Bates College | Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu: Trek or Train
August 29-September 6, 2009

Immerse yourself in the myths, legends and history of the Incas on our 9 day “Machu Picchu Discovery” trip. Start with a day in Cusco, one of the most beautiful towns in Peru and the southern capital of the Inca Empire. Explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a lovely fertile valley lined with picturesque Andean markets, impressive churches and remarkable Inca ruins. Visit the Inca ruins of Pisaq, bargain with local craftsmen in its famous textile market. Explore the archaeological complex of Ollantaytambo or enjoy an optional horseback ride through remote villages. Visit a local ceramic artist’s studio. Enjoy the spectacular scenery en route to the high Andean village of Chinchero and admire its imposing Inca wall and one of the most important colonial-era churches. Tour the historical Inca sites of Moray and Maras. Visit the little-known high Andean village community of Patakancha.

Take the train or hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu… the choice is yours! Arrive in awe at the perfectly preserved Inca citadel that was lost in the dense jungle for hundreds of years.

Return to Cusco in time for a memorable farewell dinner. Enjoy one last morning of exploration before returning home. Don’t miss this chance to visit the magical country of Peru, full of mystery, intrigue and the rich, ancient culture of the Incas.

Exclusive Highlights

Explore Cusco, the charming colonial capital of the Inca Empire with its cobbled narrow streets, lovely buildings, plazas and churches detailed with intricate Inca stonemasonry work.
Learn about Ican history and culture visiting the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Oenko, Tambo Machay, Puca Pucara, Pisaq, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, the legendary "Lost City of the Incas." Trekkers will also visit Llactapata, Runkuragay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca and Winay Wayna.
Visit Awanacancha in the Sacred Valley of the Incas to learn about the four types of Andean camelids and to observe artisans demonstrating traditional Andean weaving.
Shop in the Pisaq market and learn where to find the best local handicrafts, weavings and fine arts from our experienced tour leaders.
Tour the studio of local ceramic artist Pablo Smeinario. While not guaranteed, we ofter are able to get Pablo himself to give our groups guided tour and a talk on his modern Peruvian ceramic art which is inspired by ancient Incan cultures.
Enjoy an optional horseback riding tour on Peruvian Pasos horses.
Take the train or optional hike to Machu Picchu. We offer a day hike in or 4 day fully-supported trek with top quality guides, porters, cooks and assistants.
Enjoy planned and impromtu lectures on Incan sites and history throughout the trip.
Bid Peru farewell over dinner in a local Cusco restaurant.

Itinerary

Day One:

Today, arrive in Cusco (11,150 feet; 3,400 meters). Meet your guide and driver at the Cusco Airport. They will be just outside the baggage collection area holding a sign with “Global Adrenaline” and your name on it.

Cusco was the southern capital of the Inca Empire and is one of the most beautiful towns in Peru. At its peak this empire stretched north to the south of Colombia, south to northern Chile and Argentina, and west across the Andes to the Amazon Basin. Notice the skill and exquisiteness of the intricate Inca stonemasonry work on the many walls that serve as foundations to colonial buildings. The crisp air, surrounding mountains and Andean sky provide the perfect backdrop to Cusco’s cobbled narrow streets, lovely buildings and plazas and its many hidden treasures and churches. Cusco is not only culturally fascinating and beautiful to look at, it is also an extremely pleasant city to wander around and enjoy.

Spend the afternoon exploring Cusco on your own or taking an optional guided tour of the main sites of Cusco and the surrounding area. Spend the night at our hotel in Cusco.

Day Two:

Visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas (9,500 feet; 2,900 meters), a lovely fertile valley that lies north of Cusco. The Sacred Valley is lined with picturesque Andean markets, impressive churches and remarkable Inca ruins. Begin the day with a visit to Awanacancha to learn about the four types of Andean camelids and to observe artisans demonstrating traditional Andean weaving. Next, explore the ruins of Pisaq or visit its famous produce, textile and handicraft market. Villagers from miles around gather to barter and sell their produce and local handicrafts.

After a buffet lunch, visit the studio of local ceramic artist Pablo Seminario and learn about ancient Peruvian ceramic techniques. In the late afternoon transfer to the charming town of Ollantaytambo, which retains the same street plan of the original Inca town, making it the only surviving example of Inca urban planning. Enjoy a welcome dinner and spend the evening at our Sacred Valley hotel, set at the foot of the Ollantaytambo ruins. (B, L, D)

Day Three:

This morning, relax at the hotel, or take an optional tour to further explore the Sacred Valley by horseback, or visit the historical Inca sites of Moray and Maras.

Have lunch on your own in a local Ollantaytambo restaurant or back at the hotel. Spend the afternoon on a guided walking tour of Ollantaytambo. Visit a local family’s home and tour the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo.

There are several structures of importance to the Inca at this site. At the top of the sixteen massive terraces are the impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo Fortress where the Inca fought some of their strongest battles. Huge and precisely carved stones were somehow transported by hundreds of men down one mountain range to Ollantaytambo and fitted perfectly to support this strategic fortress that has stood the test of time. There are “silos” or grain mills directly across from the fortress that housed thousands of pounds of grain for the Incas.

Spend the evening at our hotel in Ollantaytambo. (B, D)

Day Four:

Spend the morning visiting the ruins and town of Chinchero. En route, see the magnificent snow capped peaks of the Cordillera Vilcabamba. This is by far the most scenically impressive route in all of the Sacred Valley. After lunch, visit the agricultural terraces of Moray that were used by the Incas as open-air crop laboratories or greenhouses. Each terrace level is believed to have a different microclimate, enabling the growth of a wide variety of plants in the same area. Finish with a visit to the pre-Columbian salt mines of Maras that are still active today. These white salt terraces on overhanging cliffs are a true paradise and a must for photography. Spend the night at our hotel in Ollantaytambo.

Day Five:

Today, drive on an unpaved road up the Patakancha River Valley to visit the little known high Andean village community of Patakancha. There are some houses, including the school, which have been recently roofed with tiles. Electricity has just arrived in Patakancha, where modern day wares are becoming more readily available. At the Sunday market, villagers from different traditional communities and hamlets come to exchange and sell their goods. However, local people still live off their llama and alpacas and supplement their income working as porters during the tourist season, and their living standards are very basic. The porters we use for our Inca Trail treks come from Patakancha, which is why several years ago our partners in Peru created a community project in Patakancha that aims to provide the locals with much needed first aid medical assistance from our donations. We believe in sustainable tourism and giving back to the people who support us with their work. Please inquire with our guide to visit the project or make donations.

After lunch, enjoy an optional trek to one of the smaller and less well-known ruins of Pumamarca. Start the hike in Pallata. Walk uphill (1 ½ hours) at a leisurely pace to reach the ruins. After visiting the ruins and enjoying the breathtaking views, hike downhill (45 minutes) back to the vehicle. As the day draws to a close, return to Ollantaytambo for one more evening in the Sacred Valley. Spend the night at our hotel in Ollantaytambo.

Day Six:

After breakfast, board the train to Machu Picchu. As soon as the train journey starts, the valley becomes a canyon; the cloud forest begins to appear with a strong vegetation change as the train reaches the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. The tracks follow the mighty Urubamba River through spectacular scenery called "the eyebrow of the rainforest." The train passes through several small villages where local Indian farmers tend their crops and reside as they have for hundreds of years. Arrive at Aguas Calientes, our base for the next three nights. Those who prefer a more active day have the option to disembark the train at Km. 104 and spend the day with a private guide hiking to Machu Picchu (see description for the optional day hike below). Otherwise, enjoy lunch in Aguas Calientes before checking into our boutique hotel. In the afternoon, relax or enjoy the grounds of your hotel on a guided nature walk, learning about the fascinating cloud forest ecosystem along the way. Take in the world’s largest private collection of indigenous orchids, open to the public. At the end of the day, dine by candlelight at our hotel in Aguas Calientes, carefully set in a high tropical cloud forest.

Day Seven:

Machu Picchu is a perfectly preserved Inca city that was lost in the dense jungle for hundreds of years. Machu Picchu, whose name means "ancient peak," is perhaps the most famous and awe-inspiring of all of the ruins discovered during the 20th century. Machu Picchu was so well-hidden by the towering jungle-covered ramparts of the Cordillera Vilcabamba that it was never discovered by the Spaniards. Constructed on a high mountain overlooking the Urubamba River, Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu were lost in time and the dense forest until they were brought to the attention of the outside world in July 1911 by the American historian and explorer, Hiram Bingham. There are many speculations about the site’s use, but its origins and purpose remain lost in time.

Start early and watch the sun rise over Machu Picchu and take photographs of the area during this peaceful morning time. For those who are interested in a bit more hiking, hike to the top of Huayna Picchu or walk through the lush cloud forest to the Temple of the Moon. For those who would like to sleep in, a later starting time and transfer will be available.

Starting at 10:00am, our guide will escort the group through the ruins, discussing the construction and probable usage of the buildings, reflecting on life in this spectacular setting. Enjoy lunch on your own today. Options include the indoor buffet lunch or outdoor café at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel or the many restaurants and cafés down in the town of Aguas Calientes. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring the ruins on your own, shopping in the markets in Aguas Calientes or enjoying relaxing spa treatments at the hotel. Spend the night at our Aguas Calientes hotel.

Day Eight:

Spend a second morning discovering Machu Picchu, this time with those who hiked the Inca Trail. Get up early again to watch the sun rise over Machu Picchu or sleep in and take a later transfer to the ruins. Once again, for those who are interested in more hiking, hike to the top of Huayna Picchu or walk through the lush cloud forest to the Temple of the Moon.

Starting at 10:00am, our guide will escort the entire group, including Inca Trail trekkers, through the ruins, discussing the construction and probable usage of the buildings, reflecting on life in this spectacular setting. Enjoy lunch on your own today. Options include the indoor buffet lunch or outdoor café at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel or the many restaurants and cafés down in the town of Aguas Calientes.

In the afternoon, retrace our route through the Urubamba Valley and return to Cusco on the afternoon train. Upon arrival back in Cusco, check into our Cusco hotel. Enjoy a farewell dinner and one last night at our Cusco hotel.

Day Nine:

Enjoy one last free morning in Cusco before departing for Lima and international flights home in the late afternoon. If you would like to visit Lima, please book your flights from Cusco to Lima in the morning, and participate in a guided city tour of Lima in the afternoon before your international flights home.

Inca Trail Trekking Alternative

For those who would like a more active trip, there is the option to reach Machu Picchu by 4 day trek along the Inca Trail and reunite with the rest of the group at Machu Picchu. Please indicate at the time of booking if you would like to travel to Machu Picchu by trekking the Inca Trail instead of taking the train. The permits for this option are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and typically sell out 3-4 months prior to the trip departure. We highly recommend you book this alternative early to secure the permits required.

Day 4: Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu

This morning begin the famous 4-day pilgrimage trek to Machu Picchu. Hike 6-8 hours each day across mountain passes and through verdant valleys. In the early morning, transfer by private coach 1 ½ hours to Km. 82. Upon arrival, meet the porters and begin your trek along the left bank of the Urubamba River. After a couple hours of gentle hiking, visit the Inca ruins of Llactapata. Continue hiking away from the Urubamba River ascending and following the Qusichaca River towards the village of Huayllabamba, a small agricultural settlement. Stop along the way for a picnic lunch. After lunch, continue on to your private campsite near Huayllabamba (9,800 feet, 3,000 meters), and enjoy your first night of camping in the Andes. Marvel at the sparkling night sky of the Southern Hemisphere. The length of today’s hike is approximately 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) or 6 hours. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu

An early nourishing breakfast will provide energy for a short, but strenuous hike to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary control station, just above the village of Huayllabamba. After registering at the control station, continue on a tough, ascending trail to the first pass. This is a challenging hike with fantastic views and a very clear change of vegetation as you gain altitude. Pass through an interesting protected cloud forest of native trees before reaching the lunch spot at 12,150 feet (3,700 meters), right below the first pass. After lunch, continue the tough ascent toward the highest pass on the trail, Warmiwañusqa or “Dead Woman’s Pass” (13,800 feet; 4,200 meters). Our efforts will be rewarded with unparalleled views of the snow covered peaks of the Cordillera Urubamba and the lush valley vegetation. From here, begin to encounter the Inca pavement. The trail descends to the Pacamayo River to a campsite at Pacaymayo (11,900 feet; 3,600 meters). Today’s hike is approximately 10.5 miles (17 kilometers) or 8 hours. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu

Today is a long, but very interesting and rewarding day with visits to several magnificent archaeological sites on the way. After breakfast, start a slow climb over the second pass of Runkuraqay (13,000 feet; 3,950 meters). Masterful Inca engineering is visible along the trail and at the Inca site Sayacmarca (12,000 feet; 3,640 meters), which is a true highlight along the trail. At the end of the day, reach a dry lake at Phuyupatamarca (12,000 feet; 3,650 meters) also known as “The Place Among the Clouds” where we will camp overnight while soaking up some of the magical charm of this marvelous site. Today’s hike is approximately 13.6 miles (22 kilometers) or 8 hours. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu

Sunrise at Phuyupatamarca is considered one of the highlights of the trek. Rise early and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee at the top of the mountain. After breakfast, pass the Phuyupatamarca ruins and follow the flagstone trail and Inca stairs down into the cloud forest, meeting the cooks for one last delicious lunch along the trail. After lunch, visit the beautiful ruins of Wiñay Wayna. The final part of the trail has some incredible, steep stairways, some carved in stone, and several viewing terraces. In a short time arrive into Machu Picchu through the Inti Punku (“Gate of the Sun”) and then follow the trail downhill to the lost citadel located right above the Urubamba River. Upon arrival, stare in amazement at this wonder of the ancient world. The hike into Machu Picchu (8,000 feet; 2,400 meters) is 5 miles (8 kilometers) and will take approximately 7 hours.

Note: Trekkers follow the same schedule listed for Days 1, 2 and 3 and Days 8 and 9 on the Day by Day Itinerary, with the entire group traveling together except on the Inca Trail days.

Faculty Host:
A professor from Bates, Colby or Hamilton College will accompany this trip.

Price starts at $2,995. Price does not include air. Click here to visit Global Adrenaline's website for the tour.

Please contact the Alumni Office if you're interested, 207-786-8344 or lgailey@bates.edu!