Choquequirao Trek Machu Picchu 8days

Season : Year Round
Departure Dates : On Request
Prices Start At :  $1100
Minimum :  2 Trekkers

Note: This trek has steep ups and downs, with changes of altitude in one day of over 1,600 m/5,200 ft. We recommend at least two days of acclimatization in Cusco prior to trek departure.

Inca Trail Availability:

The Inca Trail is subject to availability. You can check the official number of spaces on the Inca Trail for the whole year 2016.

TOURIST INFORMATION CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK

A systematic exploration in the archaeological site «Choquequirao», Cusco, Peru, has produced in the year 2004 the finding of a group of naturalists and geometric motifs that were drawn with stones on a sector of terraces in this important site; a settlement located next to the Apurimac river in the Amazonian - Andean limit of the mountain range of the Andes. This finding opened the possibility of developing a comprehensive and controlled investigation in these archaeological materials, which were developed in the year 2005. Part of the carried out analyses included technical approaches from the artifact theory, and historical correlations. This paper expose the particular analysis of the naturalist motifs stressing the proposition of the artistic nature, and the cultural and chronological association of these motifs.

DETAILED ITINERARY MACHU PICCHU TREKKING

Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu 8days and 7nights

Trek Day 1: Cusco – Playa Rosalina

Our adventure begins at 5:00 AM leaving Cusco and we will drive for four hours towards the Andean community of Cachora. In Cachora we will meet our horsemen and pack all of our equipment onto the horses. Then we begin a fairly flat walk to La Colmena. After arriving to La Colmena we hike uphill through the high pass of Capuliyoc where the pass will give us a great view of the Apurimac Canyon. We descend to Playa Rosalina (1,550 m/5,115 ft). The day ends on the banks of the Apurimac River, the main tributary of the Amazon River.

Trek Day 2: Playa Rosalina – Choquequirao Trek

The morning begins early with a nice breakfast and we will start walking uphill through a long and narrow trail. In the meantime we eat lunch and later we arrive at Choquequirao (3,103 m/10,178 ft) around 4:00 PM. Here we will enjoy some free time to explore the terraces and the Inca constructions. When the sun starts to set, there is a great opportunity to enjoy the magnificent view over the canyon, where condors often are spotted.

Trek Day 3: Choquequirao Trek – Maizal

We start the day ascending until we reach 3,300 m/10,890 ft. Along the path, we will pass through the archaelogical site of Pinchi Unuyoj (2,750 m/9,075 ft). At this site we will observe birds, orchids and coca plantations. Afterwards we descend down the mountain at Rio Blanco (1,900 m/6,270 ft), where after we then ascend to Maizal (3,000 m/9,900 ft) where we spend the night.

Trek Day 4: Maizal – Yanama

On this day we will mostly hike uphill and observe along the way impressive Inca trails and Inca mines, also known as Minas Victoria. After we reach the highest peak of the day at 4,150 m/13,695 ft, we will descend to our campsite (3,800 m/12,540 ft).

Trek Day 5: Yanama – Colpa Pampa

After an early breakfast, we will ascend to the highest pass in the trail at 4,670 m/15,410 ft. The view from there is amazing and we will be surrounded by snowcapped mountains such as Sacsarayoj Padreyoj. After peaking, we will descend to our campsite at Colpa Pampa (3,630 m/11,979 ft).

Trek Day 6: Colpa Pampa – La Playa – Santa Teresa

After breakfast at 6:00 AM we begin our day hiking until we reach our lunch site at La Playa. After lunch we will have a fairly easy hike downhill, where you will be able to experience Ceja de Sela, the jungle highland. Here, you will see coca plants, coffee trees, fruit plantations, birds, orchids, and begonias. At this point our hiking stops for a moment and we will be transported by bus for two hours down to the village of Santa Teresa, where a nice dinner will await us, here we spend the night in tents. In Santa Teresa you can visit the natural hot thermal springs for $4 USD.

Trek Day 7: Santa Teresa – Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu pueblo)

You can choose from one of the two following options. Depending on your interest and level of fitness, you should discuss each option with your guide.

Option 1  Trekking

We have breakfast and after an hour-long bus ride, we walk for two hours to get to the Urubamba River and the hydroelectric station for lunch. We then continue on our three-hour walk towards the town of Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu pueblo). This walk goes along the river and is one of the most beautiful walks with a great opportunity to take some really nice photos. In Aguas Calientes we will check into our hostel, dine, and rest before the next day in Machu Picchu!

NOTE: If you don't want to walk after lunch, you can take a train from the hydroelectric station to Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu pueblo), but it leaves only in the late afternoons and can be a long wait.

Option 2 trekking

We will hike uphill for three hours until we reach 2,810 m/9,273 ft. After our ascent we will have an excellent view of the lost city of the Inca’s, Machu Picchu. Then we will walk along the Urubamba River to the hydroelectric station. From there we will walk or take the train to Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu pueblo) and spend the night in a hostel.

Trek Day 8: tours to Machu Picchu – Cusco

After breakfast we will take the bus to Machu Picchu. A walking tour (approximately 2 hours) is given by your guide and after this you can explore the mysterious city by yourselves. If you still have energy, you can also climb Huaynapicchu (2,720 m/8,923 ft) to get a great view over Machu Picchu, It takes 45 minutes to reach the top of Huaynapicchu and you can also go behind the mountain to experience the cave. In the afternoon, we will take the train from Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu pueblo) back to Cusco and arrive at 9:00 PM.

End of Machu Picchu Trekking Services

Trek Price Includes:

• Professional, bilingual (English and Spanish) tour guide
• Collection from your hotel on Day 1 to the start of the trail
• Spacious, personal tents
• Sleeping mat
• Accommodation in Aguas Calientes
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
• Hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes (while hiking)
• Excellent meals (7 breakfast, 7 lunch, 7 dinner)
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
• Choquequirao site entrance fee
• Machu Picchu entrance fee
• Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
• Horsemen and mules (for equipment and 8 kg of your personal items)
• Bus tickets to and from Machu Picchu
• Transportation from Ollantaytambo to Cusco

What You Need to Bring:

• Original passport (and *International Student card (ISIC), if applicable)
• Day pack in addition to your backpack
• Travel insurance (strongly recommended but not required)
• Sleeping bag (also can be rented from us)
• Walking boots
• Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
• Warm jacket
• Hat and gloves
• T-shirts
• Comfortable trousers
• Sun hat
• Sun protection cream (SPF 35 or higher recommended)
• Insect repellent
• Re-usable plastic or metal water container or a hydration pack such as Camelbak
• Water (only for first 4 hours of trek, then we will provide you with previously-boiled drinking water throughout the trek)
• Toiletries (including toilet paper)
• Personal medication
• Camera and film
• Torch with spare batteries (headlamps are useful)
• Cash in local currency (Peruvian Soles) for tips

*To qualify as a student, it is necessary to have a valid ISIC card. Please scan and email us a copy at the time of booking.

If desired, the train back to Cusco can be upgraded to Vistadome (+$20)

Optional Items to Bring:

• Shorts
• Walking sticks or trekking poles. Trekking poles used are required to have rubber tips.
• Bandages or moleskin
• Sandals
• Bathing suit for Aguas Calientes/Santa Teresa hot springs
• Entrance fee for Aguas Calientes/Santa Teresa hot springs

Optional Services (Not Included):

• Sleeping bag rental, $30.00
• Breakfast Day 1, Lunch and dinner on Day 8
• 1 extra horse to carry personal items, $30 per day
• Walking sticks, $16.00

Prices for 2013:

Cusco Native is a company comprised of certified and licensed local tour guides. All tours booked with Cusco Native are led and staffed by Cusco Native employees. We will never pass you onto another tour company for your trek. We are a local company with professional employees and guides who are knowledgeable in all of the main (like the Inca Trail) and alternative (Lares to Machu Picchu) treks.

Cancellations

In the event of a cancellation we need to be informed in writing. Cancellation charges plus forfeiture of the non-refundable deposit will be applied as shown below calculated from the day written notification is received by Cusco Native.

Our cancellation table is as follows:

In the event of partial cancellations, the remaining passenger may have to pay any remaining charges (e.g. single room supplements or double-occupancy).