The Incas Trail Tour - Peru

General Information

Trip Style: Culture – Archeological
Altitude:

• Cusco 3.326m
• Sacred Valley 2.800m
• Aguas Calientes 2.410m
• Machu Picchu 2.430m
• Puno 3.830m

Temperature:

Peru does not have one climate. Because Peru is close to the equator, the seasons are hardly effected by changes in the state of the sun. However there can be observed some differences between the months November to April and April to November. Due to the very diverse landscape that Peru has, there are several distinct climate zones. The climate depends on the geographical location, altitude and sea currents, so we can divid Peru in three climatic zones:

1. Coast: Through the influence of the warm gulf stream El Niño off the coast of Peru are the summer months between December and April. The short summer is associated with small showers. The temperature is pleasant and is between 25°C and 35°C. From April to November dominates the cold Humboldt Current along the coast and the temperature is between 15°C and 25°C.
2. Highland: In the Andes a mountain climate prevails. The climate is fairly constant during the year. The temperature differences are mainly to do with day and night and the height which you are located. In general; the higher, the colder! The climate in the Andes has also a dry and a wet season. The dry season runs from May to October and air is often brightly. The temperature range between 15°C and 25°C, depening on the height. At night the temperature drops quickly to 0-5°C. The rainy season runs from November to April. It can rain for days during this period. The temperature differences between day and night are less extreme. In the afternoon it is around 20°C and in the night about 5°C.
3. Rainforest: East of the Andes you will find the rainforest which covers most of Peru. In the rainforest is a suptropical climate. It is here all year round humid and temperatures will be around 25°C. The rainy season runs from November to April. The rains are generally short and after the rain usually appears the sun. In the dry season from April to November, there is much less rain in the rainforest.

Access to Cusco – via air transport

From Lima: 1h20 min
From Arequipa:0h45 min
From Puno, Juliaca: 0h45 min

Access to Cusco – via land transport

From Lima: 21h30 min
From Arequipa: 16h00 min
From Puno: 08h00min

Cusco

Cusco is a city in southeastern Peru near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. In 1983 the historical capital of the Inca Empire was declared World Heritage Site. Today the city is a jumping-off point for the Inca Trail and famous Inca Site Machu Picchu. Cusco got his name in a very special way; legend tells that in the 12th century, the sun god Inti looked down on the earth and decided that people need organizing, so he created the first Inca, Manco Capac, and his sister-wife, Mama Ocllo. They came to life on Isla del Sol (Sun Island), way over in Lake Titicaca, with a long walk ahead of them. Inti gave Manco Capac a golden rod and told him to settle the spot where he could plug it into the ground until it dissapeard; this would be the navel of the earth, Qosq´o in the Quechua language, Cusco.

Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley of the Incas or the Urubamba Valley is a Valley in the Andes of Peru, close to the Inca capital of Cusco and the ancient city of Machu Picchu. The valley was formed by the Urubamba River. The star attractions are the lofty Inca citadels of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Pisac is known for its craft market, by far the biggest one in the region. You can visit the market daily but official market days are on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Ollantaytambo is an archeological site and dominated by two Inca ruins.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is a 15th century Inca site located 2.430 meters above sealevel. It is also called ¨Lost city of the Incas¨ and declared by the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. In 2007 Machu Picchu was voted one of the ¨New Seven Wonders of the World¨.

Puno

Puno is located on the shores of Lake Titicaca and the mountains surrounding the city. The city is known as a jumping-off point for Lake Titicaca Tours. Puno is Peru´s folkloric capital due to its wealth of artistic and cultural expression, particularly dance.

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is a lake on the border of Peru and Bolivia and also the largest lake of South America. It is notable for a population of people, who are living on the 42 self fashioned floating islands called Uros. These islands are definitely worth visiting as well as the Island Taquile.