Your challenge day by day
Day 1, Fri 30 Sep 2011
International Departure from London
It’s finally time for your long-awaited departure to Peru. Wave goodbye to friends and family, before you board the flight and embark upon your challenge!
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Day 2, Sat 01 Oct 2011
Flight to Cusco (3350m)
Bienvenidos and welcome to Peru.
Touching down in the ancient Inca Capital of Cusco (3,350m), you’ll be greeted by a local Charity Challenge representative and transferred to your next two nights’ accommodation. As altitude sickness can be a problem, you will spend the rest of the day acclimatising to the altitude with an afternoon free to take things at your own pace. Relax in one of the many cafés overlooking the plaza, visit the Incan monument Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), or head to the vibrant market to soak up the surroundings before a full briefing and the first team dinner. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Hotel
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Day 3, Sun 02 Oct 2011
Acclimatisation Walk (Approximately 3 hours)
Acclimatising to the altitude is all-important, so the day will be spent walking around the Cusco area, stopping for lunch. Later, you’ll head back to city for dinner, before returning to your hotel. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Hotel
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Day 4, Mon 03 Oct 2011
Cusco to Chilipahua 3,840m (Approximately 7 hours)
Rise and shine for an early morning drive (approx. 2 hours) to Parpishu (3,200m), from where the challenge will commence. Along the way, you will slowly ascend to the Watuq’asa pass (3,800m) where you find an Inca wall and an amazing viewpoint of Cusco. After lunch, it’s a long hike to the small village of Chilipahua, where you’ll camp for the night.
(Distance approx. 10.5km. Elevation +921m/-254m) (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Camping (3,840m)
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Day 5, Tue 04 Oct 2011
Chilipahua to Ancascocha 4,500m (Approximately 8 hours)
After breakfast, you ascend through a wet highland to Quencomayo and then up to the Quchusqasa pass at 4,500m, the highest point of your trek. Spot the alpacas and llamas roaming along the way, though careful they don’t try to share your picnic lunch! After lunch, you descend down into the river gulley to camp (3,900m), where there are spectacular views of the Huayanay Glacier.
(Distance approx, 9km. Elevation +795/-570m) (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Camping (3,900m)
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Day 6, Wed 05 Oct 2011
Ancascocha to Camicancha 2,800m (Approximately 7 hours)
Awake with the rising sun, you start trekking down beside the Silque River towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas. There is fantastic flora and fauna to be seen along the way. In the afternoon, you reach the community of Camicancha (2,800m) where you camp for the night. Make sure to check out the view of the ‘La Veronica’ mountain.
(Distance approx. 10km. Elevation +178/-1,222m) (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Camping (2,800m)
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Day 7, Thu 06 Oct 2011
Camicancha to Machu Picchu via Sun Gate 2,430m (Approximately 6 hours)
After a short 45 minute transfer by bus, it’s an early train journey (approx 1 hour) to Km 104 (along the railway from Cusco), where you’ll be dropped (2,200m) at for the 5-6 hour trek towards the famous Sun Gate (2,700m). It’s a 3,000 step climb following the traditional Inca path, before you catch your first awe-inspiring view of the sacred site of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate. There’ll be plenty of time for photographs before heading to Aguas Calientes(2,040m) for the evening (25 minute transfer).
(Distance Trekking Approx: 10km. Elevation: (+500/- 810) (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Hotel (2,040m)
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Day 8, Fri 07 Oct 2011
Machu Picchu to Cusco
It’s back to Machu Picchu (2,430m) to spend the morning exploring the extraordinary Inca remains with your guide. You will have 2-3 hours to walk around the site before catching an early afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo (approx 1.5hours), before boarding a bus bound (approx. 4 hours) for Cusco. It’s party time later at a local restaurant, as you and the group celebrate achieving your Charity Challenge goal and discovering the majesty of Machu Picchu. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Hotel
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Day 9, Sat 08 Oct 2011
Depart Peru
After breakfast it's time to say "adios" as you travel to the airport to begin your journey home. (B)
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Day 10, Sun 09 Oct 2011
Arrive UK
Touching down in the UK, it’s time to head to arrivals to find your family and friends. Don’t forget to swap details with your teammates as only they share the memories of your incredible journey.
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Day 9, Sat 08 Oct 2011
White Water Rafting
After breakfast, you will transfer to your entry point on the Urubamba River. A safety and familiarisation briefing will be followed by a half-day of white water rafting (for novices). Enjoy lunch on the shores of the river, before heading back to your hotel in Cusco. Dinner will be taken at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)
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Day 10, Sun 09 Oct 2011
Day in Cusco
Spend the day enjoying Cusco’s attractions, including a fascinating mix of Inca and colonial Spanish architecture. As you walk around town you will see colonial churches, monasteries, convents and extensive pre-Columbian ruins, interspersed with hotels, bars and restaurants. Dine at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)
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Day 11, Mon 10 Oct 2011
Cusco to Lima. Fly to UK
Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima, where you board a connection back to London. (B)
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Day 12, Tue 11 Oct 2011
Arrive UK
Afternoon arrival back into Heathrow.
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Important information about the White Water Rafting and Cusco extension
Day 9: White Water Rafting
After breakfast, you will transfer to your entry point on the Urubamba River. A safety and familiarisation briefing will be followed by a half-day of white water rafting (for novices). Enjoy lunch on the shores of the river, before heading back to your hotel in Cusco. Dinner will be taken at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)
Day 10: Day in Cusco
Spend the day enjoying all that Cusco has to offer. The city is home to a fascinating mix of Inca and colonial Spanish architecture. As you walk around town you will see colonial churches, monasteries and convents and extensive pre-Columbian ruins, interspersed with dozens of hotels, bars and restaurants. Spend the night here, where meals will be taken at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)
Day 11: Cusco to Lima. Fly to UK
Transfer to airport for your flight back to Lima, and from Lima to the UK (B)
Day 12: Arrive UK
Afternoon arrival back into Heathrow
Included:
- Accommodation in a 3 star hotel in Cusco (Hotel Mabey - www.hotelmabeycusco.com) or similar*
- All meals
- Half a day of guided white water rafting on Day 9
- Extension to your travel insurance (if booked through Charity Challenge)
Excluded:
- Personal expenses (ie: gifts, extra soft drinks or alcohol, laundry etc)
- Tips for local team
N.B The organiser of the rafting extension will ask you to sign a ‘release of responsibility’ form.
Please note that this extension is subject to minimum numbers and flight availability and should be booked no later than 10 weeks prior to departure. In some cases, a surcharge may need to be applied in which case we will inform you prior to confirming your booking. Full payment must be received no later than 8 weeks prior to departure or your place on the extension may be cancelled. All bookings will be confirmed no later than 6 weeks prior to departure.
The advertised costs for this extension are per person on twin sharing basis. If you are a solo passenger, We will accommodate you in a room with someone of the same sex.
*= Please note that we reserve the right to change accommodation. Where this is necessary, alternative accommodation will be of an equal or better standard.
Important information about the Lake Titicaca extension
Day 9: Cusco to Puno
After breakfast you transfer to your train for a spectacular rail journey to Puno (it’s a full day transfer -10hrs) The route takes you through the Cusco and Vilcanota valley until you reach the ‘altiplano‘ (highland savannah) finally arriving in the town of Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. You will have dinner and overnight at La Hacienda. (B, L, D)
Day 10: Puno to Taquille
You depart early morning on a boat to the island of Taquile (24 miles from Puno). On route you will see the fascinating floating islands of Uros and experience the Titicaca National reserve. On arrival to Taquile you will be allocated a local family to stay with and then taken on a walk around this peaceful island to discover the pre-Incan ruins and to see the world famous hand weavings and experience the ancient communal lifestyle. The food and accommodation is basic yet the experience is well worth it. (B, L, D)
Day 11: Taquille to Puno
After breakfast you will have some time to explore your surroundings and admire the impressive panoramic views of the lake. Returning to Puno in the afternoon you will transfer to La Hacienda hotel. (B, L, D)
Day 12: Puno to Lima. Fly to UK
After breakfast you will transfer to the Juliaca airport, about 45 mins from Puno, for a morning flight back to Lima and onto the UK (B)
Day 13: Arrive Home
Arrive in the UK.
Included:
- All accommodation on a twin share basis at La Hacienda, Puno (http://www.lahaciendapuno.com/en/) and with a local family in Taquile
- All meals as outlined above
- Travel Insurance extension (if purchased through Charity Challenge)
Excluded:
- Personal expenses (ie: gifts, extra soft drinks or alcohol, laundry etc)
- Tips
Please note that this extension is subject to minimum numbers and flight availability and should be booked no later than 10 weeks prior to departure. In some cases, a surcharge may need to be applied in which case we will inform you prior to confirming your booking. Full payment must be received no later than 8 weeks prior to departure or your place on the extension may be cancelled. All bookings will be confirmed no later than 6 weeks prior to departure.
The advertised costs for this extension are per person on twin sharing basis. If you are a solo passenger, We will accommodate you in a room with someone of the same sex.
*= Please note that we reserve the right to change accommodation. Where this is necessary, alternative accommodation will be of an equal or better standard.
