Guide Domingo on the Ausangate trek, another wonderful photo from Michael Mossop.

Apus Peru  are the alternative trekking specialists in Cusco – we pioneered many of these routes and are a local operator who runs the most adventurous options frequently, like the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek or the Ausangate Sibinacocha trek.

The further Apus Peru have entered the world of certified eco tourism, fair trade travel and ensuring our staff are properly paid, we have realised that “eco friendly” and environmentally conscious travel tends toward the mid to upper Price range.

We strongly feel that all travellers, whether they are backpackers on a shoestring or people who prefer a rugged trekking experience, should have the opportunity to do our innovative and creative treks.

We would like that these treks and adventures are more financially accessible -so are offering a once-a-month No Frills Featured Adventure Trek.  To make these treks possible we need to get a minimum of 6 people. 

Full details of what is included, and not included is found at this webpage:

http://www.apus-peru.com/make-a-booking/no_frills_adventure_treks.html

PLANNED TREKS
CHOQUEQUIRAO TO  MACHU PICCHU 7 DAYS
http://www.apus-peru.com/treks/choquequirao_machu_picchu_7days.html
DEPARTS 4TH APRIL, RETURNS 10TH APRIL
PRICE PER PERSON  $495
ISIC discounts available.  No other discounts apply.

** This trek now has two people confirmed – Needs 4 more to operate! **

CHOQUEQUIRAO TO VILCABAMBA WITH MACHU PICCHU EXTENSION
http://www.apus-peru.com/treks/choquequirao_vilcabamba.html

15^th May – 24^th May – after you finish the trek you might like to visit the Señor de Choquekillka Celebration on Pentecost Sunday (27th May) in Ollantaytambo. **
PRICE PER PERSON  $595

** This trek now has one person confirmed – Needs 4 more to operate! **

DEPARTS  27TH MAY RETURNS 1ST JUNE
VILCABAMBA TO MACHU PICCHU TREK
http://www.apus-peru.com/treks/vilcabamba_machu_picchu.htm
** SPECIAL 6 DAY ITINERARY **  Please email us for more details.
PRICE PER PERSON  $Please enquire.

** You can participate in Choquekilla celebrations before this trek, and then participate in the Qollor Riti Pilgrimage afterwards.
** Transport from Cusco to Huancacalle is both expensive and long, so therefore for our No Frills clients we are breaking our 5 day itinerary’s Day 1 into 2 days, and you spend a night in Quillabamba. The campsites depend on the group’s hiking speed.

10 DAY CARABAYA TREK, STARTING IN CUSCO
http://www.apus-peru.com/treks/carabaya.htm
DEPARTS FRIDAY JUNE 8, RETURNS FRIDAY 15 JUNE
**Timed to coincide with Corpus Christi on June 7th in Cusco! **
PRICE PER PERSON:  $495.00

Trekkers on the Ausangate Circuit, by Michael Mossop.

To vote for your favourite photo is easy…

We have now uploaded our favourite photos to our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Apus-Peru-Adventure-Travel-Specialists/169598426463571

simply view the album and click on the photos you like!

For the next two weeks fans and friends will have the chance to vote for their favourite photo Winner of popular choice (with a minimum of 15 likes/votes) will win a $100 voucher off any Apus Peru Trek!

So get your friends and family voting!

Photo by Nikos Mourtos.

Big Willy Tunquipa - "Saq`ra" - Jazz Hands

Tianna Meriage-Reiter submitted the above photo with the following explanation:

I went on the Lares Trek to Chaullacocha in August 2010.  My guide was Big Willy.  For the “Most interesting photo” category, I am sending this photo Jazz hands Big willy.    When I first met Big Willy, I tried to explain what Jazz Hands were in Spanish.   The best way to explain was to show it and yell out, “Jazz Hands!”  So it went that way for the entire trip.

And then when he took the children of Chaullacocha valley to Machu Picchu (with a little of my help), he sent me a picture with all the children with their hands in “Jazz Hands.”

Our sincere thanks to Tianna for her enormous generosity, in supporting Willy in his dream to take the kids and women of Chaullacocha to Machu Picchu.  And thank you to Willy for his efforts and amazing cariño for the kids of the remote communities.

Map reading on the Ausangate Trek. Photo by Michael Mossop.

We often get asked, “What should I pack?” We included general lists on our website, but here is one client’s list. Thank you to Tom Stein!

You can also read his trek report here, which is essential reading for anyone considering the epic Choquequirao to Machu Picchu or Choquequirao to Vilcabamba treks!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294318-i3352-k4930368-Observations_from_our_tek_to_Choquequirao_and_Machu_Picchu-Machu_Picchu_Sacred_Valley.html

Example packing list for longer trek.

Clothes

Convertible pants (zip off to shorts) with belt – wear one pair, pack one pair

Short sleeve shirt – wear one, pack two

Long sleeve shirt

Travel underwear – wear one, pack one

Fleece/down sweater

Gloves (water/windproof)

Hat with visor

Beanie for cold weather

Optional – set of thermals (top/bottom)

Optional – swimsuit for hot springs (men can use shorts of convertible pants)

Optional – buff/bandana

Notes:

-          prefer moisture wicking/quick drying materials; clothing that comes with sun block/insect protection is an added bonus; no cotton – especially socks!

-          apply permethrin to outer clothes (not to underwear) before trip

-          there may not be a chance to wash out clothes at every stop, so you may want extra socks or underwear

Gear

Sleeping bag and compression sack

Day pack

Waterproof liner for duffel (or trash bags)

Flashlight + batteries

Water reservoir(s) – Platypus is very lightweight

Pocketknife

Collapsible hiking poles

Sunglasses

Camp towel

Biodegradable soap/shampoo

Toiletries, medicine

Duct tape (small roll)

Ziploc bags (small, for packing out trash)

Toilet paper in Ziploc bag

Sun block

Lip balm

Hand sanitizer

Insect repellent

Personal first aid kit (include second skin and tape for blisters)

Camera

Waterproof notepad + mechanical pencil

Optional – coca candy (buy in Cusco)

Optional – sleeping pad

Optional – sleeping bag liner

Optional – inflatable pillow

• Jerzy, Ewa, Daniel Gwozdzinski
• Tianna Meriage-Reiter and her husband Yuri donated the clothes.

Your generosity is very much appreciated.

Serving hot chocolate! Erika Tapia, Fredy Callañaupa, Hilda Callañaupa and Miriam Kancha.

Erika Tapia, from the Apus Peru office, and popular cook Herbert Saire (from Quispicanchis) serve up hot chocolate during the 2011 Chocolatada. Photo courtesy Tsalina Phang.

Apus Peru guide Willy, and his daughter Nicolle, playing with the village kids.

Apus Peru General Manager, Fely Callañaupa, prepares the hot Chocolate.

Erika Tapia, giving out dolls. Photo courtesy Frankie Ginnett.

Miriam Kancha, from the Apus Peru office, serves up hot chocolate! Photo courtesy Frankie Ginnett.

Fely Callañaupa surrounded by women as she gives out clothes donated by Apus Peru client Tianna and her husband Yuri.

For more Apus Peru Chocolatada pictures see

http://www.apus-peru.com/en/gallery/category/357/chocolatadas

Apus Peru is looking for a dynamic, self starting individual to take on a new position: Community Service Projects Coordinator, complementing this part time role with the work of Travel Consultant.

The position is a varied and exciting office based role which will be stimulating and interesting for the right person, who would like to live and work in cosmopolitan Cusco, Peru:  the Navel of the world.   This job is ideally suited with someone with Travel Consulting experience, who would like to learn more about Community Development.  (or vice versa)  The two roles share similar skills, including project coordination, basic budgeting as well as some work in rural and remote communities.

Apus Peru has the vision to be a responsible and creative leader in the Latin American tourism industry; designing and operating innovative, sustainable tours that resoundingly demonstrate the positive impacts of ethical best practice.

Job Description

Community Service Projects (50% of role)

Beginning in 2010, Apus Peru has received significant interest in developing “community service and engagement” projects by clients, particularly school and university groups.  As this is a new position, you will be expected to create, oversee and develop Apus Peru’s community service projects from the “just an idea” stage.   We are seeking someone with experience in community or rural based tourism, or who has worked with indigenous/ local  people developing homestay projects.

Travel Consultant  (40% of role)

We are looking for a personable, organized and experienced Travel Consultant to join our growing team of professionals that enjoy sharing the wonders of Peru with our discerning and adventurous clientele worldwide.  You need to build long term client relationships from their first enquiry to their post trip evaluation.

Customer Service (10% of role)

Overall Customer Service and other duties.

How to apply

Please email Ariana Svenson at ariana(at)apus-peru.com, to request full job description, selection criteria, how to apply, and conditions of employment. 

Applications must be received by 5pm Thursday 26th January 2012 Peru time.

Just before Christmas,  the Ministry of Culture announced which dates the Inca Trail permits would go on sale this year.    (the Inca Trail year runs from March to January, with the Inca Trail being closed in February)

Basically, if any agency has clients for a certain month, they need to enter the lottery for that month.  The winner of the lottery has their pick of the dates for any one month… and so on… so its really important that when we have clients that have very specific travel dates that we have their details and deposit prior to the lottery date.

This year the dates are

02 January / March 2012 permits

03 January / April 2012 permits

04 January/ May 2012 permits

05 January / June 2012 permits

06 January/ July 2012 permits

07 January / August 2012 permits

What the lottery means is that the very popular dates in May, June and July near the big festivals usually sell out during the lottery period or soon after.   Big tour companies that have large groups of pre booked clients quickly snap up “prime” dates like the first week of March, around Easter and other festivals).

From 09 January the Inca Trail permits are sold as normal. You can check availaibility online at this site

http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/

In brief:

1. If you have very specific travel dates, and really want to do the Inca Trail on fixed dates then you should be contacting your travel company for further advice.
2. At Apus Peru, we ask any clients that have fixed dates for the Inca Trail for 2012 and have not sent us their booking information and deposit, should do so immediately.   (we would prefer to have all details 3 days before the lottery date, at a minimum).
3. After 09 January we will know which dates are available for the rest of the year. (We assume most dates will still have some availability but its very hard to be 100% sure or predict this kind of thing!)

A very useful page that further describes this process is found here

http://www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/treks/inca_trail_trek_permit_availability.html

They advise:

“Once the permits have gone on sale in January it is very likely that some dates will sell out immediately (dates such as the first week of March, several dates in April, many dates in May and a few dates around Inti Raymi in June (ie 15-28 June). Maybe a couple of dates in July will sell out and probably no dates in August. So if you want to book a trek departing in August you will probably still be safe to wait until February or even March to book.”

If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at reservas(at)apus-peru.com

Children show off their new toys!

With the annual Threads of Peru/ Apus Peru chocolatada over, dawns the realisation that Christmas is nearly upon us.

Wherever you are in the world, we wish you a happy and content Christmas with family, friends and loved ones.

We will have a full chocolatada report coming soon, complete with a long list of thanks…  but to start with a few tantalizing snaps of the children of Chaullacocha and Chupani enjoying their bread, hot chocolate and toys!

Office closed on the following  dates (unless by prior appointment)

Saturday 24 December & Sunday 25 December

Saturday 31 December & Sunday 1 January 2012

Chaullacocha Children tuck into their bread and hot chocolate. Photo by Frankie Ginnett, Apus Peru Travel Consultant & Threads of Peru Asst. Volunteer Coordinator

For those of you planning your trip to Peru, here is a good article for familiarizing yourself with yummy Peruvian cuisine!  Click on the link above to learn more about about cuy, ceviche, lucuma and more.

1. Best photo wearing an Apus Peru tshirt
2. Best trek memory (landscape or people)
3. Most interesting photo (this could be a humorous photo, but it might just be interesting, for the story it tells, or what it shows about Peru.)
4. Best blog post.

Ausangate Photograpy by Apus Client Michael Mossop

All photos to be submitted with:

1. Name of Apus Peru tour & guide and cook name (if  possible)
2. Approx date of travel
3. Not necessary, but appreciated – details of where you took the photo.

 ** Important note – there are many generous Apus Peru trekkers out there that have already sent us photos, blog posts and information about their trek. Just because we might already use some of your photos or information on our website, doesn’t mean that you can’t enter the competition. **

 Prizes!

Grand Prize Winner (best photo overall)  $400 voucher off any Apus Peru Trek!

Category Winners (1 photo from the above three categories)

$200 voucher off any Apus Peru Trek!

Popular choice

We will upload our favourite photos to our Facebook page on the conclusion of entries, and for a period of two weeks fans and friends will have the chance to vote for their favourite photo.

Winner of popular choice (with a minimum of 15 likes/votes)

$100 voucher off any Apus Peru Trek!

Highly Commended

Any photo from the above categories that was recognized by the judges as being outstanding.

$50 voucher off any Apus Peru Trek!

Entry conditions.

Another great Michael Mossop shot of his trek group!

• The closing date for entries into the Apus Peru Adventure Travel Specialists will be 31^st January 2012 and late entries will not be accepted.
• There is a limit to two entries per category per person, the maximum resolution being 5MB in Jpeg or Tif format.
• To enter, please email the photos to Ariana (reservas@apus-peru.com) titled, Photography Competition.
• The competition is only open to travellers with Apus Peru Adventure Travel Specialists who must be 18 years old and over. All images submitted must be owned by the traveller and the image cannot be under copy write or to any other person or institution.
• Apus Peru Adventure Travel Specialists reserves the right to publish or use submitted photographs  for unlimited use of images for our website, our Facebook page,  and any advertising or company brochure production without obtaining any further consent.
• The competition is not open to employees of Apus Peru Adventure Travel Specialists, their agents or families.
• Each prize voucher can be redeemed against one trek per person. International flights, Insurance, Accomodation  and Local Payment are not included in the prize.
• The prize voucher can be given to a named friend or family member providing you contact us with their name prior to the voucher being redeemed.
• The prize voucher must be used within twelve months of the date of the prize draw subject to availability.
• The prize featured cannot be combined with any other promotional offer and is non-transferable to another trip and there are no cash or other alternatives to the prize stated.
• Each winner will be notified by email to which they will be given written advice of their win featuring all terms and conditions.

Good luck! We can’t wait to see what a great time you had!