and spend the night. There are some important Inca ruins close to Llactapata called Machu Qente that can be visited in the afternoon if time permits. Leaving camp at 0730 on the second day will allow us to make a 3-4 hour head start on groups arriving at km82 from Cusco to start the 4 day Trail. We will be able to make better progress and reach quieter, more distant and beautiful campsites. We’ll reach Machu Picchu late in the afternoon on day 4 (when the famous ‘Lost City of the Incas’ is at its quietest) and proceed down to our hostal in Aguas Calientes, for the night. We’ll return to Machu Picchu at sunrise on day 5 for a guided tour before the majority of trekkers arrive from the Inca Trail. We’ll take the train back to Cusco late in the afternoon.
-Highly recommended program for: Family tour group (specially if there are children), photographers party, clients over 50 years old, groups that want to take quiet the hike, groups that want to hike slow and short distances on the trail, groups that want to get better campsite spots, groups do not like crowds, etc.

A private service trek is organized just for you with private transport and your own personal guide. We don't add other people to your group. This enables us to provide the best service possible with personal attention and added comfort. You can depart on any day of the week that suits you best including Sundays.

We offer low and high season 2009 prices:

Price per person (only on January and March 2009):  1 person US$950, 2 persons US$700, 3 persons US$620, 4 persons US$570, 5 - 8 persons US$520,  9 - 12 persons US$490,  13-16 persons US$450.

Price per person  (From April to December 2009): 1 person US$1000, 2 persons US$730, 3 persons US$650, 4 persons US$600, 5 - 8 persons US$550, 9 - 12 persons US$520, 13-16 persons US$480.

*There is not age limit for students.(16+)

Children under 08 years old receive a US$70 discount.

SAE members: $15 discount per person, it will be discount at the time of your  final balance payment.(ask it to our office crew once you are in Cusco and show your SAE member card)

Group Size: Please note that this is a private group trek. Example, this means that if there are two of you interested in doing this trek, the trek will be organized just for you i.e. US$730 per person. Obviously with more people in your group the cost per person becomes more economical. We do not add other people to you trek and unfortunately it is not possible to join another private group.

Departures: To suit group requirements, as this is a private service you can depart on any day that suits you best as long as there are still trek permits available for the date you want.

Inca Trail 5 day Private Service departure Dates 2009:

March - December 2009  
Every Day 

What is included:

• Collection from your hotel in the morning
• Private bus to the start of the trail
• Inca Trail & Machu Picchu entrance fees (US$84.00  value 2008) - this includes the 5th day
• English speaking professional guide (two guides for groups over 9 persons)
• Igloo tents - 2 persons in each 4-person capacity tent with plenty of space for your backpacks
• Double thickness foam mattress
• Cook and Cooking equipment
• Meals (04B,04L,04D) - food includes pancakes, omelets, soups, fresh fruit, avocado, pasta, chicken, fish, meat, rice, all rich in carbohydrates and suitable for trekking, hot drinks including coca leaf tea which is excellent for the altitude.
• Teatime everyday (tea, coffee, biscuits, popcorn)
• Porters (to carry the tents, food, and cooking equipment)
• Dining tent with camp tables and chairs
• Kitchen tent
• Accommodation for our porters and cooks
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
• Bus from Machu Picchu ruins down to the village of Aguas Calientes (3 trips) Hostal accommodation on the 4th night.
• Train ticket (Backpackers service) from Aguas Calientes to Cusco
• Transfer from the train station to your hotel.

What is not included:

• Breakfast on the first morning. Some hotels offer an early morning breakfast service. If not, we stop at the town of Urubamba on the way to the start on the trek where you’ll have the opportunity to have breakfast,
• Meal in restaurant in Aguas Calientes on day 5 of the trek.
• Entrance to the thermal springs in Aguas Calientes US$3.
• Sleeping bags can be hired in our office for US$20 for the 5 day trek.
• Tips for the guide, cook and porters

What you need to bring/carry:

• Backpack,
• Sleeping bag (can be hired from our office)
• Sleeping mattress (we will provide you with this)
• Rain jacket or poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco for a few dollars)
• Strong, comfortable footwear
• One complete change of clothing (you can afford to carry more changes of clothing if you hire a personal porters, see options below)
• Sweater and jacket (something warm)
• Water bottle and purification tablets (Micropur are recommended and can be bought in local pharmacies in Cusco)
• Flashlight and batteries
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun
• Sun block (sun protection cream)
• Insect repellent
• Toiletries, towel and toilet paper
• Selection of small snacks, chocolate, dried fruit, biscuits etc,
• Camera, plenty of film and spare batteries
• Swimsuit (if you plan on visiting the hot springs at Aguas Calientes after the trek)
• You also need to bring your original passport on the trail & ISIC card (if you obtained a discount when booking)

Options:
 

-US$110, a full porter for all 4 days and will carry up to a maximum of 18kg (usually 1 porter between 2 persons is more than sufficient), However, even with a personal porter, you will still need to bring a day pack for essential items.

-US$55, You can hire the services of a half a porter to carry up to 9kg, However, even with a personal porter, you will still need to bring a day pack for essential items.

-US35, The services of a third of a porter (maximum 6kg or 13lb per person), However, even with a personal porter, you will still need to bring a day pack for essential items.

About 40% of the group usually have personal porters to help them. If you hire a porter we will provide you with a sack to put your items in to give to the porter. This extra porter will help you carry: duffle bag or sack (we will provide you with this), sleeping bag, mattress (we will provide you with this), clothing, sweater, jacket, woolly hat, scarf, gloves (something warm for at night), flashlight and batteries, toiletries. Your personal porter, however, will not walk at your side so you will still need to bring a day pack for essential items. You will meet up with your porter at lunch time and at the campsite late in the afternoon. Equipment to be carried by yourselves: small day pack, water bottle, warm sweater, broad-brim or peaked cap, sun protection cream, insect repellent, toilet paper, selection of small snacks for the day etc, camera, lightweight plastic poncho just in case of rain (can be bought in Cusco for US$4)
Important note: You must decide if you want to hire the services of a personal porter in advance when making your trek reservation since we need to purchase the porter's trekking permit. You cannot decide to hire an additional porter at a later date or once you arrive in Cusco.

(2) An extra night in Aguas Calientes can easily be arranged. We can change the date of your train ticket to the following day. Hotels costs and costs associated with returning to Machu Picchu the following day are additional to trek costs. To make your hotel booking directly, you can find information and contact details at www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/hotels/machupicchu . You need to advise us at least 1 month prior to your trek date.

(3) Vegetarian Meals. We can provide vegetarian meals or cater for special diets with no extra cost. Just let us know at least 2 days prior to trek departure or much better at the same time of your trek booking.

(4) Sleeping bag hire. If you haven't got a sleeping bag or you don't want the hassle of bringing one all the way to Peru with you, then we have standard sleeping bags in our office for rent. The price is US$20 per person for the 5 day trek.

(5) Reservation details: All trek reservations must be made at least 8 weeks in advance (however 3-6 months in advance is recommended especially during the months of June, July and August)

If any of the third party costs listed above change to increase the cost of the trek we will immediately update the trek price listed on our website.
Clients will be liable for paying any increased cost of the Inca Trail trek upon arrival in Cusco.

Payment details: We will require a non-refundable trek deposit of US$250.00 per person payable within 07 days of Andean Life confirming your trek booking. The deposit is to be paid by Our VISA Payment On-Line, Western Union money transfer and Mail Order System, these are our fastest & most secure form of payments in Peru. Further details of how to send the deposit are included with our trek booking confirmation email. The remaining balance is to be paid in our office at least two days prior to your trek departure date. Payment can be made in cash US$, Euros €, local currency (Peruvian Soles) or American Express Travel Cheques (extra 3% which is the bank commission).

For a trek deposit Payment On-line by Amex and Master Credit Cards (MAIL ORDER), please let Us know by email and we will send ASAP further details about how to proceed with it, thanks.

Other information:

Andean Life Trek Cancellation Policy

1. The trek deposit must be paid prior to the date shown on the trek confirmation email. Clients must email Andean Life to confirm that they have paid the deposit. Failure to pay the deposit and/or inform us of the deposit payment details before this date will result in automatic trek cancellation.
2. The trek balance must be paid in the Andean Life office prior to 8pm, at least 2 days prior to trek departure. Failure to pay the trek balance prior to this time will result in trek cancellation.
3. Trek cancellations made between payment of trek deposit and 8pm, 2 days prior to trek departure date: Return of all payments made, less the trek deposit of US$200 per person, less any costs associated with receiving and returning the payment.
4. Trek cancellations made after 8pm, 2 days prior to trek departure: No cash refund. However we will give to your Inca Trail and Machu Picchu entrance ticket, your bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes and your return train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Cusco (approximate value US$150). Please note that the client will be responsible for changing the dates of any of these tickets (if necessary) and any costs associated with such changes.

In all instances of trek cancellation by the client Andean Life will provide written confirmation of the cancellation and details of any payments lost so as to be used in the event of any insurance claim made by the client.

Important note about possible changes to trek prices in 2009:

Very Important note: As you may realize we are very happy to announce (publish) our 2009 trek prices and departures, but we are very clear too that some of the third party cost such, entrance fee to Machu Picchu, train tickett return, bus tickett down hill, etc, may increase.

An increase to any of the above third party costs are completely outside of the control of Andean Life and will be passed directly on to our clients. As soon as we are aware of any such increase we will immediately update our website and the price of our trek increased accordingly. Clients be be asked to pay any differences to the cost of the trek when paying the trek balance upon arrival in Cusco. The actual cost of the trek permits / train tickets and bus tickets is clearly marked on the respective tickets so it will be very clear to our clients that an increase to any of the above costs has occurred. We appreciate you understanding in this matter.

Andean Life Tour Operator

Main Office N° 1 : Calle Santa Teresa 381, Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Peru
Office N° 2 : Calle Plateros 372, Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Peru
(Both ones located just half block from the main square of Cusco City)
Fax Telephone: 00-51-84-261269
Emergency Mobil Phone: 00-51-84-9673544

Licensed Inca Trail tour operator, specialists in trekking in the Andes (Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and other treks)
©Andean Life 1999 - 2005. All material within this web site is original work and subject to national and international copyright laws and cannot be reproduced without the written permission of the copyright holder. All rights reserved.


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