Description
OVERVIEW:
- Duration: 7 days / 6 nights.
- Starting point: Cusco
- Ending point: Cusco
- Group size: Small groups maximum 8, average 5
- Travel style: Hiking, Trekking, Archaeological and Cultural trek.
- Trek Rating: The trek to CHOQUEQUIRAO and MACHU PICCHU is one of the most beautiful routes in Peru.
- Difficult Level: Moderate to difficult.
- Height: 2,800 masl at 3110 masl (the highest point).
- Walking distance: 45 km. or 28 miles.
- Departure Dates: Daily departures
HIGHLIGHTS:
- This Trek gets to Choquequirao also known as “the sacred sister of Machu Picchu”
- Explore the ruins and learn about the mysteries of the ancient Inca Culture visiting this incredible archaeological site.
- Hiking alongside to beautiful landscapes and see natural bridges, Andean valleys, snowcapped mountains, cascades and cloud forest
- Ideal for couples, group of friends, nature lovers, and for all family.
- Informative Trip led by a friendly and expert local guide
- All entrance tickets and permits are includes
- All necessary equipment included
- Complimentary pickup and drop off from all Cusco hotels
- Complimentary luggage storage while hiking.
- Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
The Inca City of Choquequirao was a gorgeous and very important place in the Inca civilization being the nexus between the Amazon jungle and the Cusco City.
This trek to Choquequirao is ideal for many tourists who want to explore the Andes and what are really interested in learning about the Inca Civilization.
The route combines beautiful mountain scenery and unbelievable panoramic views, lush cloud-forest, a subtropical jungle of splendid natural surroundings, with the amazing Choquequirao Archaeological Site little known, which has magnificent work of the Inca masons such as an outstanding mix of Inca paving stones placed over trails, temples, Inca houses, agriculture terraces, warehouses, water channels, fountains and much more, whole this can be visited currently.
Finally, before you discover this fabulous trek for yourself, we invite you to join us on a virtual tour over Peruvian Andes, on one of the most beautiful treks of South America… Now, take a breath, imagine and dream, you are almost in CHOQUEQUIRAO…Welcome!
Day 1: CUSCO-CACHORA-CHIQUISCA
Pick up from your hotel in Cusco at 5:00 in our transport and then drive to CACHORA (2909 m./9543 ft.), Town where we will have breakfast and prepare our bags before starting the trek for 3 hours. We started our way around 9:00. From here, the first 2-hour hike along a beautiful, descending path, there are spectacular views of the valley and the river. The path is surrounded by lovely plants and flowers such as begonias, orchids, cacti and you can see some local birds, and we arrive at the beautiful viewpoint called CAPULIYOC (m 2915/9561 ft), from here, we will have the privilege of seeing spectacular views from the snowy peaks of Padrayoc and Wayna Cachora (mountains of more than 5400 m.). At this point we will have time to enjoy our appetizers and take some pictures of the breathtaking views of the river and the canyon that spans the valley. From here we will descend through a unique zigzag path for 2 more hours to reach our lunch spot. Finally around 1:00 pm we will have lunch. They have time to relax, rest and have a refreshing tea, before arriving ready to walk again for 2 hours more descending, so we will arrive at our camp located in CHIQUISCA (1836/6023 feet) around 5:00 pm where we will spend the night.
Hiking time: 6 hours
Walk distance: 19 km.
Time: Hot.
Height: of 2909 m. up to 1836 m.
Accommodation: Camping
Day 2: CHIQUISCA – MARAMPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAO ruinas
After our breakfast, we leave early, during the whole day we will see a great variety of bromeliads, orchids and bamboo stands, we also expect to see birds like: watchbird, toucans and great variety of hummingbirds. From our campsite we walk about 1 hour to descend to the bottom of the canyon, called PLAYA ROSALINAS and the magnificent APURIMAC river (m 1550/5084 ft). From here the most difficult section of the road will probably begin due to the ascent; 2 hours climb to SANTA ROSA (m.2095/6873 feet) where we will have time to take a refreshing break. From SANTA ROSA we will continue uphill for another 2 hours towards MARAMPATA (2913m / 9557ft), a flat land where we can rest and enjoy the views of the Apurímac canyon and the famous Inca site of Choquequirao. Here to have lunch and take advantage of the facilities (bathrooms and laundry room). After lunch we continue to the trek for another one hour to reach our campsite that is just outside the great Inca site CHOQUEQUIRAO (3110 m./10120 ft) and spent the evening at the ruins, where we will see a beautiful sunset over the mountains, and if we can be luck of condors point hike near the valley below. Camping in the CHOQUEQUIRAO camp (cold water showers and toilets are available).
Hiking time: 7-8 hours
Walk distance: 14 km.
Time: Hot.
Height: 1836 m up to 1550 m. and 1550m. up to 3110 m.
Accommodation: Camping
Day 3 : Ruins of CHOQUEQUIRAO – passage of CHOQUEQUIRAO- MAIZAL
Después de nuestro desayuno que visitaremos el misterioso sitio Inca de CHOQUEQUIRAO, donde nuestro guía profesional le explicará sobre la historia de este magnífico lugar Inca. Originalmente descubierto en el siglo XVII por los españoles, estaba abandonado y olvidado hasta años recientes cuando turismo había elevado el perfil de la ciudad y comenzó la exploración. Incluso con este interés creciente se ha explorado solamente el 25% de la ciudad y muchos de sus secretos aún esperan ser descubierto. Actualmente podemos visitar las zonas más importantes como la plaza principal, las casas del inca, los graneros, el sector ceremonial y sus altares, las famosas terrazas y el gran sector de la Llama donde Incas representaron este animal sagrado en sus edificios. Después de nuestra visita rector, tienes tiempo extra para explorar y disfrutar del lugar por vosotros mismos, después de esto, seguimos con nuestro camino, comenzamos caminando cuesta arriba hasta el punto más alto para este día llamado CHOQUEQUIRAO PASS situado a 3.300 msnm. o 10.890 pies, entonces descenderá hasta que el punto más profundo del pequeño cañón conocido como río Blanco Río Blanco (1900m/6234f), en el camino pasaremos por Pinchiunuyoj, un pequeño sitio arqueológico. Desde Río Blanco ascendemos por cerca de 3 horas. y durante este tiempo observaremos diferentes especies de aves, diferentes variedades de orquídeas y las plantaciones de coca locales, seguimos caminata hasta nuestro campamento en el lugar llamado MAIZAL (3000 msnm. / 9900 pies).
Hiking time: 4-5 horas
Walk distance: 10 km.
Time: Hot
Height: of 3110 m. up to 3300 m and 3300 m. up to 3000 m.
Accommodation: Camping
Day 4: MAIZAL-SAN JUAN PASS – YANAMA.
Today after a very good breakfast we will start an excellent day of hiking on a path surrounded by vegetation and climbing flowers for 3 1/2 hours along the way you will see evidence of mines that were exploited at the same time, but no longer are used. As we continue and ascend, the weather will become a little colder and we will find the remains of an Inca trail. This trail will take us to the pass called SAN JUAN pass (4200m-13, 780 feet). From this beautiful place you can see a great landscape with a great chain of mountains of such United States Pumasillo, Sacsarayoc and Choquetecarpo, that some of the last peak of more than 5000m / 16404 feet. You will also see the glaciers and many mountains that surround it. After some photos and a break in the San Juan Pass, we will head down and in the distance another recently discovered Inca ruin of Corihuayrachina and the equally interesting old silver mines of Mina Victoria and we continue descending for 3 hours to the north in the Yanama River valley, we follow a high trail that traverses steep and provides another excellent opportunity point condors. We camped next to the river in the little Andean village of YANAMA (3530 m / 11,581 ft.). In the afternoon once again our cook will prepare a tea time for us and after a delicious dinner
Hiking time: 6-7 horas
Walk distance: 10 km.
Time: Hot
Height: of 3000 m. up to 200 m. and 3530 m. up to 4200 m.
Accommodation: Camping
Day 5: YANAMA – paso de YANAMA – TOTORA-COLLPAMPA
After the early breakfast, we make the way to the Yanama Valley, as we ascend we return to a more arid environment where only local grasses and more resistant plants can survive. we will start slowly climbing to the highest point of the whole road, this step is known as YANAMA pass (4670 meters above sea level or 15410 feet), again the view from here will be impressive, it will be surrounded by mountains covered with snow like the Sacsarayoj mountain and the Padreyoj mountain and if there is luck we will even see a flying condor., after a small stop, from this step we make our way down into the valley and the back into warmer climates. About 1 hour beyond the pass we reach a small community called TOTORA at 3,630 meters above sea level. or 11.979 feet where we will have our lunch. After lunch, during the afternoon, we often enjoy the view of the snowy Salkantay (6264 m.) And Pintuyu (5450 m.) And continue downhill for 2 hours to COLLPAMPA (2750 m.) Which is where you can camp for the night ; When we come to notice a change – now that we are close to Machu Picchu the communities are larger and more well supplied, there are also more tourists who came from the Salkantay Walk route and converge at this point.
Hiking time: 8 horas
Walk distance: 18 km.
Time:Hot
Height: of 3530 m. up to m. 4670 and 4670 m. until 2750 m.
Accommodation: Camping
Day 6: COLLPAMPA – hidroeléctrica – AGUAS CALIENTES TOWN
Around 6:00 we woke up with a coca tea; and after our breakfast we will start our trek through the upper Inca jungle and after a few minutes walk from breakfast, you will notice that the microclimate immediately changes from cold and glacial views of the warmer forest with a lush jungle with beautiful waterfalls, rivers and once again, interesting flora and fauna, . If you’re a fan of orchids, there are many different species to see and amazing ferns and begonia flowers as well. Hummingbirds will be above, in the valleys below it is clearly see the cedar tree very useful for the local population in economic and it is very common to observe the farm farm farm of local people coffee, passion fruit, papaya, oranges and avocados. After 5 hours of walk down, we will stop at the place known as SAHUAYACU or THE BEACH (2250 m. or 7381 ft) for lunch; and from here by car for 2 hours to the hydroelectric plant (1900 m.), where we will make a 2-hour walk to reach the town of AGUAS CALIENTES (2000 m.) where we will spend the night in a comfortable hotel, dinner will be in the tourist restaurant that is included . During dinner our guide will provide you with very important information about your next day, so you are fully prepared for your visit to Machu Picchu in the last day. Afterwards, it is advisable to go to sleep in a reasonable time in order to wake up in the early hours of the morning to get to Machu Picchu.
Hiking time: 5 horas
Walk distance: km 16.
Time:Hot
Height: of 2750 m. up to 2000 m.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 7: AGUAS CALIENTES TOWN – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
We will start our last and surprising day very early to get to Machu Picchu before even the Inca Trail trekkers and tourists arrive and have the opportunity to enjoy the sunrise at Machu Picchu. After breakfast we left the hotel at 5:30. and we walk to the bus station (2000 m.), from here we ascend by tourist bus for 30 minutes in a zig zag way to Inca MACHU PICCHU Sanctuary (2400 m). We will see this wonderful place and beginning our visit, which will be spent about 2 hours with our professional guide, where you will explain about the history, visiting interesting and magical places that made Machu Picchu one of the wonders of the world. After the tour you will have enough free time to take photos, walk or explore the site by yourselves and there is the possibility of going up Cerro Huayna Picchu according to availability. Continuing, in the afternoon, after enjoying Machu Picchu, we go the tourist bus, going down for about 25 minutes to the town of Aguas Calientes, here that you will have time to have lunch in one of the good restaurants. At 6:00 p.m. We will board the return train that will take us to Ollantaytambo town to arrive at 19:50, here our transfer will be waiting for you, that will take you in tourist bus to Cusco arriving at 21:30 approximately, and finally we will leave you at your hotel in Cusco.
Hiking time: 2 horas con el grupo visitar Machu Picchu + 4 horas explorar por ti mismo.
Walk distance: Depende el área que desea explorar en Machu Picchu.
Time: Hot
Height: of 2000 m. up to 2400 m (by bus).
INCLUDED:
- Pre meeting and briefing of preparation with your guide 1 or 2 days before the trek at our Cusco Office.
- Safe storage for your belongings at our office in Cusco while you are hiking.
- Pick up from your Cusco hotel.
- Transport from Cusco until Cachora (trailhead) in private car.
- Professional English speaking Tour Guide.
- A second Tour Guide (for groups of 9 or more trekkers).
- Cook and cook assistant to prepare all feeding.
- Fees to the Inca site of Choquequirao and entrance fees for camping.
- 2 hours guided tour on the Choquequirao Inca site.
- Entrances to the Inca site of Machu Picchu.
- Inca site of Machu Picchu guided tour 2 hours.
- All meals during the trekking (07 breakfasts, 07 lunches, 06 tea times, 06 dinners) there is the possibility of preparing vegetarian or special diets according to your requirement.
- Boiled water to refill your water bottle and hot water for washing purposes.
- Horsemen and horses to carry all camping equipment, personal belongings, food, sleeping tents and kitchen equipment.
- We carry until 8 kg. of your load, so you’ll only walk with your daypack with water (For this load, we will provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items).
- One emergency horse which can be ridden if you are feeling ill or too tired.
- The best camping equipment to enjoy a good night’s sleep:
- Dormitory Tent (High Quality Mountain Tents for 4 people, it will be used only for 2 people for your better comfort) and enough space storage for your backpacks.
- Inflatable Mattress Thermarest.
- Dining Tent + camp tables + chairs + gas lamp for the evenings.
- Kitchen Tent and full cooking gear for preparing all meals.
- First Aid Kit and emergency Oxygen balloon.
- Transportation from Sahuayacu to Hydroelectric station.
- Hydroelectric train to Aguas Calientes town.
- Bus ticket up and down the city of Aguas Calientes to the Inca site of Machu Picchu.
- Return ticket of the expedition on the 8th, from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
- Transportation from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco.
- 01 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes village. It is a basic hotel, in single rooms, double rooms, triple rooms, according to your requirements and availability. All hotels reserved by us are clean and safe with breakfast included, private bathroom with hot showers, Wi-Fi and free storage to leave your bags during your visit to Machu Picchu.
OPTIONAL SERVICES
Until the last day before your trip, in our travel office in Cusco, if you want, you have the option to add to your booked trip, for an additional payment, the following:
- Sleeping bag (can be rented from our travel office + $ 5 or USD per day).
- A pair of trekking poles (can be rented from our travel office + $ 5 or USD per day).
- Entry entrance to Cerro Huayna Picchu (in this case, please request it when you book your trip because it is subject to availability, only 400 day spaces + $ 10 or USD)
NOT INCLUDE:
- Personal Trekking equipment (please check the Choquequirao trekking packing list page).
- Travel insurance.
- Optional tips for the travel team (only if you want, at the end of the road you can give some tips for the guide, cook and porters).
What to take
Many people assume that the weather is hot in South America, but in the zone of the higher altitude of the Andes, the temperature can feel quite cold, especially at night. So we provide you the full list to organize your backpack from now, if you don’t have one of them, so you can buy it with some time in advance but if you cannot do it, don’t worry there are many camping stores in Cusco City where you can hire or buy what you need.
Please, check this CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK Packing List and remember that everything is very important for the success of your trek.
Documents:
- Original Passport
- Student Card, if you are student
- Travel Insurance (some copies)
- A printed voucher issued for us.
Essential:
- Day pack.
- Sleeping bag.
- Water bottle.
- Purifying tablets or filter
- Some snacks such as cookies, candies, chocolates, energy bars.
- Money belt and some cash, if you want to buy some souvenirs of your visit
Clothes:
- Hiking Shoes and Sandals.
- Warm clothes: especially for the nights as thermal jacket, glove, scarf, wool socks, wool hat for cold nights.
- Waterproof clothing (rain jacket and poncho)
- Synthetic or cotton clothing (hiking pants, socks, trousers, short pants, 4 t-shirts)
- Swimsuit
- Sun Hat
Pharmaceutical items:
- Personal medical kit with bandages and anti-inflammatory tablets
- Insect repellent.
- Sun block
- Lipstick
Toiletries:
- Small towel.
- Toothpaste and toothbrush
- Soap / body wash
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Hairbrush /comb
- Deodorant / body spray
- Toilet paper
Other items:
- Flashlight (head lamp recommended)
- Sunglasses
- Photo Camera with extra memory cards and batteries.
- Walking poles with rubber-tipped (Optional).
- Pocket knife
- Some plastic bags.
- A sense of humor.
- We recommend a previous acclimatization in Cuzco City, for at least 2 days and general good health.
Price:
The prices of the Trek Choquequirao excursion 7 days / 6 nights are expressed in US dollars and for each excursionist.
USD $ 1,150.00 per adult (14 years or more)
USD $ 1,130.00 per student (For this price, you must e-mail a copy of your original student card issued by the university for up to 25 years.)
USD $ 1,130.00 per child (age 3-11)
USD $ 0.00 per child (0-3 years) – Free, traveling with your parents.
IMPORTANT: Please note that this tour requires a minimum of 2 adults. The price varies according to the number of passengers.
