Trekking Inca Temples Choquequirao to Machu Picchu 8 days This amazing trekking will lead you to the Lost City of The Incas “Machu Picchu” after visiting his twin sister city Choquequirao, wonderful new archeological complex which is bigger than Machu Picchu and has a similar distribution it is located in the top of a mountain looking the sacred Apurimac river. Only recently rediscovered, much of the huge archaeological complex is being restored by the Copesco project and today we can visit more than 6 different parts of the complex in minimum one full day. This expedition is far the best option to feel the total Inca culture experience; you will cross the Andes ending in natural hot springs in Santa Teresa, finally you will arrive to Machu Picchu. The best is that this trekking is for total nature lovers, no big groups during trek, after Choquequirao almost no tourists only amazing landscapes and beautiful small villages and rivers. Level: Moderate-sportive, average day hikes of 7 hours daily. Season: From May to October – dry season with occasionally rain days. Equipment: Good trekking material provided by our company, sticks for walking recommendable. Qualification: Definitely the best trekking combining Inca culture and Mountains in Cusco. Arrangement: This program can be organized in private service or with one international group. Moderate-Sportive: Is for the experienced walker and a higher level of physical fitness is required. Walking days are normally 6-8 hours and may involve up to 1000m or more of ascent or more of descent. Be aware to perform several days walking, often at higher altitudes. The most demanding days are 3 and 4th day. Good meals and hidratation with electrolytes are very important for this. Our team will provide you good meals, box lunches and boiled water every day. Special Highlights: Among the many highlights on this program, we will mention: -ANDES: Trekking in the Andean mountain range of Vilcabamba across two incredible canyons. -CHOQUEQUIRAO & MACHU PICCHU: Visits to the ‘lost’ Inca cities in the mountains, Choquequirao trek is nowadays the most authentic way to travel into the time and check how Machu Picchu look before all the mass tourism contaminated this National Sanctuary. The only way to visit Choquequirao is by foot minimum 4 days round trip. You may also add one rest day in Choquequirao for having the most complete visit to all areas of the city. -NATURE-WILDLIFE: Pure nature is what waits for you during this trek, Condors, endemic birds and beautiful orchids are part of the trail.
TREK ITINERARY: Day 1: Cusco – Cachora – Chiquisca. -5:30am -transfer for Cahora by private tourist bus (5 hours)
-Start Trekking naar Chiquisca (8 hours) -Sleeping in tents While the group is having breakfast the crew will arrange the horses for the trek. Already from the village of Cachora we can observe the majestic Padrayoc snow covered peaks, the highest is 5482 m.a.s.l. The hike on this first day is 16 km or 6 hours. On the way we will observe Padrayoc and Wayna Cachora snow covered peaks.We can appreciate the beautiful change of the landscape from precipices to snowy mountains. The walk starts quite high with views to snow covered peaks and small farms on the steep mountainsides. From the viewpoint of Capuliyoc, where we might see Condors. The descent towards the Apurímac Canyon starts. As the vegetation is changing from Agave and Tunacactus forest to dwarftree forest we have lunch stop at Chiquisqa (1950 m.a.s.l.). Campsite in Chiquisca at 1550 masl. Timing: Cahora -> Pucaira : 1 ¼ Pucaira -> View Point : ¼ View Point -> Capuliyoc : ½ Capuliyoc -> Chiquisca : 2 ½ Day 2: Trekking Chiquisca to Choquequirao camping. After an early breakfast 5.30 am. we start walking from here we continue the descent to the Apurímac River in 1550 m.a.s.l. in the impressing deep canyon of the same name. After a short rest we continue our hike going up to Choquekiraw. The first 2-3 hours are going up steep, but then it will change between at and climb the rest of the way surrounded by beautiful vegetation with several varieties of orchids. We will arrive to the archaeological place Choquequiraw after 5 hours, arriving around 3 pm. We can explore the ruins after arriving. The view of the canyon is spectacular; it is also possible to see Andean Condors soaring in the mountains. Campsite at Choquequirao. 3033 masl. Chiquisca -> Playa Rosalina : ¾ Playa Rosalina -> Santa Rosa : 2 Santa Rosa -> Marampata : 2 ½ Marampata -> Choquequirao : 1 ½ Day 3: Trekking Choquequiro to Mayzal. -The river is perfect for swiming your guide will show you where -Refreshing lunch next to the river. Be aware of mosquitoes, we recommend OFF crème. On this day we walk uphill for a while up to 3299 masl considered as a first pass and then descend to Rio Blanco, 1909 masl. First we walk through cloud forest, but then all becomes steep open prairie with open views of the Mountains and valleys. Pinchinoyoc these ruins are something very special. All of a sudden they appear in the cloud forest, almost invisible because of the thick layer of mosses and other vegetation that covers it. Here we will see the old Inca Terraces. We will have our lunch near the Rio Blanco, we use the brake here to get a refreshing bath in the cold and clear river water. We cross the river. After our brake we 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 climb up to Maizal for about 3 hrs. Camp at 3000 masl. WWW.XTREMEPERU.COM-treme Peru Travel EIRL Day 4: Trekking Mayzal to Yanama Village. From here we start walking uphill passing by the impressive inca mines called Minas Victoria and towards the Victoria Pass. Again a long climb, but we walk in one amazing beautiful area – First with cloud forest and then over Andean Puna with the well known ichu grass. We rest at some of the Victoria mines, where metal shining stones tell about a high concentration of minerals and metals, which were later used by other miners. Almost on the top we can appreciate original paved Inca trails. We take our box lunch at the pass in 4200 m.a.s.l. with view of the mountain Choquetakarpo, while we had lunch we will be able to appreciate the flight of the condors depending on the climate, before we start the descent towards Yanama, a small village at the bottom of a long valley surrounded by mountains. We pass over 4154 masl and finally descend to our campsite at 3800 masl. Day 5:Trekking Yanama Village to Totora. After breakfast we start climbing slowly to our higher pass 4668 masl, again the view is amazing, we are sorrounded by snowcapped mountains the Mt. Sacsarayoj and Mt. Padreyoj. We continue from Yanama up through the valley towards the highest point of the tour, The Yanama Pass in 4500 m.a.s.l. On the way we have a good view of the snow capped Sacsarayoc. Once again we have the chance to see condors, and this morning smooth climb 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 wood/dirt bridges on the way towards the community of Totora, where we spend the night. Day 6: Trekking Totora to La Playa Village and Santa Teresa. On this day we descend to the Totora river. As we go down the birdlife is very interesting especially with hummingbirds, woodpeckers and many species of orchids and begonias. We walk the about 2000 meters down through the changing vegetations to the warmer camp in the village of La Playa approx. 7 hours walking. On the way we see small waterfalls and get a refreshing natural bath. The area also has a big variation of bird life and it is now obvious that the climate and vegetations have changed totally, and now we see plants recognizable from the living rooms in Europe and several types of orchids. The Playa is the biggest village on the way, where we can find some small shops to buy snack etc. In this area we can see small plantations of coffee and bananas. Later we take our transport to Santa Teresa village where we make our campsite at 2,125ma sl. Here we can go with taxi to the hot springs pools for a refreshing swimming. Day 7: Santa Teresa Village to Aguas Calientes. After a good breakfast we took a transport that takes us to Planta HidroelÊctrica, train station here we can take the train to Machu Picchu 50 minutes or walking our last
trail that lasts 2 hours until arriving at Aguas Calientes village where our long walk finish. We will spend the night in one cozy Hotel. WWW.XTREMEPERU.COMX-treme Peru Day 8: Machu Picchu visit full day return Cusco. Early visit bus 5.30 am to climb Machu Picchu possible to do it by foot and be the first on the city sunrise there, complex open at 6am. Guided visit aprox 2 hours after free time to visit for yourself the rest, recommendable climb Huayna Picchu the best spot to take pictures at 3 pm get down to the village and take train back to Ollantaytambo. Transfer to Cusco 1 hour more.
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Peru Inca Reizen - Travel Agence Licentie Peru 11396 email: info@peruincareizen.com website: www.peruincareizen.com Telefax: + 51 -1-435 17 46 Main Office: Hernando de Soto 250 - Lima 3- Peru - Branch Offices in Cusco & Huaraz.