THE
CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK
4 Days / 3 Nights
Wonderful best option Alternate to the the Classic 4
days inca trail
Introduction
A spectacular 60 km trek that will lead you to the enigmatic last refuge of the
Incas. Choquequirao (3.103m/10178ft) is a huge archaeological complex still
under cleaning and restoration process located in the surroundings of the
Salkantay sacred mountain (6.271m/20569ft) and the Apurimac River canyon. You
will enjoy amazing mountain scenery as well as lots of Andean flora and fauna.
Many of you have heard of the Inca Trail , a very popular hike in the mountains
of Peru. There is a relatively new trail through this region, and it is the hike
to the lost city of Choquequirao. This trail is 20 miles in one direction, or 40
miles round trip, and takes a total of 4 days. This comes out to an average of
10 miles per day. This is rather difficult to maintain, and the trail covers a
total of 5 vertical miles (for every 8 miles you cover, you ascend or descend 1
mile (5,280 feet).
Choquequirao Trek Departures Dates 2011-2012: Every Day.
ITINERARY
DAY 01 CUSCO - CACHORA - COCA MASANA - PLAYA ROSALINA
We will leave Cusco bright and early at 4:00 a.m. We will arrive at the town of
Cachora at 7:30 a.m., where we will meet up with our wranglers and arrange our
equipment, mules, and horses. It is a 2-hour hike to Capuliyoc (2,915 meters/9,564
feet above sea level) where we can enjoy our first beautiful views of the
Apurimac Valley stretching out below and the snow-capped peaks of Padrayoc and
Wayna Cachora above. We will then descend toward Coca Masana (2,330 meters/7,644
feet above sea level) where the climate becomes noticeably warmer and the flora
and fauna begin to change. Finally we arrive at Playa Rosalina (Rosalina Beach)
at 1,550 meters/5,085 feet above seal level, right beside the raging Apurimac
River, where we will set up camp and spend the night.
L/D
DAY 02 PLAYA ROSALINA - CHOQUEQUIRAO
Today is the toughest of our 5-day hike. After an early breakfast, we will climb
a steep trail. Our 5-hour hike will take us to Raqaypata beside the
Chunchullumayo River, where we will enjoy a late lunch and a well-deserved rest.
Along the way, we will have the chance to see orchids, wild flowers, and a
number of bird species. From Raqaypata to Choquequirao (3,035 meters/9,957 feet
above sea level) it is a 2-hour hike, and we will arrive at the Choquequirao
archaeological site in time to enjoy the sunset and maybe even to see a condor
flying nearby. Our campsite will be just outside the Choquequirao ruins.
DAY 03 CHOQUEQUIRAO to PLAYA ROSALINA
Today, we enjoy a complete guided tour of the Choquequirao complex during the
morning: we will visit the high parts (Hanan), and the lower parts (Urin), and
some areas that are still covered in wild foliage and ready to be restored into
the way it was when the Incas owned it. After the tour, we start our walk back
towards Santa Rosa, where we have lunch. We then continue descending for another
2 hours until we reach Rosalina Beach at 1450m/4756ft, where we might have time
to take a refreshing dip in the waters of the Apurimac River. We camp and dine
here. Meals: B, L, D
Day 04 PLAYA ROSALINA to CACHORA
We leave camp after breakfast to start the two to three hour climb to Chiquisca,
to then make our way back to the Abra Capuliyoc, close to which we have our
lunch. In the afternoon, we continue on our two-hour return route to Cachora,
where a private transport will be waiting to take us back to Cusco. Estimated
arrival time around 9.00pm. Meals: B, L
What is Included:
Collection from your hotel in the morning
Transportation by bus to the start of the trail (Town of Cachora, beggining of
the trip)
English speaking professional guide (2 guides for groups of over 9 people)
Igloo tents - 2 persons in each 4-person capacity tent with plenty of space for
your backpacks and better comfort. 3 season Ones.
Double thickness foam mattress
Kitchen tent, Dining tent with camp tables and chairs
Accommodations: 3 nights camping
Accommodation for our crew
First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
Choquequirao Inca Site entrance fee
Hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes (while hiking)
Cook and Cooking equipment
Excellent Meals (03B,04L,03D)
food includes pancakes, omelets, soups, fresh fruit, avocado, pasta, chicken,
fish, meat, rice, all rich in carbohydrates and suitable for trekking, hot
drinks including coca leaf tea which is excellent for the altitude
We supply boiled water to fill in your water bottle all the time,(while hiking)
if you may need more, please request it with enough time ahead to your crew
Teatime the first three days (tea, coffee, biscuits, popcorn)
Horses days 1-4 (for equipment and personal items, actually your main heavy
stuff, will be carried by the horses), we included 01 emergency horse to ride on,
every 06 persons, including horsemen
Private Bus returning from Cachora Town to Cusco City
Transfer to your hotel, .
What is Not Included:
Dinner on day 4 of the program.
Personal Drinks
Sleeping bags (4 season) can be hired in our office for US$15 for the 4 day trek.
Tips for the guide, cook and porters
Personal equipment
What you need to bring/carry:
Backpack,
Sleeping bag 4 season suitable for temperatures down to -5C (can be hired from
our office for US$15 for the 4 day trek)
Sleeping mattress (we will provide you with this)
Rain jacket or poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco for a few
dollars)
Strong, comfortable footwear
One complete change of clothing (you can afford to carry more changes of
clothing if you hire a personal porters, see options below)
Sweater and jacket (something warm)
Water bottle, ideally non disposable canteen (boiled drinking water will be
provided)
Torch / Flashlight and batteries
Hat or cap to protect you from the sun
Sun block (sun protection cream)
Insect repellent, absolutely the most important item for this hike is bug spray.
Anything with a lot of DEET with do the job, anything less is simply not
sufficient. Bug spray MUST be bought in Cuzco, as it cannot be found even in
neighboring towns.
Toiletries, towel and toilet paper
Selection of small snacks, chocolate, dried fruit, biscuits, energy bars etc,
Camera, plenty of film and spare batteries, cash in soles and US$
Swimsuit (if you plan on visiting the hot springs at Aguas Calientes after the
trek)
Optional: walking Poles /sticks rubber covers necessary (can be hired from our
office for US$06 each one for the 4 day trek )
You also need to bring a copy of your passport on the trail.
Price per person US$ 300.00 based on double occupancy tent.
Ask For Availability
Please fill out the below request form, we will contact as soon as possible generally within 24 hours (check also your junk box). If you would like to contact one of our previous customers please look at our
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