Description
The archaeological monument of Choquequirao is considered as the second Machu Picchu and is also known as the lost Incan city. It’s msituated at the foot of the Salkantay Mountain at 3030m at the left side of the Apurimac River. In the Incan era it was the communication road to Machu Picchu through a complex web of trails. The nature is fantastic with valleys, snow-capped mountains; a great variety of plants, coffee and banana plantations and birds, sometimes condors can be spotted during the trek which makes it impossible to forget.
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Cachora – Capulichayoc – Chikisca
At 5:00 a.m. we pick you up in our transportation for a 3 hour long journey that will take us to the city of San Pedro de Cachora (2800m) where we will have some free time to eat breakfast. Here we’ll meet the rest of the team (cooks, horsemen and horses). We begin our 6 to 7 hour long trek. Our first stop is the Capulichayoc viewpoint where we can see the deepest canyon of the world known as the Apurimac where the majestic Apurimac River flows; we have our lunch here while seeing the first glimpse of Choquequirao. After lunch we descend for around 3 hours until reaching CHIKISKA (1800m) where we set camp and pass our first night surrounded by the majestic landscape close to the Apurimac canyon.
Day 2: Chiquisca – Marampata – Choquequirao
After a steady breakfast we begin our trek uphill during 4 to 5 hours to the campsite of Marampata (2950 m.a.s.l.) where we will have lunch with an amazing view of the Apurimac River. After our lunch we’ll have a complete guided tour of Choquequirao “The Golden Cradle” which is also considered as the sister city of Machu Picchu as they have several similarities. Choquequirao is hanging 1500 meters above the Apurimac Canyon while Machupicchu is haging over the Urubamba canyon. They are both at the same latitude and they are considered as the principal cities of the Incan era, Choquequirao has more than 8 hectares where only one third has been discovered and where the archaeologists find something new every day. We observe the three levels of the discovered ruins where we can appreciate the urban sector, agricultural terraces and the religious sector if this Incan city. We will also have great opportunities to see the flight of the condor. After visiting Choquequirao we return to our campsite for teatime and then a delicious dinner.
Day 3: Marampata – Chiquisca
At dawn we have a delicious breakfast before we begin to descend the same way we ascended until reaching our campsite in Chiquisca. We will have lunch halfway to Playa Rosalina and afterwards we go up hill to the campsite in Chikisca.
Day 4: Chiquisca – Cachora – Cusco
Today we have breakfast early; at 6:00 a.m. we eat accompanied by the first rays of sun over the Apurimac canyon. After breakfast we begin our 5 to 7 hour long trek to Cachora, we’ll have lunch in Capulichayoq which is half way. Arriving in Cachora we take our bus back to Cusco. The tour ends with transfer to your hotel.
Include/Not Include
Included
- Entrance fees to the archaeological site
- Transportation
- Professional guide (English/Spanish)
- Private transfer Cusco – Cachora – Cusco
- Meals (4 breakfasts , 4 lunches, 3 dinners)
- Cook with equipment
- Horseman and horses
- Tents (mattresses, chairs)
- First aid kit
Not included
- Sleeping bag
- Trekking poles
- Dinner the last day
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