TREKKING TO CHOQEKIRAO VIA TAMBOBAMBA (5 days)

Trek to the ruins of one Peru’s most impressive Inca site. Choquequirao is as impressively located as its more famous sister city Machu Picchu, but this route through the remote Vilcabamba triangle is only traveled by local highlanders and groups led by us, guaranteeing our traveler a sense of discovery, after a journey through spectacular scenery and a vivid regional history.
This lost city fascinated 19th century explorers and Hiram Bingham visited it two years before he discovered Machu Picchu. Difficult to reach, the ruins are rarely visited by travelers.
The more famous ruins of Machu Picchu are situated on the eastern slope of the Cordillera Vilcabamba and Choquequirao located on the western slope at about the same pararell forms what could almost be described as their mirror image. Both citadels are located halfway up steep, densely-forested mountain slopes, overlooking of the region’s major rivers.
The approach to Choquequirao requires a steep descent from over 3000 metres to the Apurimac river at 1200 metres, followed by an even steeper ascent to the ruins. The site is perched a magnificent 1600 metres above the Apurimac, surrounded by dense-forested mountain slopes in the shadow of huge, snowcapped peaks. The ruins have been partially cleared and can be easily explored by those intrepid enough to undertake the demanding trek required to get there.

Day 1 Cusco – Saywite - Lodge
From Cusco we journey by road to the small village of Tambobamba. The journey is 140 kilometres along a paved road, followed by 30 km of dirt road and a 10 kilometre track. We will reach the village (at 22270 metres / 7445 feet above sea level) at around midday then we will walk down for two to three hours to the San Ignacio bridge (1509 metres / 5244 feet) over the Apurimac river where the lodge is located. After getting situated in our tents, we serve dinner and head to tent early to get ready for the following day's activities.
Meals: L.D.

Day 2 Lodge – San Ignacio - Choqekirao
We leave after breakfast our ascent to the ruins. This is a 15000 metre climb along a trail too narrow for pack animals, surrounded by dense cloud forest foliage. Our gear will be carried by local men hired as porters from the village of Tambobamba. This is a strenuous day’s hiking, but we will be rewarded by fine scenery, abundant bird life and a real sense of discovery when we camp at the ruins of Choquequirao that night at 2858 or 9374 feet above sea level. (BLD)
Meals: FB.

Day 3 Choqekirao
We have a full day to explore Choquequirao, both in the company of our guide an alone, as well as visiting other sites such as Pikiwasi and we will have time to study the recent excavations around the site, which have revealed several outbuildings and extensive terracing long hidden by the luxuriant cloud forest.
Meals: FB.

Day 4 Choqekirao – Hacienda San Ignacio – Lodge
Today we make the long descent from the ruins to San Ignacio bridge, where once again the cold waters of the Apurimac will refresh our limbs. We will have reached the bridge by midday, giving us the afternoon to hike to Tambobamba, where we will spend the night there.
Meals: FB.

Day 5 Albergue – Cusco
Today we end our journey into this remote and magnificent region of the Andes with the drive back to Cusco, on the way we will have an opportunity to visit the Saywite stone. Saywite is a limestone outcrop about four metres in diameter on which the Incas carved a model of their empire, Tahuantinsuyo. The stone, upon which images of the flora, fauna, topography and customs of the empire were carved, was used in ceremonies dedicated to the worship of water. Several other similar rock outcrops lie scattered across the surrounding area, along the vestiges of an Inca highway. Along the way, lunch will be offered at a restaurant located near the town of Curahuasi and then we will continue the trip to Cusco. We will arrive at approximately 3 p.m. making the trip in an estimated five hours.
Meals: D.A.

Included:

• Round-trip transfer from Cusco to Cusco
• A multilingual guide (English/Spanish)
• High quality camping equipment (tents on double basis, tables, etc.)
• Foam or sleeping pad
• Radio communication throughout the trek
• First-aid kit
• All the meals and drinks as indicated in the program as well as snacks and tee times
• Cold boiled water, except the first day where you must buy.
• A camp chef and porters
• Entrance fees to the archeological sites of Saywite and Choquequirao

Not included:

• Sleeping bag (rent US$15 per 5 days)
• Extras
• Telephone expenses
• Tips and similar items

Things that you should bring:

• Trekking shoes
• T-shirts and long sleeve shirts
• Short pants or sports wear
• A cap for the sun and a hat for the cold
• A sweater and a jacket
• Mosquito repellent
• Sun block
• Personal care things
• Different types of clothing and equipment may be necessary, depending on the season - consult us regarding this before visiting.

Important:

• Departure and arrival times are approximated.
• Campsites are subject to change according to our guide’s criteria and the group progress
• Challenging and levels of difficulty: (range between 1 to 10): 7 and an acclimatization period of at least 2 days in Cusco or at elevations above 3000m/9840ft is recommended.

Prices per person 2010:
Prices per person depend on the group size, the larger the group the lower the price per person. Please contact us, specifying:

• Service (in pool or in  private)
• Number of people in the trek
• Departure date

Available discounts (these discounts are not cumulative):

• Students: US$ 45.00 (students require a valid International Student Identity Card. Please note that Youth Travel Cards are not valid)
• Teenagers: US$ 40.00 (up to 15 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)
• Children: US$ 85.00 (up to 7 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)

Social & Environmental responsibility

Peru & Travel is committed to travelling in a way that is respectful of local people, their culture, local economies and the environment. With your participation we can help conserve the area we visit and bring positive benefits to our host communities.

What you need to know on how to be a responsible traveller:

• The natural environment is also very important. If in the bush we need to make our human waste, be sure is buried away from waterways. Burying or carrying out used toilet paper is a must. Tampons and sanitary pads must also be taken out of the area and disposed of appropriately. Minimize use of soap or shampoos in rivers and lakes - your local guide will let you know when using soap is unsuitable.
• When trekking, many travellers take an extra plastic bag to pick up any rubbish that they see to improve the area and for their own rubbish. Rubbish may have to be carried until a suitable disposal opportunity in the next town.
• Please try and minimize the waste of plastic water bottles. Consider packing a water filter, water purification tablets or iodine to purify drinking water. At some of our hotels there are large water 'bubbler' dispensers where you can refill your bottle with purified water for free or for a small fee.

For reservation or questions