Tierras Vivas comes to diffusing without profit helping porters families and the communities of Pilcobamba and Rallan located in the Cusco, Peru.
The project starts when we really realize that ...
"Tierras Vivas provided an expedition which exceeded my greatest expectations. We took the a road less traveled which gave us access to to spectacular Inca ruins in way we could never have dreamed of - our group had the ruins all to themselves. We heard that the famed Inca trail supports a constant flow of sight-seers, but for five days we were the only foreigners to be found. The Tierras Vivas crew had such a rapport with the locals that we got an up close look at ancient customs and traditions and even got to stay in thatched cabins on several nights. With a landscape that ranged from rain forest, to mountain peaks and glaciers we had a complete snapshot of the best Peru has to offer. If you are looking for a unique and intimate experience of the Andes, separate from the hundreds of tourist that use the Inca Trail daily, Tierras Vivas' Pachamama Ñan expedition is the one for you”. Danylo Fedoryka, Washington DC (USA) Musician - The band Scythian
Moderate These adventure trips are of long journeys, and mostly, the itinerary can be of 5 or more days of touring and in different means of transportation (domestic flights, local buses, boat, train and foot) and it also requires to do some walk for 2 or 3 hours. To enjoy of these adventure trips, we suggest to be fit and have a positive attitude.
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Visit Peru it is an incredible experience, even more if you have the chance to visit the main places, such as the archeological sites in Cusco, the highest sailing lake in the world in Puno and its cultures, and one of the deepest canions in the world in Arequipa
Itinerary
Day 1:Arrival to Lima at any time, transfer to hotel, rest of day free. Day 2: Transfer to the airport of Lima to go to Cusco, reception and transfer to hotel, we recommend taking a rest to get acclimatized. Rest of day free. Day 3: Tour to the SacredValley of the incas., visiting Pisac and Ollantaytambo, where we will spend the night. Day 4: Train to the town of Aguas Calientes, free time to explore this small town on the base of the archeological site. Day 5: Bus to the archeological site of MachuPicchu, guided visit, in the afternoon return to Cusco. Day 6: Bus to Puno, visit the famous TitiKaka’s Lake and its cultures. Day 7: Boat to the island of Uros and Amantani, where we will spend the night at a typical family house. Day 8: Visit the island of Takile, then take the bat back to Puno. Day 9: Bus to Arequipa, also called the WhiteCity of Peru. Free time to explore the city. Day 10: Tour to the Colca Canion, spending the night in Yanke. Day 11: Visit to the look out point called Cruz del Condor (Condor’s Cross) where you can appreciate the flight of the Condor, in the afternoon, back to Arequipa. Day 12: Sightseeing to Arequipa
Accommodation: Hotel (11 Nights), Family house (01 Nights)
Entrance fee: Machupicchu, Uros, Amantani and Takile on Titicaca Lake.
Highlights: Sacred Valley guided tour, Guided tour of Machupicchu, Guided tour of Uros Island, Amantani and Takile on Titicaca lake, Guided tour of the Colca Canyon.
Not included in this trip: • Local Payment • Pre & post tour accommodation • International flight and departure tax • Non detailed domestic flights • Travel Insurance (it must be of a minimum of USD75.000) • Tourist Ticket in Cusco and Arequipa • Tips, baggage portage and other extras not specified. • Transfer In – Out • Optional tours
Introduction
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us, (remember we are in South America). Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit traveling, with Tierras Vivas can be unpredictable. The dossier is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered.
Day 1 Arrive Lima Arrival to the city of Lima, transfer to the hotel. Note that the first and the last day, there are no planned activities, so you can take the rest of day free.
Day 2 Cusco Transfer to the airport of Lima to go to Cusco, reception and transfer to hotel, we recommend taking a rest to get acclimatized. Rest of day free.
Day 3 Sacred Valley Early in the morning a bus will pick us up to go to the SacredValley of the Incas. It starts out in Pisac, a picturesque town with colonial and racially mixed features. In the archaeological centre of Pisac one finds a hill called Intihuatana with and an impressive view of the valley. We continue our trip to Ollantaytambo that was at the times of the Tahuantinsuyo a giant centre for agriculture, administration, social, religious and military activities.
Day 4 Aguas Calientes town We pick you up at your hotel early in the morning, we leave to take the train to the majestic city of Machu Picchu, appreciating a diversity of natural landscapes which change with the different heights, descending the Valley of Anta, passing by Ollantaytambo, we arrive to the station of Puente Ruinas located in the village of Aguas Calientes. Transfer to Hotel.
Day 5 Machupicchu Early in the morning we take the bus to go up to the Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Starting out our visit observing the great scenery that surrounds us, the beauty of its Temples, worshipping places, enclosures and steps that connect the different levels on which the constructions rest. All of Machu Picchu is an exaltation to stone, after that we descend to the village of Aguas Calientes where you can have lunch and then return to Cusco.
Day 6: Puno In the morning a bus will pick you up at the Hotel to go to Puno, with a first stop in Pikillacta, inhabited by the Wasi, of the pre Inca culture. Then we go to Raqchi (the Temple of the God Wiracocha), a last stop in La Raya before arriving to Puno.
Day 7 Uros, Amantani Pick up from Hotel to go to the Port of Puno. Visit to 2 different islands in Uros for 1 hour and a half. After a 3 hour trip we arrive to he island of Amantani where we will be welcomed by the local inhabitants. In the afternoon we do a tour of the local temple of Pachatata or Pachamama with the guide, this lasts 3 hours. In the evening there is a reception for the new visitors with folkloric music.
Day 8 Amantani, Takile In the morning we set off to the island of Taquile, arriving at about 9:00 am where we have 4 free hours to enjoy the scenery and the local customs of this community. Back to the port of Tequile to take our boat back to Puno.
Day 9: Arequipa In the morning we go to the station of Puno to take the bus to Arequipa, pick up at the bus station of Arequipa to go to our Hotel.
Day 10: Chivay Between 8 and 9 in the morning, a tourist bus with guide will pick you up at the hotel to go to the Canyon of Colca. The journey takes around 4 hours through the incredible landscape of the altiplano, reaching a height of 4900metres. Frequent stops to observe local fauna (alpacas, llamas, vicuñas, guanacos, viscachas, etc), arriving finally to the valley of Colca, to the town of Chivay . Check in at hotel. In the afternoon, you can visit the thermal baths of Chivay, where the water reaches a temperature of over 40°C. Dinner and night in Chivay. There is also an option of sleeping in Yanque, a smaller and less touristic town that also has good hotels.
Day 11: Arequipa The next day, after breakfast in hotel, the bus leaves to do an hour and a half tour of the open and fertile valley, to observe the terraced agriculture and the little village of Colca. Then the valley narrows to form an extremely deep canyon. We finally arrive to the viewpoint of Cruz del Condor, where one has an incredible sight over the river that lies over 1000 mt below and on the other side of it cliffs rise to 2500 mt high. At this site, one can observe the condors that nest on the cliffs and take advantage of the warm ascending air currents of the morning to fly. It’s a real treat to watch these giant birds flying 10 mts over us; this is the real highlight of the excursion. Return trip doing stops in the towns of the valley and back to Arequipa.
Day 12: Arequipa
Today is a realxing day, free time to explore to Arequipa, visit its market, buy souvenirs, take optional activities, and get ready for one last night in the city
Day 13: Departures
End of tour.
ITS: Inka Trail Status
TS: Trip Status
CODE
|
Dates
|
persons
|
Group
|
TS
PAP 160508
|
16.05.2008 - 28.05.2008
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
PAP 300508
|
30.05.2008 - 11.06.2008
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
PAP 130608
|
13.06.2008 - 25.06.2008
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
PAP 270608
|
27.06.2008 - 08.07.2008
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
PAP 110708
|
11.07.2008 - 23.07.2008
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
PAP 250708
|
25.07.2008 - 07.08.2008
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
PAP 080808
|
08.08.2008 - 20.08.2008
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
PAP 220808
|
22.08.2008 - 03.09.2008
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
PAP 050908
|
05.09.2008 - 17.09.2008
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
PAP 190908
|
19.09.2008 - 01.10.2008
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
PAP 031008
|
03.10.2008 - 15.10.2008
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
PAP 171008
|
17.10.2008 - 29.10.2008
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
PAP 301008
|
30.10.2008 - 11.11.2008
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
PAP 131108
|
13.11.2008 - 25.11.2008
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
PAP 271108
|
27.11.2008 - 09.12.2008
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
PAP 111208
|
11.12.2008 - 23.12.2008
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
PAP 251208
|
25.12.2008 - 06.01.2009
|
0
|
12
|
Avaible
Important Note
1) Shorter/longer stays, hotel upgrades and extra trips all possible. Please contact our sales department for more information or check out our Taylor Made section. sales@tierrasvivas.com
2) Visas: You may be required to obtain a travel visa, also all countries require a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). Contact your local embassy, or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CORRECT TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION.
Accommodation: Simple hotels, family stay.
Joining Hotel: The following hotel will be used in Lima and Arequipa. Please refer to your travel vouchers for your hotel details.
Lima Starting Hotel Hotel Rivera Address: Av Garcilazo de la Vega 981 Lima Phone: (051) 4249438
Arequipa Finishing Hotel Hotel Mamatila Address: Calle Vivero 611 Cercado Arequipa Phone: (051) 054-205501
Joining Instructions: Lima’s international, called Jorge Chavez in Callao, is approximately a 45-minute drive from the Miraflores district, where our joining hotel is located. The easiest way to get there is by taxi. After customs and immigration area, you will find a few official taxi stands. You can pay for the car approximately USD20 and won’t need to worry about sorting out a ride outside the airport facilities. There are exchange facilities and ATM’s in the Arrivals area open 24 hours. If you are arriving from abroad and have booked an arrival transfer with us, a Tierras Vivas representative will meet you at the airport. Upon leaving the customs area, follow the gates and turn right to exit the airport. Just before exiting there is a small area on the left hand side where the official transfers are waiting with signs. Look for a Tierras Vivas sign board with your name on it. If no one is there and you have not made contact with our local operatos/representative within 15 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point Hotel. Please apply to your travel agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs. If your taxi driver does not speak English and you do not speak Spanish, simply show driver the hotel address to simplify communications.
Arrival Complications: We don't expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you can not commence your trip as scheduled, please contact your starting point hotel, requesting that you speak to or leave a message for your trip leader/local operator or to the emergency contact details provided in this dossier. If you are unable to get in touch with your leader/local operator, please refer to our emergency contact details. If you have pre-booked an airport transfer and have not made contact with our local operatos/representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point Hotel, following the Joining Instructions. Please apply to your travel agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs.
Local Emergency Contact If you need emergency assistance, you can contact us locally at the following phone numbers: +51 0849 8470 2020 + 51 84 235 211 Local Office
Checklist of what to take:
* Passport (with photocopies) * Travel insurance (with photocopies) * Airline tickets (with photocopies) * USD cash * Credit and debit cards * Vouchers and dossier * Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required * Camera and film * CD/MP3 player * Reading/writing material * Binoculars * Cover for backpacks * Fair sized daypack * Wool hat, mitts or gloves (preferably water proof) * Strong plastic bags to help keep gear dry * Anti-inflammatory tablets (e.g. Ibuprofen) * Fleece top * Windproof/waterproof jacket * 5 shirts/t-shirts * Sun hat * 2 pair of shorts * 2 pairs of long trousers * 2 pair hiking pants/track pants * Hiking boots/ sturdy walking shoes * Sport sandals * Sun block * Sunglasses * Toiletries (biodegradable) * Watch or alarm clock * Water bottle * Pocket knife * Small flashlight * First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re- hydration powder, and extra prescription drugs you may be taking).
Meal Budget: Daily allowance USD25 for meals not included. For additional expenses, please contact our sales department for more information. sales@tierrasvivas.com/info@tierrasvivas.com
Emergency Fund: Please, make sure you have access to at least an additional USD200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (eg. a natural disaster) need a change to our planned tour. This is a rare occurrence! But you never know…
Departure Tax: USD18 International flights USD7 Domestic flights
Optional activities:
Lima City Tour USD15
Cusco City Tour USD10 • Main Catedral of Cusco • Qoricancha o templo del Sol • Sacsayhuaman • Quenqo • Pucapucara • Tambomachay
Valle Sur USD75 • Tipon • Andahualillas • Pikillacta Min. 2 paxs
Horse back riding Without guide USD10 With guide USD25
Maras & Moray USD75 Min. 2 paxs
Rafting USD30
Puno
Sillustani USD 10
Ruta Aymara USD 27 Min 05 paxs
Arequipa
City Tour USD 17
Country Side-Bike USD 14
Yura USD 30.
Chiguata USD 30
Misti down hill mountain biking USD 22.
Toro Muerto Tour USD 30
Salinas Tour USD 40
Rafting Chili river USD 30
Rafting Majes river USD 35
Rafting Colca River USD 35
All prices are in USD.
A Couple of Rules: Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts you at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for Tierras Vivas travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The explotation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our group leader/local operators has the right to expel any member of the group/tour if drugs are found in their possession or they use prostitutes.
Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a trip with us, you will not be permitted to join the tour until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader or local operator, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation(a minimum insurance of USD75.000). We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Responsible Travel: Tierras Vivas has been responsible to offering low-impact tours that benefit traveller and host alike. We work with local communities, businesses and individuals to develop sustainable tourism opportunities that help local economies while minimizing negative environmental and cultural impacts.
Keeping in Touch: If you need to be contacted while travelling we recommend that you set up an email address that can be accessed on the road, rather than relying on postal mail. Ciber cafes are becoming increasingly commonplace and cheap throughout the regions we visit, and have quickly become the preferred way for our leaders and travellers to stay in touch. If someone wishes to contact you in an emergency while you are on one of our trips we recommend that they contact your local booking agent, or refer to our Emergency Contact.
AVAILABILITY & PRICES
Departures twice a month all year round, Please contact us for more information.
Cost per pax USD 1270 + Local Payment, no requirement
Local payment Most of our adventure trips involve a local payment. This amount is the final payment for your tour. Paying locally facilitates the flow of funds into countries that we travel through and also helps to reduce the overall price of the tour, allowing us to keep our tours at a competitive price, passing our costs savings on to you.
*Rates can be modified without notice and upon availability at the moment of the booking*