PERU’S INCA TRAIL September 2 – 9, 2018 HIGHLIGHTS: - Your enrollment will fund one year of schooling for a child in the Sacred Valley - One day hike up the iconic Inca Trail to enigmatic Machu Picchu - Private pisco sour-fueled cooking class in Lima - Culinary walking tour in Cusco - Offbeat village interaction with local lunch - 13 meals are included TRIP ITINERARY QUOTE (all prices include a $200/person donation to educate a child for one year): Early Sign-up Discounted Price for Members: $3675 Early Sign up Discounted Price for Non-Members: $3775 * Sign up before October 25, 2017 Regular Price for Members/Non-Members, starting October 26: $3875
Day1–Sunday,September2–Lima:ArrivalUponarrivalatLimaInternationalAirport,thegroupwillbemetandtransferredprivatelytotheheartofthecityandcheck-intoamodesthotelperfectlysituatedfortomorrow’sactivities.Day2–Monday,September3–Lima:MarketVisit+CookingClass(B,L)LimaistheculinarycapitalofSouthAmerica,boastingthreeoftheworld’sTop50restaurants,sogettoknowthe city’s thriving culinary scene by visiting one of Lima’s popular localmarketswith a professional chef.After sourcing exotic ingredients for today’s lunch head to your private cooking space,where youwill tryyourfirstpiscosourbeforecreatinganAmazonianmeal.Thisafternoon,walkalongthepromenadeoftrendyMirafloresortryyourhandatparaglidingoutovertheocean(payableonlocation)beforemeetingupthiseveningfordrinks.Day3–Tuesday,September4–totheSacredValley:ResponsibleVillageImmersion(B,L)Thismorning, flytogethertoCusco(airfare included),whereyouwillmeetyour localguideandheaddeepintothemountainsforanimmersivecountrysideexperience.CommunitymemberswillgreetyouwithmusicandbeautifulnativeflowersusedtomakeasymbolicofferingtoPachamama,orMotherEarth,tothankherfor the opportunity to share their culture with you. Learn how they make their living and share a mealtogetherbeforeproceedingdeeperintotheSacredValleyandcheckingintoyouraccommodation,knownforitsfarm-to-tablecuisine.Day4–Wednesday,September5–SacredValley:TrekkingMoraytoMaras(B,L)TimetostretchyourlegsbecausetheIncaTrailawaitsyoutomorrow!Yourjourneybeginswithatransferbyprivate vehicle to the enigmatic Inca terraces of Moray. From here, hike through along the hillsides andthroughtheplains,stoppingforanawesomelunch,beforeyoudescendintotheMarassaltpangorge.Marasisstunningwithitswateredterracesthatcollectsaltbyevaporation.Day5–Thursday,September6–IncaTrail!(B,L,D)Todayisateaserofwhatyouwouldexperienceonthefull4-daytrek.Grade:ModerateHighlight:Archaeology,sceneryDistanceCovered:12km(7.5mi)Approx.(doesn’tsoundlikemuch,butit’salluphill!)HikingTime:6-7hoursMax.Altitude:2,800m(9,186ft)Youwillpassbytheinteresting,IncaarchaeologicalcomplexofCachabambaandtheruinsofWiñayWayna,aremarkable Inca site that is only approachableby foot.Endat Inti Punku, or the SunGate,whereyouwillcatchyourfirstglimpseofMachuPicchubelow.Day6–Friday,September7–toCusco(B)Thismorning,takeanearlybusbacktoMachuPicchuforanactivity-filled(andself-guided)dayattheruins.Dependingonyour interests, thereareavarietyof excursionsavailable.Takea strenuoushikeupHuaynaPicchu, themountainbehindMachuPicchu,whichprovidesuniqueandstunningviewsof the ruinsbelow.Fromhere,youmayextendyourhike to themysteriousTempleof theMoon,anexquisiteexampleof Incamasonry.Alternatively,youmaychoosetoclimbtothetopofMachuPicchuMountain, locatedsouthofthearchaeological site and offering spectacular panoramic views from above. For something less rigorous,traverseanarrowIncaroadamidstlushvegetationtoanIncadrawbridge.Takeacombinationoftrain/busbackthroughtheSacredValley,arrivinginCuscoafterdark.
Day7–Saturday,September8–Cusco:OnFootExploration(B,D)Cusco is arguably the most beautiful town in Peru, but it sits at 11,152 feet and everyone reacts a bitdifferently.Therefore,ahalf-daywalkingtourtakinginthemostinterestingsitesandstoppingalongthewayforsomelocalbiteswillbeaperfectintroductiontothecityandmemorableendingtoaphenomenaltrip.Meettonightforafinalgroupdinner.Day8–Sunday,September9–Cusco:toLima(B)Enjoyamorning/earlyafternoonatleisurebeforecatchingyourself-bookedflightsbackhome.Adios!GROUPSIZE:Minimum:8guests,plusoneAlchemyhostMaximum:14guestsFLIGHTINFORMATION:Pleasecontactusbeforepurchasingflightstoconfirmtripoperation.Flight scheduleshavenotbeenreleasedby theairlines forSeptember2018.Weareallowing flexibility forarrivalanddeparture.WewillbeofferingTWOgroupairporttransfersonarrivalandondeparture.Wewillofferthegrouptransfersfortheflightsthemostnumberofmembershavebooked.Thoseondifferentflightsorarriving/departingondifferentdayswillhaveaflatrateof$40USD/2-personvehicleforone-waytransfer.Attimeofwriting,flightcostswereestimatedtobelessthan$1200USD/persononeconomy.Flightroutethatmemberswillberesponsibleforpurchasing:September1–Minneapolis>LimaSeptember9–Cusco>MinneapolisINCLUSIONS:-AlchemyHost-Allmealsaslisted(B,LorD)-TwoGROUPtransfersonSeptember2-TwoGROUPtransfersonSeptember9-2nightsaccommodationLima–3-starorboutique-2nightsaccommodationinSacredValley–boutiqueguesthouse-1nightAguasCalientes/MachuPicchu–3-star-2nightsCusco–boutiqueguesthouse-13meals-IncaTrailtrekkingpermits-GuidesinLima,SacredValleyandCusco,inadditiontotrekkingguidesonIncaTrail-InternalflightfromLimatoCuscoandround-triptrainticketsto/fromMachuPicchuEXCLUSIONS:-Internationalflights-Mandatorypersonaltravel/medicalinsurance-Anymealsnotspecified-Optionalactivities-Anyotheritemsnotspecifiedontheprogram
