Depart Cusco 8-9am. The drive winds its way up the hillsides and over the mountains, taking you past many local ruins and finally descending into the Urubamba Valley - more commonly known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The valley is lush, peaceful and very picturesque, with many tiny villages that seem to have not changed for hundreds of years. Ruins run the length of this valley all the way to Machu Picchu, evidence that this was an extremely important area for the Incas, both ceremonially and strategically.
 
First stop is the Pisaq Ruins, located high up on the side of the valley. This is one of the best examples of the huge terracing system that the Incas used to produce the vast amounts of corn and potatoes they needed. Guided tour included. 
 
Next stop is the tranquil village of Pisaq, which has a fantastic and very colourful market. It is a great opportunity to meet the local Quechua people, and buy some locally made crafts.
 
The tour then follows the Urubamba River down the valley to Ollantaytambo. The group will stop for lunch at either the village of Pisaq or at a stop along the valley. Ollantaytambo village is a traditional Incan Village with its buildings, courtyards and narrow lanes retaining their original form. Rising above the village are the impressive Ollantaytambo ruins which gaze across the valley like a fortress. Guided tour included. 

Drive back to Cusco where the tour ends upon arrival.

Please note that Cusco Tourist Tickets are not included in the cost of this tour. These are payable locally. A full Cusco Tourist Ticket currently costs approximately USD45 (April 2010 price). This is not included as  part of the tour as there are several options and the tickets are also available at a discounted rate for those with international student cards. The ticket is required for entry into Pisac ruins  (not needed for Pisac market) and Ollantaytambo ruins. The ticket also allows access to many other sites in and around Cusco not included on this particular tour.

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.

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.

Brazilian Visas – All those requiring Brazil visas must obtain these prior to entry; it is strongly recommended these are arranged prior to travel where possible.

Obtaining Brazilian Visas in Buenos Aires.
Please note:  for Kumuka tours entering from Argentina these can be obtained at the Brazilian Consulate. All passengers must make and attend an appointment as well as allow time for the visa to be processed which can take anything from 12 hours up to 5 days, especially during months around Carnival.  If for any reason your visa is delayed it may be necessary to make arrangements to meet up with the tour once it has left Buenos Aires. Please see the following website for details on how to make an appointment and what documents are required when applying for a tourist visa. Appointments can be booked online up to a month in advance and the contact numbers will put you through to an English speaker if required.

http://www.conbrasil.org.ar/CONSBRASIL/visas_otros01engl.asp

Embassy details:
Consulate of Brazil
Carlos Pellegrini 1363 – 5 Piso
Buenos Aires
C1011AAA
Argentina
Tel: +54 (11) 45156500
Contact number for appointments: +54 (11) 4515-6525 (Mon-Fri 9am-2pm/3-5pm)

Kumuka does not accept responsibility for changes in regulations or requirements for visas. The information provided is given in good faith.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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