The community of Totora is located in Andahuaylas, one of the 7 provinces that make up the Department of Apurímac. The city is located at 2,980 meters above sea level and has a slightly cold climate.
80% of the territory of Totora is dedicated to the care of alpacas, with more than 14 communities being the first producers of alpaca fiber in the Apurímac region.
Totora is a peasant community of difficult access, because it is located between high peaks and inter-Andean valleys that range from 1,400 to 4,800 meters above sea level.
To get to this community, you must leave Andahuaylas, Apurímac, and follow a trip that takes three days, first by car, then on the back of a beast and, finally, on foot.
General Information
- Locality: Totora
- Country: Perú (PE)
- Latitude: -14.137601
- Longitude: -73.438704
- Timezone: America/Lima UTC -05:00
- Elevation: 3979 meters / 13054.46 feet
Totora´s community history
In the 1980s, specifically between 1984 and 1987, the residents of the community were severely beaten by subversive violence to submit and comply with their mandates and purposes.
The abrupt and violent submission of which these settlers were victims was facilitated by the absence of representatives of the political and military authorities, which plunged the residents of this area into a true state of defenselessness.
Despite the indicated difficulties, many community members managed to flee from the terrorist domain. But this was not possible for everyone: the decision to flee, tragic for a peasant accustomed to his place of origin and his lands, depended on a set of conditions and circumstances that were sometimes unattainable; for example, the family burden, the resources or means they had, the place where they were going to flee, whether or not they had relatives in the place where they were going, among others.
Contrary to what the villagers expected, the entry of the forces of order in the area did not mean the arrival of peace, since the official forces confused them with the subversives. Thus, this time they were victims of homicides, robberies, fires and other violations of their rights by the representatives of the State.
The political violence, therefore, placed the inhabitants between two fires: on the one hand, that of the insane Senderista action that forced them to carry out actions under threat of death; and, on the other, that of the State, which saw potential collaborators or terrorists in these settlers.
Tour to Choquequirao
The Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek, is one of the most beautiful and spectacular hikes in the Cusco region and our country Peru. This walk is an extended version that we start in Choquequirao passing to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. This hike was ranked by National Geographic as one of the best trips in the world in 2017! This Choquequirao Machu Picchu tour will be very rewarding for the adventurer of impressive walks.
On this Choquequirao tour you will be able to see the monumentality of Choquequirao and enjoy a real adventure, enjoying the spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains, the great valleys and the deepest and most incredible canyons. You will also see native animals like Andean Condors and native flora and fauna like orchids and much more.
Machu Picchu was the jewel built by Pachacutec, but it was Tupac Inca who built the magnificent Choquequirao, on an impressive mountain of orchids, 61 miles west of Cusco. It is located in a cloud forest, 1,150 meters (3,772 feet) above the Apurimac River. Choquequirao means cradle of gold.
On the eighth day we will arrive in Aguas Calientes. Here you will rest in a very comfortable room and a very pleasant breakfast in the morning. Dinner will be at the best restaurant in Aguas Calientes. The Choquequirao tour will end with a tour to Machu Picchu and hike to the Huayna Picchu Mountain on the ninth day.
Also you can reach Choquequirao throgh other treks: Choquequirao Trek 4 Days or the the Choquequirao Trek 5 Days.
General data
- Minimum Altitude: 1,550m / 5,117ft
- Maximum Altitude: 4,672 m / 15,324 ft
- Total distance: 93 km / 58 miles
- General walking difficulty: Demanding
What is the weather like in Choquequirao?
Choquequirao has a temperate climate. The average temperature is 14ºC. During the dry season (April to October) the heat reaches 25ºC.
At night, the cold reaches 4ºC. In the rainy season (from November to March) fluvial precipitations occur more frequently.
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco - Cachora - Playa Rosalina
At 4:00 am. We will pick up clients from their hotels, and then we will transfer to Cachora (4 hours approx., By our private transport), once there (in Cachora), we will meet our muleteer and the horses, we will not pack everything our team on the horses, then we will start walking, the path is flat to Chuquisaca and then we will go uphill, passing through the high pass of Capuliyoc, from there, we will have a great view of the Apurímac Canyon. Finally we will descend to Playa Rosalina on the banks of the Apurímac River, the main tributary of the Amazon River. Camping at 1550 masl / 5115 feet.
Day 2: Rosalina Choquequirao Beach
Early in the morning, we are going to have breakfast, then, we are going to start walking uphill through a long and narrow path, arriving Chokequirao around 16:00, then we are going to visit the archaeological site with our guide. The view of the canyon is spectacular, it is also possible to see condors flying over the mountains. Camp (3,050 masl / 11,055 feet)
Day 3: Choquequirao - Maizal
This day we will start walking uphill for a time up to 3,300 masl / 10,890 feet, then we will descend to the Blanco River (1900 masl / 6270 feet.) On the way we will pass through Pinchiunuyoj archaeological site. There we will be able to observe different species of birds, different varieties of orchids and local coca plantations (2,750 masl / 9075 ft.), From Río Blanco (Río Blanco), we will go up to Maizal (3,000 masl / 9900 ft) for approximately 3 hours. . Camping.
Day 4: Cornfield - Yanama
This morning, we are going to start walking uphill, passing some impressive Inca mines called Victoria Mines. Almost at the top, we can appreciate original Inca paved roads. We will pass over it (4,150 masl / 13,695 ft.) And finally descend to our camp (3,800 masl / 12,540 ft.).
Day 5: Yanama - Totora
After breakfast, we will start to slowly climb our overpass on the whole way (4,670 masl / 15,410 ft), again the view will be amazing from here, we will be surrounded by snow-capped mountains: Sacsarayoj and Padreyoc mountain. Camping at 3630 masl / 11,979 feet
Day 6: Totora - Playa
On this day we will descend to the Totora river. As we go through the natural life it will be more interesting, with a lot of hummingbirds, woodpeckers and many species of orchids and begonias. Camping at 2125 masl / 7012 feet.
Day 7: Beach - Aguas Calientes
This day we will walk until the last climb, until 2810 masl / 9273 feet, to get there, it will take around 3 hours, from where we will have an excellent view of the lost city of the Incas of Machu Picchu. After a good rest, we will go down to the hydroelectric plant on the Urubamba River, from here, depending on the time, we will walk and / or take the train to Aguas Calientes.
Day 8: Machu Picchu - Cusco
After breakfast we will take the bus to Machu Picchu, there, we will have a guided tour of the entire archaeological site, then we will have free time to be ours in Machu Picchu, perhaps to climb the Wayna Picchu. In the afternoon (at 4:00 h.). We will take the train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco arriving at 8 pm. approx.
