CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK APURIMAC CANYON
5 days / 4 night 

Choquequirao means "cradle of gold". It is located on an ample Andean plateau, in the middle of the Vilcabamba valley, over 3055 meters above sea level. Its archeological sites are as important as Machupicchu.
Archeologists presume that it is one of the several lost citadels in Vilcabamba, where the Incas took refuge in 1536. 

Choquequirao is an extraordinary religious complex composed of nine sections, including the religious-political center. It also has hundreds of terraces, rooms and irrigation systems with aqueducts. The trek to Choquequirao is certainly unforgettable. We will leave Cusco through the Abancay Road and at Km 154 there is a side route to the Cachora Village where the trek begins. The trail starts at 2900 meters above sea level at Cachora and ends at 1530 meters above sea level at the Apurimac River.

Choquequirao was first visited and described to the western world by a French explorer during the 18th century, and then Hiram Bingham visited the site in 1910 before his discovery of Machupicchu in 1911.
Even today tourists rarely visit the ruins but with the enforcement of new regulations on the Inca Trail to Machupicchu, Choquequirao is destined to replace the traditional trek as the serious trekkers alternative.

ITINERARY

DAY 1: CUSCO - LIMATAMBO – KACHORA – PLAYA ROSALINA

We will leave Cusco at 4 am. for a four hour drive. Arriving at Cachora town around 8 am where we will have our breakfast. Here we meet the horsemen and we arrange our equipment on mules and horses. From this village (Cachora) in just 2 hours hike we get to Capuliyoc (2915 m) from where we have the first beautiful views of the Apurimac valley stretching below as well as the snow capped mountains of Padrayoc and Wayna Cachora. We then descend towards Coca Masana (2330 m.), where the climate becomes warmer and the vegetation begins to change. Finally we arrive at Playa Rosalina (Rosalina beach) at 1550 m beside the Apurimac River where we will set up our camp and spend the night.
The approximate hike time is 10 hours and is 21 km. 

DAY 2 : PLAYA ROSALINA - CHOQUEQUIRAO

The second day is considered the hardest one of the five days. We will have an early breakfast to start our trekking and in about 5 hours we reach to Raqaypata. This is near the Chunchullmayo river where we will have our lunch and siesta. Along this trail we are going to see beautiful orchids and wild flowers as well as Andean birds. From this point it is just two more hour´s hike to Choquequirao (3035 m). With good luck we will enjoy the sunset and maybe the opportunity to spot the world´s largest bird, the Andean Condor. We spend the night just outside of the ruins.

DAY 3 : CHOQUEQUIRAO – RAQAYPATA.

After an early breakfast we start exploring the majestic ruins of Choquequirao. Our guide will explain the history and importance of the site. We will observe the three levels of the excavated ruins, where we can appreciate houses, terraces and other parts of this Inca-town. Choquequirao is called (The last refuge of the Inca empire) in the oldest known report assigned to Juan Arias Diaz, one of the first people to explore the zone in 1710.
Late in the afternoon we will start the return trek and spend the night at Raqaypata.

DAY 4 : RAQAYPATA – COCA MASANA.

Immediately following breakfast, we continue our return trek with a steep descent toward the Apurimac River. Here we will have our lunch. On the way we are going to see again the beautiful snowcapped mountains and the verdant landscape.
In the afternoon we have a 4 hour up hill hike to our last campsite at Coca Masana (2330 masl).

DAY 5 : COCA MASANA – CACHORA – CUSCO.

After breakfast we have the last 3 hours uphill to  Capulilloq (2915 m). From here the trail is fairly flat up to the village of Cachora.
We will say goodbye to our horsemen and take the bus back to Cusco.
On the way we stop at the archaeological site of Tarawasi and the white stone of Saywite, where we will eat lunch. A 4-hour bus ride brings us back to Cusco, and the end of this trip.

TREK OPTIONS  

(1) Personal porter.- can be hired to help carry your personal items such as sleeping bag, mattress (we will provide you with this), complete change of clothes, etc. however the porter will not walk at your side during the trek so you will still need to bring a day pack to carry essential items such as water, snacks, camera, rain poncho, etc. If you hire an extra porter we will give you a big sack for the porter.
(1) An extra night in Aguas Calientes.- can easily be arranged for you if required. Hotels costs and costs associated with returning to Machu Picchu the following day are additional to trek costs.
(2) Vegetarian Meals.- We can provide vegetarian meals or special diets with no extra cost. Just let us know at least 2 days prior to trek departure.
(3) Sleeping bag hire.-We have sleeping bags in our office for rent.

PRIVATE SERVICE

A private service trek is organized just for you with private transport and your own professional tour guide. We do not add other people to your group, in order to provide you the best possible service with personal attention and added comfort.

INCLUDES:
Hotel collection, private bus to Cachora (round trip). Entrance fees to Choquekirao. Professional bilingual tour guide. Excellent cook, high quality camping equipment (4 people igloo tents used for 2 people, mattress, dining tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent and cooking equipment). Plentiful meals (morning tea, breakfast, snacks, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner every day). Food includes: pancakes, omelets, soups, fresh fruit, avocado, pasta, chicken, fish, meat, rice, all rich in carbohydrates and suitable for trekking, vegetarian options, hot drinks including coca leaf tea which is excellent for the altitude. Boiled water is also provided to fill up your water bottle, hot water every morning and afternoon for washing, horsemen, pack animals (horses and mules to carry your personal items and camping equipment), saddled horses, first aid kit and oxygen bottle.

EXCLUDES: sleeping bag (you can rent this in our office US$ 15 for the whole trek) and the dinner of the last day.

GROUP SIZE: Private Group.
DEPARTURES: From April until November.

PRICE PER PERSON 2008

YOU SHOULD BRING :

Backpack, sleeping bag (you can rent it in our office), warm clothes, fleece, sweater, rain jacket and rain poncho, change of clothes, hiking boots and sandals, trousers and shorts, wool socks, wool hat, gloves, baseball cap, Flashlight and extra batteries, sun glasses, water bottle and purification tablets, sun block, insect repellent, toiletries, bathing suit and towel.

TREK OPTIONS

(1) Horse for personal use or saddle horse.- US$80 for the whole trip.
(2) Vegetarian Meals.- We can provide vegetarian meals or special diets with no extra cost. Just let us know at least 2 days prior to trek departure.
(3) Sleeping bag rent.- We have sleeping bags in our office for rent.

<<RESERVATIONS>>

Address: Lucrepata, Urbambilla A-1 Cercado Cusco - Telf: +51-84-248457 Mobile: +51-984-756439

Emails: aldrin42@hotmail.com  & info@peruvianadventures.com