Putucusi to Machu Picchu Trek

If the Short Inca Trail is fully booked, but you still desire to hike a 2 day trek to Machu Picchu, this trek will surely take your interest. Putucusi Trek

Description

If the Short Inca Trail is fully booked, but you still desire to hike a 2 day trek to Machu Picchu, this trek will surely take your interest. The trek, which lays close to Machu Picchu, takes you first to a lush zone of old plantations of coffee and fruits to later bring you to a thick cloud forest where the splendid mandor waterfall is located. This 12 metre high waterfall is a result of melted water of the nearby sacred yanantin mountain. Later on, another experience awaits us - a hike to Putucusi Mountain. To get there, you follow paths surrounded by orchid and bromelia´s beds as well as butterfly swarms. This area is also a habitat to mammals such as the spectacled bear and hundreds of bird species, many of them endemic. The trek is challenging as it includes many rocky steps and several vertical wooden ladders, the largest measures over 30 metres. Finally, we reach Putucusi (a budding zucchini/courgette in Quechua native language). Putucusi is a 2,560 metre (8,400 ft) high round-shaped mountain situated on the opposite, north-east side from Urubamba River to Machu Picchu. Its summit offers epic, breathtaking views of Machu Picchu, surrounding mountain peaks and valleys. The summit sits in the clouds and seems almost surreal.

The second day, we visit the long-expected mysterious Machu Picchu where you enjoy a guided tour which explains to you about its history and each unique area and structure. Then you hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain which gives you the opportunity to take a different perspective of panoramic pictures of the "Lost City of the Incas".

What to Expect

Tour Overview

Crew: A Tierras Vivas Representative in Cusco and a professional Tour Guide for the trek.

Accommodation: Hotel (1 night).

Meals: 1x breakfast, 1x lunch, 1x dinner (Please allow USD 20 - 30 for meals not included).

Transportation: Transportation by private van, 2x train.

Quick itinerary:

Day 01: Hike to Mandor Waterfall and to Putucusi mountain

Day 02: Walking up to Machu Picchu

Highlights of the Putucusi to Machu Picchu Trek:

Visit of the magnificent Mandor Waterfall
Getting to know a Peruvian cloud forest
Guided tour to the Putucusi Mountain
2 day hike with a professional Tour Guide
Learning about the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu
Climb to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (optional)

Resposinble Travel

Tierras Vivas Porters

Tierras Vivas DOES NOT permit this exploitation!! We guarantee that our porters carry only an amount given by the Peruvian law!! There is still a long way to go when it comes to a reserve of adequate meals, backpacks and warm dry sleeping accommodation. click here

Each Year Tierras Vivas hots a Christmas party in Patacancha. Family porters,

Itineray Details

Day 01: Hike to Mandor Waterfall and to Putucusi Mountain

We pick you up from the airport/your hotel in Cusco in the morning to take you by our private transport to the railway station at Ollantaytambo (1 hour and 40 minutes far away from Cusco) that is located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. There, you board a train towards Aguas Calientes, a small town just below Machu Picchu. Your Tour Guide welcomes you at the town´s railway station and takes you to your hostel where you check-in and leave your baggage, Afterwards, you start the today´s hike surrounded by an astonishing landscape! First, you follow the Vilcanota River (the upper Urubamba River that is called with an Aymara name in this part; the name changes to Urubamba within the Convencion Province) walking along a railway with direction to Hidroelectrica (hydroelectric plant). You can see steep mountain cliffs protruding all around. You leave the railway after an hour walk to turn towards the Mandor Waterfall. On the way, you pass through a fertile country with banana, avocado and coffee plantations, fruit orchards and later a cloud forest where the amazing Mandor Waterfall is situated! There, you can also find a small pool offering you a pleasent refresh! Then you enjoy a box lunch before heading for the next point of interest - Putucusi Mountain. You follow a recently discoverd authentical Inca path leading you through the cloud forest including pristine areas where bromeliads and over 90 kinds of orchids grow! If you are lucky, you can spot a spectacled bear as well as hundreds of bird- and butterfly- species, many of them are endemic!! The trek includes many rocky steps and several vertical wooden ladders (up to 30 metres) so you should be in a very good shape and not to suffer from vertigo to be able to undertake it! In the end, you get to the Putucusi Mountain (2,560 m.a.s.l./8,400 f.a.s.l.), a high round-shaped mountain. There surrounded by clouds, you are given a feeling to appear in a dreamy place with its overwhelming views of Machu Picchu!!

In the end of the day, you return to your hostel when you can have a rest or alternatively, you can visit the hot springs of Aguas Calientes (entrance fee of 10 Soles is not included in the trek).

Day 02: Climb to Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu

Included

What is included?

Not Included:

Essential Information

Suggest Items

Appropriate Clothing along this trek

Hiking pants and T-shirts are recommended during the day, complemented by sweaters, fleeces and waterproof jackets. It is very convenient to have light raingear available in the daypack (rain poncho or jacket and/or rain pants) as the weather changes easily and rains can suddenly occur. At night, warm clothing is required, down jackets can be useful, otherwise a fleece and a jacket. During the third day (if sunny) and in Machupicchu, convertible hiking pants are useful, as can be switched into shorts if necessary. Machupicchu has a warm climate, getting only cold at night. The rest of necessary implements are included in the “What we recommend that you bring” list.

What to bring for this trek to Machu Picchu

Original passport (+ copies for a case of lost),
Pocket money in Nuevos Soles,
A backpack
A small rucksack,
Rain gear (a rain-jacket and a waterproof trousers or a rain poncho - this can be purchased in Cusco),
Resistible footwear, waterproof trekking shoes are recommended,
Sandals (for a higher comfort while at a campsite),
Warm clothes such as a jacket, a fleece (thermal clothing is also recommended for cold nights during camping),
Hat or a cap (to protect you against the Sun, rain as well as cold),
Sun cream or sun block,
After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body,
Insect repellent – recommended minimum is 20% DEET (please note that no malaria cases have been reported during this trip!),
Camera and its charger/batteries (please note that batteries are consumed quickly under cold conditions),
Flashlight/headlamp + batteries,
Handkerchiefs and toilet paper,
Small towel and toiletries,
Sufficient reserve of underwear,
Swimsuit (to visit the thermal baths of Aguas Calientes),
Snacks (biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.)
Please note: we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. The recommendation of taken own snack applies only for customers who like a specific snack that might not be in our menu.
Bottled water for the first morning and a water bottle to be refill.
Optional: walking sticks; you can also rent it from us,
Please note: we provide with filtered boiled water during the entire trek, but if you like to use water from streams along the trail, you need to take some water-purifying tablets with you.

Map

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