Qhapaq Ñan - the Great Inca Trail - 7 Day Package
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There are few journeys in life like walking the Qhapaq Ñan, the most famous hiking route in America that united the entire Inca Empire. It is an incredible cultural and historical legacy that includes a four-day trek on ancient stone steps, discovering buildings that are more than 500 years old. You will be delighted with the spectacular view of the snow-capped mountains of the Cordillera Blanca from Huaraz, stroll through the Callejón de Conchucos, the Querococha lagoon and the Kahuish tunnel, considered one of the highest in the world. Along the route, you will camp nearby authentic Tambos. Climb up the stone steps to the Wagapunta Pass at more than 4,500 masl and be amazed with the panorama of the Andean peaks. You will visit mining villages and remote communities in the middle of the puna. You will discover Huanuco Pampa, one of the most important administrative centers of the northern region of Tahuantinsuyo. DAY 1 | ARRIVAL HUARAZ
A spectacular view of the snowy mountains of the Cordillera Blanca will welcome you to the city of Huaraz. At arrival in the bus station you will be transferred to your hotel. You will have the rest of the day free to walk around the city or rest in your room and recharge your energy for the great adventure that awaits you.
DAY 2 | HUARAZ – CASTILLO – SOLEDAD DE TAMBO A vehicle will pick you up from the hotel to take you to the small town of Castillo, the starting point of the trek. On the way, enjoy the panorama that the Callejón de Conchucos and the Querococha lagoon offer before passing through the Kahuish tunnel, considered the highest in the world. You will make a stop to visit the archaeological site of Chavin de Huantar, one of the most important in the north of the country during the pre-Inca period. From the Chavin culture, it is believed that the place was an oracle visited by many people due to its imposing architecture of truncated pyramids and vast plazas. The Chavin accomplished great expertise in the stone carving work, and you can see it in the friezes that remain in place. The nail heads, the Tello Obelisk, the Lanzon and the Raimondi Stele also stand out. Once in Castillo, you will begin your three-hour hike through the Qhapaq Ñan, surrounded by trees and cultivated fields. Fill yourself with energy, breathing the fresh air of the Andes, with hints of flower scents and fresh earth. Your camp will be waiting in Soledad de Tambo, very close to an ushnu. The ushnus were Inca ceremonial platforms, and in the visit, you will learn more about their importance. Take advantage of the night to surprise yourself with the starry sky of the Andes, away from the light and the hustle and bustle of the city. Level: Moderate Walking distance: 7 km Duration of walk: 5-6 hours
DAY 3 | SOLEDAD DE TAMBO - QUENHUAJIRCA Wake up early in the morning to continue your route through one of the best-preserved sections of the Qhapaq Ñan. Relive the Inca past by walking between stone walls and steps up to the Wagapunta pass at more than 4500 meters high. From the top, you will have a beautiful view of the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera and some apachetas, small stone towers with religious connotations that were made in gratitude to the gods - a tradition that many hikers maintain to this day. The cold weather changes, becoming hotter as you descend, and colourful flowers reappear at your side. In the afternoon, you will arrive at the camp in Quenhuajirca, very close to another ceremonial ushnu. Before dinner, you will visit a local weaver's workshop to learn about their work and the ancient techniques passed down from generation to generation. Level: Moderate Walking distance: 11 km. Duration of walk: 5-6 hours
DAY 4 | QHENHUAJIRCA – TAMBO GRANDE The morning begins with an easy descent to the Ayash community. Take a few minutes to recover energy, as you will need it for the next ascent to the town of Huamanin, almost 4500 masl. The climb ends in a wide pampa where the Qhapaq Ñan is clearly delimited and is used today as the only pathway of communication for the inhabitants of the surrounding areas, being a living Inca legacy. The route goes down again towards Tambo Grande, following the Taparaco river basin. Tambo Grande was a spacious resting place among the mountains, providing travellers and messengers of the Empire with a space to lay down and spend the night. Like them, you too will spend the night between its walls under the glow of the Milky Way, the constellation that marked all of Inca cosmology. Level: Moderate Walking distance: 11 km. Duration of walk: 5-6 hours
DAY 5 | TAMBO GRANDE – SAN LORENZO DE ISCO Let the beauty of nature conquer you as you traverse the Taparaco river valley, following a magnificent path bounded by almost intact Inca walls. Appreciate up close the constructive mastery the Inca handled and their ability to adapt to any terrain to become one with the landscape. Advance along the path and let yourself be surrounden by the sound of the river and the singing of birds, between huge mountains - an experience reserved for few adventurers. The camp awaits you in San Lorenzo de Isco, a small community next to the river. In the afternoon, you will learn about a product used for centuries as part of Andean natural medicine. The tocosh is obtained from the fermentation of potatoes, placing them in a well near ditches or other sources of water. After this process, the potato is transformed into natural penicillin, improving digestive problems and strengthening the immune system. Level: Moderate Walking distance: 14 km. Duration of walk: 5-6 hours
DAY 6 | LORENZO DE ISCO – HUANUCO PAMPA - HUARAZ The last day begins with a descent on foot to the town of Colpa. There, a vehicle will take you to Huanuco Pampa, one of the most important administrative centres of the Inca Empire and considered the capital of Chinchaysuyo (northern region of Tahuantinsuyo). From this place, the representatives of the sovereign controlled and directed the local population. During its best time, Huanuco Pampa had more than 800 hectares built, with colcas (deposits), kallankas (spaces for meetings and ceremonies) and houses for the community. Today you will see its monumental 10 meters high ushnu and the Inca wasi (Inca House), where you will notice the fine details in the stones that account for the relevance of this archaeological centre. After a two-hour visit, your transportation will take you back to your hotel in Huaraz. Level: Moderate Walking distance: 11 km. Duration of walk: 5-6 hours
DAY 7 | HUARAZ DEPARTURE In the morning, a transport service will pick you up to take you to the station to board the bus back to Lima.
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Latam Airlines has announced the launch of direct flights from Lima to the city of Huaraz, starting July 1 with four weekly frequencies for this route, operating on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. 2024 price per person in US$, in Double accommodation. Private service.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
For packages cancellation fees will be charged as follows: from 15 to 1 day before arrival = 100%
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