EXPEDITION CHOQUEQUIRAO trek TO MACHUPICCHU

9Days / 8Nights

If you have hiked already the famous Inca Trail trek, Lares trek or are you looking for something even more special than the classic Inca Trail , exploring for very remote areas a new 'off the beaten track' trek. It’s a mix of two amazing treks, Choquequiraw and the best section of Salkantay mountain trek, we will pass from the Inca City of Chokequirao to the magic and mysterious Machupicchu, we need good trekking conditions and some previous experience, we also will see the difference between the Apurimac Valley (Chokequiraw), and the Urubamba Valley (Machupicchu), high altitudes snow capped mountains, spectacular landscapes and the variety of plants and animals.

ITINERARY:

FIRST DAY:  CUSCO - CACHORA - CHIQUISCA
Early morning we will pick up you   from   your hotel at 5:00 am in our private transportation that will take us to the Andean town of Cachora where our horsemen, mules and horses are waiting. We will hike for about 6 hours down into the Apurimac canyon camping at Chiquisca (1800 ma.s.l.)
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

SECOND DAY: CHIQUISCA - MARANPATA - CHOQUEQUIRAO
After a good breakfast we will start our strenuous hike up hill for about 5 hours to our lunch spot at Maranpata, and then for another hour and a half to Choquequirao, where we camp. Choquequirao (Golden Cradle) is considered the Sister City of Machu Picchu, because of several similarities, it hangs 1,500 meters above the Apurimac Canyon, and Machupicchu hangs above the Urubamba canyon. It was a religious and administrative center. It is at the same altitude and it is a large citadel with more of 8 hectares, only one third has been uncovered and every day archeologists are finding new things.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

THIRD DAY : CHOQUEQUIRAO - MAIZAL
Early morning we will start our departure walking through to Choquequirao, finding our way behind the upper plaza, going up though high cloud forests to the Choquequirao Pass. Afterwards the trail continues through some agricultural terraces or (Andeans) called Pichiyoc which means (water jumping forward) this terraces have some curious ritual fountains. Also this terraces in the Inca Times where cultivated to provide food for the locals. We will continue up toward the Rio Blanco for lunch. In the afternoon we enter to another Andean valley to the hamlet of Maizal where we will camp.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

FOURTH DAY: MAIZAL - YANAMA
After to enjoy our breakfast we walk around the Corihuarachina glacier, important due to some archeological remains such as Inka channels. Then we pass through Minas Victoria, a place that during the colony, silver was extracted from a mine. After we continue our trek to the valley and town of Yanama. We will camp at the shadow of the Pumasillo Glacier.and we will appreciate  beautiful landscapes
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

FIFTH DAY: YANAMA - TOTORA
We will trek surrounded by the high mountains of the Vilcabamba Range full of Ichu grass and of Tarwi brush, we go up to the Yanama Pass (4580 m.a.s.l.), the highest pass on the way. In the afternoon we will continue down river arriving at the hamlet of Totora, where we will camp. This place has indescribable beauty, tranquility and pure nature surrounded by the glaciers Salkantay, Padreyoc, and Pumasillo.ailso that day you will see  birds and some Andean animal.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

SIXTH DAY : TOTORA - WIÑAYPOCO
After  to have breakfast we following the Totora river to enter an area of high cloud forest by passing the hamlet of Lluscamayo and arriving at Collcapampa known  for its hot springs. Then we descend the trail on the left side of the Santa Teresa river where we will see small plantations of bananas, coffee, etc., arriving later at the grassy slopes of Wiñaypoco where we camp.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

SEVENTH DAY: WIÑAYPOCO - LLACTAPATA
Early morning start following the trail down the left side of the Santa Teresa River through more plantations of  bananas, avocados, oranges, coffee, cacao and more, arriving to Miscabamba where we cross the river, then we go across the road that goes to the town of Santa Teresa, continuing on the slope of the hill to our right going through an Andean cloud forest to the Puncuyoc pass, then descending through grass land and fruit trees where there is a lot of cattle. Then we will arrive at llactapata, where we will camp. The panoramic view from this place is breath taking; you could see a different angle of Machupicchu and the Acobamba canyon, where another Inca trail can be seen.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

EIGHTH DAY: LLACTAPATA - AGUAS CALIENTES
Early morning we descent through orchids and ferns, until we reach the Acobamba river, then crossing a metal bridge with views of an impressive water fall that goes to the Hydroelectric plant. Arriving at the rail road tracks and then taking a two hour walk on the rail road tracks to Aguas Calientes. Where we will spend the night in a nice hostel and you will have time to soak yourselves in the local hot springs.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

NINETH DAY: AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHUPICCHU - CUSCO
We wake up very early and then we take  the first  bus to the Citadel of Machupicchu, guided tour for 2 hours and plenty of free time to explore more, optional time to climb up the mountain Huaynapicchu, Temple of the Moon or the Sun gate, after that you have to take the bus to go down to Aguas Calientes, where you have lunch and take the train to Poroy train station and bus to cusco  then transfer to the hotel.
Breakfast/Lunch

INCLUDES:
Private transportation: Hotel – Cachora
Private transportation: Poroy Train station - hotel
Guide: Professional English and Spanish speaking guide, 2 guides over 12 people
Horsemen and horses: for your equipment ( the horses will carry 8 kilos per our client belongings)
Double occupancy tents: dining tent and toilet tent, tables and stools plus all the plates and silver ware
Hostel: double accommodation in a nice place
Train tickets: from Aguas Calientes to Poroy
Entrance fee: Choquequirao – Machupicchu
Bus ticket: Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes
Meals: 8 breakfasts / 9 lunches / 8 dinners
Cook: and assistant in charge of meal preparation

DOES NOT INCLUDE:
First breakfast, most of hotels offer that service
Sleeping bag.

NOTE: US$ 20 Sleeping bag rental in our office (-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 or hat, mosquito repellent.
• Purifying pills.
• Snacks.

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