Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4D/3N		Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2D/1N		Salkantay - Machupicchu 5D/4N
This is the most popular route trekked by hundreds of visitors each day. This beautiful trail starts at kilometre 82. (so called because it is 82 km along the railroad from Cusco) and takes in many of the Inca ruins including Runcuracay, Sayacmarca. More Classical inca trail ..>>		This is a less strenuous route and starts at kilometre 104 along the railroad from Cusco. The trail climbs up to Wiñay Wayna where you join the final stages of the Classic 4 day hike. From Wiñay Wayna the trek then descends to Machu Picchu. More Short inca trail ..>>		A spectacular 5 day trek that passes beneath the sacred snowcapped mountain of Salkantay. This mountain God (or Apu) was worshipped by the Incas and is still honored by existing Quechua farmers. The trail starts in the Mollepata. More Salkantay Trek ..>>

TRAVEL TO PERU LAND OF INKAS

Every place on the planet has something of interest, but Peru is undoubtedly a privileged country for its great natural, historical and human legacy.

Here, nature lovers will feel gratified by the diversity of environments and scenery. They will be amazed by the sharp contrast between forests and deserts on the coast; deep ravines and towering snow-capped mountains in the Andean highlands; densely forested slopes and huge plains of thick vegetation in the Amazon jungle; and they will be surprised at the wide variety of animal and plant life, unique in the world, that is characteristic to each of these regions.

Those who admire the remains of the past will find magnificent testimonies to an ancient civilization that dates back six thousand years, with an unmistakable cultural identity that created wonders such as the Royal Tombs of Sipan, the Nazca Lines, Chan Chan and Machu Picchu. And they will be able to see the best examples -in painting, sculpture and architecture- of the fusion of Hispanic and American cultures.
Adventure travelers will be able to ride tall waves and go looking for underwater life along the long stretches of natural beaches; climb high mountain ranges, explore deep caves, run the longest and biggest rivers on the continent, trek along ancient paths that wind through different eco-systems; and observe endangered species up close in natural reserves of indescribable beauty.

Because it is a racial melting pot, Peru is home to a wide variety of expressions of its peoples through their ancient, creative and colorful folk art. Visitors can join in age-old celebrations, each music and dance retelling its own history. They are welcome to share in the customs and tasks of villagers and witness how farmers have been able to master the difficult terrain of the coast, highlands and jungle.
There also will be no lack of oppoortunities for the most demanding of palates to savor the variety and quality of Peruvian cuisine, which offers the visitor the best seasoning in the Americas.

HOW TO GET THERE
By air: Peru is linked by direct flights and connections to the main cities of Europe, Asia and the Americas. The main port of entry is International Jorge Chavez Airport (Callao, Lima). The airports of Arequipa, Cuzco, Chiclayo, Iquitos, Pisco, Pucallpa, Tacna and Trujillo are also equipped to receive international flights.

- Overland: One can enter Peru via the Pan-American Highway through the city of Tacna in the south, or through the city of Tumbes in the north. Access is also possible from the city of Loja (Ecuador) which is connected by road to the city of Piura. There are two entry routes from Bolivia: Copacabana - Yunguyo - Puno; and La Paz - Desaguadero - Puno.

- By river: The only point of entry by river is along the Amazon, with private rivercraft services coming from the cities of Leticia (Colombia) and Tabatinga (Brazil) to the port of Iquitos (Peru). - By lake: Lake Titicaca links Peru to neighbouring Bolivia, with which Peru enjoys bustling trade and tourism links. - By sea: Cruise liners call at Callao, Peru's main port. Some cruises also call at the ports of Salaverry (Trujillo) and Chimbote (Ancash), in northern Peru; and at San Martin (Ica) and Matarani (Arequipa) in the south.

Peru Travel agency tours Operator: Inca Trail to Machu Pichu - Trekking Huraz Peru - Short Inka Trail - Peru Treks - Trekking to Machu Picchu

BRIEF HISTORY
Peru is one of the great original centers of ancient culture, along with Mexico, Mesopotamia, India and China. Paleolithic man left his first traces here and began to develop villages of hunter-gatherers around 6000 B.C. (as seen in Lauricocha, Huanuco). Farming settlements began to form around 2500 B.C., planting manioc, broad beans, quinoa, potatoes, cotton and maize.
Prior to the arrival of the Conquistadors from Europe, Peruvian history is divided into five stages or horizons:
- Early Horizon (1200 B.C. - 200 B.C.): Small states were formed, with the elite holding economic and religious power. Chavin de Huantar (Ancash) belongs to this stage, with its temple of underground passages that include monochromatic pottery and megalithic art. Other key remains are those of Caral (Lima) and Sechin (Ancash).
- Intermediate Early Horizon (200 B.C. - A.D. 600): This is the era of the great centers of regional development. The important cultures are those of Tiahuanaco (Puno), Mochica and Lambayeque (Lambayeque and La Libertad), Nasca and Paracas (Ica). Tiahuanaco is known for its Chullpas or funeral towers at Sillustani (Puno); the Mochica are famous for the Royal Tombs of the Lord of Sipan; the Lambayeque built the pyramids of Tucume; the Nazcas made remarkable pottery and drew the mysterious Lines in the desert; and the Paracas wove wonderful textiles.
- Middle Horizon (A.D. 600 - A.D. 900): The epoch when the Wari culture spread throughout the Andean region. Evidence lies in the citadels of Wari (Ayacucho), Pikillacta (Cuzco) and Marca Huamachuco (La Libertad).
- Late Intermediate Horizon (A.D.900 - A.D. 1400): This period is marked by a group of regional states with well defined cultural features. The important cultures are those of Chimu and Chincha on the coast; Cajamarca and Huanta in the highlands; and Chachapoyas in the north jungle. The structures representative of this period are the Chimu citadel of Chan Chan (La Libertad), the funeral center of the Windows of Otuzco in Cajamarca, and the Chachapoyan citadel of Kuelap (in Amazonas).
- Late Horizon (A.D.1400 - A.D. 1532): This is the period predominated by the Incas, native to Cuzco, who built an imperial form of government throughout the entire Andean world. Their main legacy is their architecture in Cuzco. This period concludes in 1532 with the Spanish Conquest.
The Colonial period developed between 1532 and 1821, from which there is a magnificent artistic heritage. Examples include paintings such as those of the so-called Cuzco School; architecture as in the Santo Domingo convent in Cuzco (built on the ancient Inca temple of Koricancha) and the convent of Santa Catalina in Arequipa. Independence was declared on July 28, 1821 and later consolidated with the victory of the Battle of Ayacucho on December 9, 1824.

Peru Travel agency tours Operator: Inca Trail to Machu Pichu - Trekking Huraz Peru - Short Inka Trail - Peru Treks - Trekking to Machu Picchu

Peru Mountain Trekking

Peru is a true hikers’ paradise. Practically all of the sierra, including valleys, plateaus and mountain ranges include trekking circuits of various degrees of difficulty. However, only a few have been "discovered" as commercial trekking routes. The rest are still unexplored and await those who wish to walk the magical trails of the Peruvian Andes and their extraordinary web of pre-Columbian roads. More than 12.000 lakes, the deepest canyons on Earth, glaciers and snowcapped mountains, forests and waterfalls, picturesque towns and the most hospitable people one could imagine welcome travelers. Some roads are so steep they get lost in dizzying abysses, or they zigzag like huge snakes between the mountains, like flat and long ribbons lost in the immensity of the desert, or hidden and imperceptible in the thickness of the Amazon fores.

The roads of Peru offer endless possibilities and the ideal combination for trekkers of all levels of experience and requirements. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Part of the 23.000 km (approximately 14.000 miles) of roads built by the Incas in South America, this is Peru’s most famous trekking route and possibly one of the most spectacular in the Americas. Every year, some 25.000 hikers from around the world walk along the extraordinary 43 km of this stone-paved road built by the Incas leading to the unassailable citadel of Machu Picchu located in the depth of the Cusco jungle.

The journey starts in the village of Qorihuayrachina, at kilometer 88 of the Cusco-Quillabamba railway and takes three or four days of strenuous walking. The route includes an impressive variety of altitudes, climates and ecosystems that range from the high Andean plain to the cloud forest. Travelers will cross two high altitude passes (the highest being Warmiwañuska at 4.200 masl) to culminate the hike with a magical entrance to Machu Picchu through the Inti Punko or Gateway of the Sun. One of the main attractions along the route is the web of ancient settlements built in granite rock by the Incas like Wiñay Wayna and Phuyupatamarca immersed in an overpowering natural scenery. Hundreds of species of orchids, multicolored birds and dreamlike landscapes provide the ideal backstage for a route that every hiker should walk at least once.

Many travel agencies sell complete packages to trek the Inca Trail that include meals, camping gear and porter services. Travelers who wish to organize themselves independently can find porters in the communities of Chillca and Wayllabamba who will charge a modest fee to help carry your gear. Drinking water and food supplies, as well as full camping gear are needed.

Peru Travel agency tours Operator: Inca Trail to Machu Pichu - Trekking Huraz Peru - Short Inka Trail - Peru Treks - Trekking to Machu Picchu

BOOKING THE INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU

* Important Notice: We recommend a minimum of 3 weeks to notice book the Inca Trail.

Making an Inca Trail trek booking: Since only 500 trek permits are issued per day for the Inca Trail (trek permits are also required for the porters and cooks) it is important to try to make a trek reservation as far ahead as possible. There is no clear rule as to how far ahead is enough to to guarantee you a space since this depends on demand.

CHECK INCA TRAIL AVAILABILITY 2010 - 2011

Reservations for the Inca Trail to Machupicchu.

To make reservations for the Inca Trail you have to carry out the following procedure: The reservations can be made 360 days in advance before entering the Inca Trail, anytime of the year, be it through paper or by e-mail, according to the format (Reservation Card). The Reservation Office will hand a code with the status of "reserved". The staff in charge of doing the reservations at the Reservation and Collecting Office of the Dirección Regional de Cultura del Cusco - INC has to be duly certified.

The reservation is subject to space availability, being the limitation the loading capacity. The applicant will confirm the reservation up until 30 days in advance before entering the Inca Trail, presenting the final group list at the Reservation and Collecting Office of the Direccion Regional de Cultura del Cusco - INC.
The applicant will also pay 50% of the total amount of the group's entrance tickets at the aforementioned office. The Reservation Office will register the pre-payment changing the reservation to a "confirmed" status. Any reservation that has not been confirmed according to the previous clause of the present article will be automatically void. The reservation will change to the "reconfirmed" status after paying off the other 50%, which has to be done anytime 5 days before entering the Inca Trail, at the Collecting Office of the Direccion Regional del Cusco - INC

Regulation of the Inca Trail Network of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu click here

Peru Travel agency tours Operator: Inca Trail to Machu Pichu - Trekking Huraz Peru - Short Inka Trail - Peru Treks - Trekking to Machu Picchu

INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU

The most popular trek in Peru is the famed Inca Trail, which is likely a road that the ancient Inca used for sacred pilgrimages. Along the route you can view ruins from the once great Incas, who cherished the Sacred Valley for its beauty and resources. Typically, Inca Trail Peru treks last 2 days, 4 days or 7 days. Cusco, the ancient Inca Empire capital, is where people usually head before taking on the Inca Trail, and if you don’t have your plans figured out, there are numerous travel agencies and adventure guides who can help you pick out the right package. Keep in mind that camping along the way on overnight trips is your only option for accommodations, so if you prefer to sleep in a bed, you might try just hiking the last part of the Inca Trail, which can be done in one day. Regardless of where you start, Machu Picchu is the ending point for the trail, so you will always have a most just reward for your efforts.

Each day up to 2,000 tourists flood the ancient Inca mountaintop city of Machu Picchu in southern Peru. They come to marvel at temples built from perfectly chiseled blocks of granite and pay homage to the sun.
Most of the tourists travel by train from nearby Cusco. Others ride the bus. A few hundred heartier souls arrive on foot after a four-day slog along the famed Inca Trail.

Machu Picchu Under Threat from Pressures of Tourism Can Tourists Save a Peruvian Rain Forest? Inca Traditions Pay Off for Peruvian Weavers "For the average tourist, [the Inca Trail] could be the adventure of a lifetime and a real stretch both physically and psychologically," said Karin Muller, a writer, photographer, and adventurer based in Raleigh, North Carolina. .

Peru Travel agency tours Operator: Inca Trail to Machu Pichu - Trekking Huraz Peru - Short Inka Trail - Peru Treks - Trekking to Machu Picchu

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Peru Travel agency tours Operator: Inca Trail to Machu Pichu - Trekking Huraz Peru - Short Inka Trail - Peru Treks - Trekking to Machu Picchu

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Peru Travel agency tours Operator: Inca Trail to Machu Pichu - Trekking Huraz Peru - Short Inka Trail - Peru Treks - Trekking to Machu Picchu

Peru Travel agency tours Operator: Inca Trail to Machu Pichu - Trekking Huraz Peru - Short Inka Trail - Peru Treks - Trekking to Machu Picchu

Peru Travel agency tours Operator: Inca Trail to Machu Pichu - Trekking Huraz Peru - Short Inka Trail - Peru Treks - Trekking to Machu Picchu

Peru Travel agency tours Operator: Inca Trail to Machu Pichu - Trekking Huraz Peru - Short Inka Trail - Peru Treks - Trekking to Machu Picchu

Peru Travel agency tours Operator: Inca Trail to Machu Pichu - Trekking Huraz Peru - Short Inka Trail - Peru Treks - Trekking to Machu Picchu

Peru Travel agency tours Operator: Inca Trail to Machu Pichu - Trekking Huraz Peru - Short Inka Trail - Peru Treks - Trekking to Machu Picchu

Peru Travel agency tours Operator: Inca Trail to Machu Pichu - Trekking Huraz Peru - Short Inka Trail - Peru Treks - Trekking to Machu Picchu

PERU TRAVEl & ADVENTURE MAP