ITINERARY

DAY 01: CUSCO – CAPULIYOC – CHIQUISCA – SANTA ROSA

DAY 02: SANTA ROSA – MARAMPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAO

DAY 03: CHOQUEQUIRAO – CHIQUISCA

DAY 04: CHIQUISCA – CAPULIYOC – CUSCO

DETAILED ITINERARY – CHOQUEQUIRAuTO

DAY 01: CUSCO – CAPULIYOC – CHIQUISCA – SANTA ROSA

The beginning

Our adventure to reach the Choquequirao archaeological park will begin in Cusco in the early morning hours, at approximately 5AM. From Cusco, we will head to the trailhead in our private transportation. The car ride will take approximately four hours and will have us at the trailhead, Capuliyoc (3,200 m.a.s.l. / 10, 498 ft.a.s.l.) just in time for breakfast. During breakfast, we will have the opportunity to meet our hiking team of muleteers, chef and guide.

Capuliyoc

From Capuliyoc, we will begin our hike down towards the Apurimac River. This first section will be approximately 3 hours, all along descending terrain. You will begin to feel the humidity and warmer temperatures as we descend into the Apurimac canyon. Our lunch spot will be by the river at Chiquisca (1,800 m.a.s.l. / 5,905 ft.a.s.l.) in the company of the lush vegetation. Be prepared with bug repellant as mosquitoes are common we get closer to Choquequirao archaeological park.

Camp in Santa Rosa

After lunch, we will hike to our day’s campsite. This will be a short hike of approximately 2 hours, all uphill. Our campsite will be located near the small village of Santa Rosa at 2,200 m.a.s.l. / 7,215 ft.a.s.l. There will be an emergency horse available at all times, in case you get tired to make progress on the way to Choquequirao archaeological park.

DAY 02: SANTA ROSA – MARAMPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAO

Marampata Trek

Today we will visit the Choquequirao archaeological park!  After an early breakfast, we will begin our hike to the town of Marampata (3,500 m.a.s.l. / 11,482 ft.a.s.l.). This section of the trail will be the most challenging of the day, as we will hike uphill along dusty, unshaded trails. This section will take approximately 2 hours to complete.

Choquequirao Archaeological Park Trek

From Marampata, we will hike for another 2 hours until Choquequirao archaeological park (3,050 m.a.s.l. / 10,010 ft.a.s.l.). Since this section of the trail is not as challenging, you will have the opportunity to appreciate in more detail the surrounding flora and fauna. Once in Choquequirao, we will take plenty of time to explore the site. Your guide will lead you during your visit of the Inca site and will share the history, importance and myths of this majestic architectural feat. We will visit  the key sectors of the site including the astronomical sector, water channels, agricultural terraces, and the llama sector to name a few.

After exploring the Choquequirao archaeological park, we will make our way to our day’s campsite. Once at the campsite, our hiking team will welcome you with a delicious pre-dinner happy hour.

DAY 03: CHOQUEQUIRAO – CHIQUISCA

Early in the next day breakfast, we will begin hiking back to the trailhead. The trail to/from Choquequirao is the same, so we will have another opportunity to see the Choquequirao archaeological park. If we are lucky, we will also have the chance to see some animals endemic to this region such as spectacled bears, and condors. Our hike will be to our lunch spot at Rosales from where we will have another 1.5 hours of hiking uphill to Chiquisca. Once in Chiquisca, we will set up our camp for the day.

DAY 04: CHIQUISCA – CAPULIYOC – CUSCO

Today will be our last day on the trail. After breakfast, we will begin our four-hour hike uphill to the trailhead at Capuliyoc. We will enjoy our last lunch as a group and will partake in a small ceremony with the group’s chefs and porters. This is customary practice along the trail in order to thank all crew members and hikers for their hard work.

From Capuliyoc, we will board our private transportation back to Cusco. This will be a four hour car drive passing through local towns, including Curawasi, where the famous anise tea is grown.  Once in Cusco, we will drop you off directly at your hotel accommodation.

Included

• Pick up from your hotel in Cusco.
• Private transportation from Cusco to the trailhed.
• All camping equipment: 3-person capacity tents used by only two people with enough spaces for your belongings, dining and kitchen tents with tables and chairs.
• Equipment for cooking and cook.
• Horses and muleteers (to load stores, food and cooking equipment).
• Professional bilingual guide (English-Spanish).
• Food (4 Breakfast, 4 Lunch, 3 Dinner).
• First aid kit, oxygen balloon.
• Sleeping bag.
• Trekking poles.
• inflatable mats.
• Private transportation back to Cusco.
• Transfer to the hotel.

Not included

• Last dinner

Choquequirao Archaeological Park Trek Recommendations to bring

• Bring original passport “With expiration date not less than 7 months”
• ISIC card or student card, if applicable (must be sent at the time of booking).
• Mountain boots and sandals (very important)
• Headlamp (very important).
• Camera and spare batteries.
• Sunscreen / hat and sunglasses.
• Personal medical kit
• Insect repellent.
• Rainwear: a good raincoat and rain pants and a plastic rain poncho.
• Toilet paper.
• Small towel.
• Extra money for drinks and tips, souvenirs, etc. (soles or dollars).
• Water Bottle (Canteen)

ESSENTIALS:

• Passport
• Valid, STUDENT CARD (if you booked as a student)
• Immigration Card (given on the plane as you enter Peru)
• Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
• Water storage: Water reservoir like Camelbaks are encouraged – but enough for at least 2-3 liters.
• Comfortable hiking boots (lightweight with good soles)

FOR YOUR DUFFEL:

Choquequirao Archaeological Park Trek, Porters will carry up to 7 kg of your personal items. This must include your sleeping bag and mattress (these two items weigh around 3.5 kg.)

• 2-3 long sleeve shirts
• 2-3 hiking pants
• 4 sets of underwear.
• 4 sets of hiking socks
• 1 Fleece
• 1 Warm, down jacket: gets very cold at night
• 1 Rain jacket and pants
• 1 sun hat
• 1 wool hat
• Headlamp: essential
• Waterproof gloves (even if they are ski gloves, take them)
• Comfortable shoes for camp
• Walking boots
• Waterproof jacket
• Small Quick Dry towel.
• Small bottle of soap: we provide warm water each day to clean – might make you feel fresh if you had a little soap.
• Battery Charger: There is no place to plug in while trekking!
• Large plastic bags: to help organize and keep clean from dirty.
• Sleeping bag (We will provide you on the briefing time).

TOILETRIES:

• Sunscreen
• Face moisturizer
• Bug spray
• Handsanitizer
• Wet wipes
• Toothbrush and paste
• Toiletpaper
• Personal medication
• First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.

INSIDE YOUR DAYPACK:

For Choquequirao Archaeological Park Trek, Daypacks can be any size for hiking, but we always recommend the smaller, the better. Inside Machu Picchu, no bag larger than 25L will be allowed in. If larger, you will need to store outside citadel gates.

• Water: we supply clean water at each meal. You are responsible for your first morning of water only as we won’t have time to boil water until your first lunch.
• Sunhat
• Rain gear
• Fleece
• Camera
• Music (Phone)
• Handsanitizer
• Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
• Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks, Tips
• Earplugs

IMPORTANT

• Departure dates: We have groups for the Inca trail every day of the year. except February, when the Inca Trail is closed throughout the month. The month of February you can visit Machu Picchu by train. is not possible to do the Inca Trail on february.
• Availability: To the Inca road of 2D / 1N Only 250 people per day are allowed. This figure includes tourists, guides, porters and cooks. The quotas are for all the people who wish to carry out the Inca Trail. So to make the Inca Trail it is essential to book months in advance. The availability of seats for the Inca Trail is the same for all agencies. Therefore before making your reservation, please check availability by contacting our