CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK 8 DAYS

CHOQUEQUIRAO, MACHUPICCHU Multi Days Tour, Trek

Overview
Itinerary
Cost Info
Gallery
Map
FAQ
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Overview

Choquequirao to Machu Picchu 8 Days, is a route where you will discover the great citadel of the last Incas and also you will reach the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful landscapes, towering mountains, Apurimac river, animals and plants, of Andean and jungle.

Itinerary

Day 1
CUSCO – CACHORA – SANTA ROSA
We pick you up from your hotel at 5:30 a.m. so we will be arriving at Cachora town at 9:00 a.m. in the morning where we will have our breakfast while we arrange the equipment on mules and horses. Already from the village of Cachora, we can observe the majestic Padrayoc snow-covered peaks, the highest is 5482 m.a.s.l. The hike on this first day is 21.70 km or 8 hours. On the way, we will observe Padrayoc and Wayna Cachora's snow-covered peaks. We can appreciate the beautiful change of the landscape from precipices to snowy mountains. The walk starts quite flat with views of snow-covered peaks and small farms on the steep mountainsides. From the viewpoint of Capuliyoc, where we might see condors, the descent towards the Apurímac Canyon starts. As the vegetation is changing from Agave and Tuna cactus forests to dwarf tree forests we have a lunch break at Chiquisqa (1950 m.a.s.l.). From here we continue the descent to the abundant Apurímac River in 1550 m.a.s.l. in the impressing deep canyon of the same name. After a short brake at the river, we start the steep climb towards Santa Rosa, where we camp for the night in a small sugarcane plantation (2115 m.a.s.l.).
Day 2
SANTA ROSA - MARAMPATA - CHOQUEQUIRAO
Early morning after breakfast, we continue our hike going up to Choquekiraw. The first 2-3 hours are going up steep, but then it will change between flat and climbing the rest of the way surrounded by beautiful vegetation with several varieties of orchids. We will arrive at the archaeological place CHOQUEKIRAO after 5 hours. After a good lunch and a little break, we will walk to the main square of Choquequirao, to enjoy this majestic place, where we will observe the three levels of the excavated ruin. Approximately at 3 o'clock in the afternoon (depending on the weather) • we can be lucky to appreciate "the flight of the Condors". The guide will decide where to set our camp in Raqaypata (2910 m.a.s.l.).
Day 3
CHOQUEQUIRAO - PINCHINUYOC
After breakfast, we have a good time enjoying the majestic archaeological place. We can appreciate houses, terraces, and other parts of this late Inca town. Besides, we see the ruin in the progress of excavation and finally areas unexplored- that can tell us about this last refuge of the oppressed Inca empire. After lunch, we walk through Choquekirao, with all equipment going to our next camp. We follow the old water canal for a while before we start the 3-hour walk to the Pinchinuyoc ruins found in 1998. First, we walk through the cloud forest, but then all becomes steep open prairie with open views of the Mountains and valleys. Pinchinoyoc - these ruins are something very special. All of a sudden they appear in the cloud forest, almost invisible because of the thick layer of mosses and other vegetation that covers it. Here we spend the night basically on the old Inca Terraces.
Day 4
PINCHINUYOC - MAIZAL
This morning we walk down through an interesting vegetation known as the Dry Andean Highland Forest. Trees and plants here look different from what we have seen before. We arrive at the river Victoria after a few hours and use the brake here to get a refreshing bath in the cold and clear river water. We cross walking through the river since there are no bridges. After our brake, we start the long and steep climb to our camp in Maizal, high over the river close to the sacred Apus of the Incas. On the way up we catch our breath in the shade of small trees and other vegetation on the way up. In Maizal we have our lunch and enjoy, and we can relax this afternoon- with only optional physical activity. Maizal is properly the camp in the most beautiful location of them all. From here we see 3 valleys and a great snow peak right across from us. A good place to lean back and think.
Day 5
MAIZAL - YANAMA
We leave our camp at Maizal and walk towards the San Juan pass. Again a long climb, but we walk in an amazingly beautiful area- first with cloud forest and then over Andean Puna with the well-known grass. We rest at some of the Victoria mines, where metal shining stones tell about a high concentration of minerals and metals. On our way through the Puna, we walk on very well-preserved Inca trails, among other characteristics with the classic zigzag. We take lunch at the pass in 4000 m.a.s.l. with the view of the mountain Choquetakarpo before we start the descent towards Yanama, a small isolated settlement at the bottom of a long valley surrounded by mountains.
Day 6
YANAMA - TOTORA
We continue from Yanama up through the valley towards the highest point of the tour, The Yanama Pass in 4500 m.a.s.l. On the way, we have a good view of the snow-capped Sacsarayoc. Once again we have the chance to see condors, and this morning's smooth climb brings us through new landscapes- especially the wet grass fields under the snowline that distinguish us from everything else seen on the tour. In the past, we might walk in the snow, and the descent is a long foggy hike through grassy fields- and bush areas and crossing small wood/dirt bridges on the way towards the community of Totora, where we spend the night.
Day 7
TOTORA - HIDROELECTRICA - AGUAS CALIENTES
We now walk about 2000 meters down through the changing vegetation to the warmer camp in the village of La Playa. Approx. 7 hours walking. On the way, we see small waterfalls and get a refreshing natural bath. The area also has a big variation of bird life and it is now obvious that the climate and vegetation have changed totally, and now we see plants recognizable from the living rooms in Europe and several types of orchids. Playa is the biggest village on the way, where we can find some small shops to buy snacks etc. In this area we can see small plantations of coffee and bananas and then we take public transportation to the Hydrolectrica and then we walk for about 2 hours more to get to Aguas Calientes town where we going to stay in a nice hostel with hot shower, is recommended to go to the natural hot spring in here.
Day 8
AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO
From Aguas Calientes, we walk or take a bus to Machu Picchu. We start our visit with a 2-3 hours guided tour, that will bring us to the most important locations at the archaeological site and the guide will tell us about the great importance Machu Picchu enjoyed as an astronomical and religious center. The rest of the day we spend at this amazing ruin and you will have the chance to climb Wayna Picchu or visit the beautiful moon temple. We meet in the afternoon in Aguas Calientes where we take the train to Ollantaytambo and from here the bus to Cusco. In Cusco, we go to at centrally placed hotel close to the colonial-style Plaza de Armas. This is the end of our service

Cost Info

Price Includes

Professional bilingual guide (English-Spanish). Cook.
Mules to carry the camping gear and your belongings (5kg).
Horsemen.
Information briefing.
Pickup from your lodgings.
Private transport from Cusco to Cachora.
Double tents and foam mattresses.
Camping gear (dining tent, kitchen tent, table, chairs, bathroom tent, etc).
All foods, snacks, tea, and coffee.
First aid kit.
7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 7 dinners.
Entrance ticket to Choquekirao Archaeological Center.
Entrance ticket to Machupicchu.
Return train to Cusco.
Transport from the train station to your accommodation in Cusco.

Price Excludes

First breakfast.
Last lunch.
Snacks.
Your personal stuff will be brought by you OPTION (rent 1 horse USD.40.00, ask availability)
Sleeping bag.

Gallery

Map

FAQ

WHAT TO BRING
- Backpack between 20 y 30 liters (a backpack with chest and waist strap, will help to distribute the weight and have side pockets for small items).
- Backpack waterproof layer
- Loose pants and better long
- Feather coat and waterproof jacket.
- Gloves and skullcap.
- Trekking shoes with thick orm.
- Microfiber or wool socks.
- Walking sticks.
- Sunscreen and glasses.
- Mosquito repellent.
- Original passport.
- Purifying pills.
- Personal higiene items.
- Torch with a replacement battery.
- Camera.
- Sleeping bag.
- Extra Money to tipping guides, cookers, and porters.

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