Wilderness Travel 2018 Catalog of Adventures

Hiker’s Journey to Machu Picchu SPECTACULAR HIKES AND WELCOMING LODGES IN THE REALM OF THE INCAS

The Incas placed their most revered sites high above the Sacred Valley, with mystical Machu Picchu perched on a promontory at its farthest reaches. We’ve created a unique adventure in the stunning Valle Sagrado, with fantastic hikes by day and comfy overnights in hotels and lodges (no camping!). Our hikes bring you to all the major Inca sites as well as to hidden Inca ruins surrounded by granite crags and snowy peaks. We’ll also visit an off-the- beaten-path Quechua village for a pachamanca feast, and have a memorable grand finale: an overnight at the coveted Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, right next to the ruins.

Gorgeous days of hiking uncrowded trails, evenings in cozy lodges enjoying a great meal and a glass of wine—this is traveling WT style! Days 1-4 Cusco / Sacred Valley / Pisac Exploring Cusco’s Inca sites on foot, we hike from the massive fortress at Saqsayhuaman past the rock monolith of Q’enqo and the Inca springs at Tambo Machay, with a final stroll right into Cusco’s lovely colonial neighborhood, San Blas. From the colonial town of Chinchero, built on Inca foundations on a plateau high above the valley, our trail leads down past magnificent rows of Inca terracing with breathtaking views of the Sacred Valley. We pass through an

KEREN SU

“As perfect as any WT trip I’ve taken— the full package of cultural learning, great hikes, great leaders, great hotels, and great meals. I’m a fan!” Elizabeth S., Boston MA

Inca cemetery on our hike to Pisac, a temple-ruin clinging to a mountain spur. Visible from miles away, Pisac was the Incas’ largest fortress-city complex. It is ringed by steep agricultural terraces, many still in use today, that once protected it as a defensive wall. Days 5-6 Sacred Valley / Ollantaytambo We visit the enigmatic Inca terraces of Moray, where the Incas built concentric terraces in natural depressions in the earth, then hike from Maras along natural saline springs to the Urubamba River, a great spot for our picnic lunch. After we visit majestic Ollantaytambo, the fortress where the rebel Manco Inca and his men held out against Pizarro’s forces, we head to a village for a festive pachamanca (meat slow-roasted in the earth over hot stones). The village is a traditional Quechua community and home to generations of our renowned Inca Trail trekking staff—we’ll be welcomed like family here. Days 7-9 Machu Picchu / Cusco Catching the morning train to Machu Picchu, we explore one of the most mystical settings in the world. Many travelers rush in and out of Machu Picchu within a few hours, but our overnight stay at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, right at the gates of this indescribable Inca city, gives us plenty of time to discover its mysteries with our specialist guide. Return to Cusco on Day 8, depart on Day 9.

Great hikes by day, fantastic hotels and lodges by night—this is the WT way to discover the world of the Incas. PHOTO: PAWEL OPASKA

HIGHLIGHTS • Exhilarating day hikes and charming hotels—no camping! • Hike to remote Inca sites, visit families in Quechua villages • Explore magnificent Machu Picchu, with an overnight right at the ruins • Enjoy a traditional pachamanca, a Peruvian feast

DETAILS • 9-day trip begins and ends in Cusco • 8 nights fine hotels, including the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge • All meals included except 1 lunch and 1 dinner

TRIP COST $5395 (10-15 members) $5795 (6-9 members) Single supplement: $1350 Internal airfare: $475 (subject to change) Reserva Amazonica extension: from $575 Lake Titicaca extension: from $710 Arequipa and Colca Canyon extension: from $995

DATES Apr 13-21, 2018 May 5-13 Jun 6-14 Jul 10-18 Aug 25-Sep 2 Sep 19-27

TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 + 4 5 6 7

Moderate to steep trails, 2-6 hours a day, altitudes up to 12,000 feet

Oct 9-17 Nov 2-10

QUESTIONS? 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL LATINAMERICA@WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM 118