CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK 5 DAYS AND 4 NIGHTS

This is certainly the easiest way to visit Choquequirao in terms of pace and access. Don’t get it wrong though, adventure is GUARANTEED trekking up and down the Apurimac Canyon. This journey has been thought and planned to give the traveler proper acclimatization time before and an adequate rest after exploring the site. It is a 20.6 mile trek in and out the same trail (10.3 miles each way). The journey includes a visti to the mysterious Saywite Monolith. Posibility of choosing a shorter duration (4D / 3N).

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ITINERARY:

Briefing the night before the departure.

DAY 1 / CUSCO – SAYWITE – VILLA LOS LOROS LODGE

Travelers are picked up at their hotel at 7:00 am on a private bus. First stop being Saywite Archaeological Park. This mysterious monolith and the nearby archaeological remains including the “ushnu” and the “pacchas” must remain in our memory to contrast their correspondence with the ceremonial architecture of Choquequirao. After a healthy box-lunch, we continue down the remote Huanipaca Valley, a place in the Peruvian highlands reserved for travelers. Villa Los Loros Lodge awaits at the bottom of the gorge. The rooms ready and after a necessary rest, a short meeting is held to dispel the anxiety a trip like this brings up in every traveler. Dinner and overnight. (Box Lunch,D)

DAY 2 / VILLA LOS LOROS LODGE – PLAYA SAN IGNACIO – CHOQUEQUIRAO

We leave at 5:30 am right after breakfast, walking down a footpath that leads to the Hacienda San Ignacio and then tumbles downhill towards the raging Apurimac River (Playa San Ignacio). Across the hanging bridge is where the serious hiking starts; ascending from water level (4757 feet) to Choquequirao campsite (9415 feet) is nothing less than overwhelming. On the one hand, the beauty of the landscape, rivers, waterfalls, flowers, all is movement. On the other; the wild environment; the steep slope and your heartbeat combine in an intimate connection with the environment. At the campsite and after lunch, a quick visit to the Phaqchayoc Sector (a terraced agricultural system where corn is still grown) and The House of Waterfalls (according to archaeologists, the home of the Inca of Choquequirao.) Back at the campsite, tired and proud, a warm meal is enjoyed before a good night’s sleep. (Bathrooms and cold showers available)

DAY 3 / FULL DAY CHOQUEQUIRAO

Beautiful day. We are stricken to observe how the vast majority of visitors take 4 days trekking but only a few hours or even minutes (!) to enjoy exploring the different sectors of Choquequirao. Bearing in mind that Choquequirao is scattered on both sides of the spur of Apu Corihuayrachina we know a fair amount of time is needed to understand the integrity of its context. Travelers will enjoy lunch near the ruins and hopefully view condors’ flight over the deep canyon. Back at the campsite, dinner and overnight. (Bathrooms and cold showers available)

DAY 4 / CHOQUEQUIRAO – VILLA LOS LOROS LODGE

We head back to our lodge early after breakfast. The known route makes returning easier. The ever changing landscape is fully appreciated with our now recovered muscles. The voice of the river as background and the imposing Apurimac Canyon seems to swallow the traveler. Finally, Playa San Ignacio. “Black Whip”, “Machuco”, “Cayguash” or some others are waiting for us. Our return on horseback is the perfect chance for a last look at the landscape we are now part of. Riding allows a great way to photograph friends who are traveling with us and the new friends this journey has given us; our fellow horsemen and their way of life will remain deep in the traveler’s heart. Beside the ruined walls of the Hacienda San Ignacio, lunch is served. The final stage takes us riding to Villa Los Loros lodge. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 5 / VILLA LOS LOROS LODGE – CUSCO

After breakfast private bus to Cusco. On the way lunch is enjoyed near the town of Curahuasi, in the Apurimac Valley. Finally, we arrive in Cusco at around 3 pm (5 hours).

INCLUDED

•Briefing at your Cusco hotel the day before departure; private transport service (Cusco – Villa Los Loros Lodge – Cusco);
•professional bilingual guide (English – Spanish);
•professional field chef;
•two nights lodging at Villa Los Loros;
•two nights camping in Choquequirao;
•high quality outdoor equipment (including 4 season tent, sleeping bag with personal hygienic sheets, extra comfort mattress, kitchen tent, dining tent, dining tables and chairs, all kitchen and dining utensils, lighting equipment, etc.);
•radio communication throughout the journey;
•first aid kit;
•all meals and beverages at the lodge and during the excursion; snacks;
•horsemen and pack mules;
•emergency saddled horse throughout the trek (1 for every 4 or 5 hikers);
•entrance tickets to Saywite and Choquequirao;
•personal saddled horse on your way back up from San Ignacio Beach to Villa Los Loros.

WE RECOMMEND TO BRING:

•Sleeping bag
•Back Pack and Day pack
•Hiking shoes
•Water bottle, flash light, hat, sun block, sunglasses
•Warm/Termic clothes , Rain coat
•Chocolates, candies or other snacks
•Photo Camera + Films , Binoculars
•Insect repellent
If you will take any trek with us. we ask you to fill the customer chart regarding the commentaries or otherwise you can inform to the Operations Department.
This is a very important requirement and necessary to do after take the tour to avoid problems regarding the quality of the service and help you to resolve it before you leave to your country otherwise our agency is assuming that all your services was ok therefore we are not going to accept any claims.