Choquequirao Trek

We will pick you up at 5:00 am. The drive to our first stop, Capuliyuc (2,900m / 9,512 ft) where we will begin the trail will be 4 hours. At this place you will be introduced to your muleteers and horses as we’ll get ready for the trek. We will start with our 3 hours hike on a downhill trail and would stop at Chikiska located at 1,900 m / 6,213 ft, where we will have lunch. Chikiska will reward you with stunning views of the snowcapped mountains of the Vilcabamba range, and the great Apurimac canyon. After lunch, we’ll hike for an hour more to get to the first camp site called La Playa Rosalina (1,500m / 4,920 ft). Here we’ll spend the first night. As we would arrive a warm cup of tea will be served followed by dinner before retiring for the day. All meals included, except breakfast. Hiking Time: 6 Hours (approx.) | Hiking Distance: 8 Kms/4.9 Miles | Highest Point 2,900m/9,512 ft. | Lowest Point: 1,500m/4,920 ft. | Highlights: Dramatic views of the Vilcabamba range with snowcapped mountains and the Apurimac canyon

Early in the morning we’ll wake up to a warm cup of coca tea and a nutritious breakfast which will make us ready for the challenging day. After having our breakfast, we’ll ascend for about 5 hours on a switchback trail to get the town called Maranpata, a place where we’ll have our lunch. Upon arrival we’ll have the first views of Choquequirao. In the afternoon after eating lunch we will walk for 2 more hours to get the second camp site in Choquequirao Park at 2,950 m / 9,676 ft. Here we’ll spend that afternoon enjoying the beautiful sunset atop the Andes mountain range. In the evening we’ll have tea time followed by dinner. All meals included. Hiking Time: 8 Hours (approx.) | Hiking Distance: 14 Kms/8.7 Miles | Highest Point 2,950 m/ 9,676 ft. | Lowest Point: 1,500m / 4,920 ft. | Highlights: First views of Choquequirao archaeological site, more views of Apurimac canyon

This is a day to see and explore the much awaited ruins, Choquequirao located at 3100m / 10,168ft. Our trek leader will give us a through guided tour of the whole citadel. After breakfast, we will start by exploring the religious sector, administrative sector, Usno (religious platform), the granaries, the terraces with llamas, and other buildings located close by to the religious centre. We will then have a short lunch break back in the camp site. In the afternoon, we will visit the lower section of Choquequirao where the agricultural terraces, water fountains and some temples are housed. We’ll then return to the campsite for the evening tea and dinner. All meals included. Highest Point: 3,100 m /10,168 ft. | Lowest Point: 2,950 m/ 9,676 ft. | Highlights: Exploring Choquequirao with a private local expert.

After the breakfast, we will start our 3 hours hike down on a steep switchback trail to reach the Apurimac River again, this section of the trail is less hiked and explored as the other hikers take the same trail to go back to the beginning of the trail. On this section of the trail, we’ll savour dramatic views of the great Apurimac canyon from different angles. Once in San Ignacio (1,450 m / 4,756 ft), we will take a quick break before starting our 45 minutes’ hike up to our camp site in San Ignacio (1,820 m /5, 970 ft) where we will have lunch and explore the local farm where we’ll learn about the Coca plant, Cocoa plant, Avocado tree, and other fruits. All meals included. Hiking Time: 5-6 Hours (approx.) | Hiking Distance: 9 Kms/ 5.60 Miles | Highest Point 2,950 m/ 9,676 ft. | Lowest Point: 1,450m / 4,756 ft. | Highlights: Coca Plants and other local plants.

After breakfast, we will start our hike up the highland valley with some trees along the trail and amazing views, this final section of the trail is a gentle trail for 3 hours to reach Tambobamba 2,320 m / 7,610 ft, a place where we’ll end our adventure. Once we arrive at this place, we’ll have a farewell time to our muleteers, cook and other members who were part of our team for 5 days. After that, we’ll take our private transport back to Cusco for about 5 hours with some stops on the way. Our first stop will be at Sayhuite, a unique place to see a great Incan monolith called the monolith of Sayhuite. It is a symbolic representation of our cosmos, where the Incans used a granite rock to carve over 208 figures like geometric and zoomorphic figures, including reptiles, frogs, felines, irrigation channels, etc. This site is regarded as a centre of religious worship for Incan people, focusing on water. It’s a big granite boulder and it’s circumference is about 11 m / 36.08 ft, 4 m / 13.12 ft of diameter, and about 2 m / 6.56 ft high. After a tour of this site, we’ll take our picnic lunch. We’ll then drive back to Cusco for about 3 hours. All meals included, except dinner. End of the adventure. Hiking Time: 3-3.5 Hours | Hiking Distance 8 kms/ 5 miles | Lowest Point: 1,820m (5,970 ft) | Highest Point: 2,320m (7,610ft) | Highlights: The Inca monolith of Sayhuite.