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Moon Stone Trek 5 Days / 4 Nights

Another of our specialist tours, the Huarocondo or Moon Stone Trek is perfect for travelers looking for a deeper understanding of the Incan archeological sites and local Quechua communities that many tourists visiting Peru never get to see.

Our route to Machu Picchu is fascinating and varied. As well as passing many of the quarries used by the Incas to build their cities, we will walk within some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the Andes, surrounded by the peaks of Verónica, Chicon, and Salkantay. We also visit the Inca city of Wata and we will stop at the Canyon of Punku Punku (known as the gateway to the Andes). Camping with the support of our specialist team of porters and chefs, you will spend your nights in comfort under the most spectacular night skies; the displays of stars and constellations seen in this part of South America are simply breathtaking.

You will be accompanied at all times by one of our expert guides who will explain the history of the Incan sites, while pointing out some of the unique flora and fauna along the way. Of course, no tour to the area would be complete without a visit to the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, and after taking an early bus to see the sunrise over the Andes, your guide will give a full 2-3 hour tour of this new 7th Wonder of the World.

*Please note that due to inclement weather conditions between December and March, this itinerary is only available from April 1st until November 30th.

Itinerary

Day 1:

After we pick you up from your hotel in one of our private vehicles, we will go towards the Pampa de Anta. After one hour of driving, we will arrive to the Quillarumiyuc archaeological center, a place that the Incas used to farm and chart the Incan calendar. After viewing the agricultural experimental center, we will continue to the village of Huarocondo, known for its lechón (roasted pig). We will visit the town’s colonial church and the quarries that the Incas extracted from to build Sacsayhuamán where we will find local people continuing to work the stones. Then we will continue towards the valley for 25 minutes to the starting point of our trek (Parpiso) where we will meet our horsemen. From here, we will begin our journey ascending gradually around the outskirts of the mountain. We will observe valleys, mountains, archaeological centers and the impressive Inca city of Wata, the guardian of the valley of Pomatales. We will visit the city and admire it for its strategic location before heading uphill for 2-3 more hours towards Chillipawa, the village where we will spend the night. We will also have the opportunity to take part in the daily lives of local people.

Day 2:

After breakfast, we will reach the Accoccasa Pass where we will find Andean people continuing age-old Incan traditions surrounding agriculture, religion, music, language and others. Once arriving to the pass, we will feel like we are in the Andean sky, feeling the cold and dry air and looking at the most important mountains of the region: Verónica, Chicon, Salkantay, Ausangate, and Huayanay. Looking at the mountains will give us a great idea of how the Andes formed. We will also be able to see llamas and alpacas. After taking in these incredible views, we will descend for an hour until we arrive at the campsite.

Day 3:

After spending the night at the local village, Chancachuco, we will continue our trek to the Incan site at the marker “11 kms,” which will show us the complex aqueduct system that the Incas used. As we descend, we will go into the impressive canyon of Punku Punku, known as the entrance gate of the Andes. Towards the valley, we will notice that the climate becomes semi-tropical. We will then leave the small valley and continue around the outskirts of the mountains, taking in the views of valleys, snow-capped mountains, rivers and birds. We will then arrive to the Intiwatana Temple located at the highest point of the area. This area was important for the Incas to make astronomical observations and to plan the agricultural year.

Then, we will reach the Cachiccata quarry where the Incas extracted stones to build many cities, namely Ollantaytambo. Cachiccata was an Incan city inhabited by Incan architects and hundreds of workers from different regions of the empire. In Cachiccata, it is even possible to find buildings used for administration, housing, terraces, funeral chambers and irrigation channels. The streets are notably very well planned.

Day 4:

After breakfast, we will go to Ollantaytambo and then take the train to Aguas Calientes. We will spend the night in a comfortable hostel in Aguas Calientes.

Day 5: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU

After an early breakfast, we will take a bus to Machu Picchu and be there for the sunrise. We will register in Machu Picchu and start our 2-3 hour guided visit. After enjoying the ruins, we will take the return train to Cusco.

Included:

  • English-speaking tour guide (additional tour guide for groups of 8 people or more)
  • Pre-departure briefing at your hotel 1 or 2 days before your Moon Stone Trek
  • Pick up from your hotel and transportation to Soqma village trail head
  • Four-person tent for every 2 people
  • Inflatable Mattress
  • Kitchen tent
  • Dinning tent with tables and chairs
  • Toilet tent
  • Chef
  • Horses to carry all the equipment (food, tents, chairs, table, etc)
  • Horse to transport 8 kg of your personal gear
  • Duffel bag for your personal gear
  • Emergency horse in case we need it
  • 4 Breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 4 dinners
  • Emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit
  • Vistadome train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
  • Expedition train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
  • One-night hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes (double room)
  • Ticket for Huayna Picchu Mountain
  • Entrance to Machu Picchu
  • Roundtrip bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu

Not Included:

  • Sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
  • Day 1 Breakfast
  • Day 5 Lunch in Aguas Calientes, after you tour Machu Picchu on your own
  • Gratuity for the crew (guide, chef, porters, about 10 people total)

What to bring:

  • Original passport (if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both)
  • Down or synthetic feather sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
  • Clothes (trekking boots, warm fleece jacket, tops, a few t-shirts, socks, sun hat, thermal underwear, light long pants, gloves, poncho, rain jacket)
  • Toiletries (toilet paper, wet wipes, personal towel)
  • Sunblock (35+ recommended)
  • Headlamp
  • Sunglasses and sun hat
  • Camera
  • Trekking poles (recommended especially for the steep descents, can be rented from us)
  • Insect repellent

Cost

$670.00 USD PER PERSON

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