Choquequirao & Machupicchu 5D/4N
DISCRIPTION:
The Choquequirao Trek is one of the most impressive routes for trekking and adventure lovers, located in southern Peru. Choquequirao, which means “Cradle of Gold” in Quechua, is an ancient Inca archaeological complex, considered a “sister” of Machu Picchu due to its architectural style and its location in the mountainous region of the Andes.Day 5 visit Machu Picchu.
DETAILS OF THE TRIP:
- Duration: 5 days/4nights
- Distance: 67 km – 31 miles
- Departure: Cusco
- Difficulty: Moderate,Challenging
- Destination: Choquequirao & Machu Picchu
- Type of tour: trekking, cultural, adventure and history
DAY 1:Cusco – cachora – Capuliyoc – Chikiscca -Santa Rosa:
The pick up from your hotel will be early between 4:00am to 4:30am. Then we head towards the place of Capuliyoc the trip consists of 3 hours to reach the point of the hike. During the course of the trip assume the window to be able to appreciate the mountains, very striking landscapes that has our Peru. Once we arrive to Capuliyoc (2900 m.a.s.l., /2599 ft.) we will enjoy the first breakfast prepared by the chef of ALI PERU TREKS. After breakfast we get ready for our expedition 4 hours until we arrive to the point of our lunch, most of it downhill during the journey we can enjoy the magnificent views of the valley and the Apurimac river. In chikiscca (1900 m.a.s.l /6289 ft.) we will enjoy our lunch. After lunch and a short siesta, you will be back on the trail and cross the Apurimac River for another 2 hours of uphill trekking to our first campsite, Santa Rosa (2200 m.a.s.l /7282 ft.). Here we will camp for the night and you will have your first dinner and then go to bed early.
- Distance: 18 km.
- Hiking hours: 5-6 hours
- Low Altitude: 1930 m. / 6332 ft.
- High Altitude: 3391 m. / 11125 ft.
- Campsite altitude: 1930 m. / 6332 ft.
DAY 2:SANTA ROSA – MARANPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAO:
Very early in the morning we will wake up with a hot tea once you have woken up you will have 30 minutes time to enjoy the tea and prepare for breakfast then we prepare for the challenging but spectacular trek of the day we will ascend uphill for approximately 5 hours until we reach the village called Maranpata, where we will have our lunch and taste a sugar cane drink prepared by the locals. From this lunch spot, we will see a mystical part of Choquequirao in another direction. After a short siesta, we will continue climbing for 2 more hours to reach the second campsite, located in Choquequirao Park (2,950 m.a.s.l. / 9,676 ft.). This afternoon, we will go to explore a part of the Inca site of Choquequirao, then return to our camp. You will have your happy hour with tea and popcorn, dinner and then bed.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Accommodation: Camping in Choquequirao
- Elevation: 3150 m/10 397 ft.
- Walking distance: 10 km/6.3 miles
- Difficulty level: Moderate
DAY 3:
MARAMPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAW – MARAMPATA – CHIQUISHCA:
After a delicious breakfast we will return to explore the other side of Choquequirao.
Choquequira was designed with 9 areas. These areas were built as small villages surrounding a plaza to which all the streets of each village will lead. The following areas have been identified: The upper areas (Hanan), the storage areas (Qolqa), the main plaza (Huaqaypata), the lower plaza (hurin), the system of platforms where crops used to grow (Shaqra Anden), the ceremonial platform. (Ushno), and the priest’s houses at the bottom of the hill. From all these findings it is presumable that Choquequiraw was a great political and economic centre that served as a centre of trade and cultural exchange between the coast, the mountains and the jungle. We must emphasize that Choquequiraw is also known as ‘The Sacred Sister of Machu Picchu’ due to the similarities in design and architectural structure.
After this exciting visit and exploration of Choquequirao, we will return to Marampata (2,850 m.a.s.l.) where we will have lunch. Then we will descend to the Apurimac Canyon crossing the river through the area of Rosalina beach (1,550 m.a.s.l.) and continue to Chiquishca (1,930 m.a.s.l.). Here we will have dinner and spend the night.
- Distance: 14 km.
- Hiking hours: 7-8 hours
- Low Altitude: 1550 m. / 5085 ft.
- High Altitude: 3033 m. / 9950 ft.
- Campsite altitude: 1930 m. / 6332 ft.
DAY 4:CHIQUISHCA – CACHORA – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES:Early in the morning, after enjoying breakfast in Chiquishca (1,939 m) we will continue with the last hike of the day ascending to the place of Capuliyoc (2,800 m) the hike will take us approximately 3 hours then we will continue with our hike until we reach the village of Cachora (2,800 m) where we will enjoy the last lunch prepared by the chef of ALIPERUTREKS. After enjoying lunch we will take our private bus for a maximum of 3 hours to reach the town of Ollantaytambo and then board the train directly to Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu town) and spend the night in a comfortable hotel in the town of Machupicchu.
- Distance: 18 Km.
- Hiking hours: 5-6 hours
- Low Altitude: 1930 m. / 6332 ft
- High Altitude: 3400 m. / 11154 ft.
DAY 5:MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO:
Today will be a wonderful day to visit Machu Picchu: You will only need to bring your backpack with everything you need. The hotel will store your bags for you while you are in Machu Picchu. The bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu takes approximately 25 minutes, once in Machu Picchu your guide will take you to the Inca citadel for a total of 3 hours. During this guided tour, you will learn more about the history and culture of the Inca Empire, we recommend you return to Aguas Calientes no later than 2 hours before your train departs. The return train journey from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo will take approximately 2 hours. In Ollantaytambo our staff will be waiting for you, to take you back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.
- Meals: Breakfast
WHAT IS INCLUDED:
- Safety briefing the day before the tour at 18:00 in our office.
- Free luggage storage.
- Pick up from your hotel for the excursion.
- All transport during the tour.
- Personal transport up to 7 kilos
- Professional guides (English-Spanish)
- Experienced cooks
- horses to transport your luggage
- Entrance ticket to choquequirao and machupicchu
- All meals are prepared with fresh local ingredients.
- Bus down to Aguas Calientes from Machu Picchu
- Return train back to Machu Picchu
- Satellite phones, first aid kit and oxygen tank
- Eureka tents for every 2 passengers
- Private portable toilets
- Return to your hotel
NOT INCLUDED:
- Sleeping bags
- air mattresses
- trekking poles
- Lunch last day after the Machu Picchu Tour
- Huayna Picchu Mountain (optional)
- Original passport (no copy)
- Clothes for trekking
- Hiking shoes
- Sleeping bag
- Hiking equipment
- Hat
- Camera
- Sun protection
- Rain gear
- Flip-flops
- Student card(IF YOU BOOKED AS A STUDENT)
- Insect repellent
- Torch
- This trek covers a total distance of 65 km at high altitude. We recommend that you acclimatise in Cusco 2 or 3 days before doing the Inca Trail tour.
- You should bring your own backpack (25 L maximum). As you will be carrying it on your own, make sure you don’t carry anything too big or heavy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Inca Trail?
The Inca Trail is a well-preserved section of the great road network of the Qhapac Ñan. This ancient network, spanning over 30,000 km/18,641 miles in South America, used to connect the main Inca cities or llactas of Tahuantinsuyo..............
