INCA TRAIL EXPEDITION   (scheduled July 2006)

Following is our 2003 itinerary.  Our 2003 group leader, Jan Meerman, wrote an excellent report of the Ecology of the Inca Trail and posted it to his web site at  http://biological-diversity.info/Inca_Trail.htm  after his return.  Watch for updates to the following itinerary for a repeat in July 2006.

Please note: DAY 10 of the Amazon Rainforest Workshop becomes DAY 1 of the Inca Trail Expedition. The actual extended trip length is 9 days.

Day 1 - Wednesday - July 16 - IQUITOS / LIMA

After morning field sessions at Explorama Lodge, we board boats to Iquitos where we are transferred to the airport. Our afternoon flight takes us to Lima where we are met on arrival and transferred to our hotel. Dinner is on your own.

Day 2 - Thursday - July 17 - LIMA / CUSCO / SACSAHUAMAN

We leave the coastal city of Lima for Cusco, nestled in a valley more than 11,000 feet above sea level and surrounded by some of the most majestic peaks in the Andes. On arrival in Cusco we transfer to our hotel. After our lunch at a local restaurant we travel by bus, ascending into the mountains surrounding Cusco. Here, overlooking Cusco at a height of over 12,000 feet, the Incas built one of their most amazing fortresses. Sacsahuaman is a huge citadel of massive stones so well fitted that a knife-blade cannot be inserted between them. The zipzag shape of the stronghold is explained as representing the teeth of a gigantic Puma, of which Cusco is the body. From here, we visit the Inca amphitheater at Kenko and Tampu Machay. Built around a natural spring, Tampu Machay was a royal bathing place of the Inca. After a guided tour of Cusco, there is time for shopping at several specialty shops.

Day 3 - Friday - July 18 - CUSCO / URUBAMBA VALLEY

From Cusco, we travel by bus into the historic Urubamba Valley (known as the "Sacred Valley"), stopping at Chinchero to learn about the Quechua and a cultural perspective of the Andes that is often overlooked. Dress and weaving design distinguish the Quechua of Chinchero. Many women still wear the multiple braids and handmade clothes. In addition, language, technology, folklore, and ritual life characterize the region. Over 3,000 people live clustered around the church, marketplace, and ruins in Chinchero. The majority of the 18,000 residents in the Chinchero political district, however, live in small villages in the surrounding hills. The scenery in this province is spectacular. Precision terraces spiral the hillsides. These large-scale terraces and walls of limestone, built in tightly fitted polygonal style, leave traces of the administrative and ritual functions of the area. The different altitudes of the area support a variety of tuber agriculture to complement the economies of animal husbandry and textile production. During part of the day, we visit a weaving project. Intricate designs of animals, mountains, and flowers are featured in brightly colored blankets and clothing. You will see the process of carding and spinning wool, the use of handlooms for weaving textiles, and the application of natural dyes that are derived from local plants. As we continue on our journey, the fine Inca masonry is evident in well-engineered irrigation systems, fortified roads, and stone terraces. We return to the hotel for dinner and briefing.

Day 4 - Saturday - July 19 - URUBAMBA VALLEY / WAYLLABAMBA

We depart early in the morning from our hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where we rendezvous with our Quechua porters. Here we begin our trek along the Inca Trail. Each day we will wake to stunning views -- meadowlands, lakes, and forests ringed by mountains. Walk from one ruin to another exploring abandoned and impressively restored ruins along the way. Cross Andean Rivers on narrow footbridges that stitch together one part of the trail with another. The remoteness of the Andean communities that you pass by will spawn the question of how people survive here. From Chilca (9,072 ft.), we take a relatively flat trail along the bank of the turbulent Urubumba River, with magnificent views of snow-capped Mt. Verónica (19,000 ft). All camp gear is carried by our porters, leaving us free to walk with only a light pack of essentials for the day's hike. We camp on a terrace in the hamlet of Wayllabamba (9,679 ft). 15.8 km. / 6 hours trek.

Day 5 - Sunday - July 20 - WAYLLABAMBA - PACAYMAYU

After a hearty breakfast we begin our day's hike, climbing slowly through the magical cloud forest of polylepis trees before emerging on high bare mountains to camp at Pacaymayu (11,976 ft). Today is one of the most demanding days of the trip as we gain altitude. The first pass, "Warmiwañusca" (13,750 ft), is the highest point on the trek and offers views east to the Huayanay peaks and west into rugged Vilcabamba range. Warmiwañusca also provides a vantage point to see Rio Pacamayo, or Sunrise River, far below as well as the ruin of Runturacay. Each new day that we trek, we observe the hundreds of varieties of plants that grow in the regions surrounding the Sacred Valley. The number of ecological zones in the region multiplies the possibilities. The zones are determined in part by altitude. Plants adapt to the climates and soils of each mountain ecosystem, from grassland to cloudforest. Further, the species of wildlife differ from one location to another, interdependent on plant life and other conditions. Although we see evidence of many common ecological principles, what a stark contrast to the Amazon Rainforest! We then descend to camp at Pacaymayu. 8.6 km. / 6.5 hours trek.

Day 6 - Monday - July 21 - PAQAYMAYU - WIÑAYHUAYNA

Today we cross the second pass (13,100 ft), and follow a clear trail past a mountain lake to the restored townsite of Sayaqmarka, or Dominant Town. The Inca trail in this section is white granite roadway, traversing a thickly forested mountainside. The trail has a gentle climb through this mystical cloud forest as we continue toward the magnificent ruins of Phuyupatamarka (12,460 ft), or Town Above the Clouds. Phuyupatamarka is a well restored site where we'll observe water running through a series of ceremonial baths. Then, we make a sharp descent down hundreds of precision-engineered Inca steps to Wiñayhuayna (8,695 ft) where we camp. 10 km. / 7 hours trek.

Day 7 - Tuesday - July 22 - WIÑAYHUAYNA - MACHU PICCHU

From Wiñayhuayna, the trail wraps around the mountainside as it descends rapidly from cloud forest into high jungle habitat. Orchids and hummingbirds are common along this spectacular section of the trail, high above the river. We emerge at the gate of the sun for our view of Machu Picchu (7,710 ft) from above the city and stroll down the Royal Road to at last enter the Lost City of the Incas. This impressive ruin, hidden for 400 years by semitropical jungle, lies in a saddle with sheer mountainsides falling vertically to the Urubamba River far below. The site's labyrinthian complex of steps, niches, cells, and passageways, both above and below ground, displays the masterful work of the Incas. As we walk through the site, we will map each section and its purpose in supporting the religion, politics, economics, or survival of the Inca civilization. Machu Picchu is an inspirational and evocative place to contemplate the nature and origin of the universe. At Machu Picchu, we see evidence of the Quechua¹s concept of three worlds -- the skies, the earth, and the inner world -- interconnecting the four elements -- fire, earth, wind, and air -- and the Quechua¹s love of nature, traditions, and cosmology in the Inca designs and architecture. The Inca were a conquering people, extending as far north as Ecuador and as far south as Chile. But the dynasty of the Inca Empire was short lived (approx. 1200-1570 A.D.) when the Spanish invasion of Peru in the 16th century caused its collapse. With this glimpse, we overnight in Agua Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu . Agua Calientes is situated in a wet montane forest of giant tree ferns, bird-of-paradise, and other water loving plants that attract wildlife species such as Torrent Duck, Mitred Parakeet, and Roadside Hawk. At night, we will have time to relax and enjoy the thermal spring waters.

Day 8 - Wednesday - July 23 - MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO

We begin this day at dawn by boarding a bus to continue our guided exploration of Machu Picchu. Climbing 2,000 feet up a steep winding road, we are afforded beautiful views of the valley and sheer mountain faces that fall abruptly toward the Urubamba River. It is easy to understand why this setting is considered to be a spiritual place. Many theories exist as to how and why this archeological wonder was lost for four centuries, hidden by overgrowth, until Hiram Bingham in 1911 rediscovered the site. Our guide reveals what current experts believe to be the meaning of the sacred structures, chambers, and plazas of this renowned monument to the Incas. We have a few hours to enjoy the solitude before other travelers arrive. There is time to climb Wayna Picchu if you would like. Lunch is served at a restaurant adjacent to the site, and we then board our bus for the zigzag descent. This afternoon, we depart Agua Calientes on a picturesque train ride. Listen to the whistle of the train echo as we wind in and out of covered bridges and around the steep mountainsides. We then transfer by bus to our hotel in Cusco for dinner and overnight.

Day 9 - Thursday - July 24 - CUSCO

Your day at leisure. Explore the central plaza, shopping markets, local museums, or other historical places that you have missed on your itinerary. Be sure to save room in your luggage for the beautifully hand crafted items and Peruvian textiles. We visit one of Cusco's leading restaurants for a farewell dinner and a colorful program of Andean folklore before returning to our hotel.

Day 10 - Friday - July 25 - CUSCO / LIMA

We return to the airport for our morning flight to Lima and once again fly over the majestic peaks of the Andes. We reflect on the week and the personal fulfillment of having mastered the challenge of hiking the Inca Trail together. This time we will return to Lima with a perspective of the wealth of Peru's wide range of natural resources, the richness of its cultural diversity, and memories to treasure while trekking through this sacred land. In Lima we return to our hotel and integrate Andes luggage with the Amazon gear left at the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the famous Gold Museum and in the evening transfer to the airport for your flight back to the U.S.A.