Choquequirao Trek To Machu Picchu 8D/7N

We will pick you up from your accommodation in Cusco in between 3:30 to 4:00 am. Then we travel in our private van for 2 hours until to arrive to Curawasi where you can order your breakfast in a local restaurant, after this we take again the van for 2 more hours until to reach to Capuliyoc (3200 masl.= 10498 ft.) where is the beginning of our Choquequirao Trek, from here you will have an Amazing view of the Padrayoc (great father in Qquechua) snow capped mountain, and the first view of the Apurimac river valley, also here in Capiliyoc we are going to meet the horses and the horseman who will pack your duflle bag (provided by us) and all the camping equipment and cooking stuff. This day we will walk (downhill) for around 6 to 7 hours the canyon of the Apurimac River, it takes 4 to 5 hours walking down until our first stop at Playa Rosalina where our Chef and horseman will be waiting for us to take our delicious and varied lunch, after the lunch we continue for another 2hours but this time we cross the Apurimac River to walk up until to reach our first campsite, which is Santa Rosa (1850 masl.= 6069 ft.) where yu will sleep this night after a delicious dinner where the table will be plenty of food.

Considerations:

Walking distance: 15km = 9,3 miles

Campsite Altitude: Santa Rosa 1850 masl.= 6069 ft.

Physical Grading: 3/5

Weather: Hot and humid.

We take breakfast very early, then we continue towards an ascent of 3 to 4 hours (uphill) with many Zigzags along the Trail, where besides observing the beautiful Andean landscape, you will have the opportunity to observe the flight of the majestic condor also we can see differents kind of flora and fauna of the peruvian Andes, then we go until to get Marampata (2950 masl.= 9678 ft.) where our chef and our horseman will be waiting for us with a great and very nutritive lunch where you can taste the best typical peruvian dishes. From here if you look back you will see the whole way you made unti Marampata. After lunch and after a break here, we have to continue for around 2 hours more, until to get the archaeological complex of Choquequirao.

We are going spend the rest of the day exploring and discovering the majestic Inca ruins that Choquequirao has to show us, from the Choquequirao campsite takes 30 minuts Until reaching the heart of the archeaological complex of Choquequirao, after walking inside a dense cloud forest, as by magic we will arrive at Usnu or the ceremonial platform, froom where you will have a spectacular view of all Choquequirao in its máximum splendor, i’ts in this place where your guide will perform a payment ceremony to the mother earth (Pachamama) where it’s offered some coca leaves, some fruits, cookies or candies. You are free to participate in this ceremony or not. After taking a rest, we continue towards the central part of the citadel where we will arrive to the main square wich is surrrounded by Inca architecture in all its magnificence, your guide will be in charge of transporting you to the Incas time, telling about the history, customs, clothes and uses of each archeaological rest found in Choquequirao. You will find ruins like the kallankas or barns, houses, temples, inca palaces, water fontains, also here you will observe the triumphal arch located in the southern part of the main square, also we will observe and visit big terraces where the incas used them for agriculture and at the same time avoid landslides. Then we will visit the most attractive places of choquequirao, which are the llama’s terraces, located deep in the Canyon of the Apurimac River. In here, we will appreciate the designs of llamas made with white quartz stone, from a viewpoint; we will appreciate these designs in its entire. After spent the rest of the day exploring Choquequirao we will return to our Choquequirao Campsite where we will spend the night and this campsite is a special place for watching the sunset, after our delicious dinner we will be ready to go our tents, where your confortable mattress will be waiting for you.

Considerations:

Walking distance: 14 km. = 10 miles

Campsite Altitude: Choquequirao 2900 masl.= 9514 ft.

Physical Grading: 4/5

Weather: moderated Cold.

Today after a very early breakfast we can continue exploring a little more Choquequirao, then we have to continue uphill through the cloud forest, Mountains and valleys until to reach the Choquequirao pass. After 5 hours trekking the trail continue through agricultural terraces called Pinchinoyoc which means (water jumping forward – 2750m). There, we will observe very beautiful andean landscapes also we have the oportunity to see different species of birds, different varieties of orchids, and local coca plantations. We will have our lunch near to the Rio Blanco; here we will take a break 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 enjoying the bath in the river we start the long and steep climb to our campsite in Maizal (3000 masl = 9842 ft.), From Rio Blanco we climb up to Maizal for about 3 hrs. This is one day with many challenge and with a warm wheather. Once we get in Maizalur chef will be waiting for us withour suculent and delicious dinner.

Considerations:

Walking distance: 18 km. = 11 miles

Campsite Altitude: Maizal 3000 masl.= 9842 ft.

Physical Grading: 4/5

Weather: hot and moderated Cold at Maizal.

This day we will take an early breakfast and then we have to continue going up for about 6 hours until to reach the Victori Pass (4200 masl. = 13779 ft.) Again a long climb, but we walk in amazingly beautiful area – first with cloud forest and then over Andean Puna with the well known Ichu grass. Then we pass through Minas Victoria, a place that during the colony, silver was extracted from a mine. Almost on the top we can appreciate original paved Inca trails. We take our lunch at the pass in 4200m with view of the mountain Choquetakarpo and Padrayoc, while we had lunch we will be able to appreciate the flight of the condors depending on the climate, and finally we have to descend for 2 hours to our next campsite at Yamana, a small village settlement at the bottom of a long valley surrounded by mountains (3800masl. = 12467 ft.) Here our chef and our horseman will be waiting for us with our great and varied dinner to recharge all the energy spent during this journey.

Considerations:

Walking distance: 17.5 km. = 10,5 miles

Campsite Altitude: Yanama 3800 masl.= 12467 ft.

Physical Grading: 4/5

Weather: Cold.

After our delicious breakfast we are ready to continue our trekking, starting with an ascend of 5 hours to the Yanama pass (4700 masl. = 15419 ft.) Along this way we can see small houses from local people also you will observe those people in their daily routines of raising guinea pigs, sheep, alpacas and also dedicating themselves to the agriculture of potatoes. From the pass, you will have a spectacular view of the Peruvian Andes where you will appreciate high mountains like Sacsarayoc and Padrayoc snow capped mountain. From here again we have the chance to see the great condor, and this morning smooth climb bring us through new landscapes, especially the wet grass fields under the snowline and water stream. In the pass we might walk in snow, it is the new entrance to the valley of Santa Teresa and observing one of the most famous mountain in Cusco Region The Salkantay Snow Capped Mountain, after having passed through the high mountains it’s time for a long descent for about 4 hours through grassy fields and bush areas and crossing bridges on the way towards the community of Totora, where it will be our next campsite and our cook and herseman as always they will be waiting for us with our delicious, plenty and varied dinner. We will spend the night here in our four season tents with an indescribable beauty, surrounded by pure nature.

Considerations:

Walking distance: 20 km. = 12,4 miles

Campsite Altitude: Totora 1900 masl.= 6233 ft.

Physical Grading: 4/5

Weather: Cold during the day, fresh at Totora.

After our breakfast we have to continue walking down, into the Cloud Forest for about 7 to 8 hours until to ge tour next campsite Santa Teresa (1550 masl = 5085 ft.) along the trail we will have the opportunity to see the majestic landscape of the cloud forest, where we will see small waterfalls, streams, plants like, orchids, palms, heliconias, bromeliads, etc. Also we can see animals like many birds amoong them, hummingbirds, parrots, parakeets, and the famous cook of the rock which is the national bird of Peru, and Finally if we are lucky we can see the great spectacled bear, We arrive to Playa Sahuayaco around 1:00 pm where our delicious lunch will be ready waiting for us. After lunch our van will be waiting for us to go to Santa Teresa, it takes 1 hour to get to Santa Teresa, where we can enjoy the Natural hotspring of Santa Teresa, it’s advisable to visit this hot spring since after 6 days walking the hot spring helps a lot to the relaxation of the muscles and nerves of the body. After enjoying for 2 hours the natural hot spring, we need to go back to our Campsite at Santa Teresa where we will be ready to take our succulent, varied and delicious dinner prepared by our professional chef.

Considerations:

Walking distance: 18 km. = 11 miles

Campsite Altitude: Totora 1550 masl.= 5085 ft.

Physical Grading: 3/5

Weather: Hot and Humid.

After our breakfas, we can explore the area and your guide  will tall you about the history os this town then around 10 we will take a transport that will take us for around 1 more hour until hidroelectica, where we are going to have lunch, after our lunch we are going to walk for about 3 hours until reach Aguas Calientes. We will be walking these 3 hours next the train rail. Once we get Aguas Calientes we will check in, to our Hotel and after we settled in our hotel, we will have a dinner in a local restaurant, during this dinner your guide will give you a briefing about the visit to Machupicchu the next morning.

Considerations:

Walking distance: 10km = 6,2 miles

Aguas Calientes Altitude: 2050 masl.= 6725 ft.

Physical Grading: 2/5

Weather: hot and humid.

This is the most important day because you will visit the beautiful and Amazing citadel of Machu Picchu, this day we will wake up very eraly in the morning to walk up toward Machu Picchu for about 1h 40 min. You can take a bus up to Machupicchu if you wish (bus up is not included) Machu Picchu opens at 6:00 am and the mystical sunrise from the mountain surrounding Machu Picchu start around 6:30 am, after seeing the sunrise you will have a guided tour for around 2h30 min. where your guide will explain you the main places of Machupicchu, after this is the end of the guide’s job.  It’s at this momento where the guide say goodbye to everybody. After this you can explore Machu Picchu by your own, and if you have the excursión to the Huaynapicchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain you have to do it, but depends What time is your starting hour of your excursión to these Mountains. (Huyanapicchu Mountain and Machu Picchu Mountain is optional you need to le tus know in advance if you wish to climb up one of these mountains). You need to go out from Machu Picchu at 12:00 pm. and go to Aguas Calientes where you can take Lunch in a Local Restaurant (optional not included). After this you can explore Aguas Calientes and wait for your train to Ollantaytambo, it takes 2 hours by train to Ollantaytambo where our transport will be waiting for you to take you back to Cusco. we leave you in your hotel or near to this. About the train we will provide you the turistic class train, the train departure times can be in between 2:00 pm to 8:30 pm. it depends of the availability of the sapces.

Considerations:

Physical Grading: 2/5

Meals included: Breakfast in the Hotel.

Weather: hot and humid.