4 Day Inca Trail

Manolo Guerra

The original Inca Trail connected the Incan empire’s northern capital Quito with Cuzco in Peru. This famous trail is one of the greatest communication systems of the history, which was built for commerce, messenger and move armies during the battle between the two Incan princes, Huáscar in Quito and Atahualpa in Cuzco.

This hike runs by a short section of this emblematic path of the Andes, passing by one of the highest points (13.780 ft / 4.200 m) of the Inca Trail. The trek starts at Achupallas and goes deep in the Ecuadorian central-southern highlands towards Ingapirca ruins, the most important and best preserved archeological Inca complex in Ecuador.

Along the trek, we will be able to observe beautiful lagoons, diverse flora and fauna of the Andean moor and colorful indigenous communities.

 

Distance: 32 km
$360.00 USD
Trekking
Fitness Level
Skill Level
Days

Servicio válido para 2023.

Tour 4 Day Inca Trail

Day 1: Quito - Achupallas

We will drive from Quito along the Avenue of Volcanoes for about 5 hours towards to Alausi, a beautiful Andean town enclosed by mountains where we will have lunch. Afterwards, we will continue traveling for 45 minutes to Achupallas, where we will meet our porters and spend the first night. 

MEALS: Lunch + Dinner
ACCOMMODATION: Community Lodging

 

Day 2: Achupallas – Tres Cruces

Early in the morning after a delicious breakfast, we will pack our equipment to carry the mules that will assist us during the next days.  Next, we will begin our hike by following Cadrul River, passing by small indigenous communities until we arrive to our first camp at 12.800 ft / 4.000 m after hike for about 7 hours.  

MEALS: Breakfast + Box Lunch + Dinner
ACCOMMODATION: Camping

 

Day 3: Tres Cruces  - Paredones

This day will cross Tres Cruces Pass, the highest point of the trek at 14.435 ft / 4.400 m. Once at this point, the trail goes down to Tres Cruces and the Culebrillas lakes placed at Espíndola Valley. After walking along the edge of the lake, we will arrive to one of the old Incan ruins Paredones, where we will set up our campsite after 6 hours of hike.

MEALS: Breakfast + Box Lunch +Dinner
ACCOMMODATION: Camping

 

Day 4: Paredones – Ingapirca 

After breakfast, we will leave the campsite and continue our hike for 3 hours to San José Village, where we will get our vehicle and drive for 5 mi / 8 km towards Ingapirca Ruins. After visit Ingapiraca we will have a well-deserved lunch and then begin our return trip to Quito.  

MEALS: Breakfast + Box Lunch + Lunch

INCLUDED

  • Transportation 
  • Bilingual certified guides 
  • Local guide and pack mules
  • Meals indicated in the itinerary
  • Safe drinking water during the whole program
  • Camping equipment: double tents, sleeping pad, plate, cup, and spoon
  • Group camping equipment: cooking stoves, cooking tent, cooking supplies, etc
  • Permits and park fees

 

NOT INCLUDED

  • Flight tickets
  • Airport transfers*
  • Arrival day lodging and meals in Quito*
  • Travel Insurance
  • Extra sports and alcoholic drinks
  • Personal expenses
  • Tips

*If is required, we can include these services

REQUIRED

  • Travel or duffel bag for all equipment and personal stuff. You should put all your stuff in plastic bags to be carried by the mules. We will only have access to them once we reach the campsites
  • Day backpack for the acclimatization hikes and climbs (25-35 L)
  • Comfortable, warm clothing (1st and 2nd layers)
  • Rain jacket and rain pants (3rd layer)
  • Winter hat and/or face mask
  • Thermal and waterproof gloves*
  • Liners and thermal socks (1st and 2nd layers)
  • Cap, sunglasses and sun screen
  • Hiking boots
  • Rubber boots
  • Trekking poles
  • Headlamp* with extra batteries
  • Personal grooming kit
  • Sleeping bag*
  • Change of clothes and shoes
  • Bottles or thermos to refill water

 

RECOMMENDED

  • Gaiters*
  • Sport drinks
  • Dry bags to protect personal stuff

*You can rent this items with us  

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Before contracting services with TATOO EXPEDITIONS, please read our terms and conditions carefully:

CONTRACTING AND CANCELLATION POLICIES

DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION REQUIRED

When contracting a trip with TATOO EXPEDITIONS the following participant information and documentation is required:

REGISTRATION FORM:

After confirming the payment of the contracted services, you will receive an email with a link for the tour participant to complete the registration form. The registration form contains the participant’s personal, medical and emergency information, which must be filled out in order to participate in the tour with TATOO EXPEDITIONS.

If you want to save the registration form information for future events, you can register and create an account with TATOO EXPEDITIONS, otherwise you can do the whole process as a guest, but you must fill out the form with your data every time. If you created an account when paying for the services of TATOO EXPEDITIONS, enter it to fill out the registration form and register your data.

UNDERSTANDING OF RISK AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY

Together with the registration form you must read and accept the Understanding of Risk and Release of Liability document, which must be signed at the beginning of the tour.

PAYMENTS, RESERVATIONS AND CONFIRMATIONS

TOUR WITH FIXED DATES, PRIVATE TOURS OR CUSTOM TOURS

RESERVATIONS


A tour with a fixed date, private tour or custom tour can be booked up to 61 days before the start date of the tour with an advance payment of 50% of the total value quoted.

CONFIRMATIONS

To confirm a reservation for a tour with a fixed date, private tour or custom tour, the balance of 50% must be paid up to 60 days prior to the tour’s start date.

In case of contracting a tour with a fixed date, private tour or custom tour within 60 days prior to the start date of the same, 100% of the quoted value must be paid.

LAST MINUTE TOUR

A last-minute tour cannot be reserved, 100% of the quoted value must be paid.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS:

POLICY FOR CANCELLATION BY THE CUSTOMER

TOUR WITH FIXED DATES, PRIVATE TOURS OR CUSTOM TOURS

Any cancellation must be notified via email to info@tatooexpeditions.com. In case the client cancels the tour, a penalty of the tour price will be charged based on the following policies:

PENALTIES

A penalty will be charged if the tour has been canceled within:

  • 90 days or more: 15% of the total tour value
  • From 60 days to 89 days: 50% of the total tour value
  • From 30 days to 59 days: 75% of the total tour value
  • 30 days or less: 100% of the total tour value

LAST MINUTE TOUR

Any cancellation of a last-minute tour must be notified via email to info@tatooexpeditions.com. There is no return or exchange with other departures for cancellations of a last-minute tour.

TATOO EXPEDITIONS CANCELLATION POLICY:

All departures require a minimum of registrants to undertake the same, in case of not meeting the minimum or in case of cancellation due to force majeure by Tatoo Expeditions, the registration fees may be returned as a credit for future events or by bank transfer of according to what the client requests.

The tour will be reimbursed only and as long as TATOO EXPEDITIONS cancel the tour before its start due to unusual problems or external factors such as: adverse weather conditions, natural catastrophes, strikes, civil disorders, government restrictions or regulations, war, quarantine or others.

TATOO EXPEDITIONS acts directly as a Tour Operator and is responsible for the quality of the services that correspond to the logistics of the tour. However, there are third-party services that TATOO EXPEDITIONS contracts. From a wide range of tourist services, we have chosen the best quality and professional services, however, our responsibility is limited to the terms of the land transport companies, accommodation and food contracts.

TATOO EXPEDITIONS is not responsible for delays, inconveniences, accident expenses or mishaps of any kind, as a result of the total or partial negligence of third parties or causes beyond our control. All these expenses and losses must be borne by the passenger. We recommend that travelers obtain travel and personal insurance to cover these possible mishaps.

PARTIAL CHANGES OF ITINERARY AND CANCELLATION:

For TATOO EXPEDITIONS, safety and health are a priority in our programs. If the conditions of the climate, terrain, roads or other external factors that are under our control jeopardize the normal development of the planned activities, or if the clients are not in good health, physical or technical training; the guides and the agency reserve the right to modify the itinerary at any time in order to protect the integrity of the passengers. Likewise, the right is reserved, to replace the accommodation or means of transport and make changes to the itinerary when deemed necessary.

SURCHARGES

  • All of our multi-day tours include accommodations in double rooms, in case of requesting a single room a 30% surcharge will be made to the value of the tour.
  • Our guides are bilingual (Spanish and English), in case of requesting guides that speak German, Italian or French a 20% surcharge will be made to the value of the tour.

 

 

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