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10 days
Choquequirao
The Inka trail used by Manco Inka II and his army, in their escape from Spanish, passes by these 2 magnificent archaeological sites in the Vilcabamba
The Inka trail used by Manco Inka II and his rebel army, in their escape from the Spanish, passes by these two magnificent archaeological sites located in the Vilcabamba mountain range. This trek covers ancient pathways through spectacular scenery. Ecological levels such as quechua, puna, and high jungle will make us enjoy our adventure, among beautiful scenery and little known history.
The climate in this area varies from cold to warm nights, and hot days. Part of the trip is through the jungle, and so we must be prepared for rain, as it can start without warning. The altitude also varies, with our highest point being approximately 4600 masl / 15091 ft. and our lowest point at approximately 1500 masl / 4921 ft.
For this alternative Inka trail it is necessary to be in good shape, as the walk is classified as CHALLENGING, including steep climbs, long descents and high mountain passes.
The best time of year to visit this area is between the months of March and November; is it mainly dry, nights are cold (0ºC / 32ºF), and solar radiation is strong during the day (25ºC / 77ºF). We also operate during the rainy season as we have the equipment to face an adverse climate.
Your adventure step by step
We leave the city of Cuzco early, driving along the road which goes north-west across the famous Pampas de Anta or Yawar Pampa (Blood Pampa, because of the ferocious battle between the Inkas and the Chankas over possession of Cuzco city). We cross the mountains and descend to the warm town of Limatambo (2600m / 8530ft), where the archaeological site of Tarawasi is found.
We continue in the direction of the Cunyac Bridge over the Apurimac River, the natural border between the Cuzco and Apurimac regions. We follow the road to the settlement of Curahuasi, famous for its aromatic liquor: Macerado de Anis. Our next stop is the enigmatic and famous Stone of Saywite. All these places can be visited on our last day, on our way back to the city of Cuzco.
Our final stop is the town of San Pedro de Cachora (2909m / 9543ft), in the Apurimac region. We leave our motorized transport for the next 4 days. We have lunch. Here in Cachora, as it is usually called, we can buy any last things we want to take.
We begin our walk, leaving the town to the north, with a spectacular view of the Nevado Padreyoq. We cross the Cachora creek and climb through a refreshing forest of eucalyptus and native vegetation to the dirt track which is passable by cars; from where the path is flat until the lookout at Capuliyoq (2941m / 9648ft). Estimated time to reach this point is approximately 3 hours. From the lookout, we have a spectacular view of the Apurimac River and Choquekirau.
We begin our descent on a zigzagging footpath, crossing scrub and later a forest of native trees called Phaty, in around 3 hours. Our campsite awaits us at Chikisca (1836m / 6023ft). We can expect a warm night in the valley, at our friend Uriel’s campsite.
Estimated total time is 6 hours, and a distance of 19km / 12miles.
We leave very early in the morning to avoid the blazing midday sun. We descend to the Apurimac River to cross over the Playa Rosalinda brigde. Here our climb to Choqekiraw begins. We pass by Santa Rosa, where we will meet our good friend Julian who owns agricultural land and a small shop where we can buy anything from water to rehydrating drinks.
We continue uphill until we reach Marampata; now we are getting close to Choqekiraw. We will have lunch here and rest, enjoying the wonderful view of the Apurimac River and Choqekiraw, to then continue on a path of short uphill and downhill sections until we arrive at the INC campsite. Dinner and overnight.
After a good rest and a delicious breakfast, we will have the whole day to explore the ruins of Choqekiraw, visiting the principal complex for around 6 hours. We will then return to the campsite to have lunch, and in the afternoon we will visit the lower part of the complex. Dinner and overnight.
We will have a short extra visit to the principal complex, and then continue our walk towards Pinchiunuyoq. After an uphill stretch climbing through a wood of native trees, we arrive at a pampa before the descent to Pinchiunuyoq, where we will have lunch and in the afternoon we will visit this archaeological site. Dinner and overnight.
We leave very early in the morning, and descend to the Rio Blanco. We cross the river and climb up to the small village of Maizal, through a wood of native trees, where we have the chance to observe various species of birds.
We leave our campsite and continue uphill, crossing a beautiful forest of native trees on a stone path before arriving at the high-pass Mina Victoria, where we will have a spectacular view of the cordillera of the snow-capped peaks of Choqetacarpo and Pumasillo. We descend to our lunch spot and after a brief rest, we continue on to the community of Yanama, where we will have dinner and spend the night.
We leave the community of Yanama, following the river of the same name downstream. We enjoy our trek through an environment of dense vegetation where beautiful orchids stand out among local flora. We will take a rest close to the river, and then trek up to our campsite at Llutupata, which has a wonderful view of the surrounding mountains, including a view of the back of the Choqekiraw hill. Dinner and overnight.
We continue our uphill climb crossing a small canyon with steep sides, part of the Pumasillo mountain range. We continue on to a small valley to reach our campsite at Qelqamachay. Dinner and overnight.
We begin our ascent to reach the Choqetacarpo pass with a spectacular view of the Pumasillo mountain range. From here our trek will be all downhill, crossing ecological levels which impress us with their beauty. Arriving at the town of Huancacalle we will take a well deserved rest. Dinner and overnight.
We will spend today visiting the important archaeological sites where the last days of Inka resistance against the Spanish invasion were played out.
At this site the White Rock or Yuraq Rumi stands out; a carved rock used for ceremonies. We cross stone paths made by the Incas which demonstrate the importance of this place. Upon our return to Huancacalle, we have lunch and begin our journey back to the city of Cusco.
Services not included
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We recommend that you bring
Important Environmental Note
Pachatusantrek is committed to following the principles of ecotourism in our operations, and request the understanding and cooperation of trekkers, especially by not contaminating the waters and in the adequate disposal of non-biodegradable waste. We must also respect the customs and traditions of the local people.
Hike with us the short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu We offer the best trek of 2 days to the Inka archeological site. Impressive and magical place of Inti Punku (Sun Gate), Aguas Calientes and beautiful train ride back to Cusco city.
This is a 6-Day trek in the Vilcanota Cordillera, on a route we call the “Camino del Apu Ausangate” in proximity of the highest Mountain in Cusco.
Starting in Cusco with a city tour, to a visit to the Sacred Valley and then experiancing Machu Pichu. Next, we go to Arequipa and the Colca Canyon for a cultural tour over three days. Finally we hop over to Puno to enjoy Lake Titicaca for the final days.
Visit the ancient city of Cusco to explore the hidden secrets of this amazing historic City. Revel in the delights of the local food and ancient plazas
