Swift Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

SERVICES INCLUDED: Transportation by vehicle to the trek, two-man tents including sleeping pads, porters, kitchen crew and commissary gear with all meals included. Bilingual guide on the trek, who will handle the first aid kit.

SERVICES NOT INCLUDED: Hotels in Cusco and Machu Picchu, beverages, extras, tips, taxes, laundry service, additional tours, insurance and airline tickets (where applicable), sleeping bags, hiking boots and other personal gear. Meals in Machu Picchu (dinner day 3), lunch and dinner (day 4).

Private Van
Train

1 Nights hotels
2 Nights camping

At Explorandes we firmly believe that responsible tourism is the only way of guaranteeing the sustainable development of this activity for present and future generations. As a result of this belief ever since we started, we involved the local communities and worked with them as suppliers of goods and services, helping them by contributing with medicines, school materials and sanitary issues. Tied in with this, was our commitment to the environment trying to minimize footprint and respecting the traditional way of life of the peoples through whose territory we passed.

At the turn of the century we decided to systematize the good practices that we had instituted over the last 25 years, so we committed to becoming an ISO 14000 certified company since this involves implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS), where we had to develop internationally accepted standards. After two years of effort, at the beginning of 2003, we managed to obtain the ISO 14001 certification, accomplishment which we are proud of because we managed to achieve it as a team commitment of our office and field staff working together. This, however, means we work towards a continuing improvement of our performance and also implies passing a yearly audit where goals and monitoring activities have to be achieved. In early 2004 we passed the first external audit of our EMS.

Through our ISO 14001 we have managed to reduce the generation of solidwaste by 50%, substitute traditional cleaning products by biodegradable products, reducing our impact on water courses and the environment. We have also managed to educate and influence our field staff and their communities to improve their quality of life by enhancing their interaction with their own environment. Our work in this area has also caused other operators to improve their environmental performance since it implied improving their standards to be able to compete.

As pioneers in adventure travel in the Andes we are firmly committed to maintain a leadership role and set an example within our sector and we are therefore proud to be the first in Latin America to have certified as an internationally recognized company that has an Environmental Quality certification.

Our Environmental and Social Policy is based on the following principles:

Consider environmental management a company priority, committing ourselves to complying with applicable legislation and other voluntary compliances established by us.

Annually review our quantifiable goals to reduce to the maximum possible levels the generation of solid waste, pollution of water courses, the risks of fire and the disturbance of wildlife caused by our activities, products and services.

Rationally use tourist attractions and the surrounding natural resources preventing their unnecessary abuse and/or consumption minimizing impacts caused to the lifestyle of communities in harmony with the landscape, flora and fauna.

Hire, whenever possible, local employees and suppliers, purchasing local and environmentally friendly products for our operations.

Promote the proactive participation and training of workers, clients and suppliers in the maintenance of the Environmental Management System (EMS), involving and committing them to the compliance of the environmental goals through continuous improvement.

None

Explorandes

It seems like a long time ago that myself and close friends, some still members of our team, began exploring the surroundings of Cusco, backpacking into remote areas where Andean people still lived immersed in their ancient traditions and beliefs, practicing subsistence agriculture in inaccessible valleys.

We started 30 years ago as a real adventure company. We like to work doing what we enjoy most: hiking, climbing, river-rafting, being in contact with the Andean culture and searching to discover the hidden secrets and natural beauty as well as the recent past of the Andean back country.

As the first company to commit to developing trekking and river-running trips, we pioneered many routes around the Cordilleras of the Andes, opening old Inca Trails and ancient colonial pack trails to remote mountain areas.

Nowadays, Explorandes is a regional tour operator. Our company has evolved and we have more and more adventure, soft adventure and cultural programs as well as specialized itineraries. We are also very strong in tailor and custom trips that suit particular needs of individuals and groups with special interests.

Moreover, we have worked hard during 3 years to achieve the ISO 14001 certification and finally we obtained it in 2003, being the first adventure travel operator in Latin America to receive such a certification, and possibly worldwide.

Our team is the most valued asset we have. We are all dedicated to serve our clients above and beyond their expectations. This knowledge has been formed through 30 years of Explorandes as a consequence of the high standards of services that tourism demands, allowing us to offer our clients an exceptional service. Our staff is well-trained in health, safety and environmental matters. We have clear policies and abide by the highest standards of quality and environmental responsibility thereby preserving nature, as well as our ancient treasures sprinkled all over this megadiverse country full of footprints from the pre-columbian past.

We are more than willing to put on that extra effort to make a trip extraordinary and beyond your expectations assuring you that we are big enough to take care of you and small enough to care about you.

Explore the Andes with us! Come and enjoy our passion and have the time of your life!

Alfredo Ferreyros
President

Our company has been in business for 30 years and is the pioneer in South America for trekking, river running and rainforest expeditions.
We work with renowned and leading tour-operators world-wide. These important relationships keep us ahead in innovative ways of providing outstanding services through shared field experiences.
Our efficiency and vocation for service is always apparent when you book with us.
Our Environmental Management System which includes social responsibility in our sustainable practices has been certified as a ISO 14001 process in 2003.
We have a 24-hour emergency contact number for operations in Cusco, Lima, Huaraz, Puno and Arequipa, as well as our normal office phones, available during office hours.

Responsibilities

Important - Read carefully

Explorandes SAC reserves the right to modify or withdraw any travel arrangements when deemed necessary, in the best interest of our clients. We reserve the right to refuse, accept or retain any person as a member on any of our trips. Baggage is carried at owners risk throughout the tour.

Explorandes SAC acts only in the capacity of an AGENT upon the legal conditions that, while exercising every possible precaution it is not responsible for injury, sickness, damage, loss, additional expenses, accidental delay or other irregularities which may be caused either through willful or negligent acts or omissions on the part of companies or individuals providing or engaged in transportation, accommodation or other services related to the accomplishment of the tour, or through natural disasters, social upheavals or acts of nature. On day trips you will be asked to sign an affidavit which acts as a release form for risks incurred during your trips.

On day trips you will be sometimes asked to sign an affidavit which acts as a release form for risks incurred during your excursion, which is a usual practice for some operators.

PRICING

All prices hold for a calendar year and will be reevaluated and/or adjusted at the end of each year. Due to our good relations with hotels, transport companies and operators in general, we maintain very competitive prices. All our prices include administration and operational costs.

For small groups who wish to sign up as a group on any of the published Fixed Departure Itineraries (FDI's) special discounts are available. Children under 12 years of age are sometimes subject to discounts. Please let us know when a party includes children below this age, depending on the itinerary we will confirm the possibility of a discount. On our FDI's, children are subject to a special discount.


PAYMENTS

All payments are due in full, thirty days prior to departure. Normally, in order to guarantee quality of guides, spaces in hotels and many other collateral services, our policy is to pre-pay contracted services.


CANCELLATIONS

All passengers are subject to a cancellation fee, which will be charged if a reservation is canceled less than the 30 days prior to the arrival date of a passenger. The following fees apply to the cancellations:

Individuals (FIT)
1-15 days prior: 100% of total cost
16-30 days prior: 50% of total cost

Groups
1-30 days prior: 100% of total cost

NOTE: Our suppliers' policies and conditions have been continually changing and in some cases we will not receive refunds for cancellations over 30 days prior to individual or group arrival dates, which means we may not be able to give a 100% refund. Inca Trail entrance tickets are non-refundable.


INSURANCE & MEDICAL ISSUES

We strongly recommend the use of a travel/medical insurance plan.

If a member of a group gets sick or is incapacitated, we take care of him by getting a qualified doctor to him/her. In these cases extra costs are assumed by the individual client, including hospitalization if necessary. In the case of accident and/or necessary emergency evacuation, all expenses will be covered by the individual. This is why we recommend the purchase of a travel/medical insurance purchased at home.

Due to our good relations with hotels, transport companies and operators in general, we maintain very competitive prices. All our prices include administration and operational costs.

All passengers are subject to a cancellation fee, which will be charged if a reservation is cancelled less than the 30 days prior to the arrival date of a passenger. The following fees apply to the cancellations:

16/30 days prior = US$ 350 fee
8/15 day prior = US$ 500 fee
1/7 days prior = 100 % of total cost