Ron Janowitz/Robin Melavalin
Trekking Peru: Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca
SUMMARY OF TRIP INFORMATION
Trekking Peru: Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca
Leader Ron Janowitz
Co-leader Robin Melavalin
Peru - Inca Trail and Lake Titicaca
May 31-June 13, 2014
Total # of days 14
Backpacking
Bicycling-Mountain
Bicycling-Road
Title of trip
Leadership
Location(s)
Dates
Type of trip
check all that apply
Primary type of trip
Number of participants
(excluding leaders)
Advertised cost
Airfare range if not included
When should the trip notice be
published in AMC Outdoors?
Do you wish to have your trip
listed online before it is
published in AMC Outdoors?
Smaller trips and leader
subsidization
Camping
Cultural
Family
Hiking
Paddling-Canoeing
Paddling-Sea-Kayaking
Skiing-CrossSkiing-Downhill
Snorkeling
Country (Nordic)
(Alpine)
Trekking (e.g., hutWalking
Other – please describe
to-hut)
Trekking (e.g., hut-to-hut)
Select one of those checked above.
Minimum 10
Maximum 14
$ 3685
Does it include airfare? Yes
No
$ 800-1200
Will leaders assist participants with flights? Yes
No
First Appearance: Month Sept
Year 2013
Last Appearance: Month May
Year 2014
Note: AMC Outdoors is only published in Jan., March, May, July, Sept., Nov.
Yes
No If yes, please list the approximate month and year when it should
be posted on line. June 2013
Is this proposal for a small group trip – i.e., less than 14 participants and 2
leaders or 7 participants and 1 leader? Yes
No
If yes, why is a small group proposed?
If a participant fee increase of more than 15% is proposed, please explain why?
LEADER AND CO-LEADER INFORMATION
Leader name
Leader address
Leader email
Leader phone
Wilderness first aid
training
CPR training
Prior leading experience
Trip one
Trip two
Trip three
Other related trip
Form Revised Arpil 2013
Ron Janowitz
88 W Haven Rd, Manchester, NH 03104
ron@ronjanowitz.com
Home 603 625-9848
Work
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: May 2015
Cell 603 361-3072
CPR
BLS
Expiration: April 2014
If this is your first Adventure Travel trip as a Leader you must be present at the AMCATC meeting at which the trip proposal is considered.
Please list the last three longer (5+ day) trips you have led for the AMC including
destination, type of trip, dates and number of participants. Feel free to list additional
trips you have led, particularly if they demonstrate experience related to the trip you are
proposing.
Patagaonia, hiking, Feb./Mar. 2013, 14 participants
Sedona, hiking, November 2012, 14 participants
Olympic Natl Park, hiking, September 2012, 14 participants
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 1 of 6
Trekking Peru: Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca
Ron Janowitz/Robin Melavalin
experience
Co-leader name
Co-leader address
Co-leader email
Co-leader phone
Wilderness first aid training
CPR training*
Prior leading experience
Trip one
Trip two
Trip three
Other related trip experience
Scouting
Have either of you led this trip
before or traveled to this area?
Languages
Does either the co-leader or
leader speak the local language?
Couples
Do the leader and co-leader
have a significant personal
relationship?
Private trips Do either of you
lead trips that are private - not
sponsored by the AMC?
Robin Melavalin
11 Cuthbert Road, West Roxbury, MA 02132
Rmelavalin@rcn.com
Home 617.323.3374
Work 617.928.4624
Cell 617.780.5362
WFA
AWFA
WFR
Expiration: May 2014, will renew May 2014
CPR
BLS
Expiration: May 2015
If you are a new co-leader you must submit an application to be an Adventure Travel
leader or co-leader prior to submitting this application. Also, it is strongly
recommended that you be present at the AMC-ATC meeting at which the trip proposal
is considered.
Please list the last three longer (5+ day) trips you have led for the AMC including
destination, type of trip, dates and number of participants. Please indicate if you were
the leader or co-leader.
Kayaking and Whale Watching in Baja, Mexico 2012
Morocco Trek and Sights 2009 and 2010
Hut to Hut in the Bavarian Alps 2008 and 2009
Led college student groups to Cuba, Cape Verde, etc.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below:
Ron was at Lake Titicaca in 2000
Co-leader: Yes
No
Leader: Yes
No
Not applicable:
Yes
No
If yes, please list who has agreed to be your back-up in case one or
both of you need to drop out. This is required for approval!
Yes
No
If yes, please note that you cannot advertise AMC and private
trips together unless there is a clear distinction between the two in any materials
you send out.
LOGISTICAL DETAILS OF TRIP
Summary
Please provide a description
of the trip and the activities
planned. If available, please
include or attach an itinerary.
Accommodations
Please describe your plans for
accommodation(s)
Meals: Please describe your
plans for providing meals. If
the budget includes any funds
for leader meals not shared
with the group please justify.
Local Transportation
Please describe your plans for
Form Revised Arpil 2013
Fly from USA to Lima, Peru; fly from Lima to Arequipa. Arequipa is the second largest
city in Peru (850,000) at 7600 feet. Tour of cultural sites; Drive to Puno, on the shore of
12,500' Lake Titicaca, with a stop at nature preserve to view vicuñas (wild animals
similar to alpacas). Boat ride across Lake Titicaca to Taquile Island, have homestay with
local family 1 night. Drive to Cuzco for tour of culture and art. Trek meeting to review
the trip, safety and gear. Tour of the Sacred Valley and visit to wool dyeing and weaving
studio. Four-day trek on the Inca Trail with stops at archaeological ruins and cloud
forest. Bus to Aguas Calientes; tour Machu Picchu and climb Huayna Picchu; train to
Cuzco for shopping and exploring. Fly back to USA.
Camping in 2-person tents during the trek. Three-star hotels when not on trek, double
occupancy.
Trek days include all meals. Breakfasts are included at the hotels. Participants will be
responsible for 8 dinners and 5 lunches on non-trek days.
Internal flights from Lima to Arequipa and Cuzco to Lima are included in trip cost. All
other transportation is by outfitter supplied vans. Also use trains and local buses.
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 2 of 6
Trekking Peru: Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca
local transportation
Will leaders or participants be
drivers of motor vehicles?
Permits or permissions
Does the trip require special
permits or permissions?
(required on many U.S.
federal lands and national
parks)
Ron Janowitz/Robin Melavalin
Will leaders be drivers?
Will volunteer participants be drivers?
If so, MVR checks will be needed. See Appendix S1.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will need to do to obtain them:
Andean Treks will purchase the two permits for each member of our group: Inca Trail
Trekking Permit and permit to Climb Huayna Picchu.
If no, please describe the process you went through to find out that they were not
required:
Special equipment
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of equipment and how you
Does the trip require special
will ensure that people know how to use it:
equipment?
Participants will need to bring a 30 degree sleeping bag, or rent one from outfitter.
Special experience
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what type of experience? Also describe
Does the trip require special
how you will ensure that the participant has this experience?
skills on the part of the
Recent, intermediate hiking experience. Participants will be asked about their experience
participant?
on the application and in the interview. High elevation experience is not necessary.
Pre-trip activities
Yes
No
If yes, please describe below what you will do:
Do you plan to get your group A pre-trip hike in NH and/or dinner will give participants the opportunity to bond and
together before the trip for an
ask questions.
activity or social event?
Our guide has successfully completed a 5-year university program involving
Conservation, education and
history, archeology, language proficiency and related topics and will share this
recreation
How will this AMC-AT trip meet the
educational information with our group. In addition, we will practice Leave No
mission of the AMC?
Trace and learn about the importance of preserving World Heritage natural sites.
www.outdoors.org/about/mission.cfm
TOUR OPERATOR AND GUIDE SERVICE INFORMATION
Will this trip require a tour
operator or guide service
during part, or the entire
trip?
Name of tour operator/guide
service
Tour operator website
Safety record
Please provide information
about their safety record.
Insurance
Do they have liability
insurance?
Emergency response
Please describe the outfitters’
response plan in the case of an
emergency.
Form Revised Arpil 2013
Yes
No
Please describe their services. If you are using a tour operator for the entire trip,
please describe why you will be using them rather than doing this trip on your own:
The main guide will accompany the group from arrival at Arequipa at start of trip
through return to Cuzco from Machu Picchu at the end. During the trek, we will have
one guide per each 8 trekkers.
Andean Treks, Inc.
http://www.andeantreks.com
We have operated commercial treks and tours in Peru since 1980. Our passengers have
suffered an occasional sprained ankle and comparable minor wear and tear, but no
serious injuries over this time period. The most common health & safety problems fall
in two areas: gastro-intestinal problems, and insufficient acclimation.
Liability? Yes
No
Maximum amt: $ $2 million
Are they willing to list AMC as an
Yes
No
additional insured?
For the first half of the itinerary, we would turn to private medical clinics in Lima,
Arequipa, and Puno. On the trek, the guide carries a comprehensive medical kit,
including inflatable splints, oxygen, and stretcher. Porters are enlisted to effect the
evacuation, accompanied by a member of the trek staff. The guide always carries a
cellphone; in areas where cellular coverage is patchy, the guide carries a satellite phone.
After stabilizing the situation, the guide makes an incident report to operations base in
Cuzco, where we have a 24-hour incoming line. Evacuation off a trek route is usually
accomplished using just the resources of the trek crew (we carry a collapsible stretcher as
standard equipment). In consultation with the operations base, if additional
transportation or other support is required, it is organized out of the Cuzco operations
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 3 of 6
Ron Janowitz/Robin Melavalin
Trekking Peru: Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca
base. Most cases of minor H+S problems can be attended to by the medical staff in
regional centers such as Machu Picchu. For more serious cases we evacuate to Cuzco,
where we have a long-standing relationship with the well-equipped Clinica Pardo, tel.
(51-84) 624-186. Most of the passengers who complain of minor ailments receive
treatment at the community health clinics in either Aguas Calientes or in Ollantaytambo,
the two communities nearest the end and the start of the Inca Trail route.
RISK ASSESSMENT
Please assess the risks and hazards of your trip. Carefully consider each area of risk and how it may affect your trip.
Devise a plan to prevent each hazard and to respond to it if it becomes necessary. Please be very specific for each section
if applicable.
Trail conditions, river crossings, weather, wildlife (bears, snakes, etc.)
Climate/terrain
Potential hazards
This is a challenging high-altitude route through mixed terrain. While the trail is
maintained in good condition by Machu Picchu National Sanctuary staff, there are some
patches of loose gravel and steep Inca-built stone staircases where careful attention to
your footing is required. There are few stretches of the trail where trekkers are exposed
to any vertical drops; in these few areas the trail is at least a meter wide, and so by taking
normal precautions, the risk of falling off the trail is negligible. We trek only during
daytime, never at night. Altitude presents some risks, which we deal with by building
acclimation days into the program. The tropical sun is strong and will burn any
passengers who do not follow well-known precautions (hats, sunscreen etc). While some
venomous snakes have been reported at the elevation of Machu Picchu, these anecdotal
reports are rare. Andean Treks has never had one of their passengers encounter a snake
on this route.
Response
Participants will be advised to bring sunhats, sunscreen and rain gear. On arrival into
Cuzco, our guide engages the group in a trek orientation meeting, in which the guide
carefully reviews what passengers may expect on the trek. H&S issues as related to
packing and preparing for the trek are a top priority. We schedule the orientation
meeting so that passengers have time to purchase any items they may have forgotten to
bring or lost en route.
Political concerns, crime, language translation, terrorism
Foreign Country
Potential hazards
Street crime largely consists of pickpockets and bag slashers. Some incidents of taxi
robberies have been reported in both Cuzco and Lima. In late January 2013, the U.S.
Consulate in Lima reported a risk of kidnapping of U.S. tourists, based on intercepted
communications from a terrorist cell operating in the rainforest zone of northern Cuzco
Departamento. This warning was rescinded a couple of weeks later, and since then there
has been no hint of any kidnapping plots. While English-language ability is common
among hotel receptive staff, elsewhere there will be situations where language barriers
increase the risk of problems going unresolved.
Response
We counsel our passengers to leave their valuables in the hotel safe and carry only
spending money when in the streets. The guide reminds passengers to use radio-taxis
when returning late to their hotels from dinner. Common-sense traveler precautions
seem to be sufficient for preventing all but occasional incidents of theft. We chose robust
hotels which have a good record for safety and security. Our guide is available to
trouble-shoot problems as they occur.
Road conditions, drivers, insurance
Transportation
Potential hazards
Roads through mountainous country and heavily populated areas, road travel at night.
Response
We charter our vehicles, rather than using common carriers. We use transport
subcontractors who are in full compliance with all statutory safety and insurance
regulations. These include carrying liability insurance for every passenger; seatbelts at
every seat; and drivers with all current licensing and documentation.
Level of fitness, screening concerns, experience with equipment or activity
Participants
Potential hazards
Difficulty with long-distance trekking, inadequate boots, lack of poles.
Response
Participants will be screened for recent intermediate hiking experience. Leaders will
recommend that participants maintain excellent fitness in the months prior to departure.
Form Revised Arpil 2013
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 4 of 6
Trekking Peru: Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca
Other
Potential hazards
Response
Ron Janowitz/Robin Melavalin
Participants will be encouraged to purchase travel insurance.
Conditions unique to this type of trip
high altitude sickness
Encourage particiants to drink lots of water. Pax can get Rx for diamox from their doctor
prior to trip.
EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
Please describe your plans for dealing with emergencies. Give as much detail as possible and list any special
communications equipment you may need to ensure the safety of your participants. DO NOT LEAVE THIS BLANK
Guides will carry satellite and/or cell phone. On the Inca Trail, the worst-case evacuation
Emergency communication
Phone contacts, language,
can be achieved in about 12 hours (out to either Aguas Calientes or Ollantaytambo
documentation, distance from
Community Health Centres). Elsewhere on this itinerary, we can usually reach a
emergency services
professional medical center in 3-4 hours from any point in the itinerary. The US
Embassy in Peru is at Avenida La Encalada cdra. 17 s/n
Surco, Lima 33,
Peru
Telephone: (51-1) 618-2000
Fax: (51-1) 618-2397.
Leaders will carry first aid kits. Guides will use cell or satellite phones as appropriate for
Emergency equipment
What sort of emergency first
the various locations on the trip. Guide carries a comprehensive medical kit, including
aid or communication
inflatable splints, oxygen, and stretcher.
equipment (satellite phone,
two-way radios) do you plan
to use, if any?
Porters are enlisted to effect the evacuation, accompanied by a member of the trek staff.
Evacuation
Please describe your plan for
Those needing evacuation will be walked out if possible. Most problems related to
evacuation from the
altitude are easily remedied by going down.
backcountry location if
applicable?
In serious cases, the Clinica Pardo in Cuzco is (51-84) 624-186. Most of the passengers
Medical care
Please describe the medical
who complain of minor ailments receive treatment at the community health clinics in
care available in the area(s)
either Aguas Calientes or in Ollantaytambo, the two communities nearest the end and the
where you will be traveling
start of the Inca Trail route.
and list names and telephone
numbers for these facilities.
COST AND BUDGET DETAILS
A 4% contingency is included in the price. Most costs are fixed, such as
Foreign currencies
For int’l trips list each foreign currency, the
the payment to the outfitter in US dollars. Only a few items could
current $US dollar exchange rate and what
change, like the airfare from Lima to Arequipa and from Cusco to Lima.
contingencies you have if that rate changes. If
a tour operator or agent is being used, what
Current exchange rate as of May 12, 2013 is: 1 Peruvian Nuevo Sol
currency is the agent to be paid in?
(PEN) = $.384 US ($1US = 2.6 PEN)
$350 per person non-refundable will be provided to the outfitter by Dec 21 so they can
Group Trip Deposits
What deposits will be required
buy trek permits, etc. Final payment is due to outfitter 60 days before departure.
from you by airlines, hotels, tour Domestic flights will be purchased once we have the minimum number of participants
operators, etc., and when?
(10).
Dec 21, 2013
Group Trip Refunds
What is the latest date you can
cancel and still receive a full
refund of any deposits?
$1000 due with application, no later than Dec 9, 2013. Balance is due in 2 equal
Participant deposits
What are the initial deposit and
payments on Jan 9, 2014 and March 9, 2014.
your schedule of payments by
participants to you?
Cancellations after Dec 9, 2013 will lose their $350 deposit. Any additional refunds
Cancellation policy
What will be your cancellation
will only be made if it does not raise the cost of the trip to the other participants or
Form Revised Arpil 2013
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 5 of 6
Trekking Peru: Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca
policy for the participants?
Minimum numbers
Will you still run the trip if you
do not get the minimum number?
Reference web links:
AMC-ATC Home Page:
Forms:
Deadlines:
E-Mail Addresses:
Club House:
AMC-ATC Chair:
Form Revised Arpil 2013
Ron Janowitz/Robin Melavalin
leaders. There is a possibility that participants may not receive any refund. Once
permits are issued for the Inca Trail trek, they cannot be changed or transferred.
Participants will be encouraged to purchase trip cancellation insurance.
Yes
No
If yes, please describe conditions:
Minimum 10 participants.
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/application/
http://snebulos.mit.edu/orgs/amc/committee/proposals/
nholland@outdoors.org
amcatchair@comcast.net
Adventure Travel Trip Proposal Form, page 6 of 6