Choquequirao Trek 5 Days | Choquequirao Tours
Description
Situated above the stormy, glacier-fed Apurimac river, encircled by frost-topped summits, sitting on a tall ridge Choquequirao is a distant and hardly visited "Lost City of the Incas". The meaning of the name in Quechua is "cradle of Gold" and is considered as the place where the last Inca rulers went to after losing the city of Cusco during the Spanish conquest.
The ruins were first visited and accounted to the western world during the 18th century. Hiram Bingham also visited the site in 1910 before his rediscovery of Machu Picchu in 1911. The site is relatively detached, though recently there was a footpath built over the Apurimac river to make it more accessible to the ruins. However the ruins of Choquequirao are still not visited much, although with new regulations on the Inca Trail, Choquequirao is fated to substitute the conventional trek as the heavyweight hikers alternate.
Choquequirao Trek involves 5 day with a professional guide, chef, muleteer and horses. Book Now! and Discover the second lost city of the Incas!
What to Expect
Choquequirao Trek Overview
Sustainable Tourism: At Tierras Vivas, we are happy to promote and practice sustainable tourism by being eco-friendly and supporting local communities. We are again supporting Sernamp this Inca Trail with picking up trash and clearing the trail
Crew: A Tierras Vivas representative in Cusco, a professional bilingual Tour Guide, a chef, and horses on the Choquequirao trek.
Physical Rating: 4 - Demanding -High-altitude hikes or more strenuous activities.
Age requirement: 12+ / All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Choquequirao Tour Operator: Tierras Vivas Travel
Group Available: Small Group - Min: 2 - Max: 8
Accomodation: Campsites (4 nights),
Meals: 4x breakfast, 4x lunch, 4x dinner, 4x afternoon tea.
Transportation: Transportation by private van
Quick Itinerary
Day 01: Cusco - Cachora - Playa Rosalina
Day 02: Playa Rosalina - Choquequirao
Day 03: Choquequirao - Raqaypata
Day 04: Raqaypata - Coca Masana
Day 05: Coca Masana - Cachora - Cusco
Highlights of Choquequirao Trek
- Explore the Choquequirao Archaeology
- Discover the second lost city of the Incas
- 5 day hike with professional tour guide, cook and horses
- Guided Tour of Choquequirao ruins
Responsible Travel
Tierras Vivas Porters
Tierras Vivas DOES NOT permit this exploitation!! We guarantee that our porters carry only an amount given by the Peruvian law!! There is still a long way to go when it comes to a reserve of adequate meals, backpacks and warm dry sleeping accommodation. click here
Each Year Tierras Vivas hots a Christmas party in Patacancha. Family porters.
Itineray Details
Day 01: Cusco - Cachora - Coca Masana - Playa Rosalina
You will leave the Incan capital of Cusco at 4 in the morning when pick you up for a wonderful five hour drive northwest across the country of the Anta Plateau to the authentic little town of Chachora (2,892m/9,488ft), the starting point of the hike in our private transport, which offers great views of the glacial mountains of Salkantay, Humantay, Pitusiray, Chicon and Veronica. It is a 150 kilometer drive and the last 10 are on a dirt road. Along the way there are fabulous views of villages, valleys and frost-topped mountains. During the course we descend into the town of Limatambo where the archaeological remains of Tarawasi are. From here we continue to the little village of Cora Wasi where the Saiwite Stone is. We ascend through abundant open lands and fruit farms before making a final declination to the village of Cachora.
Here many of the locals work as mule drivers to add to their earnings. There you will meet the expedition help team including the horsemen (arrieros) and horses and we pack your equipment on to the mules and the horses.
From here we take our daypacks and start our trek along the edge of the mountains through this magical and historically abounding lands, gradually its a two hour hike to Capuliyoc (2,915m), from where you will appreciate the first exquisite vistas of the Apurimac Valley and river extending below, as well as the glacial-topped summits of Padrayoc and Wayna Cachora (3033m), the wooded hills on the other side of the canyon and the area of Choquequirao. You will then start a slow descent to Coca Masana, into the canyon (2,330m7/644ft), where we hike through a drier land superabound with cacti which contrasts with the green slants of the other side of the canyon. The weather becomes considerably hotter and the plants and animals are different. Don't forget to bring a high deet mosquito repellent for this area. Finally you reach the next campsite at Playa Rosalina (Rosalina Beach) (1,550m), near the stormy Apurimac River (whose Quechua native name means "Great Speaker of God"), known for its class five rafting rapids where you will set up camp and spend the night. Your guide will present this astonishing Inca land to you.
Walking poles or wooden sticks are recommended for today. (Lunch and dinner)
Optional: Visit to the Saywite Stone, a limestome outcrop, about 4 metrs diameter which the Incas chiseled into a 3 dimensional image of the domain of their sovereignty, Tawantisuyo. The stone is carved with pictures of flowers, animals and land of their empire and was used in rituals that had to do with the worship of water.