The name Choquequirao means “Cradle of Gold.” The Inca archeological site is considered, the sister to Machu Picchu, it is less known and 3 times larger than Machu Picchu. It was one of the last refuges, for those Incas who continued to resist Spanish occupation after the conquest. The site was eventually abandoned and became covered by dense cloud forest vegetation and to this day archeologists continue to discover new sectors of the city.
On this adventurous trek we will walk on Inca highways, hike through high andean landscapes with majestic glaciers, descend into deep canyons where the condors fly and pass through biologically diverse cloud forest ecosystems. You’ll also visit Inca silver mines and isolated Inca communities.
This program combines visits to two major archeological sites: remote and less visited Choquequirao and legendary Machu Picchu. It is a fascinating adventure through part of the old empire of the Incas and one of Peru’s most unspoiled wilderness areas.
Daily Summary:
Day 1: International Arrival
Day 2: Lima to Cusco
Day 3: Cusco- Cachora – Chiccisqa – Santa Rosa
Day 4: Chiccisqa – Choquequirao Ruins
Day 5: Choquequirao – Pinchinuyoc – Rio Blanco
Day 6: Rio Blanco – Maizal – Mina Victoria/Pajonal
Day 7: Pajonal – Yanama – car to – Lucmabamba
Day 8: Lucmabamba – Llactapata – Aguas Calientes
Day 9: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
Day 9: Cusco to Lima
Note:
- All transfers are included from the begging to thinned of tour
- All Entrance tickets are included
- Meals Included are detail day by day in the schedule
International Arrival
An English-speaking TIKA TREKKING representative will be expecting you from your international arrival, will greet you and give you your customized welcome pack with a booklet of your trip itinerary and other useful information before whisking you off to your hotel, assisting you with all check-in procedures.
Overnight : Hotel Señorial Lima
Meals :
Lima to Cusco
Today in the morning hours you will be flying to Cusco, upon arrival in Cusco you will be assisted by our staff, and get transferred to the hotel in Cusco, you have the morning free to rest and get acclimatized to the altitude.
In the afternoon we will walk by the historical down town of Cusco, and we will have a welcome dinner.
Overnight : Hotel Garcilaso Cusco
Meals : Dinner
Cusco- Cachora – Chiccisqa - Santa Rosa
On the first day of the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek, we depart Cusco at 5:30am in a private car for a 4 hour drive to the charming village of Cachora, situated on the edge of the Apurimac canyon and surrounded by impressive snowcapped peaks. We will stop in Cachora to purchase any last minute supplies before continuing by car to just before Capuliyoc (2915 metres/ 9561 feet) from where we have our first beautiful views of the Apurimac valley stretching below as well as the snow-capped peaks of Padrayoc and Wayna Cachora.
We will meet our arrieros (muleteers) here and walk for a further 15 minutes to have our boxed lunch here at the Capuliyoc mirador. From here, we descend steeply into the Apurimac Canyon, taking in the spectacular views as we descend for 3.5 to 4 hours to Chiccisqa (1836m / 6023ft), with breathtaking drops to our side. 1 hour after Chiccisqa we arrive at the roaring Apurimac River (1550 metres/ 5084 feet).
From the river, we begin to climb to the Santa Rosa Campsite, which is 2095m / 6873ft. This is a tough climb of 2 hours but makes the next day easier! As the campsite is further along than the most popular camp, it is often quiet and you can soak up the stars.
- Accomodation: Camping at Santa Rosa 1950m – we will aim to be at our campsite by 6pm.
- Our total hiking time today is around 6 hours / 16 km
- Descending 1200m (4 hours) / 2 hrs ascending – Rio Apurimac to Santa Rosa
- Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Chiccisqa – Choquequirao Ruins
Departing early again today to get the best out of the day (around 6am) we continue upwards onto Maranpata where we will have a break. The climb from the Santa Rosa to Maranpata (3110 metres/ 10120 feet) takes about 3 hours and is a tough uphill stretch.
A little further on from our break site we will get our first view of the ruins of Choquequirao! From here we have 2 more hours hiking to the ruins. After the rigors of the past two days, this is a gentle undulating hike. We take our lunch at the Choquequirao campsite nearest to the ruins, before we head to the Choquequirao ruins for the afternoon. Spending the afternoon exploring the ruins, we will watch the sunset and keep our fingers crossed for the chance to see condors.
Only around 30% of the Inca remains of Choquequirao have been excavated. What can be seen today however, is most impressive and very much worth the challenging trek to get here. The stonework in Choquequirao is not as sophisticated as that found in Machu Picchu, because the stone found here is very difficult to carve, but the buildings are impressive and suggest a site of high status. Choquequirao evokes a sense of awe simply because of the sites’ surrounding beauty and isolation and condors can be seen frequently soaring the skies.
- Accommodation: Camping at Choquequirao campsite 3050m (10,000 ft)
- Total hiking time today to campsite is: around 4. 5 hours
- 13 km ascending 1600 m in altitude – Santa Rosa to Choquequirao
- Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Choquequirao – Pinchinuyoc – Rio Blanco
We begin this part of the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu hike with an early morning visit to the impressive Choquequirao site. Originally discovered in 1710, there were a series of European explorers who passed through this area and knew about this site, however little importance was given to Choquequirao until 1909 when Hiram Bingham who is credited with the scientific discovery of Machu Picchu came across the site. This brought more international attention to the site but even then the site was largely ignored until the 1970´s when the Peruvian government started its excavations. Choquequirao is composed of an amazing and extensive set of terraces and a smaller religious and administrative area with a total area of over 1800 hectares. There are impressive irrigation channels and all of this set in the dramatic setting of the steep Apurimac Canyon.
We will take our boxed lunch within the ruins today to allow for more exploration time. After our guided visit we climb over a ridge for around 1 hour and hike descending to the ruins at Pinchinuyoc, (3 hrs hiking). We will take a short break at these ruins to admire the majestic views. From there, we will descend to the Rio Blanco, a further 1.5 hours steep descent.
- Note – insect repellent is a necessity when camping at Rio Blanco!
- Accommodation: Camping at Rio Blanco.
- Hike distance and time: 8km around 5 hours/ Ascending: 1km / Descending: 7km
- Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Rio Blanco - Maizal – Mina Victoria/Pajonal
Today, after breakfast we will start a difficult climb to a small cleared agricultural area on the mountain, Maizal. For many people, this is the most difficult section of the whole Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek. The climb is a difficult 3 hours zig zag uphill, as Maizal is located at 3000m/9,842ft.
After our lunch in Maizal we climb a further 3-4 hours uphill through cloud forest, to the Victoria Mines, an ascent from 3000m to 4000m! We’ll take a short rest here and admire the shine of the outcropped rocks illustrating the high concentration of minerals and metals and the reason for the ancient mines.
In our trek through the puna, we’ll walk over the well-preserved Inca Trails, with their classical zig-zag shape before setting up camp for the night at Pajonal. (Altitude 4000m/13123 ft)
Pajonal affords stunning views from where we have just walked back towards the amazing Apurimac valley. Due to the altitude, camp will be a cold night.
- Accommodation: Camping at Pajonal.
- Total trek time 6/7 hours
- Rio Blanco – Maizal (3000m) 3 – 4 hours ascent
- Maizal – Pajonal (Victoria mines) (4000m) – 4 hours
- Total ascent 2000m – 8.5km
- Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Pajonal – Yanama – car to – Lucmabamba
We wake early and climb for an hour to the pass of Paso San Juan. (4130 metres/ 13 546 feet). From this high pass we will be able to see the imposing Mountain Choquetacarpo in front. This is a fantastic spot to take pictures on a clear day, possibly the best on the whole Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek.
There are spectacular views from the pass as we descend to the charming village of Yanama, (about 2.5 hours walk). Peru usually uses muleteers from the village of Yanama 4100m/13451 feet (therefore providing employment for isolated people) and we will have lunch near the village.
After lunch we will farewell our muleteers and your group will be met by a vehicle which will transfer you to the high jungle village of Lucmabamba. (Approx 3 hours drive). You will enjoy the warm high jungle climate and different atmosphere. A local coffee grower will provide us with a coffee making demonstration and you will have the chance to learn more about the coffee growing process.
- We will camp the night at Lucmabamba (2100m /6889 feet altitude.) Note, your campsite altitude tonight is half of what it was the night before!
- Total trek time: 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lucmabamba - Llactapata - Aguas Calientes
We leave early and climb for about three hours through the jungle before descending to the interesting, but largely covered ruins of Llactapacta. Don’t let your guide talk you out of this!!! Yes, it’s a three hour climb but it is also a very interesting introduction to Machu Picchu.
Originally discovered by Hiram Bingham at the same time that he discovered Machu Picchu, modern day explorers Vincent Lee and Gary Ziegler recently established that these ruins are much bigger and more important than previously thought. From here we have our first view of Machu Picchu, in the saddle of the mountain opposite.
We descend very steeply on a muddy track for two hours to the impressive Machu Picchu Hydroelectric System where we will have lunch and visit an Inca ruin.
We will board the train at the Hydroelectric station in the mid afternoon. We include in the price of your tour a train ticket from the Hydroelectric Station to Aguas Calientes the train leaves at approximately 4pm, and you arrive in Aguas Calientes about one hour later, when you are transferred to your hotel.
- Tika Trekking Peru includes a nice celebratory dinner tonight in Aguas Calientes. Amount of time hiking: 3 hours ascending 3 hours descending to Hydroelectric
- 600m altitude gain / 900m altitude loss
- Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
Today we will have a guided visit of the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu. This is a lifelong dream for many, and also a pinnacle of the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek!
Early in the morning (before dawn) we will take a bus up to the ruins of Machu Picchu (bus included in price), so that you can appreciate this famous city in the dawn light and before the crowds arrive. You will then have a 2.5 hour guided tour of Machu Picchu with your guide. After your tour you can further explore the ruins by yourself or climb Huayna (Wayna) Picchu for that classic photo of Machu Picchu. (You must advise at time of booking and pay an additional fee of $30US* These permits sell out months in advance. Book Early!)
In the afternoon we will board the bus back to the town of Aguas Calientes, afterwards we will board the train back to Cusco.
- Accommodation: Hotel Garcilaso Cusco.
- Total trek time 2 hours
- Maizal – Pajonal (Victoria mines) (4000m) – 4 hours
- Total ascent 2000m – 8.5km
- Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cusco to Lima
After breakfast in the morning hours you will be transferred to the airport, in order to return your homes.
- Meals : Breakfast.
End of the service.
What’s included on the trek?
- Pre trek briefing
- Collection from your hotel in the morning of trek departure.
- Transport from Cusco to the trailhead at the beginning of the trek in private car
- Entry fee to Machu Picchu (Huayna Picchu $30 extra – please advise at booking as places are limited) & Choquequirao
- English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guide (you will have an assistant guide for groups over 6 people).
- Tents – 2 people in a 4 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks.
- Basic foam mattress. If you require greater comfort during the trek we can hire you an inflatable mattress (eg. Thermarest) .
- Cook and Cooking equipment (Assistants are provided for larger groups)
- Toilet tent
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (optional vegetarian food). Our professional cooks prepare meals that incorporate elements of the western diet and also traditional Peruvian delicacies. (Please communicate with your guide/cook during the trek if you have a preference for certain types of dishes). Salads, if served, are washed in boiled water.
- Horses (for equipment and personal items) including horsemen. They carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 7 kg/15lbs per person).
- 1 emergency horse which can be ridden if you are feeling ill or if are a little slower
- Dining tent with camp tables and chairs & Kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals
- Tents for our staff to sleep in
- First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
- Bus up and down from Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu
- Train or equivalent luggage from Hydroelectric station to Aguas Calientes
- Train ticket (Expedition service) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Private transport from Santa Teresa Cusco.
- Celebratory dinner in Aguas Calientes
- Lunch on the last day is included in this itinerary.
- • 1 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes in a basic hotel. This will be a nice, clean and safe hostel with breakfast included and private bathroom. If you wish to upgrade from this hotel.
What is not included?
- International flight tickets
- Breakfast on the first morning.
- Dinner on the last night.
- Entrance to the thermal springs
- Entry to Huayna Picchu
- Sleeping bags – If you haven’t got a sleeping bag or you don’t want the hassle of bringing one all the way to Peru with you, then we have sleeping bags for hire.
- Tips for the guide, cook and porters
- Additional horses for passengers luggage.
Itinerary notes – Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek 10 days
- The times cited in this itinerary are approximate. Walking times depend on the group and the guide can change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group. Each guide has their own preferred route and it might not correspond exactly to the route described here.
- Trek conditions vary according to the season. in the dry season the trail can be dusty, in the wet season it can be slippery and muddy. During the shoulder seasons the conditions depend on prior weather. Tika Trekking Peru takes no responsibility for trail conditions, as it is directly related to the weather.
- This is an adventurous trip. You should be sure to bring an open mind, flexibility and a sense of humor. Most of all you should be prepared to go with the flow. Also, we do not recommend this trek for «first time» trekkers or campers.
- The Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek is an adventurous trek, crossing several high passes and the Rio Blanco which does not have a substantial bridge and can be dangerous to cross in periods of heavy rain. We do not recommend this trek during December, January, February, and March but this recommendation depends on the current weather conditions.
- This region is not frequently visited by tourists, therefore tourist infrastructure is limited.Visitors should be aware that things change, or may not go to plan. This is all part of the adventure!
- We can change the date of your train ticket to the following day. Hotels costs and costs associated with returning to Machu Picchu the following day are additional to trek costs. Please also note that your entry ticket to Machu Picchu is valid for one day only, if you wish to visit the ruins on a second consecutive day you will need to purchase the ticket again.
- Dinner at one of Aguas Calientes “best” restaurants, like Indio Feliz or Tree House restaurant.
- Return in Vistadome train rather than Expedition train, which gives you the opportunity for a more varied timetable and to return in a nicer train, with big windows in the roof.
You should bring:
- A light day pack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek – prepare for a vast range of changes in temperature
- Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho. Plastic ponchos can be bought for about $1 in Cusco .
- Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended. Extra socks are a must.
- Sandals or plastic slip on thongs are also good to give your feet a chance to breath in the evenings if you wish to carry them.
- Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces, gloves, scarf and beanie/touk. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping.
- Sleeping bag (we can hire these to you)
- Torch/ Flashlight and spare batteries
- Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
- Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
- Sun block
- After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
- Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – although no malaria risk has been reported
- Toilet paper, pack in & pack out
- Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
- Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning.
- We advise you to bring water sterilizing tablets in case you collect water from streams.
- Your own medical kit with any special medications that you might require, paracetamol, second skin for blisters etc.
- Small towel or sarong
- Bathers/swimsuit (if you intend on swimming in hot springs )
- Cash – sufficient for snacks, tips and souvenirs.
- Original passport & ISIC (International Student Identity Card) if you have one.
- Walking sticks or poles (we can hire these to you. Please note poles with metal tips cannot be carried into Machu Picchu and should be left at your hotel on the final day)
- Binoculars (if you have them)
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