A Machu Picchu Christmas- Full Itinerary

Day 1: 19th December
Day 1: Arrival and transfer from airport to your hotel
After your arrival and settling into the hotel, you will be met by an English speaking guide who will give you a tour of the major sites of Cusco like the Qoricancha and Cathedral. You will also visit other churches to see their nativity scenes.  
Be sure to visit the Plaza de Armas in the evening when this historic square is lit up with a host of different Christmas animals - from a camel through to a llama.
Standard accommodation: Andenes al Cielo or Similar
Standard plus accommodation:  Casa San Blas or Similar
Deluxe accommodation:  Casa Cartagena, Inkaterra La Casona, Monasterio or Similar

Day 2: 20th December
Depending on your interests, you can take one of the following tours:
Downhill mountain biking and culture: Chaywatiri 'weaving and farming' by bike
Hiking and culture: shapes of the past
Culture: Chichubamba Community tourism project
http://www.apus-peru.com/chichubamba_community_tourism.html
Classic Sacred Valley tour: Visit Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo and Chincheros.
Relax: you will enjoy the restaurants and shopping of the Inca capital,
Accommodation, depends on what your itinerary was this day.
Standard: El Huerto Paraiso Urubamba
Standard plus: Casa Colibri, Urubamba
Deluxe accommodation:  Tambo del Inka, Sol y Luna or Aranwa Sacred Valley

Day 3: 21st December           
Your two days hiking will follow the itinerary described here
http://www.apus-peru.com/lares_chupani_special.html

You will be picked up from your accommodation and transferred to Palqaq, where we will begin walking 3 hours to Chaullacocha, where you will participate in the Apus Peru annual Christmas Chocolatada and give some gifts.

Specifically, a 'chocolatada' is a distinct aspect of Christmas in Peru where better off people or organisations offer a bit of Christmas cheer to poor children or pensioners. A chocolatada is often organised by churches, businesses or shops and are characterised by giving a cup of hot chocolate, some bread or biscocho (a sweet bread with dried fruits inside), some sweets or maybe a toy.
You are also encouraged to support this community by purchasing any weavings or handicrafts that they produce by hand.

Apus Peru Adventure Travel Specialists donate $15 of each trek/tour price to community projects and Capacitacion. See also www.threadsofperu.com

You will camp the night in Chaullacocha or Chupani.

Day 4: 22nd December
You will hike from Chaullacocha to Chupani, and then onto Lares where you will spend the night camping at the hot springs.

Day 5: 23rd December
You will be picked up from Lares and transferred back to Ollantaytambo where you will have time to explore this fascinating village, and also have a hot shower and a bit of a relax.
Accommodation:  (both Standard and Standard plus itineraries) El Albergue, Ollantaytambo.

Day 6 24th December
Option 1:  take the “short” inca trail to Machu Picchu.
See itinerary: http://www.apus-peru.com/treks/short_inca_trail_2.html

** this route requires permits, that need to be purchased well in advance.**

Option 2:
If you booked late and were not able to get permits for the Inca Trail/ or you prefer to have a relaxing morning we will take a midday train   to Aguas Calientes where we can have a well deserved soak in the hot springs and enjoy Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is the most important aspect of the Peruvian holiday - celebrated at midnight - literally the beginning of the day of Christ's birth. We will have a special dinner in Aguas Calientes this evening, including traditional Peruvian dishes.

Accommodation:
Standard: Hostal Payacha
Standard plus: Gringo Bills or Rupawasi
 
Splurge!  You might like to consider celebrating Christmas in a very special way by staying at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, and waking up at the ruins of Machu Picchu.  (you will need book early to get a room).  See http://machupicchu.orient-express.com/web/omac/machu_picchu.jsp

Deluxe: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel or Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge.

Day 7 - 25th December
Enjoy Christmas at Machu Picchu. Your start will be early on this morning… about 5am, but imagine telling your friends that you watched the sunrise over Machu Picchu on Christmas Day!
You will have a 3 hour guided visit of the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu and then have the rest of the day free to explore the ruins by yourself. For the fit and healthy, we highly recommend climbing Huayna Picchu. We return to Cusco in the afternoon by train, arriving around 8pm.

Standard accommodation: Andenes al Cielo or Similar
Standard plus accommodation:  Casa San Blas or Similar
Deluxe accommodation:  Casa Cartagena, Inkaterra La Casona, Monasterio or Similar

Day 8 26th December

Relax and enjoy Cusco, do some last minute shopping. We highly recommend visiting a number of Cusco churches to admire their nativity scenes.
Standard accommodation: Andenes al Cielo or Similar
Standard plus accommodation:  Casa San Blas or Similar
Deluxe accommodation:  Casa Cartagena, Inkaterra La Casona, Monasterio or Similar

Day 9 27th December

Transfer to your onward flight/ tour arrangements
** if you have more time and would like to extend, ask about our unique New Year Extensions **

PRICES

** For a full list of inclusions, please contact us directly. **

MACHU PICCHU XMAS - STANDARD, TWIN SHARE, 2 PPL DEPARTING - $1195
MACHU PICCHU XMAS - STANDARD PLUS, TWIN SHARE, 2 PPL DEPARTING - $1395
MACHU PICCHU XMAS - DELUXE, TWIN SHARE, 2 PPL DEPARTING - $2950

Types of tour - description of standards of accomodation.

STANDARD

• Full private service (ie all driven transport and transfers are private.
• Qualified Bilingual guide (English/Spanish)
• 3 star hotels – we choose our hotels for their overall quality but also try to pick places with an attractive local atmosphere, and plenty of charm.
• If trekking, you receive the standard trekking service.
• Meals as described.  These will be general “Menu” style meals – soup, and a main course with a cup of tea.  Any extra beverages are not included.
• Apus Peru’s Standard Service on all tours is a high quality service that provides a good level of comfort.

STANDARD PLUS

• As listed above
• Includes Vistadome Train, instead of Expedition Service
• Includes meals at nicer restaurants, eg.  Indio feliz in Aguas Calientes and also Tinkuy Buffet Restaurant at Machu Picchu
• Accommodation is the other substantial difference, with nicer 3 star hotels that have plenty of charm, and are generally considered top of their class.

Deluxe

• As listed in Standard Plus
• We offer you the opportunity to take the beautiful Hiram Bingham Train service (at extra cost)
• The most beautiful, luxurious and also famous hotels in the region.  Indulge!

hat is included?

• All transport in private vehicle
• Accommodation in the hotels as described
• Activities as described
• English/Spanish/Quechua speaking guide
• Meals as described
• Entry fees.

What is not included?

• Breakfast on the first morning.
• Tips for the guide, and driver.

 

AVAILABLE DISCOUNTS (these discounts are not cumulative

• Students: US$ 30.00 (students require a valid International Student Identity Card. Please beware that Youth Travel Cards are not valid)
• Teenagers: US$ 20.00 (up to 15 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)
• Children: US$ 45.00 (up to 10 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)

TO MAKE A BOOKING

Please visit our Make a Booking page.

You will need to email us to check availability, receive booking forms and then make your deposit. For our payment conditions and booking please refer to our Make a Booking page. * For organisational reasons, we require one week to organise your booking, prior to departure.