Choquequirao Trek To Machu Picchu 7 Days

Our transport will pick you up at your hotel (4:30 a.m.- approx.).  Then drive northbound through different herding and farming villages (3 hrs.) to reach the “Lookout”, where you’ll enjoy a delicious concentrated soup.  Afterward, we’ll continue towards the village of Cachora (a pre-Hispanic village), where you can take photos.

After driving an additional hour, we’ll finally arrive at the starting point of our trek.  While we regroup for the trek, you’ll enjoy the lovely view of the Apurimac Canyon.  We’ll begin our trek descending to the “Condor viewpoint” point, and if we’re lucky will be able to see Condors soaring.  Also, at this same Lookout, we’ll see, from afar, the archeological site of Choquequirao.

After a hike for 3 hours, we’ll reach “Cocamasana” for lunch, where you’ll find our experienced chef preparing a hot, nutritious meal.  After resting for a bit, we’ll continue our hike to reach a small hunting community called “Chikiska”.  You can buy drinks and snacks here.  You’ll also have time to take in the different flora and fauna.

Finally, after an hour and a half hike, we’ll arrive at our first campsite called “Rosalina”.  You’ll have time to organize your sleeping area while our staff prepares hot drinks and snacks.  At dawn, we’ll have dinner and tuck in for the night.

Day 1 Details hike:

• Accommodations: Campsite “Rosalina”
• Hiking Distance:  10 km
• Hiking Time: 5 hours
• Weather: Warm and Dry
• Level of Difficulty: Arduous
• Road conditions:  Rocky, dusty, and some slippery spots. Trekking shoes are definitely required.

We recommend an early start (wake-up call 4:45 a.m.) and breakfast at 5:15.  We’ll start with a 2-hour trek reaching our rest area called “Santa Rosa” (purchase drinks/snacks, if needed).  Then we continue hiking (2:30 hours), arriving at our mid-point for the day, “Marampata,” a small farming village.  It is here we’ll have a delicious lunch and 45 minutes to rest and re-energize.  Later, take the base camp

Day 2 Details

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodations: Choquequirao campsite
• Hiking Distance:  11 km
• Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
• Level of Difficulty: Arduous

In order to witness and marvel at the extraordinary feats of the architecture of “Choquequirau”, we’ve set aside an entire day tour.  Our staff will provide a wake-up call by serving you hot coca tea at your tents (of course, we’ll knock first!)

At approximately 6:30, we will have breakfast and start towards the Incan site (50 min.).  You’ll be surprised to know that only 30% has been excavated.  Archeological Scholars have estimated that “Choquequirau is 5 times bigger than Machupicchu.

Our guided tour includes visiting temples, homes, warehouses, and many water channels.  At 2:00 p.m., we’ll break for a ‘picnic’ (lunch) at the same Archeological Site.

After lunch, we will ascend for 40 minutes to the upper part of Choquequirao, once there Will have a stunning view of Choquequirao. Then just going to be dawn to our base camp called Pinchiunuyoq

Details

• Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodations: tents
• Physical Level:  Easy
• Distance 10 km

Wake-up call at 6:00 a.m. with a hot coca tea served at your tent (of course, with the prior announcement).

We’ll have breakfast (6:15 a.m.) and then begin our trek for 6 hours towards the White River (Rio Blanco). Once there, we will have time to enjoy the river (basically take a shower).

Trekking uphill (2:30 hours), we’ll reach our camp called “Maizal”, a small herding and farming community.

At this isolated pueblo, you’ll relish a serene, peaceful rest  (be sure to get as much rest as possible; you’ll need it for tomorrow’s hike).

Details

• Accommodation:  Camping
• Hiking distance: 14 km
• Hike Time: 7 hours
• Highest point: 3,270 m
• Campsite Altitude: 3,000 m – “Maizal”
• Physical Level: Arduous

The hardest trekking day of the tour.  Wake-up call at 6:00 am.  You’ll have breakfast while viewing the two beautiful rivers called “Rio Apurimac” and “White River”.  After finishing breakfast, we begin our 4-hour uphill climb towards an old abandoned silver mining spot.  Passing the mining caves, we’ll reach the highest elevation of the day, a place called “Abra de San Juan”.  Hopefully, we’ll have an opportunity to observe condors soaring around the mountains and take photos.  We continue by descending towards our campsite (Approx 2 and a half hours).  During our hike down, we’ll get a chance to see wild birds and flowers, like “Tarwi”.   Tarwi is wholesome wheat that provides essential nutrition and energy throughout the day.

Reaching camp at Yanama, we will sit down for lunch. And then I will catch the bus to our base camp, “Lucmabamba”. On the way, we will see beautiful landscapes

Dinner will be served with hot fusion drinks.

Details

• Accommodation:  Camping
• Hiking Distance:   14 km
• Hike Time: 5 hours
• Highest Altitude: San Juan Pass 4,200 m/12,779 ft.
• Campsite Altitude:  3,522 m/11,555 ft. – “Yanama”
• Physical Level: Arduous

After breakfast, we’ll gradually descend for 45 minutes until reaching the Inca Trail point, built in 1,300 (from Vilcabamba to Machu Picchu). Here you’ll appreciate the stone path leading to the “Llactapata” Incan site.  Just in front of you, you’ll have the wonderful vista of Machu Picchu.  And along the way, you’ll see coffee and yucca plantations. Once you arrive in Llactapata, your guide will describe the geography and retelling of Incan history.

We continue our hike for another two and a half hours, all downhill, until we reach the famous hydroelectric station.  Our last lunch with your cook and porters. At 4:00 p.m., you’ll have an opportunity to say your farewell to the staff and board the train to “Aguas Calientes”.  The trek leader will escort you to your hotel for a well-deserved R & R time.

If you want to visit the hot springs in “Machupicchu Pueblo”, we will provide you with all the information necessary to be on your way.

The cost of entry to the hot springs is S/. 10.00 soles (bring your towel). That evening, you will enjoy the last dinner with your trek leader at a local restaurant. You will also receive your last briefing for the following day.

Be sure to purchase snacks & water for your trip up to Machu Picchu.

Details

• Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel Aguas Calientes
• Hiking Distance:   24 km
• Hiking Time: 8 hours
• Highest Altitude: 3,000 m/9,842 ft.
• Physical Level: Easy/Moderate to Challenging

You will need to start off right: breakfast (5:00 a.m.) at the hotel. Then, you will board the bus that goes up to Machu Picchu, which will take approximately 25 minutes to arrive (the gate opens at 6:00 a.m.) Once there, we will have to show our passports, and depending on the circuit, they will give us some necklaces (The best circuit is the 2nd, for this, you have to book 3 months in advance).

We will go to the top, there are 4 platforms where you can take classic photos with the view of Huayna Picchu Mountain, once on the last platform the guide will give an introduction about Machu Picchu and then we will visit the most important places in Machu Picchu such as the Stone Quarry, the Temple of the Sun, the Main Square, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Inca Compass, the Sacred Rock, the Temple of the Condor, the Water Fountains, the Inca Terraces, Food Stores this is the second circuit and the best.

After touring Machu Picchu, you will have to board the bus to Aguas Calientes town and have lunch (not included) in the afternoon, board the train to Ollantaytambo town, and then take the bus to Cusco, where we will drop you off at your hotel.

• If you have booked your visit to “HUAYNAPICHHU” (tickets $ 25.00 per person/limited to 400 per day – not included), you’ll begin your hike at 7:00 – 10:00 a.m. Please coordinate with the Trek Leader for your visit. Depending on the defined schedule

Details

• Meals:  Breakfast
• Lowest Altitude:  2,040 m / 6.691 ft
• Highest Altitude:  2,440 m / 8,052 ft