Day 1, Sun 10 Oct 2010
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, Mon 11 Oct 2010
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, Tue 12 Oct 2010
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, Wed 13 Oct 2010
Cusco to Chilipahua 3,840m (Approximately 7 hours)
Rise and shine for an early morning drive to Parpishu, from where the challenge will commence. Along the way, you will slowly ascend to the Watuq’asa pass 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. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Camping
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Day 5, Thu 14 Oct 2010
Chilipahua to Ancascocha 4,500m (Approximately 8 hours)
After breakfast, you ascend 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, where there are spectacular views of the Huayanay Glacier. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Camping
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Day 6, Fri 15 Oct 2010
Ancascocha to Camicancha 2,800m (Approximately 7 hours)
Awake with the rising sun, you trek 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 where you camp for the night. Make sure to check out the view of the ‘La Veronica’ mountain. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Camping
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Day 7, Sat 16 Oct 2010
Camicancha to Machu Picchu via Sun Gate 2,430m (Approximately 6 hours)
It’s an early train journey to Km 104 (along the railway from Cusco), where you’ll be dropped for your trek towards the famous Sun Gate. 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 for the evening. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Hotel
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Day 8, Sun 17 Oct 2010
Machu Picchu to Cusco
It’s back to Machu Picchu to spend the morning exploring the extraordinary Inca remains with your guide. You’ll catch an early afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo, before boarding a bus bound 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, Mon 18 Oct 2010
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, Tue 19 Oct 2010
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, Mon 18 Oct 2010
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, Tue 19 Oct 2010
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, Wed 20 Oct 2010
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, Thu 21 Oct 2010
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 6 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.
*= Please note that we reserve the right to change accommodation. Where this is necessary, alternative accommodation will be of an equal or better standard.