Etnika's Shamanic Healing Centre - 148 Herrajes Street, Cusco-Peru
Tel/fax: +51 84 244516 | Mobil: +51 84 984109748 | N.B. Please make sure our email is in your address book to avoid loosing our email reply to Junk Mail.
Cusco Peru
email: info@etnikas.com
http://www.etnikas.com/
Spiritual Valle de Lares a Machu Picchu
|
Introduction
This less-known hike departs from the Sacred Valley of the Incas and passes through spectacular mountain scenery, glacier lagoons, valley cloud-forest and authentic Quechua textile communities, finally reaching the village of Lares, where you can end the trek by relaxing in its famous hot springs. On day four of the program we visit Machu Picchu. A unique hike that allows you to acquaint yourself with the Andean people and learn about their traditions and life-style. Social help is appreciated.
Itinerary
| •
Day 1: Cusco to Cancha Cancha We leave Cusco at 07:00h and drive to the starting point of the hike at Huarán. From this fertile valley, we take the five-hour uphill trek to our first campsite in Cancha Cancha, a small farming community set in spectacular mountain scenery. We will stop for lunch along the way. We set up camp at Cancha Cancha, and acquaint ourselves with the friendly locals and their way of living. A Q’eros master (highland priest) will conduct an ancestral ceremony dedicated to ‘Pachamama’ (Mother Earth) and to the ‘Apus’ (mountain deities) to give us sanction and protection for our trek.
|
| •
Day 2: Cancha Cancha to Queuñaqocha Lagoon We leave camp after breakfast and climb to the Abra Pachacutec pass with its awesome views of the glacier lagoons, spectacular snowcapped mountains (Colquecruz, Minas and Sirijuani) and gorgeous surrounding valleys. We will have lunch after the pass, and then descend to Quiswarani, a small peasant textile community. From here we head for the beautiful Queuñaqocha lagoon where we set up our second camp.
|
| •
Day 3: Queuñaqocha Lagoon to Lares and Aguas Calientes A two-hour trek brings us to the Abra Willkiccasa pass which offers dramatic views of the Colquecruz and Pitusiray mountains. We continue for three hours along changing puna, lakes and agricultural areas scattered with roaming deer until we arrive in Cuncani, another small peasant community. We trek through a fertile valley with more vegetation, crops and small agricultural communities to Lares, capital of the district of the same name. This part of the trail is speckled with begonias, wild orchids and other beautiful wild flowers. Lares boasts some pleasant hot springs where you will be able to enjoy a dip. After lunch, we will drive to Ollantaytambo to catch an afternoon train to Aguas Calientes where we will be accommodated at the selected hotel/hostel.
|
| •
Day 4: Machupicchu to Cusco After an early breakfast, we go by bus to Machu Picchu for a two-hour guided tour of the complete Inca citadel. You then have some free time to explore on your own. You can climb the nearby Huaynapicchu Mountain, take in the spectacular views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding mountains and visit the Temple of the Moon, or take the forty minute round hike to visit the precipitous Inca drawbridge. In the afternoon, we meet in the town of Aguas Calientes where you can bathe in the hot springs. From here we take the train back to the city of Cusco, arriving after nightfall.
(*) Campsites are subject to change according to our guide’s criteria and the group progress |
•
What is included?
|
•
What is not included
|
•
What we recommend that you bring
Appropriate clothing along this hike Climate |
| •
Pool service details Peruvian Soles s/1588.00 (*) |
| •
Optional services to be hired Massage sessions: US$60.00 per 1-hour session (US$50.00 per session if at least 2 sessions are booked). Our massage therapists have the highest recognition in Cusco and offer the following treatments: relaxing massage, stress-relieving massage, spinal column massage, energizing massage, Inca massage, altitude problems, aroma therapy, therapy with honey, therapy with glass, therapy with stones, foot reflexology, shiatzu, reiki and puddle of flowering. We recommend massage sessions before and after your trekking program. Services are at the hotel and are only available in Cusco. |
| •
Booking Terms & Conditions 1. THE CONTRACT Please note that it is essential to read and understand the following terms and conditions, it is a contract between you and ETNIKAS Travel & Crafts SRL. When you make your booking and pay your deposit you acknowledge that you have read and agree to these terms and conditions. In addition, please ensure you have read and understood the itinerary and the style of travel in which you will be partaking. These are the terms and conditions governing the relationship between ETNIKAS Travel and Crafts SRL, hereinafter referred to as “ETNIKAS” or “The company” and you, hereinafter referred to as “The client”. 2. PROGRAM AND SERVICE PRICES: All prices are listed in US dollars and include all taxes for non-residents of Peru. All air and bus fares are subject to change and availability and will be confirmed on the date that the reservation is made. All prices for Group Departures are based on shared double-occupancy basis. If you are a single traveller you will be matched up with another traveller of the same gender or can pay a single supplement. All payments made by credit card are subject to an additional fee. 3. BOOKINGS AND DEPOSITS: A. ETNIKAS Shamanic Centre and Retreats At time of booking a non-refundable deposit of at least 50% of the service price per person is due. The balance remaining will be paid upon arrival in Cusco. B. Tours by train to Machu Picchu At time of booking a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the service price per person is due. The balance remaining must be paid at least 30 days prior to the start of the contracted services. C. Treks and Group Departures At time of booking a non-refundable deposit of USD 250 per person per tour is due. The balance remaining must be paid at least 60 days prior to the start of the contracted services. To request services within 30 days of start date, payment must be made in full and will be refunded in the event that the tour cannot be guaranteed. D. Independent Tours All services within a tour package or tour are considered guaranteed once the tour has been confirmed. The tour will only be confirmed upon receipt of the USD 250 non-refundable deposit. The confirmation of your reservation will be sent by email with the reservation code of each tour program requested. Full payment of these services must be made at least 60 days prior to service start date. E. Accommodation All accommodation requested will be confirmed once the total amount of the services has been paid. Upon confirmation an email will be sent by email with the hotel reservation code. To check-in the client must only show their passport at the hotel and provide the hotel reception with the reservation code and voucher. Breakfast and/or transfers will only be included if specified in the confirmation. F. Air, Bus or Train Tickets (i) All transport services requested will be confirmed once the total amount for the services has been paid. -Flight tickets are e-tickets and the client does not require a printed ticket nor invoice to check in. It is only necessary to show your passport upon check-in at the airline counter and to give the reservation code that will have been provided to you by ETNIKAS in a confirmation email. -Fares quoted to you will only be valid for the amount of time specified in ETNIKAS response to your request as airlines may raise or lower their prices depending upon the availability of the fare. Once tickets have been issued they may not be reassigned to a different passenger or transport company. (ii) AIR OR LAND TRANSPORTATION: IATA airlines or transport companies hold no responsibility for any damages to passengers when they are not on board the plane, train or bus. When tour packages include a promotional air or land fare and the client requests a change of date the change will be subject to a penalty. DOCUMENTS – The client must always carry a passport or travel document depending on their nationality. This is the law in Peru. 4. CANCELLATION OF SERVICES BY THE CLIENT A. ETNIKAS Shamanic Centre and Tours by train to Machu Picchu -All cancellations made prior to 30 days before the start of services will incur a USD 250 service fee or the amount of the deposit if less. -All cancellations made within 30 days prior to the departure will result in the loss of all monies paid. B. Treks, Group Departures and Independent Tours -Cancellations made before 60 days prior to the start of the services are subject to the loss of deposit. -Cancellations made within 30 to 59 days prior to the start of the services are subject to a penalty of 50% of the cost of the service. -Cancellations made within 29 days prior to the start of the services are subject to the full loss of all monies paid. C. Accommodation -Cancellations for accommodation made more than 30 days prior to arrival will be subject to a penalty of USD 35 for administrative fees. -Cancellations for accommodation made between 16 and 29 days prior to arrival will be subject to a penalty for the value of the first night of accommodation and a USD 35 administrative fee. -Cancellations within 15 days will result in the full loss of all monies paid. D. Transport Tickets (i) FLIGHT TICKETS– All flight tickets are non-refundable and no changes are permitted to the itinerary or passenger name. (ii) BUS TICKETS – All bus tickets are non-refundable. Changes to the date of travel are possible if requested more than 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of the bus. Within 24 hours no changes are possible. (iii) TRAIN TICKETS – All train tickets are non-refundable. Changes to the date of travel are possible if requested 11 or more days prior to the scheduled departure of the train. Within 10 days prior to the service no changes are possible. 5. CANCELLATION BY THE COMPANY ETNIKAS reserves the right to cancel any Group Departure before it is guaranteed to run, but will cancel a trip no less than 60 days prior to the departure except for the following reasons: -“Force majeure” -Unforeseen circumstances beyond the company's control. -The minimum requirement of clients per trip has not been met. ETNIKAS will inform the client as soon as possible of a cancellation. Clients holding a fully paid booking may choose between an alternative trip or a full refund. The company is not responsible for any incidental expenses that the client may have incurred as a result of the booking such as visas, vaccinations, non-refundable flights or loss of enjoyment, etc. If the alternative trip chosen is of a lower value than that originally booked then you are entitled to a refund of the price difference. If the alternative tour chosen is of a higher value then the client will pay the difference in price. Please note that refunds will not be given for the following: -Lost travel time or substitution of facilities. -Presence of circumstances beyond company’s control which requires alternative arrangements be made to ensure the safety and enjoyment of your tour. -Unused services for any accommodation, activity or tour segment without prior notice. -Premature contract termination. 6. UNUSED SERVICES If for any reason the transportation chosen by the client (bus, flight, train, etc...) does not arrive at the destination prior to or on the date and time scheduled to begin the services contracted from the company, ETNIKAS shall not be held liable for any missed services that result. The company will begin to provide services from the date of arrival of the client until the originally scheduled termination of the services. Any services missed as a result of these delays are not refundable. If the client leaves the tour early including not using additional nights of accommodation for any reason, voluntary or involuntary, no monies will be refunded. 7. PRICES AND SURCHARGES As we publish our prices well in advance, we may occasionally be faced with significant cost increases due to factors over which we have no control. As such we reserve the right to impose surcharges (or price decreases) up to one month before departure due to significant changes in exchange rates, increases in entrance fees, train fares or other transport costs, taxes, if government action should require us to do so or others. Any surcharge or price decrease will be fully explained and justified by ETNIKAS before implementation. If any surcharge results in an increase of more than 10% of the program cost the client may cancel the booking and obtain a full refund less expenses already incurred, provided the cancellation is made with at least one month prior to departure date. 8. INCLUDED MEAL In all flights and land transportation, meals and snacks are given to passengers according to the transport company. Some tour programs include the meals specified in the itinerary, these are described as: B: Breakfast, L: Lunch and D: Dinner All other meals are the responsibility of the client. 9. FLEXIBILITY The client appreciates and acknowledges that the nature of travel to developing countries requires considerable flexibility and should allow for alternatives. It is understood that the route, schedules, itineraries, amenities and mode of transport may be subject to alteration without prior notice due to local circumstances or events, which may include sickness or mechanical breakdown, flight cancellations, strikes, events emanating from political disputes, entry or border difficulties, climate and other unpredictable circumstances. If hotels need to be changed they will be replaced by hotels of similar standard. 10. FACTORS OUTSIDE THE COMPANY’S CONTROL (FORCE MAJEURE) The company will do its best to minimize the effects of matters outside its control, but cannot accept any liability for these matters which include political disputes, border closures, refusals of visas, industrial action, delayed flights, unforeseeable climate, landslides, etc. The client accepts to assume all extra costs derived by any of these factors. 11. AUTHORITY ON TOUR At all times the decision of the company’s tour leader or representative will be final on all matters likely to endanger the safety and well being of the tour. By booking with us the client agrees to abide by the authority of the tour leader or company representative, who represents the company. If the client chooses not to abide by the decisions made by the ETNIKAS representative, the client will be considered as having left the tour. The client must at all times strictly comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations of all countries visited. If the Client is affected by any condition, medical or otherwise that might affect other people’s enjoyment of the tour, the client must advise ETNIKAS at the time of booking. Should the client fail to comply with the above or commit any illegal act when on the tour or, if in the opinion of the tour leader or representative the client’s behaviour is causing or is likely to cause danger, distress or annoyance to other we may terminate that client’s travel arrangements without any liability on the company’s part and the client will not be entitled to any refund for unused or missed services or costs incurred resulting from the termination of the travel arrangements. 12. ACCEPTANCE OF RISK Some of ETNIKAS itineraries have been designed to provide participants with an exposure to the true nature of the environment visited. They therefore involve an element of personal risk and exposure to potential, which could result in physical or emotional injury, paralysis, death, or damage to the client, his/her property or to third parties. The client understands that such risks simply cannot be eliminated without jeopardizing the essential qualities of the activity and therefore assumes them as part of the tour. The client accepts that he/she is aware of his physical and health condition and that, under the knowledge of this he/she decides to undertake the above-mentioned risks. The client excludes ETNIKAS from any responsibility linked to any accident or injury that may occur associated to the clients' health, physical condition or other. 13. TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION The client must be in possession of a valid passport and all visas required for the whole of the journey and the client accepts responsibility for obtaining the same. Any information or advice given by the company on visas, vaccinations, climate, clothing, baggage, special equipment, etc is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of the company. 14. INSURANCE It is mandatory that all clients obtain travel insurance that covers personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation expenses and evacuation expenses. Clients must be able to provide proof of insurance to the company representative. It is strongly recommended that the client’s insurance also cover cancellation and interruption, curtailment, loss of belongings and all other expenses which may arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience occurring to the client. The company shall have no liability for loss, theft of or damage to baggage or personal effects. Personal belongings lost or stolen while unattended by the client in public lounges or other public areas, whether on board a vessel, train, bus or other mode of transportation, publicly owned or due to ordinary wear and tear, and other acts of God are not reimbursable. The company cannot accept responsibility for an in no event shall be liable for loss for damage of valuables or other articles left in or on facilities used by the company such as hotels, home-stays, vessels or any other mode of transportation. 15. CLAIMS AND COMPLAINTS If a client complaint arises while on tour, the client must first advise the local representative or tour leader so that the company can endeavour to resolve the situation on the ground. If the client is not satisfied with the resolution offered by the company representative the client should then contact ETNIKAS with any complaints. If by the end of the tour the client is still unsatisfied with the service provided they should send their comments in writing to ETNIKAS at sales@ETNIKAS.com. 16. RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR TOUR All services herein are organized by ETNIKAS. Notice is hereby given that all arrangements made on behalf of customers are made by organizers on the sole condition that the organizers shall not be held responsible for any injury, death, accident, delay, loss, damage or irregularity which may be occasioned through acts of any company and/or persons engaged in carrying out the arrangements. ETNIKAS acts as an agent for transport companies, hotels and other contractors and shall not be held liable for any injury, damage, loss, delay or irregularity that may occur, including, but not limited to, any defect in a vehicle or any other form of conveying a traveller, acts of God, detention, delays or expenses arising from quarantine, strike, riots, theft, force majeure, civil disturbance, government restriction or regulation, accident by aircraft, boat, bicycle, motor vehicle, horseback or any other form of transport or in any hotel or guest house, pension or other form of accommodation. The client acknowledges that the quality of the products organized by the company including accommodations and all other services related to the tour which are organized by the company are not within the control of the company and that in any event the quality of such products may be compromised by local conditions. Accordingly, the client hereby releases the company from all claims and causes of action arising from any damages, loss of enjoyment, inconvenience or injuries related to the quality of such products. The information contained in all ETNIKAS’ documentation in brochures, on the website or in flyers is correct to the best of the company’s knowledge and has been put together in good faith. The company accepts no liability for any right to alter any itinerary in progress or service at any time without penalty to the company. Any additional expenses or cancellation shall be borne by the customer. The organizer reserves the right to withdraw or refuse any service to any customer at the discretion of the organizer. Payment of deposit is taken as acknowledgement and agreement of the above items. 17. APPLICABLE LAW AND CHOICE OF FORUM This agreement shall be governed by the laws of Peru. Each party hereto agrees to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Court of Peru at Cusco, Peru in regards to any action or proceeding relating to this agreement. |