9 D CHOQUEKIRAW - MACHUPICCHU - C09TKCW-UM

Tour Highlights

 

Day 1: Cusco

-Cachora- Playa Rosalinas. Descent to Apurimac River. Early departure from Cusco and transfer by private transportation to the starting point of our journey located at Cachora.

 

Day 2: Playa Rosalinas- Maranpata.-Choquequirao. After a consistent breakfast, we start a gradual ascend to Marampata , and the trail gets harder but the views are spectacular. We see the natural wonders of the Apurimac   river deepest canyon  and of the most  tributaries of the Amazon river and may  have the chance of  spotting  a condor. We have lunch at Marampata. Early afternoon we arrive at the Enigmatic and Mystical lost inca site of Choquequirao (3000 metres), time to  visit and explore Choquequirao considered bigger in extension than the sanctuary of Machupicchu  surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery in the midst of the cloud forest.

 

Day 3: Choquequirao-Maizal. After breakfast  we will hike up a short ascent to Choquequirao pass (3300 mt) then before descending to our lunch place in Rio Blanco (1909 mt), we stop in Pinchiunuyoc  where  we can appreciate the Inca farming terraces, part of them still covered by the cloud forest vegetation, water fountains, on the way down to the lunch place the landscape changes gradually into a dry Andean forest then after lunch we hike up for three hours to Maizal (3000mt) where  we  set up  our campsite.

 

Day 4: Maizal-Minas Victoria- Yanama. From  Maizal camp site,  we make an early morning start up to Victoria pass (4200 mt), from where we can have a  breathtaking view of the snow peaked mountains of  Humantay (5700 mt) and Salkantay (6271 mt), considered by the local natives to be the "Guardian spirit of the jungle". Half way going to the top, we start stepping over the original inca trail still such incredible well preserved. Continuing our hike along the way we appreciate several  abandoned quarries of silver and lead mines in ancient times.  And finally we descend to our campsite at Yanama (3800 mt).

 

Day 5: Yanama-Totora. We will hike right up to the  last highest passes of the journey Yanama Pass (4668 mt), this is a challenging day, as we ascend to the pass the walking gets harder but the views get spectacular, from where we can have a stunning view of the snow-peaked mountains of  Sacrachayoc, and Padreyoc surrounding us and we might be able to  view the majestic  condors flying above the cliffs and passing by waterfalls on both sides of  the valley and lush greenery where you can refresh yourself. When getting to  the pass we will observe a pile of stones which are added to thank  the apus (mountainspirits) for  a safe  trip  and good luck. Campsite at totora.

 

Day 6: Totora-Wiñaypoco. After a gradual descent into the rain forest, where the vegetation change very quickly. Just in time arriving at Collpapampa our body will appreciate the beneficial natural hot springs, afterwards we continue to our campsite at Wiñaypoco.

 

Day 7: Wiñaypoco- Lucmabamba. After a healthy breakfast, the trail continues down the valley into the forest, from increasingly tall trees, and groves of bamboos, providing some birdwatching opportunities. You will be going across some amazing untouched path where strawberries grow at your feet and passion fruit are above your head in décor of begonias and purple orchids! After 2 hours and a half we will arrive to a tiny place called la playa where we wil enjoy a small break enjoying fresh fruits.

We set up our camp site on a school field in Lucmabamba. This is an easy hiking day where we will enjoy the lush vegetation of the cloud forest and its many species of Orchids. Also we will get familiar with the various crops produced in the area such as: coffee, coca leaves, exotic fruits, etc. Campsite at Lucmabamba.  

 

  Day 8: Lucmabamba-Hydroelectric-Puente Ruinas. We wake up early this day to start a nice walk up hill, which will give us some amazing views on the valley After 3hours, we will enjoy a break at llactapata overlooking one of the main highlights in South America Machupicchu.

It is a magical view given to us that most of tourist will never see! A 3 hour going down  the path easily leads the hikers to the bamboos groves and into a forest of increasingly thick vegetation and tall trees. Some excellent birdwatching opportunities! Reachjng the hydroelectric townwe follow the trail tracks heading up the Urubamba  valley  to our last camp site Puentes Ruinas (Aguas Calientes).

 

Day 9.

After an early morning breakfast we will take a bus  right up to Machupicchu sanctuary and enter early for the best  photos opportunities and then spend the rest of the morning visiting and exploring the ruins.

Before leaving, let us take the time to climb up to Huaynapicchu (45minutes

before heading down to aguas  calientes to aboard the train back to Cusco.

 

 

Included

- Transportation by bus to CACHORA

- Meal: 08 breakfast/ 08 lunches / 08 dinners

- Camping equipment: 02 men tent

- Communal dinner tent, cooking tent, toilet tent

- Stools and tables

- Entrance fee to Choquequirao and Machupicchu

- A chef

- Horses / muleteer for the heavy gear(max 7 kilos per pax)

- Professional English speaking tour guide and assistant depending on the

size of  the  group)

- Drinking water since the second day

- Return ticket by train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco

   Not Included

- Breakfast the first day

- Lunch the last day

- Sleeping bag

- Train fron Hydroelectric  to  Puente ruinas campsite (3USD)

- Locker at Machupicchu

- Bus up  to Machupicchu and down to Aguas Calientes

- Tipping your trek staff is optional but customary

-Extra horse (80USD)