Description
The archaeological complex of Choquequirao is bigger than Machu Picchu, currently we visit 30 percent of the entire archaeological complex of Choquequirao and is in the process of restoration and cleaning by the Ministry of Culture, throughout the trip we will see spectacular scenery such as the Apurimac canyon, waterfalls, mountains, flora and fauna of the place. Choquequirao is a hidden gem in the thick jungle and is not easily accessible to visitors and requires very good physical condition to make this 4 day trek.
- Price: 450.00 US dollars per person.
- Confirmed departures: Every day.
- Duration: 04 Days.
Tour Details
Trek briefing with your trekking guide at 6:00 pm the night before your departure. You will receive your duffel bag.
Pick up from your hotel and transfer to the start of the trek in our private transport.
English/Spanish speaking tour guide.
Cook, muleteers and horses.
Personal porter who can carry up to 8 kg / 16 lbs (we provide a duffel bag).
Trekking equipment: four-person tent, dining tent, kitchen tent, chairs, table, foam mat
All meals: breakfast, lunch, hot tea, dinner and snacks every day.
Vegetarian food available.
Drink water every day (you can fill your water bottle three times a day at breakfast, lunch and dinner).
First aid kit.
Oxygen tank.
Entrance to the Inca ruins of Choquequirao.
Guided tour in Choquequirao.
Tourist transport from capuliyoc to cusco.
We operate this trek ourselves (minimum of two people required).
Sleeping bag (we rent for 10$ for the whole tour).
Inflatable air mattresses for extra comfort: 3 inches / 8 cm thick (rented for $10 for the whole tour).
Trekking poles (rentals available at our office).
Last lunch.
Tips for your crew.
Original passport.
Good trekking equipment: hiking boots, warm jackets, gloves, hat, fleece and socks.
Sleeping bag.
Hiking boots.
Waterproof jacket / poncho, waterproof trousers and gloves.
Hat and gloves.
Warm clothing: layers for varying temperatures, especially at night.
T-shirts.
Comfortable trousers.
Sun hat.
Sunscreen.
Insect repellent.
Re-usable plastic/metal water bottle or camel bags.
Water for the first four hours of the trek, then we will provide you with drinking water.
Toiletries.
Personal medication.
Camera and battery.
Flashlight with spare batteries.
Walking stick.
Extra money for souvenirs, drinks and tips.
Itinerary
A.M. | CUSCO – CAPULIYOC – PLAYA ROSALINAS
You will be picked up from your hotel at 4 am for the four hour drive to the start of the trek, where you will have your first breakfast. Here you will meet your muleteers and mules. After breakfast you will begin your expedition to Choquequirao (also written as Choquekiraw in Quechua), the first four hours are downhill from Capuliyoc until you reach your lunch stop at Chikiska. This is a small oasis in the middle of the canyon with fruit and sugar cane plantations and you will also have the opportunity to try Cambray, an ancestral drink made from sugar cane juice. On the way, you will have excellent views of the Apurimac River, the valley, mountains and snow-capped mountains. After lunch, the weather becomes much warmer as we will descend quite a bit. It will be another two hours until we reach the bottom of the canyon at Playa Rosalina and see the famous Apurimac River. Here we will have dinner and spend the night in our tents.
A.M: | LA PLAYA ROSALINAS – MARAMPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAO
After an early breakfast, prepared by the chef, we will get ready to start the day by crossing the bridge over the Apurimac River and then it will be four hours uphill in zigzags. On the way you will pass some sugar cane farms and see more incredible views of the valley from the opposite hill. There is a good chance of seeing some condors flying over the canyon as well as some beautiful wildlife. This hike is one of the most challenging parts of the Choquequirao Trek, so we will have an emergency horse in case you become fatigued and need the support of a mule. Once we arrive in Marampata, you will have time to enjoy your lunch at 3,350m above sea level. Surrounded by mountains and scenery, after lunch, you can take a siesta or just relax until we continue on the last two hour section to Choquequirao.
This will be the most impressive of your entire day’s trek because you will have absolutely incredible views from the top down into the Apurimac Canyon. You will also be able to see Choquequirao, where you will have a view of the entire Inca site with vegetation, wildlife, orchids, birds, insects and spectacled bears if you get the chance to see them. Upon arrival at the camp, you will have your tents ready. This camp is fascinating because it is right at the foot of the Inca site. If you still have some energy left, you can take a 40 minute walk to enjoy the sunset from the Choquequirao Inca site.
A.M: | EXPLORANDO CHOQUEQUIRAO
After an early breakfast, you will prepare for the most spectacular day of your life and of this adventure, which is entirely focused on exploring Choquequirao. It will take about 40 minutes to reach the site of Choquequirao, once we arrive your guide will give you information about the site and its history and you will tour this impressive archaeological site. Choquequirao is considered to be larger than Machu Picchu, although almost all of it is hidden under the thick forest. This Inca site is very extensive because the Incas had an impressive ability to build in inaccessible and rugged mountain locations such that several buildings, including terraced houses, temples and shrines were constructed on the slopes and cliffs. The most impressive sections of this site are the temples, the astronomical observatories and the water channels etc.
After touring the Inca sanctuary for about 5 hours, we will return to the camp for lunch and rest. You will have more time afterwards to continue exploring the site with our guide, you can also explore other areas of the site such as the area of the llamas of the sun, which is a steep 35 minute downhill hike where you will see narrow agricultural terraces. All the representations of llamas on the terrace walls are made of white stones (white quartzite). It is assumed that these representations were built by the Incas to represent the constellation of llamas in the Milky Way. You will also visit the Usno area, where you will enjoy the sunset over the mountains. Shortly after, you will walk back to your camp for dinner and the second night in Choquequirao.
A.M: | CHOQUEQUIRAO – MARAMPATA – PLAYA ROSALINAS- CHIKISKA
After an early breakfast, we will prepare for our return journey. It will be a two hour drive back to Marampata and you will see the sights of the Apurimac Canyon on the way. The guide will show you the beautiful flora and fauna that you may have missed on your way to the archaeological site. You will see impressive waterfalls in the distance as well as clouds rising from the bottom of the canyon, plus, if the weather is nice, you can enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Andes.
From Marampata you will begin the steep 4 hour downhill hike to Rosalina Beach, halfway there you will have a break to enjoy a fresh fruit grown in the area, where the cactus fruit (tuna) is the main attraction. Finally, we will arrive at La Playa for lunch and after lunch, it will be another two hour hike uphill to the oasis of Chikiska, which is located in the middle of the Apurimac canyon slope. On the way you may also see some spectacled bears, condors, hummingbirds and more. In Chikiska we will have our dinner and camp for the night.
A.M: | CHIKISKA – CAPULIYOC – CUSCO
Early in the morning after a delicious breakfast prepared by the chef we will get ready to return to Cusco. It will be a four hour uphill hike until we reach the end of the Capuliyoc trek, where we will enjoy our last lunch with the tour guide, cook and muleteers. And after a rest we will board our transport for 4 hours to Cusco arriving as final point the San Francisco square.
From: $450.00
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