Daily Itinerary

General

*Except where noted, continental breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided to you every day, included in your land cost.

Day 1: FLY TO LIMA

Arrive in Lima, you are met at the airport and transferred to Hotel Manhattan for the night.

DAY 2: LIMA-CUSCO

Continental breakfast is provided before your early morning flight to Cuzco. Arriving in Cuzco you are met by your guide and driven to quiet and comfortable hotel, in the heart of Cuzco. Here you are welcomed with a drink of coca tea, drinking coca tea is a local custom to aid in your acclimatization. After checking into your rooms you will be on your own to eat lunch in one of the many diverse restaurants found around the main plaza. Following lunch, the afternoon will be spent making a 3-4 hour hike in the foothills above Cuzco visiting the spectacular Inca ruins of Tambomachay, Pucapucara, Quenco and Sacsayhuaman. Later you will go out for a welcome dinner. Breakfast and dinner are provided.

DAY 3: SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS

Leaving around 7:30am in the morning you will be driven to the village of Chinchero where you will be treated to a private weaving demonstration and then visit the local Indian market, which provides a true insight into century old customs of this village. Following a picnic lunch, you will drive from Chincheros to the Inca Salt mines of Maras and walk from there down into the Urubamba valley (Sacred Valley of the Incas). Here you will be met by your private vehicle and driven to the village of Ollantaytambo, an original Inca village still being lived it as it has been for the past 600 years. The last part of the afternoon will be spent visiting the ruins of Ollantaytambo. You will stay overnight in Ollantaytambo. Breakfast and lunch provided, dinner on your own.

DAY 4: INKA TRAIL TREK STARTING AT KM 82 - PAUCARCANCHA

After and early breakfast you will be transferred to the departure point at Km 82 in the Urubamba valley, where you will meet your camp staff and begin your trek along the Urubamba River until you reach the first archeological site called "Llaqtapata" (8,695 ft). After lunch and a rest you will continue deeper into the Valley, until reaching the last populated village that is called "Huayllabamba" (9,843 ft). From here another 1/2 hour of easy hiking brings you to the archaeological site Paucarcancha and camp. All meals provided.

DAY 5: PAUCARCANCHA - PACASMAYO

Before departing on your trek of the Inca trail, you will explore this recently restored Inca ruin of “Paucarcancha” and then continue your hike towards the first pass on the Inca trail called "Warmiwanusca". Today’s hike is mostly uphill and with a big height difference (nearly 3,937 ft). Hiking slow and enjoy the astonishing views, you should arrive mid afternoon at the next camp at Llulluchapampa just before the pass. All meals provided.

DAY 6: LLULLUCHAPAMPA - PHUYUPATAMARCA

This will be the most varied day. A one-hour hike brings you up to the first pass called “Warmiwanusca” (13,780 ft) from where you descend to the valley of “Pacasmayo”. After a short rest you hike up to the second Pass "Runcuracay" (12,800 ft) and then descend for two hours towards the archeological site of "Sayacmarca". After exploring the fascinating site of “Sayacmarca”, you continue on the original Inca path through the semi tropical cloud forest until reaching the third pass "Phuyupatamarca" (11,750 ft). With good weather you will enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding snow peaks and the valley below. This is by far the most scenic camp of the entire trek. All meals provided.

DAY 7: PHUYUPATAMARCA – MACHU PICCHU

The first part of today is all downhill until you reach "Wiñaywayna", one of the most impressive Archeological sites in the area due to its constructions and location. From here, a 1-1/2 hour walk through the cloud forest brings you to the famous “Sun Gate” or "Intipunku" from where you have your first panoramic views of the famous and mysterious "Machu Picchu" (7,875 ft). A short down hill walk on a wide stone trail brings you to your final destination. You will have the afternoon to explore Machu Picchu before taking the bus down to Aguas Caliente. Here you check into a nice hotel, have a well deserved shower or enjoy the thermal baths that Aguas Caliente is named after, followed by a nice dinner. All meals provided.

DAY 8: MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO

We recommend that you take the first bus up to "the lost city of the Incas" to enjoy the sunrise in this magical place. After your extensive guided tour, you still have ample time to explore the site by yourselves before returning to Aguas Caliente for lunch. In the afternoon you return by train to Cuzco where arriving just in time for a shower and dinner. Breakfast and Lunch provided, Dinner on your own.

DAY 9: CUZCO-LIMA AND FLIGHT HOME ARRIVING ON DAY 10

The morning will be free to explore the city of Cuzco, with time for a quick lunch. You will have afternoon flight from Cuzco to Lima. Depending on your flight arrival in Lima you might have enough time to go into Lima for dinner before checking in for your flight Santiago and then relax around the airport. Breakfast provided, Lunch and dinner on your own.

DAY 10: FLIGHT TO SANTIAGO AND PUNTA ARENAS, TRANSFER TO RIO VERDE

Once you arrive in Santiago you will take an afternoon flight to Punta Arenas, the southernmost continental city on the planet. Situated on the Straights of Magellan, Punta Arenas was once a booming Gold Rush town as ships called on port to resupply for the rest of the journey to San Francisco and Anchorage during their respective Gold Rushes. Upon arrival in Punta Arenas, we will pick you up for the hour-and-a-half drive to Estancia Rio Verde, a working sheep, cattle and horse ranch overlooking Skyring Sound. This ranch is owned and operated by the Santelices family. Breakfast and lunch on your own.

DAY 11: DRIVE TO TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK

A six-hour drive takes us into Torres del Paine National Park, one of the most breathtaking places in the world. We will stop by the Administration Center where the park has a small natural history museum and then onward to Hosteria Lago Grey, on the shores of Grey Lake looking into the Paine Massif and the huge Grey Glacier. All meals provided

DAY 12: BOAT ACROSS LAGO GREY, HIKE ON GLACIER GREY

After breakfast we embark on a sail across Lago Grey to the base of the Grey Glacier which calves seracs into the lake. Once across we will make landfall, and take a smaller boat with local guides for a hike on the glacier itself. We’ll spend the remainder of the day trekking on the ice using crampons and ice axes and try our hand at vertical ice climbing. We’ll return in the evening to Refugio Lago Grey (a mountain hut/bunkhouse) for dinner, relaxation and bed. All meals provided.

DAY 13: HIKE TO LAGO PEHOE

After a leisurely morning we make the four-hour hike to the turquoise waters of Lago Pehoe, or “the view place” in the indigenous Tehuelche language. Look for Andean Condors on this hike through sparse beech forest and onto the Patagonian steppe. We’ll spend the night in another, larger mountain lodge. All meals provided.

DAY 14: VALLE FRANCES AND ALBERGUE LOS CUERNOS

Today’s hike takes us from the steppe into alpine terrain as we explore one of the most incredible valleys in the park. The Valle Frances (French Valley) is home to the 11,000’ plus peak, Paine Grande. Sheathed in atmospheric ice mushrooms and glacial ice, hours can be spent watching large seracs fall down the 8,000 foot east face of this peak. Further up the valley are the impressive granite walls of Fortaleza, la Espada, la Hoja, and la Mascara (Fortress, Sword, Blade and Mask). The day ends 8 to 10 hours later at the Albergue Los Cuernos beneath the wild granite and metamorphic rock of the Cuernos or Horns. All meals provided

DAY 15: LAGO NORDENSKJOLD AND THE ASCENSIO VALLEY

We hike along Lago Nordenskjold through steppe then make a gradual ascent into the Ascensio Valley, towards the Torres del Paine, the namesake of the park. Spend the night at Albergue Chileno. All meals provided.

DAY 16 – 17: ASCENT OF ALMIRANTE NIETO, HIKE TO VALLE SILENCIO

Today we will divide into two groups that will either climb or trek. The climbers will hike with tents, sleeping bags and climbing equipment to the base of Almirante Nieto and an incredible view of the Torres del Paine, huge granite towers rising from the Torre Glacier. We’ll set up a camp in a glacial moraine and prepare for an early morning ascent of the peak. If the weather permits us, we will ascend approximately 4,000 feet over talus, some moderate rock climbing, and snow climbing to the 9,000 foot summit, which overlooks the Torres. If the weather is less than ideal we will take a trek onto the Torre Glacier and venture to the base of the Torres themselves. Regardless of the day’s activity, we will return to the Albergue Chileno. All meals provided.

Those who wish to trek will spend the day making the beautiful hike further up the Ascensio Valley and into the Valle del Silencio (Valley of Silence), home to some of the most impressive granite monoliths in the park and the source of the Ascensio River. Return to the Albergue Chileno. All meals provided.

DAY 18: HIKE TO HOSTERIA LAS TORRES

A leisurely morning in the hut, then a two hour hike to Hosteria Las Torres. Spend the remainder of the day cleaning up and resting. There are options for spa treatments and there is an excellent natural history museum. We’ll have a “farewell to Paine” dinner in the hotel restaurant. All meals provided.

DAY 19: DRIVE TO RIO VERDE

After breakfast we will make the drive back to Estancia Rio Verde making a stop in the port town of Puerto Natales for lunch. Breakfast and dinner provided. Lunch on your own.

DAY 20: DAY IN RIO VERDE

We’ll spend a day on the ranch where you will have the opportunity to participate in ranching activities, go for a long walk along the beach, go horseback riding, or just read your book. The estancia is a working Patagonian ranch. Life on the ranch is much as it has been for one-hundred years. In the evening we will taste the fare of the ranch itself with a farewell “asado” or bar-b-q. Roast lamb will be complimented with fresh vegetables and salads from the Estancia gardens. All meals provided. All meals provided.

DAY 21: PINGUINERA, AIRPORT

After an early breakfast we will drive to a Magellanic penguin colony on Ottway Sound. We’ll spend a couple of hours walking past their nest, and watching their antics as they travel to and from the ocean. In the early afternoon you will catch your flight to Santiago and home. Breakfast provided. Lunch and dinner on your own.

Land Cost - $6,100 per person – Includes professional guides, all group equipment, lodging, ground transportation, meals except where indicated.

Deposit of $500 per person is required with the balance due 60 days prior to departure. No refunds are available if you should cancel the trip. A full refund will be given if we need to cancel the trip.

Does not include airfare, drinks, items of a personal nature, expenses incurred in the event of a rescue.