Machu Picchu Pony Express

From our 38 years of experience operating adventure programs in Peru, we have carefully compressed several premiere activities into an exciting one week vacation. Starting with an introduction to Inca Cusco and the Sacred Valley, we follow with a deluxe, safari style horse pack trip into the nearby high Andes along seldom used Inca trails. After a pampered night at our favorite Sacred valley lodge, we treat you to the famous narrow gauge train ride and a quick, intensive visit to the new world's finest archaeological monument.. MACHU PICCHU.

THE PROGRAM: This is a safari style quality adventure using pack-stock to carry all gear and camping amenities. An experienced staff of bilingual guides and local packers accompany a small group of guests. Comfortable camps offer delicious meals prepared from fresh meats, grains and vegetables served in our large dining tent with tables and stools. One or two persons are assigned a weather tight, quality, four person sleeping tent. Each day begins with a pan of hot water and coffee or tea served at your tent. Before the evening meal, we enjoy happy hour with popcorn, assorted hot beverages and for those who imbibe, our famous expedition vodka martini (shaken, not stirred) and select Chilean wine. Our well trained, sure-footed, no nonsense horses (we own and train them ourselves at our Sacred Valley facility) are smaller than American saddle horses but carry us over the high passes with amazing energy. We do limit rider weight to 200 lbs. Comfortable padded, new, South American-style saddles are used.

Extensive riding experience is not a prerequisite but due to the steep rugged terrain, prior familiarity around horses is recommended. However we do teach the basics required. We require that all participants be in good health and physical condition. Some hiking is necessary over steep short sections of poor trail. We travel up to seven hours on the longest day.

Who we are: The owners/operators of Adventure Specialists Peruvian adventure program represent a highly skilled staff of professionals. U.S. based Adventure Specialists and Peru's Manu Expeditions offer a tantalizing variety of exciting and unusual back country excursions. Gary Ziegler, founder of Adventure Specialists, has a far flung history which includes a Ph.D. in archaeology, archaeological expeditions into remote Peru and Mexico, work for National Geographic, The Discovery Channel, museums and universities. Gary has been organizing and leading expeditions and groups in Peru since 1964. His accomplishments include the first ascents of seven high ice peaks and the discovery and documentation of new archaeological sites. In June, 2000, he co-directed and led an expedition documentary film production in Peru for the Discovery Channel. In 2001 Gary co-led a National Geographic expedition which located and excavated the Inca outpost of Corihuayrachina. In 2002 and 2003, he co-led the Thomson-Ziegler Expeditions that located and investigated the important Inca sites of Cota Coca and Llactapata near Machu Picchu. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of London and the Explorers Club of New York. He raises, trains horses and rodeos at his home Colorado ranch when not in Peru or the wilds of Mexico.

Managed by internationally recognized ornithologist/explorer, Barry Walker MBE, author of " Field Guide to the Birds of Machu Picchu" and Cusco born wife, Rosario Velarde, The Manu Expeditions guides and staff have vast experience. They are logistical wizards who insure trips go smoothly and that guests are expertly attended to. Gary leads most of our mountain Inca research expeditions while Barry leads special birding and rain forest study projects. They occasional lead Machu Picchu trips for special programs. Manu Expeditions and its sister US based company Adventure Specialists, founded adventure travel in Peru. Gary Ziegler began designing and guiding A.S. educational adventure programs in Peru in 1971. Barry, Gary, Rosario and US manager, Amy Finger, maintain the highest standards with hands on management and continuing development of new and ongoing programs.

Guides : Machu Picchu Programs

EDWIN DUENAS Age 38 leads most of our Machu Picchu trips. A native of Cusco, he is fluent in Quechua, Spanish and speaks Italian and English well. As close to a living Inca as one can get, his family history goes back before the conquest. One of Peru's most experienced backcountry guides, he is a specialists of Andean history and culture. Edwin holds a doctoral and law degree from Peru's San Antonio Abad University. When not in the field, he practices civil law in downtown Cusco. Edwin is an extraordinary skilled, knowledgeable trip leader and horseman who gives his all to each program. Other equally qualified guides may lead several of our Machu Picchu trips each season

DAY 1 Saturday)
Depart from your home town. Most flights from the United States depart late in the evening. If traveling from elsewhere, you may need to overnight in Lima. We meet your flight at the Cusco Airport the following morning on Sunday.
Arrangements can be made to assist you onto your connecting local flight in Lima, help with overnight arrangements or advise you of the process if you feel uncomfortable in strange airports.

Day 2 Sunday) Arrive to Cusco, the ancient Inca capital, on an early flight from Lima. We greet you at the airport. Following a brief orientation and a cup of traditional coca tea, you have the morning to rest up. Later, we organize an afternoon introductory trek around town. We visit the famous Inca temple of the Sun, the Coricancha, one of the finest examples of Inca architecture and the ceremonial center of Cusco during Inca times. We will tour several other important cultural and historical sites around town. Most will need the time to rest and recover from yesterday’s travel. Refreshed and eager, we meet for dinner at a favorite restaurant. We talk about ancient legends, Manco Inca, the lost cities of Vilcabamba or perhaps just get to know each other. Some may opt for evening festivities in this bustling international city. We lodge in the very comfortable (Cable CNN and BBC news even if you don’t want it) Andes de America hotel close to the main plaza (or sometimes another quality hotel).

Day 3 Monday) Leaving Cusco in the rear view mirror, we travel by van over a low pass then down into the famous Sacred Valley following a visit to the big walled ceremonial complex above town, Sasayhuaman. The Incas used this as their fortress headquarters during the siege of Cusco in 1536.The scenery is unsurpassable, close and distant snow peaks glistening in the sun. An interesting drive of several hours takes us over another Andean pass to our trailhead, waiting horses and trail crew. Our guide gives a helpful riding lesson, a review for more experienced riders and necessary trail instructions, as duffels and gear are expertly sorted, matched and loaded on mules by a colorful group of Quechua speaking wranglers.

Abandoning tents and baggage to follow on the mule train, we set off, riding through the mountain town of Lares. looking something like the trail worn vanguard of Francisco’s Pizarro’s army arriving in Cusco in 1533. Men loading a truck stare in wonder. Curious kids at a nearby school stop their football game to watch us clip-clop by on the cobblestone street. Soon we are on an ancient trail climbing steeply out of the valley past small potato fields and adobe houses. Giant blue Lupine bushes line the trail. Late afternoon finds us on a high broad ridge with a level area suitable for our tents. We make camp near the village of Vilcabamba, a few scattered simple houses with friendly occupants. When we camped here for the first time in May of 2004, the locals said that we were the first outsiders to pass through in their memory. (B D L )

Day 4 Tuesday) The Andean dawn breaks colorfully to the east. We linger over a last cup of strong cowboy coffee as restless mounts wait impatiently to begin the days journey. Crossing a deep quebrada, we angle around another ridge to arrive at the weaving village of Cachin. We may be lucky enough to buy or bargain for some of the most prized of Andean textiles produced here. Riding on, past curious, red -ponchoed locals working small potato fields with ancient digging sticks, we follow a well worn pathway once trodden by Inca pack trains laden with jungle goods from the nearby lowlands.

We stop for lunch at Chupani, a small isolated village of stone-walled, grass roofed huts perched casually on a broad alluvial fan protruding down from the junction of two immense canyons. Hot Coca tea, boiled potatoes, roasted corn and avocado salad fuels us for the remainder of the day’s journey.

Continuing up into a broad high open region, we pass by a number of small villages This high pampa with its beautiful view was probably a place for breeding and raising of llamas used for carrying supplies along the royal roads. We continue our climb passing herds of grazing alpacas. Mountain vizcochas (related to the chinchillas) scurry amongst boulders washed down from the higher peaks. Ahead in a majestic circular bowl crowned by a deep blue lake, our wranglers have set up a ring of green tents awaiting our arrival. Some of us stretch our legs by walking the last mile or so to Camp. Shortly, we are sipping hot chocolate and munching fresh popcorn near grazing alpacas. Savory aromas from the cook tent drift across the pampa. Our kitchen crew sets out a bottle of good Chilean wine. Several of the bold sip one our famous expedition martinis awaiting arrival of the first course of soup that announces the arrival of dinner. (BLD)

Day 5 Wednesday) Startling flocks of puna ducks, teals and Andean geese, we trot out and upward into the morning mist. Today is a long ride through spectacular scenery. Following lunch we cross over another high, unpronounceable pass named Huacahuasicasa. The trail narrows as we wind through towering metamorphic sentinels guarding the approach. The view from the top of this 4500 meter high pass easily equals the best the Andes has to offer. (Gary says he’ll buy you a beer in Cusco’s Cross key’s Pub if you disagree). Now in the downhill back toward the Sacred Valley, the horses pick up energy as they know they are pointed toward home. The rose colored glaciers of Nevado Pumahanca hang overhead, lit by the glow of the fading Inca Sun God Inti as we reach the evening camp. (B D L)

Day 6 Thursday) The day breaks bright and sunny (we hope). Fresh fruit, yogurt and hot cakes start our day. Duffels packed for the waiting mules, we head down valley. Its all downhill today along the Aruraycocha and Mantacnayoc rivers (streams actually). We pass through stands of rare original Qeuña woodland. This is the genus Polylepis, home for some of the rarest birds on earth. A giant Andean Hillstar hummingbird darts out as we clatter down the rocky trail. Herder's huts and chacras (small farms) become numerous. We pass grazing cows, barking dogs and children coming and going along the trail.

Reaching the Sacred Valley at Yanahuara, we ride on through farmlands along the Urubamba River. A final ride along a colonial period lane into urban Urubamba completes our magical journey. We sadly say good-bye to the cooks, wranglers and hardworking ponies. Tomorrow begin a new adventure! We overnight at the Incaland Gardens Hotel. Individual bungalows and several acres of exotic flowers and gardens afford a most comfortable setting.. We meet for happy hour in the `Explorer Bar’. Dinner and good conversation follows...we slip off to our rooms to ponder the mystery of the last Incas before drifting into undisturbed slumber.( B:L:D)

Day 7 Friday) We board the morning narrow gauge train heading down valley at our hotel.* An interesting hour or so of click, clack and sway with all of the accompanying sounds and smells of rural Peru takes us to our final destination, Machu Picchu and the bustling backpacker town of Aguas Calientes, located some 2,000 ft. below Hiram Bingham’s great 1910 discovery. MACHU PICCHU is one of the most magical and mysterious places on Earth! Situated on the spine of a jungle cloaked granite peak towering some 2,000 ft. above an entrenched meander of the roaring river below, the site is frequently shrouded in misty clouds pierced by the powerful equatorial sun, the INCA GOD INTI. Constructed from precisely sculptured granite blocks carefully joined with the projecting exposed stone of the surrounding mountain, the site may well be the finest architectural achievement of the new world. The day is yours to explore and photograph

*Note: We use the Sacred valley Railroad leaving from Urubamba. This train arrives much earlier than the Cusco trains allowing us to visit Machu Picchu before the tourist hoards arrive from Cusco also permitting more time at the site.

We later meet at the Intihuatana stone. Our guide concludes the story of the raise and fall of the ancient civilizations of the Andes with the tragic end of the Inca and the unresolved mystery that this "lost city" remains. We return to Cusco on the afternoon train. The evening is yours to shop and wander around. The city abounds with small shops and street side vendors selling their wares. Colorful weaving and handmade alpaca sweaters are popular gifts for friends at home. We meet for a final dinner then migrate to the Cross Keys, Cusco's only authentic English Pub, for drinks and lively conversation with the resident congregation of guides, expatriates, adventurers, treasure hunters and smugglers from far corners of the universe. Humphry Bougard and Harrison Ford usual have the back table next to the pool table. (B.L.D)

Day 8 Saturday) Depart Cusco for Lima and your flight home. Additional services can be arranged in Lima if your schedule does not connect directly to your international flight. (see Lima below)

Day 9 Sunday) Arrive home.

Scheduling Suggestions:

Arrival: We recommend arriving in Cusco a day or two before the program if possible. You will enjoy added time exploring the many interesting aspects of the region and extra time helps acclimation to the high altitude. We arrange hotels, other services and suggest itineraries for a 10% service fee over the actual cost
Lima: Flights from Cusco arrive between 8:30 AM and 2:00 PM. Depending on your connecting flight schedule home, you have several options. U.S. bound flights seems to leave either late at night or early in the morning. We recommend taking a room in Miraflores for the day or overnight if leaving the next morning. Miraflores is a bustling upbeat suburb of Lima above the beach where one can enjoy relaxing or endless activities. We can make the hotel arrangements and transfers to and from the airport.

This is our latest itinerary which we make every effort to follow, however, Peru is subject to strikes, weather, landslides and many events beyond are control which may cause changes and delays. We may also change the route from time to time for other good reasons. Please come prepared to cheerfully accept the unexpected with the insurance that you are in the hands of the most experienced and best adventure program operator in Peru.

THE 4 DAY MANU RAIN FOREST TRIP LEAVES EVERY FRIDAY. THE 6 AND 9 DAY MANU RAIN FOREST TRIPS LEAVE ON SUNDAYS. Ask about joining the rain forest biosphere adventure which leaves and returns to Cusco after this program

Travel Insurance:
We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance when you book. This can reimburse you if you need to cancel last minute due to sickness or other emergencies. This is available on line or through the agency below.

Inclusions: The price includes accommodations in safari style camps, tourist class or better hotels and inns (double occupancy), land travel, meals except in Cusco, all trip gear, horses, tack, bilingual guide and local support staff, entrance fees.

Exclusions: Not included are airport taxes, air travel, bottled drinks, gratuities, optional activities, personal expenditures, meals in Cusco, costs resulting from illness or injury and emergency evacuation, program changes and delays beyond our control.

Reservations: info@adventurespecialists.org
Call or e-mail us to answer your questions or make a reservation. Carefully read the application/contract form for details about payment, cancellation, refunds and legal responsibilities. You can reach us at the following number:
Bear Basin Ranch (all year) 719 783-2076.
As we are frequently outdoors and leading trips, we do not maintain a regularly staffed office. We do however, check the answering machine and will promptly return your call or e-mail

SUGGESTED READING:
1) Lost City of the Incas: The Story of Machu Picchu and its Builders. Hiram Bingham.
Orion, London.2001.
2) Realm of the Incas. Max Milligan 2001
3) The Conquestof Peru, William H. Prescott. New American Library, 1961.
4) The Conquest of the Incas, John Hemming. Hartcourt Brace 1970
5) Pizarro, Conqueror of the Inca. National Geographic. Feb. 1992 Vol. 181, no. 2.
6) The Incas And Their Ancestors, Michael Moseley. Thames and Hudson, 1993.
AVAILABLE IN CUSCO:
7) Exploring Cuzco, Peter Frost. Lima, 1984
8) Machu Picchu- The Sacred Center. Johan Reinhart, Lima 1991
9) Machu Picchu Abandoned, Gary Ziegler, Lima 1996.
10)Beyond Machu Picchu, Gary Ziegler, Crestone 2001
11) Forgotten Vilcabamba, Vincent Lee 2000
12) The White Rock, Hugh Thomson 2001
13) The Machu Picchu Guide Book, Ruth Wright and Alfredo Valencia
14) Machu Picchu; A Civil Engineering Marvel, Kenneth Wright and Alfredo Valencia,2000
15) The Birds of Machu Picchu. Barry Walker (available in Cusco)

EQUIPMENT AND PREPARATION LIST:

__Passport __Credit cards and cash for tips, Lima meals, shopping etc.__Airline tickets.__Travel Insurance to include emergency medical, trip cancellation etc. Available any travel agency._Duffle bag or large frame less pack for the majority of your gear.__Plastic garbage bags to line duffle for waterproofing on the trek.__Day Pack or Fanny Pack...for daily items. We furnish large saddle bags._Warm sleeping gag (to 20øF) may be rented in Cusco. __ We furnish sleeping pads. Extra Bag for Purchases...optional __Leisure clothing for travel and dining out. Long Underwear, helps prevent saddle sores__Lightweight waterproof hiking/riding boots-well broken in hiking boots (some are okay for riding as long as they are not too wide) We use our

hiking boots along with a pair of half chaps which makes for a practical combination for
both riding and walking. Good Half chaps are available at http://www.statelinetack.com for $45-$75. Leisure Shoes...for camp and in town.__Warm outer coat or parka. Or shell jacket and two polar fleece type pullovers for layering__Sweater-locally made alpaca sweaters can be purchased in Cuzco for about $15.00__Rain gear- Good quality.. we have had poor luck with Gortex (and it will rain)__Hat with a Brim...essential for sun and rain protection.__Warm cap and gloves (it can snow)__Assortment of light expedition clothes. pants, shirts, socks, underwear, trail shorts.__Toiletries...biodegradable soap, sun block (#30 or more) lip balm and personal items__Insect Repellant__Personal medications... Ask your Doc about Diomox for altitude comfort__Water Purification Kit-iodine or filter for hotels etc. We boil camp and trail water__Sun Glasses...Uv is intensive at Altitude near the Equator. We recommend quality glacier glasses.__Flashlight...with extra bulb and batteries- We like headlamps.__Pocket knife.__Water Bottle__Camera and film. film can be bought in Peru __Binoculars .

HEALTH: We ask that you consult your family doctor concerning what medications, shots or inoculations he or she may recommend. Unless you travel to Manu, you will probably not be exposed to tropical diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. The occasional case of travelers diarrhea can be rapidly treated with Cipro or other medication that your doctor may suggest. We have a very low incidence of illness on our trips. We eat in only the best restaurants and our own cooks are carefully sanitation trained. We have had good results with Diomox as an aid in acclimatization and alleviation of the effects of altitude. Ask your doc.

WEATHER: This is a trip of great contrasts. In the high altitude. It can get very chilly, even into the 20's at night and then zoom into the 70's during the day. When we descend into the cloud forest, the temperature rises into the 80's. Although the dry season normally persists April through November, it can rain (or snow at high altitudes) at any time. please come prepared.

Have A Great Trip!

Gary Ziegler
Barry Walker
Rosario Velarde
Amy Finger

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