Day 1, Fri 24 Jul 2015
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 25 Jul 2015
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 26 Jul 2015
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 27 Jul 2015
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, Tue 28 Jul 2015
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, Wed 29 Jul 2015
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, Thu 30 Jul 2015
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, Fri 31 Jul 2015
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, Sat 01 Aug 2015
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 02 Aug 2015
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 01 Aug 2015
Cusco to Puerto Maldonado
After breakfast it’s a short flight to Puerto Maldonado. Check your heavy luggage in with your guide as you will only need the basics for the next three days. It’s a bus ride to the river port, where you board a motorized boat to your rainforest lodge. Walk to a canopy tower for breathtaking views of the Amazon. (B, L, D)
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Day 10, Sun 02 Aug 2015
Rainforest Lodge
Rise early for a trip to Oxbow Lake, where you will experience the Amazon’s varied wildlife. Later return to the lodge for lunch, then visit a local ‘chaman’ (doctor) who will teach you about the region’s native plants and their healing properties. Weather permitting, it’s then time to spot caimans in the river.
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Day 11, Mon 03 Aug 2015
Departure and flight back to the UK
After breakfast you will be transferred back to Puerto Maldonado city, where you will pick up your bags and go to the airport to catch your flight back to Lima and the UK.
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Day 12, Tue 04 Aug 2015
Arrive Home
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Important information about the Amazon Jungle Extension extension
Trek to Machu Picchu
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Day 9: Cusco to Puerto Maldonado
After breakfast you will be transferred to the aiport for your 30 min flight to Puerto Maldonado. On arrival you will be met by your local guide who will transfer you to the lodge's headquarters in the city where you will leave your heavy luggage. For the extension you will only need to take your hand luggage bag, packed with your clothes, valuables, personal first aid kit and toiletries for the next 3 days. Then, you will be transferred by bus to the river port, where you will board your motorized boat that will take you 1.5 hrs down the Tambopata river to your Rainforest Lodge. In the afternoon, you will go on a walk to a canopy tower where you will enjoy breathtaking views of the Amazon rainforest. (B, L, D)
Day 10: Rainforest Lodge
Early start to visit to an Oxbow Lake, where you will be able to enjoy the varied wildlife the Amazon rainforest has to offer. Coming back to the lodge for lunch and a rest in the afternoon you will visit a local village and visit the "Chaman" (local doctor) who will show the native plants of the area and explain about their healing properties. After dinner, weather permitting, you will go back onto the boat, on an exciting caiman search!
Day 11: Departure and flight back to the UK
After breakfast you will be transferred back to Puerto Maldonado city, where you will pick up your bags from the headquearters and go to the airport to catch your flight back to Lima and the UK.
Day 12: Arrive Home
Arrive in the UK.
Included:
- All accommodation on a twin share basis at Posada Amazonas or Refugio Amazonas Lodge (will be confirmed closer to departure). The lodge is an eco-lodge. Rooms are open to the forest and the beds have mosquito nets.
- 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 a minimum of two people 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.
Please also note that during the flight to Puerto Maldonado (30 mins) you will be unescorted.
Activities may be suject to change depending on weather conditions.
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.