2011 Dates (9 days):
April 23-May 2
May 28-June 6
June 25-July 4
July 23-August 1
August 6-15
September 3-12
October 1-10



Land Cost:
$3,650 (8-12 members)
$3,850 (3-7 members)

Please note: In an effort to reduce impact the Peruvian government has lowered the number of people allowed on the trail. For this reason it is important that you make reservations as far in advance as possible to ensure your spot.


Trekking Grade: Moderate



“I took this trip with special friends and my twelve year old daughter. We all had an amazing adventure. The plans were perfectly carried out and the professionalism of the staff was remarkable. We lived like royalty and ate like kings! Thank you for a trip of a lifetime. “
-- Kathleen and Kelsey Kolar

Photo gallery

The Inca Gold trip is the deluxe version of our classic Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu, one of South America’s most interesting cultural sites. In Cusco you stay in the luxurious Hotel Monastario. After exploring the ruins of Machu Picchu participants enjoy the comforts and lush sub-tropical environment surrounding the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel located next to the interesting village of Aguas Caliente. This allows us to spend an extra day exploring the ruins - and even ascend Winay Picchu and the Temple of the Moon! The trip ends on one of the world’s classic train rides from Aguas Caliente to Cusco where we enjoy a celebration dinner.

We start this fascinating journey in Cusco, the former capital city of the Inca Empire. Our explorations continue through Andean villages and into the Sacred Valley with its important Inca ruins. After studying the interesting architecture of Cusco, the spectacular landscapes of the Sacred Valley, and beginning to understand the myths and legends surrounding the Incas, we begin our trek on the Inca Trail to the famous ruins of Machu Picchu. Jungle growth covered the deserted city for years and as a result it escaped notice by the Spanish conquistadors. It was not until 1911 that U.S. explorer Hiram Bingham uncovered the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu - its mysteries, however, still await your discovery!

We invite you to walk back in time, into the heart of Inca myths and legends. Before the Spanish conquest, the Inca Empire extended from northern Chile to Ecuador, its’ influence of power linked by trails leading over snow covered passes, through lush sub-tropical forests, and up and down deep river valleys

Trip Highlights:
· Learning about Inca culture
· A challenging trek from sub-tropical forests to high mountain passes
· Sunrise at Machu Picchu
· Luxurious accommodations and fine Peruvian cuisine
· Bartering for souveneirs from sweaters to exquisite silver jewelry
· Chewing coca leaves, mate de coca tea, and Pisco sours

What to expect:
· Porter supported trekking - you carry only your personal belongings
· Hiking 4-8 hours a day, with elevations from 8,000-13,766 feet
· Elevation gains averaging 1,000-1,500 feet, with one day of 3,934 feet
· Walking 4-8 miles a day to cover a total of about 30 miles

Included in cost:
Scheduled hotel nights
Scheduled restaurant meals and food on the trek
Park and museum entrance fees
Porters and pack animals
Group tents and cooking gear
Airport transfers to and from Cusco Airport

Not included in cost:
Airfare
Personal equipment
Staff/guide gratuities
Items of personal nature (alcohol, phone calls, laundry, room service, extra meals, etc.)
Trip cancellation and medical/rescue insurance

IS THIS TRIP RIGHT FOR ME? While we travel approximately 30 miles over rugged terrain the difficult climbs are made easier with the help of local porters. Each day consists of walking about 5-7 hours at a leisurely pace that provides ample time to explore along the way. With the exception of the climb over 13,776 foot Warmiwanusga Pass on day three of the itinerary, elevation gain each day is usually less than 2,000 feet. Strong legs are required for descents on steep, though excellent, trails. With proper training this is a rewarding trip to one of South America's most important archeological sites. For those joining us on a climb in either Bolivia or Peru this is an excellent way to acclimatize before your expedition begins. Please call our office for more information on the logistics for this great combination of climbing and Andean culture.

TRAINING PROGRAM: We suggest you begin your training program at least two months prior to departure. Walking up hills and stair climbing are both excellent ways to condition your lower body. Begin slowly, without the weight of a pack, eventually adding weight as you increase your training pace. Although we will be utilizing porters for carrying our food and equipment we still strongly advise you to take a long hike (4-6 hours) several times with a weighted pack. The best training for the Inca Trail is to carry a weighted pack (20-30 lbs.) up and down hills. If you do not have immediate access to the mountains consider climbing stairs in buildings. The Incas built long staircases on many of their trails that will be difficult for those with inadequate training. Either way, climbing stairs or hills will go a long way toward increasing your enjoyment of the ups and downs found along the Inca Trail. Supplement this activity with running, cycling, swimming, racquet sports, basketball, etc. for additional aerobic conditioning.

QUALIFICATIONS: We do suggest that you have backpacking experience prior to joining us on the Inca Trail. This trip is rated as moderately difficult and we cannot overemphasize the importance of physical conditioning before this trip.

WEATHER: Like all big mountain ranges, the peaks of the Andes generate and attract their own weather, making conditions impossible to predict. There are, however, two distinct seasons in the region, a wet season that occurs from November to March, and a dry season April through early October. The dry season is characterized by cold nights, but sunny days, with an average temperature in Cusco around 9 degrees Celsius. This can be considered a stable pattern, but be prepared for a wide range of temperatures, from freezing nights, to snowy and windy conditions, to bright sunshine intensified by high altitude. The wide fluctuation in temperatures makes it important to bring everything on the equipment list.

FOOD: Mountain Madness is renowned for providing the finest mountain cuisine available. All of the meals from the trailhead and back will be provided, including pastas, rice, soups, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Bring along your favorite snack foods and energy bars for on the trail to supplement the lunch provided. The local cuisine is also something for the traveler to look forward to, including superb combinations of typical Andean foods, such as corn, potatoes, and chili pepper, with pork and mutton introduced by the Spanish. Adventurous diners can feast on cuy (guinea pig), a Peruvian specialty.

GEOGRAPHY OF PERU: In terms of geology, the Andes, the world's longest mountain range, are young, and, like the Himalayas, still rising. These mountains account for about 25 percent of the total area of Peru, which, like other Andean countries, contains a diverse landscape. A narrow strip of coastal desert, one of the driest spots on earth, gives way to the mountainous sierra, which holds approximately half of the country's population. East of the Andes, the sparsely populated jungles of the Amazon Basin, or selva, account for 60 percent of Peru's area. From the foothills of the sierra up to almost 3500 meters you will find yourself in a desert-like environment that feels somewhat incongruous to the icy peaks towering above. The first day on the trail to Machu Picchu will be amongst cactus and eucalyptus trees while in the surrounding fields, wheat, barely, oats, potatoes, and corn cover the landscape. Here, the ox and plow work the fields, while on the steeper slopes the farmers still use the ancient footplow, or chakitakllas. With the exception of river valleys however, forests are generally absent. Deforestation has had a dramatic impact on the region, and the previous quenwa and kishwar forests, with their abundant firewood and building materials, have often been replaced with the fast-growing eucalyptus.Unfortunately, many of the mammals that once inhabited these areas cannot be replaced. Shrinking habitat, poaching, and over-hunting have endangered, most notably, the rare spectacled bear, vicuna, puma, and several species of deer. There is however still a viable population of Andean condors in Peru, and you will likely get a chance to see this magnificent bird. Trekkers also have an impact in the mountains, leaving garbage and waste, and cutting trees for firewood. Mountain Madness groups do their part to help alleviate this ongoing problem by practicing Leave No Trace ethics.

ARCHEOLOGY OF PERU: In terms of archeology Peru is among the richest countries in the New World. The famous ruins of Machu Picchu and those in Cusco stand as testimony to the ingenuity and industrious nature of the Incas. Today you can still see the legacy of the Inca Empire. Many of the buildings found in Cusco, the former Inca capital, are built on foundations of Inca stones.

TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE: We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation and travel insurance. This comprehensive travel insurance provides coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, travel delays, loss of baggage and travel documents, baggage delays, medical expenses, and emergency assistance. An insurance application is provided with all trip confirmations.

SIGN UP: Simply download and fill out our application and mail or fax it to 206-937-1772 along with your $500 deposit.

MEDICAL AND EVACUATION INSURANCE: If your insurance policy does not cover international travel and mountaineering expeditions you will receive policy information from Liaison International with your booking that we strongly recommend you consider. Back

CUSCO

The Sacred City and its Surrounding Areas*

Located in the southeastern part of the Andes, Cusco is Peru’s main tourist destination and one of the most important in the Americas. Known by the Incas as the “home of gods,” Cusco became the capital of one of the largest pre-Colombian empires: the Tawantinsuyo. Its name in Quechua, Qosqo means “Navel of the world,” which derives from when the city served as a hub for the vast network of roads interconnecting virtually the whole of South America, from the southern part of present-day Colombia to the northern part of what is now Argentina. Furthermore, Cusco is also both a mestizo (mixed blood lineage) and colonial city, with splendid churches and manors built on foundations of elaborately carved stone. With its vast landscapes, rich history and fascinating geography, Cusco is, without a doubt, something all travelers long to experience. Back

HOTEL MONASTARIO: You will be staying in this historic hotel during your time in Cusco. The Monastery was originally built in 1595 on the site of the palace of Inca Amaru Qhala. In 1598 it was founded as the Seminary of San Antonio Abad by the sixth Bishop of Cusco, Monsignor Antonio de la Raya, to train Catholic priests. The building was seriously damaged by the earthquake in 1650, and upon restoration the beautiful Chapel was added. It is decorated in the indigenous Baroque style with gold-plated picture frames and truly magnificent paintings by the best artists of the Cusquenian Art School, depicting scenes from the life of San Antonio Abad.

In 1692, by papal edict from Pope Innocent II and the Royal Letters Patent issued by King Charles II, the seminary became a Royal Pontifical University. However, in 1816 a royal decree from the King of Spain rescinded this authority and the institute reverted back to being a seminary until May 30, 1965 when the building was remodeled into a hotel. In May 1999, Orient-Express Hotels took over the management of the renamed Hotel Monasterio.

The Hotel remains a national historic landmark, protected by the INC (National Institute of Culture) and has retained its original characteristics and charm. It is a splendid model of the colonial renaissance style consisting of three sections in different levels. The heart of the Hotel is the central courtyard with its soft fountain and 300-year old cedar tree surrounded by gardens and the famous stone cloisters. The stones around the huge wooden entrance doors looking onto the Plazoleta Nazarenas still bear the Spanish Arms Escutscheon and the image of Bishop Monsignor Juan Serricolea y Olea. Back

LEGEND AND HISTORY: Although it was settled centuries before the Incas arrived, it was only during the period of Inca control (1438-1532 AD) that the Huatanay River basin, upon which Cusco is built, reached its peak as an administrative, religious and military center. The origins of the city are shrouded in myth and legends which tell the tale of how the Inca empire came into being.

One of the most popular myths, from the chronicles kept by the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, is that of a mythical couple, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, who emerged from the waters of Lake Titicaca to found the city of Cusco and teach its people how to cultivate the land. The city was divided into two sectors: an upper area, or Hanan, and a lower-lying area, or Hurin, references to both the geographical position of each area and the hierarchical position of their inhabitants. Moreover, it is also said that the outline of the first city had the shape of a puma with a falcon’s head.

When the Spaniards arrived in 1533, many pre-Hispanic structures were destroyed or used as foundations for new structures, which included churches, convents and mansions built in Baroque or Renaissance styles. Since then, Cusco has become one of the most representative expressions of mestizo culture anywhere in the Americas.

THE MAIN SQUARE: Known in Inca times as Huacaypata, or “the warrior’s square,” this was the scene for many key events in Cusco’s history: it was here that the conquistador Francisco Pizarro declared Cusco under Spanish occupation; it was also here that Tupac Amaru I, leader of the indigenous resistance movement, was killed. The Main Square also hosted the spectacular Inti Raymi, or Festival of the Sun. With the arrival of the Spanish the plaza was fringed by beautiful stone arches which remain in place to this day. Across from the Main Square are the Cathedral and La Compania church.

THE CATHEDRAL: Built between 1560 and 1664 out of large slabs of red granite taken from the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the Cathedral is one of the most imposing structures in the city. Its façade, built in Renaissance style, contrasts with the Baroque and silver of its lavish interior. It also houses important collections of gold and silver work of the colonial period, elaborately engraved wooden altars and a beautiful collection of oil on canvas paintings from the Escuela Cuzquena. On either side of the red granite are two small auxiliary chapels. One of these, the Del Triunfo Church, in fact Cusco’s first cathedral, was built in 1539 on top of the palace of Inca Wiracocha.

LA COMPANIA CHURCH: Considered one of the finest examples of colonial Baroque architecture in the Americas, the construction of this church was begun by the Jesuits in 1576 on what was the Amarucancha, or palace of Inca Huayna Capac. The spectacular façade made of carved stone and its great altar, elaborately covered in cedar and gold leaf and built on top of an underground chapel, are among its most notable features. The church also houses a large collection of sculptures and paintings by the most renowned artists from the Escuela Cuzquena. The church is flanked by the Lourdes Chapel and the ancient oratory of San Ignacio de Loyola.

LA MERCED CONVENT AND CHURCH: Built in the sixteenth century and rebuilt on numerous occasions as a result of earthquakes which have leveled the city, the convent possesses one of the most beautiful Baroque-Renaissance cloisters in all Peru, decorated with beautiful choir stalls built in the plateresque style, and numerous engravings. It also houses colonial paintings and a very distinctive piece: a tabernacle made of gold and precious stones measuring 1.3 m long and weighing 22 kg, studded with a giant mermaid-shaped pearl (the second-largest pearl in the world).

KORICANCHA AND THE CONVENT OF SANTO DOMINGO: The convent was built on the spectacular Koricancha (“site of gold”), the most important temple dedicated to the worship of the Sun and whose walls were plated with sheets of gold. The convent was built on a foundation of smoothened stone structures – the most finely crafted in Cusco – taken from the Inca sanctuary. The façade of the convent is an excellent example of the Renaissance art and its distinctive spire, built in Baroque style, stands out over the thatched roofs of the Cusco skyline. Like the two churches mentioned above, it houses an impressive collection of canvas paintings from the Escuela Cuzquena.

SAN BLAS QUARTER: Also known as “the craftsmen’s district,” San Blas is one of the most picturesque parts of the city, with its long, inclined narrow streets that zigzag across old estates, which were built with Inca stones, and its tranquil squares. The church of San Blas, built in 1563, is the oldest parish church in Cusco and has an impressive pulpit, considered to be the colonial period’s most outstanding example of engraved wood. Furthermore, this district, with one of the finest views of the city, is home to the workshops and stores of the most renowned craftsmen in Cusco, including Hilario Mendivil, Edilberto Merida, Santiago Rojas, and Maximiliana Palomino.

HATUN RUMIYOC STREET: This is perhaps the best known street in the city. One of its cut-stone walls (which at present forms part of the Palace of the Archbishop) features the famous 12-cornered stone, which was once part of the ancient palace of Inca Roca, one of the rulers of Tawantinsuyo or Inca Empire. This lively street is a gateway to the picturesque San Blas Quarter.

SACSAYHUAMAN: An imposing example of Inca military architecture, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman was built using large slabs of granite to safeguard the city from attack by Antis, or invading forces from the East. Sacsayhuaman (“satisfied falcon” in Quechua) is made up of three large terraces which overlap in a zigzag formation surrounded by enormous stone ramparts of up to 300 meters in length. Its elevation and proximity to Cusco, as well as the dimensions of the stones – up to 5 meters high and weighing up to 350 tons – made Sacsayhuaman a quarry for certain structures in colonial Cusco.

SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS: Just an hour’s drive from Cusco, the Urubamba Valley, or Sacred Valley of the Incas, is a setting of picturesque communities, impressive terraces and many important archaeological sites. Dominated by the imposing peaks of the Vilcanota Mountain Range, the valley has been the storehouse for agricultural products for the city of Cusco since Inca times, and today is famous for being home to maize cobs with the largest kernels in the world. The valley includes the area between the Inca communities of Pisac and Ollantaytambo.

MACHU PICCHU: The citadel of Machu Picchu is by far the most important tourist attraction in Cusco, and is located three hours by train from the city, although it can be reached by helicopter (30 min.) or on foot (four days, via the Inca Trail). Discovered in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham, this citadel is considered to be one of the most extraordinary examples of landscape architecture in the world. Situated in an enclave on the saddle of a mountain overlooking the deep canyon of the Urubamba River in an area of lush tropical forest, it served as a place of worship, a site for star-gazing and private haciendas of the family of the Inca Pachacutec. It consists of two main areas: one agricultural, formed mainly by mountains and food stores; and the other urban, which is noted for its sacred zone, with its temples, squares and royal tombs built with consummate skill. The stairways and canals carved out of stone are recurrent throughout this remarkable archaeological site. Opposite the citadel is the Wuayna Picchu Mountain, which can be reached via a winding stone walkway.

*Excerpted from PromPeru

COCA CULTURE: According to archaic indigenous beliefs, coca 'chewing' is essentially harmless. This was given a modern scientific vindication by the Peruvian pharmacologist, Fernando Cabieses Molina, who wrote just after the end of the Second World War that traditional coca consumption has certain features that distinguish it markedly from cocaine abuse. The amount of the cocaine alkaloid is, of course, far lower than in chemically pure extracts from the plant. By introducing the coca leaf orally its psychoactive properties are absorbed slowly and without ill effects by the digestive system. Coca is a naturally occurring mild plant stimulant (see also caffeine; sugar; tobacco; kola nuts) which has many traditional cultural uses in the Andean region, such as chewing or brewing in tea to alleviate stomach upsets and the effects of altitude sickness. Coca leaves can also be used as a highly effective compress on wounds, a well-recognized anti-nauseate (used in pregnancy, by the ill and by those affected by altitude sickness), and as a hunger-suppressant, most frequently utilized by Bolivian miners to prolong working stints. Coca leaves are among the most significant ritual items of the Quechua, Aymara and Mapuche cultural groups (descendants of the Inca civilization, and now numbering around eleven million people in the Andean region), who use them as sacrificial offerings to deities, as well as traditional items of ritual exchange, currency and cookery.

Distinguished visitors to South America, including Pope John Paul II and Princess Anne have drunk coca tea (mate de coca) as it is the traditional way of avoiding altitude sickness. Impartial and scientific investigations have shown that regular use of coca is not harmful and no major social problems are known to have resulted from its traditional, and millennia-long, use in the Andes. This contradicts the claims of its ill-effects contained in reports by the United Nations and other official bodies, which seem to be based more on prejudice, ethnocentric bias, and the desire to portray the natural source of cocaine as negatively as possible in order to justify plans for eradicating coca in its homeland. Just so you know, to create one gram of cocaine, about one ton of coca leaves are needed. It is only possible to chew around thirty coca leaves in the mouth at any one time. The stimulating effects of this amount of coca can last for up to ten hours, if chewed constantly; longer if the wad is stored in the cheek and chewed periodically. The stimulation is roughly equivalent to the effects of two strong cups of coffee, or one over the counter caffeine tablet. (From The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Substances by Richard Rudgley)

MATE DE COCA: Mate De Coca is a medicinal tea made from the leaves of the Coca plant (Erythroxylum). This tea has been used for over four thousand years by the people of South America.

Coca was and is still used at every stage of the Andean people’s lives. Before giving birth, a woman drinks and chews coca to hasten the labor and ease the pain. When a child is born, relatives celebrate by chewing the coca leaf together. When a young man wants to marry a girl, he offers coca to her father. And when somebody dies, Mate De Coca is drunk at the wake and a small pile of leaves are placed in the coffin before burial. From ancient times, these rituals were considered sacred, and as such, the coca leaf continues to have a great significance in the culture of the Andean people. (from peruherbals.com)

PISCO SOURS :
This enticing brandy-like drink made from the white grape alcohol Pisco, is a national favorite.

6 glasses
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
1 egg white
1 tablespoon sugar
1 glass of Pisco (Peruvian Brandy)
Juice of 6 limes
Chopped ice
Angostura bitters
Preparation
1. Beat the egg white and sugar in a blender
2. Add pisco, lime juice, ice and angostura bitters
3. Mix well and pour into shot glasses

TOP

Itinerary

Included in the cost of your trip are scheduled group restaurant meals. Meals provided are listed as B (breakfast), L (lunch) and D (dinner) at the end of each day. You will be responsible for those meals not listed.

Day 1: DEPARTURE FROM HOME
Travel from the US to Peru.

Day 2: CUSCO - 10,909 feet
Arrive in Cusco. A Mountain Madness representative will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. The afternoon will be free for shopping for local Quechuan Indian handicrafts and getting familiar with Cusco’s fine restaurants, cobblestone streets, and relaxing courtyards. We will also tour the city, visiting old cathedrals and Inca temples, and explore the famous Sacsayhuaman ruins. D

Day 3: CUSCO - 10,909 feet
Today we will visit the beautiful Vilcanota/Urubamba river valley, also known as the Sacred Valley. Our explorations will take us through Andean villages, local markets and the very important ruins of Pisac and/or Ollantaytambo. B, L, D

Day 4: HUAYLLABAMBA - 9,842 feet
       Elevation gain- 1,052 feet; distance- 12 km
We depart early from Cusco for the Inca Trail. After driving along the high, barren puna, we descend into the twisted Urubamba Valley and drive to our trailhead where we distribute loads among porters. We then hike to the small village of Huayllabamba where the local people still practice subsistence farming. B, L, D


Day 5: Warmiwanusga Pass – 13,776 feet / RUNQURACAY - 12,172 feet
            Elevation gain-3,934 feet/ loss- 1,594 feet; distance- 12 km
After hiking over the Warmiwanusga Pass we descend several thousand feet before hiking up to the ruins of Runquracay where we camp. This is a difficult day with about 4,000 feet of elevation gain. B, L, D

Day 6: WINAY WAYNA - 8,861 feet
             Elevation gain- 489 feet/ loss- 3,800 feet; distance- 15 km
We will be passing numerous ruins and walking through lush cloud forests and along cobblestone pathways made by the Incas. We will make camp at the ancient ruins of Winay Wayna. This is a fabulous day with good walking, interesting ruins, and great views of the Veronica Range, the massive peak of Salcantay, and the wild rapids of the Urubamba River. B, L, D

Day 7: Machu Picchu! 8,200 feet / CUSCO - 10,909 feet
            Elevation gain- 328 feet/ loss- 989 feet; distance- 6 km
After an early start, we hike to Machu Picchu, fortress city of the ancient Incas. Here we’ll discover sundials, follow the ingenious water system of the city, and marvel at the Inca stonemasonry. Overnight  in the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel.
B, L, D



Day 8: Explore the ruins in the morning. Possible ascent of Winay Picchu (Temple of the Moon). In the afternoon the group returns to Cusco. Overnight in the Monastario.

Day 9: LIMA - sea level
Today you will fly back to Lima where you will be free to explore the city before catching your night flight home. Your services with Mountain Madness conclude in Cusco. B

Day 10: Arrive home.        
 





TOP

TOP