Choquequiraw Trek - The Cradle of Gold - 3 days

Itinerary

Day 1 | Choquequirao

Cusco – Capuliyoq – Santa Rosa – Marampata.

At 3:30 we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco in our private transport, which take us to the city of San Pedro de Cachora (2800masl), then we will head to Kapuliyoq sector, where we start the hiking.

Here in Kapuliyoq we will meet with the rest of our trip staff (muleteers and their horses). We start our long walk that will take between 3 and 4 hours. During the way we can see a big diversity of landscapes that belong to different climates, like Padriyoc snowcapped, flora and fauna diversity that makes beautiful our trip. We will be able to see the deepest canyon of the world, the Apurimac canyon where the Apurimac River flows and also is possible to see the first views of Choquequirao. We will continue descending until Chikisqa, Where we have our Lunch and a short break.

After Lunch we will start with our last descent of the day, it will be about 3.5 hours approx. towards the Marampata hamlet. When we arrive we will have dinner and spend the night in our Campsite Experience.

• Hiking Time: 8 hours
• Climate: Warm and sunny
• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Campsite,  Marampata 3100 msnm
• Distance Travelled: Approximately 15km

Day 2 | Choquequirao

Marampata – Choquequiraw – Marampata.

After having a delicious Breakfast buffet we will start with our hiking to the Arqueological Choquequirao Complex that will take about 2 hours, the entire Choquequirao tour will be guided (Cradle of gold), Llamas sector, Ceremonial Usno and Religious Zone. Which is considered as Machu Picchu`s sister, since there are several similarities, it´s also located to 1500 meters over the Apurimac Canyon, only a third part of this Archeological Complex has been discovered and still many archeologists find something interesting every time. 

Afterwards we will have a picnic Lunch in Choquequirao and then we will descend to Pajchayoc fall. After this amazing tour we go back to Marampata to have dinner to finally finish our day with a comfortable overnight stay in our exclusive camping site.

• Hiking Time: 7 hours
• Climate: warm and windy
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic), Dinner
• Accommodation: Campsite, Marampata 3100 msnm
• Distance Travelled: Approximately 9km

Day 3 | Choquequirao

Marampata – Capuliyoc – Cusco.

At dawn, approximately at 5 am after having a small refreshment we will start our descend hiking to Chiquisca, there we will have breakfast at 7:00am and also take a small break, then we are going to start our last descend hiking and return to Kapuliyoq viewpoint to make a farewell of this amazing adventure, arriving to Kapuliyoq we will have an appetizer and will take our private transport to return to Cusco city.

• Hike Time: 7 hours
• Climate: warm and sunny
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Distance Travelled: Approximately 15km

What's Included?

• Pre-departure briefing: You will meet your Choquequiraw Trek” guide and group in our office for an orientation before your trek. The meeting will be at 6:00 PM the evening before the trip begins. In case you can’t come at this time “please let us know” to coordinate another time.
• Touristic Transport: You will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco in the morning and will travel by private transportation to Capuliyoc the starting point of the trek to Choquequiraw.  
• Adventure Experienced Inka Choquequiraw trek Tour Guide: English speaking, professionally educated, and official tour guide with tourism certification. They all grew up in this region and have a true passion to teach others about their heritage. Your guide will explain the culture and surroundings along the entire route, including leading your group in ancient ceremonies! He or she will keep you safe, sound, and comfortable on your trek so that you can enjoy your time along the Inca path and will ensure you are safe and happy.
• Private campsites: each campsite is carefully choosed for have a very local experience.
  • Night 1: Enjoy the 1st night in Marampata campsite on the route Choquequiraw trek and sleep in our 4 season Pro Aconcagua Doite tents. All our tents are 4 man tents, but ONLY sleep 2, leaving lots of room to spread out comfortably and store your duffel bags. They also include a little vestibule in front, giving you some extra outdoor space to leave your boots and walking sticks so you don’t have to bring in dirt.
  • Night 2: Enjoy the 2nd night in Marampata on the route Choquequiraw trek and sleep in our 4 season Pro Aconcagua Doite tents. All our tents are 4 man tents, but ONLY sleep 2, leaving lots of room to spread out comfortably and store your duffel bags. They also include a little vestibule in front, giving you some extra outdoor space to leave your boots and walking sticks so you don’t have to bring in dirt.
• Note: It is not usual that campsites, lodges or hotels change after the confirmation, however it can vary per government regulations and authorization, also for bad weather conditions and maybe because physical condition of our visitors: Any changes in this matter, ITEP travel will be informing you previously and as soon as possible.
• Camping equipment: Dining and kitchen tents, tables, chairs, and cooking equipment (all carried by our porters and horses).
• Entry ticket to Choquequiraw trail and Inka city.
• Professional Trekking Chef: A professional chef specialized in cooking on the trail, with an assistant, will prepare all of your delicious meals along our journey on the Trail to replenish your energy every day. You will never go hungry!
• Meals: 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners (Vegetarian, vegan, or special menus are available at no extra cost) Please be in mind (1st breakfast and last lunch is not included”.
• Boiled Water: Beginning from your first lunch until your last breakfast, Inka Trail Expeditions will supply all the water needed. This water will be boiled, filtered and then cooled, before distributing. You must supply your own water bottles or camel back. We recommend carrying about 3L worth. We will refill our waters at each meal.
• Wake up tea: Every morning at the campsite, you will wake up with a cup of coca tea! Our staff will bring the tea to your tent so that you will be warmed from inside out before you start your day.
• Tea time daily during the Trek: Every afternoon before dinner, the cooks will provide our tea time with popcorn, biscuits, coffee, hot chocolate, teas, hot water, etc. After a long day of hiking, you will not have to wait until dinner to relax, warm up, and enjoy a bite to eat!
• Products for hygiene: You will be provided with a small towel before each meal to clean your hands and every morning will be also a bucket with warm water for washing your personal hygiene.
• Medical kit and Oxygen bottle: Our crew will bring a first-aid kit, including emergency oxygen bottle.
• Transfer back to Cusco: Private touristic transport from Capuliyoc to your hotel in Cusco (Day 3).
• 24-hour guest service: We have telephone service available 24 hours/day for ease of communication and preparation with the agency leading up to your trek.

 

What's not Included?

• Sleeping Bags: You can rent one from our company if you do not have your own. Our sleeping bags are effective and durable to protect from temperatures as low as -18ºC (0ºF). They are mummy form and include a sleeping liner. The bags are cleaned after every use.
• Walking Sticks: You can rent a set from our company if you would like.
• Day 1: Breakfast: Approx. Usd5 to usd 10.00, Price can vary according your selection.
• Last Day: Lunch and Dinner in Aguas Calientes. Approx. Usd 20 to 25.00, Price can vary according your selection.
• Personal clothing and gear
• Travel Insurance
• Tips for our staff: Please note that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip or not as you wish “Recommendation usd 6 to usd 8 per day per traveler for all the trek staff”- Once again it is optional and can vary according your satisfaction.
• Additional costs or delays out of control of the management (landscape, bad weather condition, itinerary modification due to a safety concern, illness, change of government policy, political instability/strike, etc.)

Additional Services

What to Bring?

• Original Passport
• Day Pack
• Full rain gear or poncho
• Gloves (thin riding and warm gloves)
• Trekking pants
• Breathable dry fit top-wear
• Comfortable shoes/flip-flops
• Cold-weather jacket
• Long-sleeve fleece/sweater
• Wool hat
• Hiking boots
• Baseball cap, sombrero and bandana
• Headlamp
• Sunglasses
• Hiking socks
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Bathing suit
• Casual mountains wear for evenings
• Photo/video cameras and chargers
• Binoculars
• Refillable water bottle (hydration bags are recommended)

PRICES

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Important information

• Please, no hard suitcases or wheeled bags.  Soft duffel bags and/or backpacks (“soft” luggage) are recommended.
• We provide a limited amount of electric energy, due to limited supply in the route and environmental concerns.
• Bathrooms are equipped with drying lines.
• Any additional clothing and luggage that you won’t need on the trek can be stored at your hotel in Cusco or at our office.
• If you do not have an appropriately sized duffel bag, we can provide a duffel bag on loan at the pre-trek briefing (the night before departure from Cusco). Please return it to your trip leader after the trek.
• Though we do not establish a weight limit for luggage or charge for excess baggage, we inform guests that luggage is mainly transported by mules and/or porters along the trail. We kindly ask that you consider restricting the weight of your luggage on the trail to 5kg/11lbs.

Choquequiraw Trek - The Cradle of Gold - 3 days Map