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| Choquequirao 8 days / 7 nights |
Tour Length: 08 days / 07 nights
Departures: Everyday throughout the year.
Activities: Cultural, Archaeological
Spots to visit: Cusco, Choquequirao, Machu Picchu |
Day 1: CUSCO – PLAYA ROSALINA:Pick up from the hotel at 0500 am, transfer to the bus station, departure for a 4 hours trip until the town of Cachora (via Limatambo) where the hike begins; along this hike we’ll watch the surroundings mountains as the Padrayoc, |
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the Choke Takarpu; shortly after one hour hike the group arrives to the country property La Colmena, along the hike is common the view of native plants such as the Chachacomo, Chillca etc., continuing the trek the group arrive to the Abra of Capuliyoc where a break and lunch is taken; the trek will continue descending until Chiquisca, then the hike will continues along the banks of the Apurimac River towards Playa Rosalina where is located the first campsite; dinner and overnight. |
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Day 2 : PLAYA ROSALINA - MARAMPATA
After a delicious and powerful breakfast the hike will continue along the banks of the Apurimac River until traverse it from a beautiful bridge; the hike will continue in ascend until Santa Rosa where a lovely family will serve you a refreshing and delicious sugarcane juice or “Cambray”; |
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the group will continue the hike for another 30 min. toward a small creek where lunch is served. The hike will continue ascending toward Marampata, a small village home of other shepherd families; from this site we have a view of the complex of Choquequirao and also an extensive panoramic view of the Apurimac River; in this place the campsite is ready to shelter the group, dinner and overnight. |
Day 3: MARAMPATA - CHOQUEQUIRAO - PAJONA):
After the breakfast you enjoy the majestic landscape of flora and fauna observing orchids, bromeliads, the view of the canyon is spectacular, it is also possible to see Andean Condors soaring in the mountains finally we will arrive to the archaeological complex of Choquequirao. |
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There is plenty of time to explore the ruins before the hike start again towards an Inca trail from the Choquequirao-pass (3270m) to the archeological site of Pinchaunuyoc (2450m) in full restoration and from there down to the deepest part of this trek, run through by a river called Blanco or Victoria (1900m) on border which's we set up the campsite, dinner and overnight. |
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Day 4: PAJONAL – ABRA VICTORIA: After breakfast the hike begin uphill passing by the Inca mines called Minas Victoria and towards the Victoria Pass. This is a tough climb, but in an amazingly beautiful area – first with cloud forest and then over the isolated |
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Andean Puna only covered with ichu grass. Almost on the top you can appreciate original paved Inca trails, a box lunch is served in the pass at 4200 m.a.s.l. with sight of the mountain Choquetakarpo, after a refreshing rest will begin the descent towards Yanama, a small isolated settlement at the bottom of a long valley surrounded by mountains, the campsite is ready and shortly after dinner is served, overnight. |
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Day 5: ABRA VICTORIA - TOTORA: After a powerful breakfast the hike start over climbing slowly to the higher pass at 4668 m, sights are amazing and you are surrounded by snowcapped mountains, the Mt. Sacsarayoc and Mt. Padrayoc.; the hike continue from Yanama up through the valley towards the Yanama Pass at 4500 m, on the way there is a great view of the snow capped Sacsarayoc. |
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Once again you might have the chance to watch condors; 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 campsite is set; dinner and overnight. |
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Day 6: TOTORA – SANTA TERESA:
After breakfast the hike will continue descending to the Totora River, as you go down birdlife becomes more and more interesting especially with the common view of hummingbirds, woodpeckers and many species of flowers such as orchids and begonias, the hike continue toward the population of Sahuayaco mostly known as |
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La Playa where lunch is served, later we will continue descending until arriving to Santa Teresa's population traversing avocado trees, bananas, coffee and other crops; our camp is set here, dinner and overnight. The district of Santa Teresa (1830m) has a very gentle climate which is why the vegetation is so developed. They have a very good organization concerning the exportation of coffee, with the help of some foreign institutions, aiming to develop their competence within the extern market. |
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Day 7: SANTA TERESA – AGUAS CALIENTES:
We get up very early at 05.00 am and the hike continue after breakfast toward the hydroelectric and traversing the Vilcanota River in a typical transport of this area, the cable-car or Oroyas, then along the banks of the Vilcanota River also known as Willcamayu, continuing through this warm and humid climate we soon arrive at the Hydro-Electrical station (1900m) and from there towards to Puente Ruinas and finally to Aguas Calientes (2050m), the tourist-town beneath the ruins of Machu Picchu where we spend the night in a cozy inn; dinner and overnight. |
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Day 8: AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHUPICCHU - CUSCO:
After breakfast the group will visit the ruins for a complete tour of the major sectors. The tour takes about 2 hours so by about 12:30 you'll have free time to explore the ruins alone. The returning train to Cusco departs from Aguas Calientes, which is the nearest village to the ruins of Machu Picchu. The train departs at approximately 16:30 (time can vary) and you'll be arriving in Cusco at about 21:00; is NOT included in our standard service the tourist bus from Machu Picchu down to Aguas Calientes; the train return to Cusco and a transfer from the station to you hotel. Sometimes however, which is most of the cases, we buy train tickets just return as far as Ollantaytambo and then bring you return to your hotel in Cusco by private bus. |
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Inclusions:
* Collection from your hotel in the morning
* Private car to the beginning of the trail
* Horses and mules to carry the camp gear.
* Muleteer.
* Choquequirao admission fee.
* Machu Picchu admission fee.
* Igloo tents - 2 persons in each 4-person capacity tent with plenty of space for your backpacks
* Double thickness foam mattress
* Cook and cooking equipment
* Meals (07B, 07L, 07D) - 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.
* Porters (to carry the tents, food, and cooking equipment)
* Dining tent with camp tables and chairs
* Kitchen tent
* Accommodation for our porters and cooks
* First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
Not included:
* Sleeping bags can be hired in our office for US$8 for the 4 day trek.
* Tips for the guide, cook and porters
What you need to bring/carry:
* Backpack,
* Sleeping bag (can be hired from our office for US$2 per day)
* 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 porter, see options below)
* Sweater and jacket (something warm)
* Water bottle and purification tablets (Micropur are recommended and can be bought in local pharmacies in Cusco)
* Flashlight and batteries
* Hat or cap to protect you from the sun
* Sun block (sun protection cream)
* Insects repellent
* Toiletries, towel and toilet paper
* Selection of small snacks, chocolate, dried fruit, biscuits etc,
* Camera, plenty of film and spare batteries
* You also need to bring your original passport on the trail.
Options:
(1) Personal porters can be hired to help carry your personal items such as clothes, sleeping bag etc. They can be hired for $70 for all 4 days and will carry up to a maximum of 18kg (usually 1 porter between 2 persons is more than sufficient). You can hire the services of a half a porter to carry up to 9kg for US$35. However, even with a personal porter, you will still need to bring a day pack for essential items.
About 30% of the group usually has personal porters to help them. If you hire a porter we will provide you with a sack to put your items in to give to the porter. This extra porter will help you carry: duffle bag or sack (we will provide you with this), sleeping bag, mattress (we will provide you with this), clothing, sweater, jacket, wooly hat, scarf, gloves (something warm for at night), flashlight and batteries, toiletries. Your personal porter, however, will not walk at your side so you will still need to bring a day pack for essential items. You will meet up with your porter at lunch time and at the campsite late in the afternoon. Equipment to be carried by yourselves: small day pack, water bottle and sterilizing tablets, warm sweater, broad-brim or peaked cap, sun protection cream, insect repellent, toilet paper, selection of small snacks for the day etc, camera, lightweight plastic poncho just in case of rain (can be bought in Cusco for US$1) Important note: You must decide if you want to hire the services of a personal porter in advance when making your trek reservation since we need to purchase the porter's trekking permit. You cannot decide to hire an additional porter once you arrive in Cusco.
Vegetarian Food
We can provide vegetarian meals or cater for special diets with no extra cost. Just let us know at least 2 days prior to trek departure.
Sleeping bag hire. If you haven't got a sleeping bag or you don't want the hassle of bringing one with you then we have sleeping bags in our office for rent. The price is US$2 per person per day.
Other information:
(1) Luggage storage. When you go on the trek it is best to leave any luggage that you are not going to need behind in Cusco. Nearly all the hotels in Cusco provide a secure luggage deposit. Put any valuables in their safe. Very rarely do hotels charge for this service especially if you are returning to the same hotel after the trek. If there are any problems with your hotel we can arrange to store your luggage at our office. |
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