Choquequiraw 5 Days/4 Nights
This trip gives us the opportunity to explore Choquequiraw or the Incas´ Cradle of Gold, an Incan city discovered in 1834, by a Peruvian and French expedition. Choquequiraw reveals its enigmas to us and new findings which will turn this expedition in a journey into the Andean culture, with one of the best examples of Incan urban planning and architecture
DAY 1: CUSCO – SAN IGNACIO DE QUINUALLA
We´ll leave the city of Cusco early, on a 4 hour trip to the village of Huañipaca, near Abancay, and from there, we´ll start descending to the village of Tambobamba, to have lunch. Afterwards, we´ll go on towards the campsite of San Ignacio de Quinualla, above 1,700 m. of altitude.
DAY 2: SAN IGNACIO DE QUINUALLA – CHOQUEQUIRAW
Today, we´ll descend early to the Apurimac River (1,550 m.a.s.l.). Our day will start quietly, with an easy downhill path towards the San Ignacio Bridge, from which we´ll undertake a 7 km. steep uphill hike to Choquequiraw´s base campsite (3,200 m.a.s.l.). This trail will show us how the vegetation changes, between the dry forest full of cacti and plants that are typical of arid climates, passing by the Quechua zone and cloud forest that dominates the whole territory covered by the Incan City of Choquequiraw.
DAY 3: CHOQUEQUIRAW
Today, we´ll spend the day exploring that Incan architectural jewel, in its true dimension. We´ll first start by the Usnu´s Area and the classical picture of Choquequiraw, to then descend to the Lamas´ Sector, a famous set of benched terraces which present incrustations in white stones, of lamas and herdsmen that fascinated their visitors. After having explored choquequiraw´s Upper Sector or Hanan, we´ll get back to the campsite, to have lunch, and in the afternoon, we´ll descend to the set of benched terraces denominated “La Casa de la Cascada” (the Cascade´s House), and the newly cleared set of benched terraces full of the best examples of hydraulic engineering developed by the Incas.
DAY 4: CHOQUEQUIRAW – CHIQUISCA
This morning, we´ll start the return trip to the Apurimac River´s Canyon, passing by the small compound of houses of Marampata, to descend to 1,500 m.a.s.l., to the bridge called “Rosalina”, where we´ll have lunch. Aftertwards, we´ll get ready to hike uphill to our campsite in Chiquisca, above 1,770 m. in altitude. Today will be a demanding day, as far as temperatures and mosquitoes are concerned, all along the hike..
DAY 5: CHIQUISCA – CACHORA – CUSCO
We´ll start the day with an uphill hike to the Capuliyoq Mountain Pass, where we´ll have a rest, to enjoy the magnificent view of the Apurimac´s Canyon. Then, we´ll have lunch at the beginning of the road that connects this place with the village of San Pedro de Cachora, from which we´ll return to Cusco, on a trip of about 4 hours, to get to Cusco around 6:00 or 7:00 p.m., after having covered a total of 60 km.
INCLUDE:
- Entrance fee to the Archaeological Park of Choquequiraw.
- Transportation at the beginning of the trek.
- Professional guide service.
- Support team: Cook, muleteers and porters.
- Meals during the trek: 4 Breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners.
- Camping equipment: Two capacity tents, camping mattresses, diningroom and toilet tents.
- Saddled horse for emergencies.
- First aid kit, oxygen bottle and ropes.
- Return bus to Cusco.
