Choquequirao Expedition

We will pick you up in the morning and drive for 5 hours. Once we arrive at the entrance control (Capulilloq) we will start the hike, after a few minutes the bumpy road will take us to the viewpoint of the Apurimac Canyon and the imposing presence of the Andes will give us the best opening of our adventure. We will see glaciers, Chouqequiraw in the distance, distant mountains and hopefully condors above us. From this place we will descend to the Apurimac River and we will know why the river was given this name. It will be very hot and dry. From the river we start the ascent to the Santa Rosa camp and the night will be unique with the Milky Way illuminating the night.

– Distance: 176 km driving, 12 km walking.

– Maximum altitude: 2850 m Capulilloc checkpoint and start of the trek.

– Minimum elevation: 1550 m base of the Apurimac Canyon

– Accessibility: Transportation and trail

– Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult (due to temperatures above 30º C)

– Activities: Adventure – Hiking, Scenic, Bird Watching (Condor) and Cultural Activities

– Overnight: Camping in Santa Rosa

Our ascent hike, we will pass through varied landscapes arriving at Marampata, where a vast landscape awaits us and the best feeling to know that all the extreme ascent has been done, we will continue towards Choquequiraw through a road of ups and downs that will allow us to appreciate from different angles our destination, the landscapes get greener and greener. In the afternoon we will visit the Inca city of Choquequiraw, whose name in Quechua means “cradle of gold” and was one of the last cities that served as a refuge for the Incas. Today this place is three times bigger than Machupicchu and only 20% of it has been discovered. It is a place of many mysteries that the people of the area still tell. In fact, it is one of the few experiences where you will be in contact with nature (there are not many people).

– Distance: 12 km trek, start of exploration at Choquequiraw

– Maximum elevation: 3050 Choquequiraw

– Minimum elevation: 2100 m Santa Rosa campsite

– Accessibility: Trail

– Level of difficulty: Difficult – Moderate

– Activities: Adventure – Trekking, Scenic, Cultural, Historical and Mystical

– Overnight: Camping in Choquequirao base camp

We will continue to explore the lost city of Choquequiraw. After lunch we will continue our adventure and climb to the Choquequiraw pass, the landscape will show us the course of the next days, from this point the trek is downhill through a dry and bushy terrain. Very close to the camp we will find pre-Inca walls in ruins and more vegetation. When we arrive at the Pinchaunuyoc camp we will find a large number of terraces and a canalized spring with several water sources.

– Distance: Second exploration in Choquequiraw, 6 km trek.

– Maximum altitude: 3350 m Choquequiraw Pass

– Minimum elevation: 2100 m Pinchaunuyoc campsite

– Accessibility: Trail

– Level of difficulty: Moderate

– Activities: Adventure – Trekking, Scenic and Mystical

– Lodging: Camping in Pinchaunuyoy

We will descend from dry terrain to the banks of the Yuraq Mayu River, which we will follow for a short stretch, if we are very lucky we will find gold nuggets! After this part, the trail is all uphill and mostly through bush forest. In this part it will be very pleasant to turn around and enjoy the scenery that we will gain step by step. Arriving at the Maizal camp we will rest and have the afternoon free to enjoy our experience.

– Distance: 7 km hike

– Maximum altitude: 3000 m Maizal Camp.

– Minimum elevation: 1800 m Yuracmayo River

– Feasibility: Trail

– Level of Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult

– Activities: Adventure – Hiking, Scenic, Cultural

– Accommodation: Camping in corn fields

Today we will drive up to the Yanama Pass. During the trip we will pass through the cloud forest and we will see several remains of artisanal mining, in this part we will follow the original Inca trail that has survived the time. When we finish the ascent in the cloud forest, we will enter a very typical region of the Andes: shrubby vegetation that becomes scarce higher up, with abundant thatch. When we reach the pass we will have a spectacular view and maybe a condor will come to greet us. It will be the last time we will have this view, because once we cross the pass we will enter the high mountains of the Vilcabamba range.

– Distance: 12 km hike

– Maximum altitude: 4550 m Yanama Pass

– Minimum altitude: 3000 m Maizal

– Feasibility: Trail

– Degree of Difficulty: Difficult – Moderate

– Activities: Adventure – Hiking, Scenic, Cloud Forest, Cultural and Mystical

– Overnight: Camping in Yanama

Beginning of a gradual ascent following the Yanama Valley. The mountains will surprise us on both sides with very impressive glaciers. Finally, we will reach the base of the mountains and begin the ascent, this day there are dirt roads, but we will continue mostly on the old roads. Arriving at the Mariano Llamoc’a pass, it will be the highest point that will enrich us with a wonderful view, it will be possible to appreciate the highest glaciers of the region. The descent is long, with changing landscapes, condor sightings and temperature increases, as well as vegetation. The day ends with the arrival at the Collpapampa camp.

– Distance: 26 km hike

– Maximum altitude: 4660 m Mariano Llamoc’a Pass

– Minimum elevation: 2900 m Collpapampa Camp

– Accessibility: Trail

– Difficulty: Difficult

– Activities: Adventure – Trekking, Scenic, Cultural and Mystical

– Overnight: Camping in Collpapampa

On this day, the road will take us up and down through subtropical forests, so we can appreciate orchids and taste wild fruits of the area. On this day there are also roads, but we will still follow old trails. Once we arrive in Sawayaco, we will have lunch and in the afternoon we will take a transportation to the camp in Santa Teresa, followed by a visit to the hot springs of Cocalmayo.

– Distance: 15 km hike

– Maximum elevation: 2900 m Collpapampa

– Minimum altitude: 1433 m Cocalmayo Hot Springs.

– Feasibility: Trail and transportation

– Degree of difficulty: Moderate – Difficult: Moderate – Difficult

– Activities: Adventure – Hiking, Tropical and subtropical forest, Wild and tropical fruits, Hot springs

– Overnight: Lucmabamba Campground

In the morning we have an exciting adventure in the mountains: ZIP-LINE! At the end of this activity we will go to Lucmabamba (2000 m) to reach the Inca Trail. The trail starts with the visit of the coffee plantations and we will prepare our own coffee and we will be more than ready for the ascent that will take us to the viewpoints of the most impressive landscapes and the most important in this adventure, showing us in the distance the wonder of the world, Machupicchu. We can also enjoy the view from our campsite.

– Distance: 8 km hike

– Maximum altitude: 2740 m Llacta Pata Pass

– Minimum elevation: 1550 m Camp – village of Santa Teresa

– Feasibility: Transportation, Inca Trail

– Level of difficulty: Difficult – Moderate

– Activities: Zipline, Hiking, Scenic, View of the archaeological center of Llactapata and view of Machupicchu.

– Overnight: Lodge in Llactapata.

We will have a clear day with the silhouette of the mountains and Machupicchu shining in the sunlight. With this colorful sunrise we will start the day with good energy. The trek is a total descent to the Aobamba River, a gradual and smooth walk along the Urubamba River that borders Machupicchu. Arriving in the city of Aguas Calientes we will have the accommodation.

– Distance: 14 km. on foot

– Maximum altitude: 2650 m Llactapata Lodge

– Minimum altitude: 2040 m Aguas Calientes city.

– Feasibility: Trail

– Degree of difficulty: Moderate

– Activities: Hiking along the railway line Scenic and cultural

– Overnight: Hotel in Aguas Calientes

The most awaited day has arrived! We will visit Machupicchu, the emblem of our culture, and live an experience that will take us back to the time of the Incas, surrounded by the beauty of the surrounding mountains, with a unique mystical panorama. We will take one of the buses that will take us to the historical sanctuary of Machupicchu and then we will have lunch at the Tinkuy Belmond Restaurant that is located next to Machupicchu. In the afternoon we will return to Cusco by train.

– Maximum altitude: 2430 m Machupicchu

– Minimum altitude: 2040 m Aguas Calientes

– Accessibility: Bus and trek in Machupicchu

– Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

– Activities: Scenic, historical, archaeological and cultural tour in Machupicchu