Classic Train - 2 days Tour Itinerary

Classic Train - 2 days Tour Itinerary
REF: SAMP3
VERSION: 16

Duration:	2 days - Cuzco to Cuzco
Countries Visited:	Peru
Age Guide:	18-65 years
Max Group Size:	24
Transport:	Train, On Foot
Accommodation:	Hostel in Aguas Calientes (1 Night)
What's Included:	Round Trip Train Transportation to Machu Picchu - Entrance Fee to Machu Picchu - English Speaking Guide - 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
Local Payment:	NO LOCAL PAYMENT
Highlights:	Putucusi Mountain - Mandor Waterfalls - Orchid Garden - Machu Picchu
Optional Highlights:	No optional highlights
Meeting point:	Please refer to your tour voucher for details of the meeting point for this tour. This contains contact details for our local partners who run this trip on behalf of Kumuka Worldwide. A trip briefing is generally held early evening the day before departure. We strongly advise you attend this briefing. Please advise your agent if you are unable to attend this briefing. Please provide Kumuka with full arrival and hotel details if you have not booked these through Kumuka.
Pre Departure information:	All passengers require the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour. All passengers MUST bring: 1. Passport 2. Vaccination Certificate 3. Travel Voucher 4. Travel Insurance Policy Please note: It is essential that Kumuka has full details of where you will be staying in Cusco on the night before your tour starts (hotel name and telephone number) so that we can pass these on to our local partners in Cusco. Local conditions (climatic, political) occasionally mean that we need to change tour departure times or transfer times at short notice, therefore it is essential that our local partners in Cusco are able to contact you in Cusco. We are unable to issue vouchers for this tour until we have received details of your Cusco accommodation. We strongly suggest that you organise pre-tour in Cusco with Kumuka Worldwide.
Introduction:	Do you want to visit Machu Picchu but find yourself running short on time? Take our 2-Day Classic Train trip to the fabled citadel. We sleep overnight in the Andean village of Aguas Calientes and spend a full day at Machu Picchu, enjoying a morning guided tour.
Day 1:	Meet at the Cusco office of our local representativel at 5.50am for your transfer to Cusco station, where you will board a Peru Rail train bound for the Andean village of Aguas Calientes. The train journey will take approximately 4 hours. On arrival at Aguas Calientes you will be met by our representative, who will transfer you to your accommodation. After lunch, you will have the rest of the afternoon free to hike to the Mandor Waterfall, visit the Orchid Garden in the Machu Picchu Pueblo grounds or enjoy a soak on the local hotsprings after which Aguas Calientes is named (please note that the afternoon is your free time: you will not be accompanied by a guide or a rep).
Day 2:	After an early breakfast we have the choice of either catching the first bus to Machu Picchu at 06.15, arriving at 06.45. Alternatively you can leave the hostel at 04.20 and walk up the hill towards Machu Picchu, arriving at 05.40. Imagine what it was like for the explorer Hiram Bingham who discovered this long lost city back in 1911 and gave the world one of its most breathtaking ancient sites. The city, with its temples stairways and gabled dwellings is probably one of the most astounding engineering feats of the whole of the Ancient American civilisations. What you see is never to be forgotten - but have your camera ready as well, just for the record. Upon reaching the ruins, our experienced local guides will give you a tour of the ruins for approximately two hours and then the rest of the day is yours to explore. If you’re still feeling energetic you can climb the nearby Huayna Picchu Mountain and enjoy some more great views of the city and snap some brilliant pictures as well (this is not recommended when raining). Alternatively you can kick back under a tree in the plaza at Machu Picchu. We descend to the town of Aguas Calientes and later catch the return train to Cusco (or train and bus combo) which leaves Aguas Calientes at around 4 or 5 pm, arriving back in Cusco around 8.30pm, followed by a transfer back to Plaza Regocijo in Cusco arriving about 9pm.
Please Note:	You need to take at least 150.00 Soles extra emergency money as there are no ATM´s in Aguas Calientes and higher commission is charged on Travellers’ Cheques.
What's Included:	Entrance fees, return train tickets, lunch on Day 2, as well as the 19 % Peruvian tax.
Not Included:	Hot springs (10 soles), tips.
Permits:	No permits are required for the train trip tp Machu Picchu, meaning that you can usually visit at short notice.
Trail Closures:	Some of the other trails close at certain times of year for cleaning operations and due to adverse weather conditions. The 2-Day trip to Machu Picchu is open year round (availability permitting).
Return travel from Machu Picchu to Cusco	From April 2009 no Peru Rail trains will be running from Aguas Calientes all the way to Cusco. Trains will either run from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes to Poroy. From Ollantaytambo or Poroy to Cusco, a bus transfer service will be provided. Poroy to Cusco is around 20 minutes.
Please Note:	Please be aware that arrival times and the itinerary may change due to unforeseen delays or events such as festivals and public holidays. However, we shall endeavour to ensure all sites are visited and that your tour runs as smoothly as possible but please note that Latin America does not run like clockwork, therefore do not expect the streamlined travel arrangements associated with some other continents. Things do not always go to plan; there will be times when you will need to be patient and philosophical about your travels. Conditions in South America can change rapidly and changes to the itinerary may be necessary. CONTINGENCY FUND: Protests and civil unrest occasionally take place in South America, namely Peru and Bolivia. Occasionally this might mean that we have to fly between two destinations in order to continue the tour. We strongly recommend that you bring along a contingency fund (as a guide we suggest USD300) or a credit card to cover any unexpected additional travel costs that may arise in these circumstances. Be flexible, you will enjoy your tour much more. Kumuka makes a point of visiting the indigenous populations of each country you visit, in order to give a true reflection of the country; please treat the local people and their customs with respect. Lastly, your tour leader is always conscious of everybody's views, but sometimes he/she will have to make an unpopular decision and your understanding will be appreciated in these circumstances.
Special Conditions	Special cancellation conditions apply. Please refer to your travel consultant for details.

Pre Departure Information Follows


Insurance:	Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours. All clients MUST be insured to cover personal accident, medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment, repatriation, etc. Also, be aware that many activities such as trekking, bungy jumping or white water rafting may not be covered on your insurance policy. If you plan on doing any of these activities please purchase additional insurance. We recommend that you have a photocopy of this document, which you keep separate from the original. If you have not already arranged your own travel insurance then Kumuka can do this for you. Please visit http://www.kumuka.com/Travel-Insurance.aspx for more details or contact your nearest Kumuka office. Please Note: You will not be permitted to join a Kumuka Tour without travel insurance.
Passport:	Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. It must be valid for at least six months after the end of your tour and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate. PLEASE NOTE IF YOUR TOUR INCLUDES THE INCA TRAIL, KUMUKA MUST HAVE YOUR FULL NAME, PASSPORT DETAILS AND DATE OF BIRTH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO SECURE YOUR TREKKING PERMIT. ALL PERMITS ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY.
Visa Requirements:	It is important that you obtain the appropriate visas before you embark on your South America trip. Country entry regulations change daily, www.kumuka.com provides visa information. Please consult your Travel Agent or relevant embassy for all details such as opening hours or costs. EACH CLIENT IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING ALL NECESSARY VISAS BEFORE JOINING A TOUR.
Medical Information and Vaccinations:	Vaccinations: It is necessary to obtain an International Certificate of Vaccination before travelling. This is a record of your injections and should be issued with your first inoculation. Make sure that after each injection your certificate is dated, signed and stamped. Compulsory Inoculations: Yellow Fever for Bolivia. Yellow Fever certificate also required for Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru but only if arriving from an infected area. Please refer to the Yellow Fever information under the Latest News section on our website. Yellow Fever vaccination is now recommended for parts of Argentina, and parts of Brazil. We strongly recommend that you consult your GP or Travel Clinic at least several weeks prior to departure to check current Yellow Fever vaccination requirements. Your Yellow Fever vaccination certificate should be carried with you at all times. Recommended inoculations: Yellow fever, hepatitis A, diphtheria, typhoid, tetanus and polio. We also recommend: - A dental check-up prior to travelling. - That you know your blood group in case of emergency. - That if you have any pre-existing medical conditions which might affect you on tour, you make these known to your tour leader and your agent/Kumuka at the time of your booking. You can also visit www.kumuka.com. Medical Supplies: We advise that all passengers bring along their own personal first aid kit. Below is a list of some recommended items: Band Aids/Bandages, Laxatives, Upset stomach remedy, Anti-diarrhoea remedy, Panadol/Aspirin, Rehydration remedy, Antiseptic cream/powder, Sterile dressing, Any relevant course of medication such as contraceptive pills. A complete Travellers Medical Pack can be purchased for approximately US$25 at most Vaccination Centres, Chemists and outdoor travel shops. Medication requiring refrigeration whilst on tour: Kumuka Worldwide does not take responsibility for client medication during their trip and cannot guarantee refrigeration facilities. It is your responsibility to take the necessary steps to ensure that during your trip, your medication is stored correctly and available for use whenever it is required. • For clients booked on our South America Small Group Tours: Please be aware that these can involve some bus journeys of up to 18 hours. • For clients booked on our South America Overland Tours: Average journey times are 8-10 hours, though some travel days can be considerably longer. • All journey times are approximate and can be subject to delays. • On included excursions such as the Inca Trail, jungle and Pantanal trips we cannot guarantee facilities to be able to keep medication cold. • Not all hotels provide refrigeration facilities. • On all Kumuka Worldwide South America trips, the availability and provision of ice is random, and can be sporadic.
Altitude Sickness:	If you are beginning your trip in one of the Andean countries (Peru, Ecuador or Bolivia) please be aware that you may be susceptible to some form of altitude sickness. If you are starting your trip in La Paz, allow 2 days to adapt to these conditions. You may feel nauseous, overwhelmingly tired, short of breath or experience headaches. There are methods though of minimising the levels of altitude sickness that each person experiences. Taking the following steps will greatly help in minimising the level of altitude sickness, but please be aware that every individual reacts differently to it. Drink plenty of bottled water. At high altitude your breathing is rapid and shallow, causing you to dehydrate. 2 litres of water per day is the recommended amount. Avoid alcohol. Avoid smoking. If you are a heavy smoker they should either cut down or stop completely for their time in the altitude (although some smokers say they have an easier time because they are used to having less oxygen). Taking the above measures will in most cases mean that within 2 days your body should adjust to taking less oxygen but each individual will be affected differently.
Money:	We suggest passengers budget for between US$25-30 per day for personal expenses, souvenirs, evening out, alcoholic drinks etc. Be aware that some countries are more expensive than others and that if you are travelling through several your expenses will vary enormously. Similarly there will be some days when you spend nothing at all and others when you exceed your budget. Take your money is US dollars only. This the only foreign currency readily exchanged in Latin America. It is recommended that you take some US dollars cash in small denominations ($10 and $20) as well as larger amounts, all notes should have been issued since 2001 anything before that may not be accepted due to counterfeit concerns. In many countries, you may exchange US Dollars traveller’s cheques for US cash, or retrieve US dollars cash from ATMs (with a credit card), usually for a small commission but please do not rely solely on this option. Credit cards are accepted frequently, particularly in the larger cities. They can also be used to get money from ATMs. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are the most widely accepted credit cards. Visa being the most useful. If you choose to travel with traveller's cheques these should be AMERICAN EXPRESS which are the most readily accepted however, please note that exchanging traveller's cheques can be a lengthy process and you may not be able to exchange them in smaller towns or more remote areas. Travelex cards or other travel debit cards are an alternative option if you do not wish to carry much cash.
Security:	We recommend that you do not take unnecessary valuables with you. Wearing jewellery and expensive watches will attract attention. A money belt, or something similar, worn close to your body is the best way to carry passports, airline tickets and money. DO NOT leave any valuables in ANY hotel room, please use SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES. Items are left at your own risk. Pickpockets operate everywhere, particularly in tourist areas and in crowded markets; you must always exercise care. Be aware that anything left lying around will also be liable to theft.
Personal Effects:	We suggest that you take into account the time of year you will be travelling, and pack accordingly to the season. Quick drying clothes are recommended, and at many hotels there are laundry facilities. Your tour leader will advise where this is possible. Personal Effects: Camera & film, Spare passport photos, Water bottle, Money belt, Sewing kit, Sunhat/Sunglasses, Music cassettes /CDs, Books, Wet Ones, Soap to wash clothes, Writing materials, Swiss Army knife, Calculator, Personal toiletries, including tampons, Contraceptives, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen. NOTE: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are uncommon. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.
Local Customs:	Please use your discretion and be sensitive to cultural differences in the countries that you visit, in particular visits to religious buildings and when taking photographs. Your Tour Leader will advise you of any specific customs to observe.
Language:	Spanish is the language most widely spoken in the countries we visit in Latin America but English is spoken a little bit in the larger cities. In Brazil the main language is Portugese. Other languages you may encounter are; Quechua, spoken in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, Amyara spoken in Peru and Bolivia. Welsh is spoken in some of the old Welsh colonies of Argentinean Patagonia, with Guarani spoken in Northern Argentina. The Amazon region of Brazil is also home to many tribal languages, for example, Tupi. You might like to take the time before your trip to read up on the country you will be visiting and perhaps learn a few words of the language. Your effort will always be welcomed and will make your trip all the more enjoyable.
Photography:	Most passengers will travel with digital cameras. Should you run out of memory you can download your photos onto CD at the local internet cafes or camera shops on your tour. Alternatively, you may be able to purchase extra memory cards. With regards to film, all types of camera film are readily available in South America. However, it is often cheaper to purchase it in your country of origin or through duty free. Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission. Most Latin American countries have very strict rules about taking photos of army, police or any official personnel; restrictions apply at borders, bridges and any government building. Please exercise care in this regard as the penalty may be to have your camera confiscated. It is absolutely forbidden by law to take photos at any borders, as they are all active military installations.
Time:	For detailed information see www.timezoneconverter.com or www.timeanddate.com
Climate Information:	For detailed climate information see www.kumuka.com. Travel Tip: Always bring a lightweight, waterproof jacket and/or an umbrella even during the height of summer - this should prepare you for anything! In Patagonia temperatures can fall to below zero, even in the height of summer. Be prepared for very cold conditions. You should bring a warm jacket, gloves and woolly hat if you are doing a trip in Patagonia.
Books and Reading Material:	You might like to read up on the destinations that you are about to visit as these cities all have interesting sites and histories. We recommend a variety of guidebooks such as Lonely Planet, The Rough Guide and Insight Guides. All these publications have good general information as well as more specific country information that will help orientate you in the countries you visit.
Tipping and Bargaining:	For better or for worse, tipping is an accepted part of everyday life and although it is always at your discretion, you will be expected to tip to reward service. As a general guideline, in South America it is customary to tip 10% at restaurants and bars, USD5 to guides, and to leave approximately USD2 tip for the chambermaid and bellboy.
Pre & Post Tour Accommodation:	All our tours begin with a pre-departure meeting when you meet your tour leader and fellow travellers. If you wish to spend a few additional days in your start city before the departure of your tour, then we can arrange accommodation for you. On the last day of the tour we usually arrive at our final destination in the late afternoon, when the tour ends. If you would like to book accommodation for that night or even stay additional nights, we will be more than happy to arrange this for you as well. All our accommodation is carefully chosen, conveniently located, clean and comfortable. (All rates per person per night and subject to availability).
Staying in Touch:	Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this: Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad. Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers. Within Europe some hotels charge a wifi connection fee and we cannot guarantee a wifi connection at all hotels we use. Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!
Tour Feedback:	Tour Questionnaire - We would like to hear about your experiences on tour. One week after your tour ends you will automatically receive a feedback questionnaire via email. If we do not have your email address you can still complete a questionnaire by visiting www.kumuka.com/feedback Email - If you have any specific comments about your tour then please write to us by email to operations@kumuka.com
Drug Policy:	Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.
Contact Details:	KUMUKA WORLDWIDE UK OFFICE Hillswood Business Park 3000 Hillswood Drive Chertsey KT16 0RS Tel: +4420 7937 8855 Fax: +442075043782 Email: sales@kumuka.com www.kumuka.com AUSTRALIAN OFFICE Level 5, 387 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: 02 9279 0491 Fax: 02 9279 0492 Email: sales@kumuka.com.au www.kumuka.com.au
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This tour is operated by Kumuka Worldwide. Information given in all brochures, leaflets and dossiers is given in good faith by the company, and is based on the latest information available at the date of publication. The company reserves the right to change any of the facilities or vehicles described in the brochure without becoming liable for compensation or refund.

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