Choquequirao Trekking Challenge 3 Days

INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS

• Guided trail to Choquequirao
• Viewpoint of  Choquequirao
• Apurimac Canyon’s viewpoint
• Watch the soar of the condors over the Apurimac Canyon
• Visit picturesque villages
• Guided tour of Choquequirao Inca site
• Free time at Choquequirao for further exploration
• Challenge trek since it is do it in three days and two nights
• Apurimac Canyon sunrise or sunset
• Scenic walks and inspiring hikes

FAST FACTS

• LOCATION: About 4 hours drive west of the city of Cusco in Peru
• ALTITUDE: Min. 1,500 masl – Max. 3,300 masl
• TIMING: 3 days and 2 nights
• STARTING AND ENDING POINT : Cusco hotel
• LEVEL: Difficult, but not at high altitude. Challenging due to steep ascents and descents.
• ADVENTURE RATING: Choquequirao trek is one of the better known adventure hikes around Cusco.
• DEPARTURE DATES: Any day with two people. Not available during the rainy season. (December through March)
• GROUP SIZE: Minimum 2 people average 8 people
• DAILY WALK: Approximately 7-8 hours

BRIEF ITINERARY FOR CHOQUEQUIRAO TREKKING CHALLENGE

Day 01: First walking day

For Choquequirao Trekking Challenge, we leave Cusco very early by car to the zone of Capuliyoc and then trek for about 8 – 9 hours to Santa Rosa camp; today’s trek is considered hard and challenge.

Day 02: Explore Choquequirao

We continue very early the trail trekking up to the Inca ruins of Choquequirao; once we arrive, you’ll have a guided tour and free time for you own exploration, then we’ll return to Santa Rosa Camp. Today’s trek is considered hard but beautiful for the history and the great scenery.

Day 03: Return to Cusco

Early breakfast and continue the trek to Capuliyoc where our car will be waiting for us and return to Cusco. Today’s trek is considered hard and challenge but you’ll fill great because you just finish a wonderful trek.

 Video for Choquequirao Trekking Challenge

 DETAILED CHOQUEQUIRAO TREKKING CHALLENGE ITINERARY

Our three-day Choquequirao Trekking Challenge itinerary has been carefully chosen to include the best night stops and highlights. However, as local and operational conditions may vary and unforeseen circumstances can arise, the following itinerary should be used as a guideline.

Day 1: Drive from Cusco to Capuliyoc and trek to Santa Rosa Camp:

Today we’ll Pick-up you from your hotel in Cusco at 04:00 a.m; then, we’ll drive our private car for four hours approx. to the town of Cachora where we’ll stop for a quick breakfast and also purchase some items for the trek (Water, snacks, etc.); then, we’ll continue 30 minutes more to the zone of Capuliyoc (the starting point of the trek). Here, after we arrange the equipment on mules and horses, we’ll start the trek downward. The trail goes zigzag down until the place of «Playa Rosalina» where will be served our lunch and you can rest your knees that will be tired from walking down.

After a deserved lunch in the middle of exotic views of the Apurimac river/Valley and the scenic mountains, we continue a few minutes down to the border of the Apurimac River, which will cross by a bridge; after that we’ll start the climb up by a zigzag trail to the campsite of «Santa Rosa» where you can take a deserve cold shower (the place is very nice and warm). And enjoy the views of the Apurimac Canyon. Here, there is a small village and you can also find a place if you want to buy some water, snacks or sodas.

The approximate time of the hike is about 8-9 hours (Including the stops for lunch, resting and drink water). On this day, we will pass the small village, Capuliyoc (2,915 m.a.s.l.) impressive lookout point from where we can see the Apurimac Valley, Huayhuacalle (2,970 masl), Tinajayoc (2,630 masl), Mirador (2,370 m.a.s.l.), Cocamasana (2,330m.a.s.l.), Torowisqana (2,285 masl), Chiquiska (1,950 m.a.s.l.) grove place where we can find water, Playa Rosalina (1,550 m.a.s.l.), La Huerta (2,705 m.a.s.l.) and finally, we’ll arrive to Santa Rosa camp (2,115 m.a.s.l.).

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Acomodation: Campig tents
• Climate : warm and sunny
• Distance Travelled: Approximately 15km
• Hiking time : 8 hour

Day 02: Trekking up to Choquequirao explore it and return to Santa Rosa camp.

After an early breakfast, we’ll continue another hard section of the Choquequirao Trekking Challenge so, an early morning wake up is needed, where delicious breakfast will be waiting for you; the trail provides some clear water spring inviting to get it; we recommend do not drink water from the spring because the bacteria of the water are not good for your health. At around 9:30a.m, we’ll arrive to the archaeological site of Choquequirao where you’ll receive a guided tour; after which you’ll have free time for further exploration and also enough time to rest. While you are exploring the Inca settlement of Choquequirao you kitchen team will prepare your lunch which you will enjoy after you finish explore the extraordinary Inca settlement.

During the tour, we will observe the three levels of the excavated Inca settlement, where you’ll see the houses, terraces and other parts of this late Inca-town, like the ruin in progress of excavation and finally the areas unexplored that can tell us about this last refuge of the oppressed Inca Empire. After all, we start the walking down to the camp of Santa Rosa and enjoy your last dinner.

The Inca ruins of Choquequirao are considered as “The Last Refuge of the Inca Empire”. The oldest reports assign to Juan Arias Diaz as one of the first people that explored the zone in 1710. Our bilingual guide will explain the history and importance of the site.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Acomodación: Camping tents
• Climate : warm and windy
• Distance Travelled: Approximately 12km
• Hiking time : 7 hour

Day 3: Trek from Santa Rosa Camp to Capuliyoc and drive to Cusco.

After an early breakfast, we’ll pack all camping gear and start walking down to “Playa Rosalina” It is the lowest point of the trek. On the way, we can observe one more time the Apurimac Canyon; if we are lucky, we’ll see Andean Condors flying over the Canyon. We also will see the exuberant vegetation and its variety of flowers and orchids. From “Playa Santa Rosa”, we’ll continue walking up to Chiquiska where we’ll stop for our last lunch and also you can rest; this is a very hot place so that we recommend drinking enough water.

From the zone of Chiquiska, we’ll continue the trail zigzag up to Capuliyoc where our private car will be waiting for us and return to Cusco. Here in Capuliyoc you’ll have last choice to take pictures of the route, and see the trail that took us to Choqeuquirao. After all, we’ll take the car and return to the village of Cachora where the car will stop for going to the toilets and  you also can purchase some items for your car trip to Cusco. We’ll arrive to Cusco at approx. 08:00 p.m and you’ll be transfer you to your hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Climate : warm and sunny
• Distance Travelled: Approximately 11km
• Hiking time : 7 hour

ITINERARY NOTES

The times cited in this itinerary are approximate. Walking times depend on the group and the guide can change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group.

CHOQUEQUIRAO TREKKING CHALLENGE INCLUDES:

• Pre-trek briefing one night before the trek
• Pick-up from your hotel in the morning of trek departure
• Transport from Cusco to Capuliyoc, the trailhead in private car and the returning way
• Entrance fee to Choquequirao Inca archaeological site
• English-Quechua-Spanish speaking professional guide (you will have an assistant guide for groups over 8 people)
• Tents – 2 people in a 4-person capacity tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks.
• Air mattress for a greater comfort during the trek
• Chef and cooking equipment (Assistants are provided for large groups)
• Toilet tent
• Meals as specified in the program (optional vegetarian food). Our professional Chefs prepare meals that incorporate elements of the western diet and also traditional Peruvian delicacies (Please communicate with your guide/chef during the trek if you have a preference for certain types of dishes). Salads, if served, are washed in boiled water.
• Horses (for equipment and personal items) including horsemen. They carry camping gear, food and  kitchen gears. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items and sleeping bag (up to 6 kg per person).
• Dining tent with camp tables and chairs & kitchen tent for the chef to prepare meals
  Tents for our staff to sleep in
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle

EXCLUDED

Breakfast on the first morning in the town of Cachora
Dinner on the last night upon your arrival to Cusco
Sleeping bags – if you haven’t got a sleeping bag or you don’t want the hassle of bringing one all the way to Peru with you, then we have sleeping bags for hire.
Tips for the guide, chef and horseman

YOU SHOULD BRING FOR CHOQUEQUIRAO TREKKING CHALLENGE

• A light daypack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek – prepare for a vast range of changes in temperatures.
• Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho. Plastic ponchos can be bought for about $1 in Cusco.
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended. Extra socks are a must.
• Sandals or plastic slip on thongs are also good to give your feet a chance to breath in the evenings if you wish to carry them.
• Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces, gloves, scarf.
• Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping.
• It you get hot in the Apurimac Canyon; you should also be prepared for hot conditions on this trek.
• Sleeping bag (we can hire these to you)
• Torch/ Flashlight and spare batteries
• Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions).
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
• Sunblock
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
• Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – although no malaria risk has been reported.
• Toilet paper, pack in & pack out
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
• Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning
• We advise you to bring water sterilizing tablets in case you collect water from streams.
• Your own medical kit with special medications that you might require, paracetamol, second skin for blisters and more
• Small towel or sarong
• Cash – sufficient for tips and souvenirs, or any drinks or snacks you might want to buy along the way.
• Original passport & ISIC (International Student Identity Card) if you have one
• Walking sticks or poles (we can hire these to you).
• Binoculars (if you have them)

PRICE OF THE TOUR

• US$ 490 Group service / minimum two persons are required.
• If you are solo traveller then, you’ll be charged an additional US$ 120.

Prices are per person travelling. ‘Twin/Double’ prices per person apply when there are 2 people travelling, sharing a room. The ‘Single supplement’ applies for single travellers who require their own room and needs to be added to the ‘Twin/Double’ price. If you are happy to be paired up with another single traveller of the same sex on your tour, this can be arranged, thus avoiding the single person supplement.

Photo Gallery

The descending part of the Trek with the lovely views of the Apurimac Canyon	The Panoramic view of the iconic Choquequirao; viewed from the upper part of the ruin
Exploring the mysterious Inca ruins of Choquequirao with professional tour guide	Choquerquirao is the last refuge of the Incas; they leaved here until the 1572
The incredible Inca terraces of Choquequirao located in the lower part	Part of the rout to Choquequirao with splendid views to the Canyon