CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK

4DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

Choquequirao or Choquekiraw means "Cradle of Gold" in Quechua Inca´s language, although this is probably not its original name. It is another "Lost City of the Incas" rediscovered officially late in 20th century located high on a ridge spur almost 1750mts above the raging glacier-fed Apurimac River and surrounded by towering Salkantay and Humantay snow-capped peaks. Choquequirao was build during the last days of the Inca Empire in the government of the Inca Pachacutec 1490, by Tupac Inca Yapanqui, and probably after the Spanish invasion in 1532. Almost 40 years the Inca's held stand against the spanish conquerors (between 1536 - 1572).

ITINERARY

FIRST DAY: CUSCO - CACHORA - COCA MASANA - PLAYA ROSALINA
We will pick up you early from your hotel at 4:00 a.m. and then we will continue by bus about 4 hours and 30 minutes to Cachora town at 8:30 a.m., where we will enjoy breakfast and meet up with our wranglers and arrange our equipment, mules and horses. Where we will start to hiking about 2 hours 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. Then we will 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 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.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

SECOND DAY: PLAYA ROSALINA – CHOQUEQUIRAO
We wake up a little  early and  then we enjoy our breakfast, after that  we will continue climb a steep trail. Our 5-hours 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 many kinds of bird species. From Raqaypata to Choquequirao (3,035 meters/9,957 feet above sea level) it is a 2-hour and 30 minutes 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.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

THIRD DAY: CHOQUEQUIRAO -  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 to playa  Rosalina at 1450m/4756ft, where we might have time to take a refreshing dip in the waters of the Apurimac River. We camp and sleep there.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

FOURTH DAY: PLAYA ROSALINA - CACHORA - CUSCO

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 8.00pm.
Breakfast/Lunch

INCLUDES:
Transportation in / out: Cusco - Cachora - Cusco (private bus)
Guide: Professional English and Spanish speaking guide; 2 guides for groups over 12 people
Cook: In charge of meal preparation
Horsemen and horses: Carry tents, cooking equipment and also carry backpacks, sleeping bags and mattresses (Max. 10kilos per person)
Emergency Horse: Just in case someone needs help
Ticket: Entrance fee to Choquequirao
Meals: 4 Breakfasts/4 Lunches/3 Dinners/Snacks and afternoon tea time
Equipment: tents ( 2 people in each tent 3-person-capacity ), Therm-a-rest sleeping pad, dinner tent, special biodegradable bathroom tent, kitchen tent, shower tent, tables and chairs, table settings, first aid kit, including emergency oxygen bottle

DOESN'T INCLUDE:
 Sleeping bag.

NOTE: US$12 Sleeping bag rental in our agency (-10°C) for the whole trek.

WE RECOMMEND TO TAKE:

• Sleeping bag. (If you do not have one, rent one in the office).
• warm clothing for the first day.
• Light clothing, four pairs of socks.
• Good shoes or boots.
• Flash light.
• Water bottle.
• Camera or video camera (optional).
• Sunglasses, sunscreen, hats,  mosquito repellent.
• purifying pills.
• Snacks.

Note: During the walk you must load the sleeping bags, mattresses and personal items.