4Days
CHOQUEQUIRAO
HIKING EXPEDITION
OVERVIEW
The Choquequirao Expedition is one of the
most incredible hiking experiences in Cusco region and it will allow you to
discover one of the secret wonders of Peru.
Choquequirao (cradle of gold) is a 15th century Inca citadel,
located on the slopes of the eastern Andes mountain range, above the waters of
the roaring Apurímac River, protected by a deep canyon and the impressive
snow-capped mountains, Choquequirao
is a city built by the ninth emperor (Pachacuteq)
and it is a clear example of a high level of architectural knowledge reached by
the Inca civilization.
This expedition will
undoubtedly be a unique and unforgettable experience that you can't miss…!
“ONCE A YEAR, GO SOMEPLACE YOU’VE NEVER
BEEN BEFORE”
Dalai Lama
USEFUL INFORMATION
Place to visit: Inca City Choquequirao
Activity: Hike & Cultural
Travelers Min: 2 people
General Difficulty: Hard
Hiking length: 44 km / 27.5 miles
Max Altitude: 3,033 meters / 9951 feet
Temperature Min: 12°C / 53.6°F
Recommended: May to November
Physical rating: Good condition
Daily departures
Itinerary
Day
1
CUSCO - CAPULIYOC - ROSASPATA
4:00 am
We pick you up from your hotel in Cusco,
then we travel with our tour guide for approximately four hours to Capuliyoc, which is the starting point
of our trek and the place where our tour guide will introduce us to the
expedition team muleteers and their horses who will carry our luggage during
these 4 days of adventure, the view of the snowy mountains is incredible, after
preparing ourselves and taking a group photo, we will start our expedition to Choquequirao.
The first part invites us to follow a zigzagging path descending for
approximately four hours, of course doing stops to enjoy the surroundings of
this beautiful landscape, taking photos, drinking water and resting, later we
will get closer to the river and also to the place where we enjoy a delicious
lunch, on this expedition the road can be dusty and slippery in some sections,
but with good boots and trekking poles we will have no problems.
This circuit is unique and offers a spectacular landscape with a great
abundance of flora and fauna.
After enough rest, we continue with our adventure, it will take us two more
hours to reach the first camp known as Rosaspata,
the place for us to relax the muscles and then enjoy dinner, after it our tour
guide will give us the briefing for the next day hike and then we can go to
sleep.
First day
Hiking time: Approximately 7-8 hours
Trek Length: 10 km / 6.2 miles
Hiking start altitude: 3190 m / 10,466 feet
Lowest point: 1,500 meters / 4,920 feet
Camp altitude: 2700 m / 8858 feet
Meals: Lunch, snack, tea time, and dinner
Hike rating: Moderate
Day
2
ROSASPATA - CHOQUEQUIRAO
This day will be very exciting, after breakfast, we
will be ready to enjoy the adventure, today's route consists of ascending in a
zigzagging path for approximately 3 hours, while
we hike we can delight ourselves with this incredible landscape full of panoramic
views, then the ascent is one of the most challenging parts of the expedition
to Choquequirao.
From Marampata, the trail will
be semi-flat until we reach the camp located
right at the foot of the Inca
archaeological complex and of course this will be the most impressive part
of our entire trek, because the view is truly incredible from the summit to the
Apurímac
river canyon as well as, the impressive Citadel cradle of gold.
Once in Choquequirao camp we get
a delicious lunch, later on there is free time to explore the lower part of the
campsite, where an Inca temple is located, surrounded by terraces which was
dedicated to water, this place is perfect since we will be able to experience a
fantastic moment, in addition to enjoying the beautiful sunset, and then we
return to the campsite, to have dinner and rest.
Second Day
Hiking time: 8 hours Approximately
Trek Length: 12 km / 7.5 miles
Lowest point: 2700 m / 8,858 feet
Choquequirao Campsite Altitude: 3050 m / 10,006 feet
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, snack, tea time, and dinner
Hike rating: Challenge
Day
3
CHOQUEQUIRAO - MARAMPATA – CHIQUISCA
This day we will have a fantastic and unique sunrise,
besides of a nice breakfast on the foot of this beautiful Citadel of the
Inca Empire
after that, we will be ready to explore the archaeological complex CHOQUEQUIRAO, we visit all the important areas and discover
the hidden secrets behind this impressive place, admiring and appreciating the
challenging work that the man of the Andes made.
There is enough time to record in our memory the
experience of exploring this magical place, as well as to record all the
corners and passages with the lens of our cameras.
At the end of the visit we start our return adventure,
and the first place to stop is Marampata
where we enjoy a delicious lunch, then everybody will be ready to take the
descent trail, a challenging path that will take us to the Apurímac River, we cross a bridge and after it begins
the ascent on the opposite side of the mountain, until we reach Chiquiska, the place for our dinner and
camping of the third night.
Third day
Hiking time: 8-9 hours approximately
Trek Length: 16 km / 10 miles
Lowest point: 1,500m / 4,921 feet
Chikiska campsite altitude: 2100 meter / 6889 feet
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, snack, tea time, and dinner
Hike rating: Moderate
Day
4
CHIQUISKA - CAPULIYOC - CUSCO
This day after breakfast we prepare ourselves to start
the uphill part, it takes approximately four hours adopting the famous mountain
rhythm, a slow and adequate pace with breaks to take photos and rehydrate
ourselves, once we reach the end of the hike we have the last lunch with our expedition
team, at the end of it we can say goodbye to them, then we continue with our
tour guide to back to the Cusco city,
this journey will last approximately three hours, on the way we stop for a
moment to visit the Sayhuite rock, a beautiful sculpture worked in high
and low relief.
Finally we will arrive in Cusco around 6:00 p.m. and
it will be the end of our
Expedition to Choquequirao.
Fourth day
Hiking time: 5 – 6 hours Approximately
Trek Length: 6 km / 3.7 miles
Lowest point: 1,500m / 4,921 feet
Chikiska campsite altitude: 2100 m / 6889 feet
Feeding: Breakfast, lunch and snack
Hike rating: Difficult
4 days Choquequirao hiking expedition includes
· Briefing one day before the hike started
· Transportation hotel Cusco – Capuliyoq –
Cusco
· Professional Bilingual tour guide
· One Assistant guide for a group larger
than 8 people
· Tourist ticket to Choquequirao
· One 4-season tent for 2 people
· Mattresses
· Cook and kitchen equipment (kitchen
assistant for large groups)
· Food as indicated in the itinerary, (Vegetarian
food available)
· Horses to carry camping equipment, food,
cooking utensils, and passenger things. It includes the carriers
· An emergency horse which can be used
when necessary
· Dining tent, with table and chairs,
kitchen tent for the cook to prepare food with care and hygiene
· First aid kit and oxygen
· Walking sticks
What
is not included?
X The
first and the last Breakfast
X
Sleeping bag (we can rent you)
X
An additional horse if you have too many things
X Travel insurance
X
Tips
X
Alcoholic Beverages
What do we need to bring?
Peru Ultimate Expedition will provide you with a duffle backpack where you can take all your things that are mentioned below
· Packing list
· A personal light backpack
· Clothing suitable for hiking and season of the year
· Waterproof jacket an extra rain poncho
· Good hiking shoes
· Warm clothes including jackets, gloves, scarves, cap, we recommend that
you bring thermal clothes especially for sleeping
· Sleeping bag
(we rent at the office)
· Flashlight, binoculars
· Camera and batteries
· Hat to protect you from heat, sunscreen, and rehydrating skin cream and
sunglasses
· Insect repellent
· Toilet paper
· Personal medications
· Cash soles
(Peruvian Soles)
WE RECOMMEND YOU
For a good acclimatization you must be in Cusco at least 2 days before
the excursion
It would be better if you come from another high place, such as (Arequipa, Puno or Bolivia)
Booking a tour that involves physical activity in height (Trekking, Mountain Biking) check our programs
Wear appropriate clothing for hikes
Drinking coca tea during the day helps to reduce the effect of altitude (avoid drinking it before sleeping)
Inform us if you have setbacks or delays when arriving in Cusco
Leave your heavy suitcase in Cusco
OPTIONAL SERVICES
These services are not included in our prices. If you want to add some of them, please let us know at the booking time
· Comfortable feather sleeping bags of 12ºC below zero $ 25.00
· Inflatable mats $ 20.00
· If you think you have many things you can rent an extra mule
· If you want to sleep in a single tent you need to add $ 25.00
· A pair of canes $ 15.00
Note
· THE SUPERIOR SERVICE is Private and the tour will be exclusive for you
· THE STANDARD SERVICE shares a group with other participants from different countries
· The times quoted in this itinerary are
approximate
· The tour guide can change the lunch and
camps sites depending on how the group progresses
· If you need an extra horse to ride or
for your extra rucksacks, you can rent it for a reasonable price
· We do not recommend to do it, in periods
of heavy rain (December - March)
· Very good physical preparation
· Size of the average group 4 people,
maximum 10 per group
· We go out any day with a minimum of 2 participants
· If you rent equipment and damage it, you
are responsible for the price of replacement / repair (Please do the right thing)
· The price of the 4 Days CHOQUEQUIRAO
HIKING EXPEDITION is expressed in US dollars
· The price we show on our website is per
person, it varies according to the number of people who Book it together
· If you pay through PayPal, the price of the excursion does not include transfer fees
PRICE
This service is only available to SUPERIOR SERVICE
2 People $ 675.00 Each
Participant
3 People $ 550.00 Each
Participant
4 People $ 465.00 Each
Participant
5 People $ 399.00 Each
Participant
6 or more People $ 360.00 Each Participant
Prices in American Dollars