Footloose Adventure Travel: Peru, llama trekking to Chavin

DAY 1 (Friday)

LIMA

Arrival and transfer to your hotel. On early arrival optional tours available to visit modern and colonial Lima. There are also many museums and private collections. Lunch and dinner on your own, overnight at hotel.

DAY 2 (Saturday)

LIMA / CUSCO

Transfer to the airport to board your 55-minute flight to Cusco, center of the Inca world. Meet and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the morning free to acclimatize to the altitude (3,400 m.a.s.l./11,400 ft.). An afternoon tour of the city and nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Kenko and Tambomachay will educate you on the history of this astonishing town. Lunch and dinner on your own.

DAY 3 (Sunday)

CUSCO / CHILLCA/QÕENTE

Leaving the city behind our vehicle heads north over the plateau of Chinchero. View of the snow-capped peaks of Pitusiray, Sawasiray and Chicon descending into the Urubamba Valley visiting the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo on the way. We continue about another hour to the roadhead from where our hike starts. We walk along across the snowcapped peak of Mt. Veronica (Waka Wilqa), cross over at Km 82 and pass by the ruins of Sallapunku and Torontoy to reach Qoriwaynachina. From here the small bridge brings us over to QÕente where we will camp. A chance to visit the surrounding archaeological remains of QÕente and Machu QÕente - located amidst Inca Terracing. (Time: 4-6 hours, Distance: 11 kms).

DAY 4(Monday)

QÕENTE / LLULLUCHAPAMPA

The trail winds slowly uphill through a small forest to reach the site of Patallacta. After a short visit we continue up the Cusichaca Valley passing houses of settlers to finally reach the andean community of Huayllabamba. From here the trail ascends steeply to a large pampa below the first pass, where we camp. Here we have a breathtaking view of Mt. Huayanay. Along the trail up this narrow hanging valley we begin to see a cloud forest that harbors the Que-ua tree, a rare forest to be found in the Andes. Camp overnight at Llulluchapampa. (Time: 6 hours.Distance: 9Kms.)

DAY 5 (Tuesday)

LLULLUCHAPAMPA / PHUYUPATAMARCA

The trail ascends at a typical angle of 30 degrees towards the pass across the hillside of Puna grassland as we leave our campsite at the edge of the treeline behind, bringing us to Warmiwa-usca pass (4,050 ma.s.l./13,280 ft.). The trail descends to the Pacaymayo River and then climbs slowly past Runkuraqay ruins. From here over a lower pass to Sayacmarca. A clear Inca Trail across a causeway on a now dry lake past a cave, we continue our way along a ridge to finally reach Phuyupatamarca (the town at the edge of the clouds in quechua) where we camp. (Time:8 hrs. Distance 9 Kms)

DAY 6 (Wednesday)

PHUYUPATAMARCA / MACHU PICCHU

After continuing along a buttress and passing Phuyupatamarca ruins, the flagstoned trail winds sharply down into the cloud forest to the ruins of Wi-ay Wayna located below the ridge on the same water course as the previous site, it has well restored Inca Ruins. After a two hour walk through a cloud forest covered Inca Trail we arrive at Machu Picchu the way the Incas used to come, watching the magnificent citadel at our feet from Intipunku, the door of the sun. Optional overnight at el Pueblo or Ruinas hotel available).

DAY 7 (Thursday)

MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO

The whole day can be dedicated to explore these extraordinary Inca remains. Including a visit to Wayna Picchu the hill overlooking the site. The mid-afternoon train takes you back to Cusco, transfer to your hotel. Dinner on your own.

DAY 8 (Friday)

CUSCO / LIMA

Early transfer to the airport for flight to Lima. Transfer to your hotel. Free day to shop and relax or take an optional tour. Overnight. Lunch and dinner on your own.

DAY 9 (Saturday)

LIMA/HUARAZ

Early morning departure by first-class coach to the city of Huaraz, located about 400 Kms. north of Lima. Following the Panamerican Highway north across Lima we will pass several lush green valleys that cut through the coastal desert until we reach the town of Pativilca. Turning inland the main road winds its way up along the Fortaleza River for a good two hours. Finally we reach the Pass of Conococha (4,000 m.a.s.l. / 13,120 ft.) where we will get our first glimpse of the Cordillera Blanca, the highest tropical mountain range in the world. From here the road descends slowly along the Santa River as we pass a vast area of highland pastures. As we approach Huaraz, the vegetation changes into that of an interandean valley, surrounded by clusters of red-tiled houses. Arrival at a hotel and overnight at 3,000 m.a.s.l. / 10,000 ft. Dinner on your own.

DAY 10 (Sunday)

HUARAZ / VAQUERIA

Leaving early in the morning we drive down along the Santa Valley passing several villages until we reach present-day Yungay. The road winds slowly up into the gully between the Huascaran massif and the Huandoy three-pronged peak. As we reach the overhanging valley we arrive at the boundary of the National Park of Huascaran. Llanganuco, as the area is known, has two lakes that have turquoise waters, and passing them we will arrive at Quebrada Demanda, a small valley where we will undertake a short hike. In the early afternoon we continue on this narrow road as it twists and turns to the Pass at Portachuelo of Llanganuco at 4,750 m.a.s.l. (15,580 ft.)From this point, if the evening is clear, we will get a spectacular panorama of Mt. Huascaran, Huandoy, Pisco and Chacraraju, the latter being one of the most difficult mountains to climb in Peru. As the evening falls, we drive down to our first campsite at Vaqueria. Time: 2 hours.Distance: 3 kms.

DAY 11 (Monday)

VAQUERIA / TUCTU

The day starts with a leisurely walk down towards Colcapampa. Before we reach the village, a trail will make its way to the left over a small ridge into the Huaripampa valley. As we slowly head up this valley past small settlements of farmers, surrounded by agricultural activity and andean vegetation, the snow-capped peaks of Paria and Taulliraju will come into view, passing meadows and fields along the way. Camp in the vicinity of Paria or Tuctu, in the heart of Huascaran National Park. Time:5-6 hours. Distance: 7 Kms.

DAY 12 (Tuesday)

TUCTU / TAULLIPAMPA

The trail starts ascending towards Punta Union, a pass at 4,700 m.a.s.l. (15,711 ft.) This old trail was heavily used in pre-columbian and Colonial times as a route for transporting goods from the eastern side of the Andes to the main valley. As we approach the pass, Mt. Taulliraju will loom above us and on the other side its glacial lake and glacier will add color and contrast to the amazing view down the Santa Cruz Valley. The peaks of Santa Cruz, Quitaraju, Artesonaju, will come into view as well as the two lakes of Ichicocha and Jarhuacocha. The trail descends into Taullipampa or Quiswarpampa, where we will camp at 4,000 m.a.s.l. (13,200 ft.). (Time:7 hours.Distance: 8.5 Kms.)

DAY 13 (Wednesday)

TAULLIPAMPA / LLAMACORRAL

Past the side-valley of Arhuaycocha with a possibility to view Mt. Apumayo, we continue down the Santa Cruz Valley. The landscape changes, and scree slopes appear on each side of the now marshy meadow as well as rock boulders fallen from the eroded walls above us. Finally towards the end of the day we walk out of the ever-narrowing gully into Llamacorral, where we will camp. (Time: 6 hours. Distance: 6 Kms.)

DAY 14 (Thursday)

LLAMACORRAL / CASHAPAMPA/HUARAZ

A steep descent brings us to Cashapampa in the early morning. We meet a vehicle that will take us back to Huaraz saying good-bye to our the herders as the road winds slowly down to the main valley, arriving in the afternoon. Dinner on your own, overnight at hotel. (Time: 2 hours. Distance: 3 Kms.)

DAY 15 (Friday)

HUARAZ / LIMA

Morning bus ride to Lima, box lunch included on the way. Late afternoon arrival in Lima (end of program). Transfer provided for your connecting flight.

NOTE: * This itinerary can be turned around to end in Cusco at no additional cost.

* Overnight at Machu Picchu on Day 6 at a first class hotel can be arranged for $105 with dinner and breakfast included.

SEASON: April - October. Departures every Friday

SERVICES INCLUDED: Transportation by vehicle to start and from the end of trek to your city of departure, hotel nights where mentioned in cities, two-man tents including sleeping pads, pack animals or porters, kitchen crew and commissary gear with all meals included as well as a bilingual guide on the trek, who will handle the first aid kit.

NOT INCLUDED: Meals in the cities, alcoholic beverages, extras, tips, taxes, laundry service, additional tours, insurance and airline tickets (where applicable) sleeping bags, hiking boots and other personal gear.