Choquequirao Trek (7 Days)

After an early breakfast, 5 hours strenuous of uphill trek through a long and narrow trail, surrounded by beautiful vegetation with several varieties of orchids. Half-way up stop for lunch at Marampata, then we’ll continue hiking to more hours to Choquequirao, and it’s considered as the sister city of Machu Picchu, because of several similarities, it hangs 1,500 masl above the Apurimac Canyon and Machu Picchu hang above the Urubamba canyon. The view of the canyon is spectacular; it is also possible to see Andean Condors soaring in the mountains. Camping near of Choquequirao (3,050 masl).

  (B) = Breakfast / (L) = Lunch / (D) = Dinner.

Breakfast will be at 07:00 a.m and then we’ll start our trek passing the Choquequirao ruins, uphill through cloud forest, Mountains and valleys to reach the Choquequirao pass. After 5 hours of trek, the trail continues through agricultural terraces called Pinchinuyoc which means (water jumping forward – at 2,750 masl). There, we will observe different species of birds, different varieties of orchids, and local coca plantations. We will have our lunch near the “Rio Blanco”, we’ll use the brake here to get a refreshing bath in the cold and clear river water. We’ll cross walking through the river, since there are no bridges. After our break, we’ll start the long and steep climb to our camp in Maizal, high over the river close to the sacred Apus of the Incas. From “Rio Blanco”, we’ll climb up to Maizal for about 5 hours. Camping at 3,000 masl.

 (B) = Breakfast / (L) = Lunch / (D) = Dinner.

Early in the morning, we will trek around the Corihuayrachina glacier, important due to some archaeological remains such as Inca channels. From here, we’ll start walking uphill passing by the impressive mines called “Minas Victoria” and towards the Victoria Pass. Again a long climb, but we’ll walk in amazingly beautiful area – first with cloud forest and then over Andean Puna with the well-known Ichu grass. Then, we’ll pass through “Minas Victoria”, a place that during the colony, silver was extracted from a mine. Almost on the top, we can appreciate original paved Inca trails. We’ll take our lunchbox at the pass of 4,200 masl with view of the mountain Choquetakarpo while we’ll have lunch we will be able to appreciate the flight of the condors depending on the climate, and finally descend to our campsite at Yamana, a small isolated settlement at the bottom of a long valley surrounded by mountains (3,800 masl).

   (B) = Breakfast / (L) = Lunch / (D) = Dinner.

After an early breakfast, trekking uphill to the highest pass in this trek, named Yamana. Again the view will be amazing; from here we will be surrounded by mountain range of Saqsarayoc and Padreyoc. Once again, we’ll have the chance to see condors, and this morning smooth climb will bring us through new landscapes – especially the wet grass fields under the snowline that distinguish from everything else seen on the tour. In the pass, we might walk in snow, and the descent is a long foggy hike through grassy fields- and bush areas and crossing small poor wood bridges, on the way towards the community of Totora, where we’ll spend the night in tents in an indescribable beauty, surrounded by pure nature.

   (B) = Breakfast / (L) = Lunch / (D) = Dinner.

This day, the trek will be by 7 hours, descending into Totora River. We will observe the natural wildlife such as hummingbirds, woodpeckers, many species of orchids and begonias. Then, we’ll descend the trail on the left side of the Santa Teresa River where we will see small plantations of bananas, passion fruit, and coffee. On the way, we will stop at small waterfalls and get a refreshing natural bath. The area also has a big variety of birds, the climate and vegetations have changed totally. The “Playa/Beach” is the biggest village on the way, where we can find some small shops to buy snack etc. In this area, we might see small plantations of coffee and bananas. Campsite at 2,125 masl. Alter our last lunch, we will take a transport that takes us until the town of Santa Teresa, then we will cross a river of Vilcanota. Where we will take a transport to “Hidroeléctrica”, place where we will have an excellent view of a different angle of Machu Picchu and the Aobamba Canyon, where another Inca trail can be seen. After a good rest and walk of 3 hours, we will reach the town of “Aguas Calientes”, where we will have dinner. Optional visit to the hot springs. We will spend the night in hostel.

   (B) = Breakfast / (L) = Lunch / (D) = Dinner.

After an early breakfast in “Aguas Calientes”, we will take the bus up to Machu Picchu, there you will have a guided tour for all the Archaeological Site, then we will have free time to be in Machu Picchu. At the end of the tour, you will come back to “Aguas Calientes” to have lunch by yourself, and you will have free afternoon. At night, you will have to take the train back to Ollantaytambo, there the bus will be waiting for you to carry you back to Cusco.

   (B) = Breakfast.