Choquequirao via Cachora (5 days)

This lost city has waked up the interest of many travelers, scientists and adventurers. Choquequirao (Quechua word that means “golden cradle”) is considered as important and extensive as Machu Picchu. It is located in la Convencion province in Cusco and has an extraordinary view to the slope of Blanco River, the Canyon of Apurímac River and in the distance we observe the fabulous snow-capped mountain of Salkantay.
Choquequirao is an extraordinary complex that consists of nine architectonic groups. It has hundreds of platform, rooms and irrigation systems with a religious-political center.  It is said that it is one of so many citadels lost in Vilcabamba, where the Incas took refuge in the year 1536, just think that only the 30% of the gigantic complex have been partially-cleared and can be easily explored by those intrepid enough to undertake the demanding trek required to get there. The trip to Choquequirao is long and exhausting but certainly unforgettable.

Day 1 Cachora - Playa Rosalina
We leave Cusco in the early morning to journey by road that goes to Abancay, the trip takes approximately 4 hours and 140 km/86.8 m. from Cusco to the small village of Cachora. On the way we will have an opportunity to visit Saywite, a fascinating and unique Inca site.  Saywite is a limestone outcrop about four meters 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 of the sun were traced, 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.
Cachora (2900 m/9512 f), is our point of beginning for this fascinating trekking, where we will be met by our mule drivers, who will load our gear on the horses and mules before we begin our first day’s hike.
We departure from Cachora approximately at 9:00 in the morning, it takes 5 hours get to a small town called Chikiska, where we will have the lunch. Later we will continue till Playa Rosalina, located exactly in the banks of the Apurimac river, (1500 m/4920 f.), place where we will have the supper and the first camp site.
Meals: L, D.

Day 2 Playa Rosalina – Choquequirao
After the breakfast, we will make the steep 1800 meters ascent up to the ruins, but first we will ascend until Santa Rosa, property of the Cuba Rubio family, settled there for generations, the family dedicates itself to the sugar Cane extraction, to then process it in aguardiente or artisan brandy.
After arriving at this point, we will continue ascending until Maranpata (2850 m/9348 f.) from this small village, Choquequirao can already be appreciated; in Maranpata we will take our lunch and a rest to relax before going on. We will be arriving to Choquequirao at dusk, where we will camp close to the ruins.
Meals: B, L, D.

Day 3 Choquequirao
Guided visit of this outstanding lost city of the Incas and explore the ruins, hopefully, we will see some condors. These great Andean birds, with a wingspan of up to three meters, tend to rise up from the floor of the canyon on the afternoon thermals, providing visitors on the central plaza of Choqueqirao with a magnificent show. Third camp site
Meals: B, L, D.

Day 4 Choquequirau – Chikiska

Approximately at 10:00 a.m. we will return to our destiny Chikiska, first we will have our lunch in Santa Rosa, and then we will descend to the Apurimac River, where we will be able to take a refreshing bath in the white-waters from the river, the fourth camp site will be in Chikiska.
Meals: B, L, D.

Day 5 Chikiska – Cachora
Located at an altitude of (1830 m/6002 f.) very early we will begin our ascent to Cachora, in order to avoid that the sun tires to us. We will have lunch in Cachora and by the afternoon we will return to Cusco.
The average time of walking is between five to six hours every day. The strong drops in the route, as well as the dramatic variation of climates, turn it on in a demanding trekking but well compensated.
Meals: B, L.

Included:

• Pre-departure briefing
• Transport to the start of the trail and return transport by car to Cusco
• Professional bilingual guide (English and Spanish), 2 guides for groups of over 8 people.
• Meals described in the program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, FB=Full board), in the trek the meals are prepared by the trek cook and also includes: daily morning snack, daily tea service except last day, vegetarian or special menus are available at no extra cost. 
• Accommodation on the trek is camping (4 nights). Tents are set up by the porters.
• Services during the trek: wranglers, horses and mules for carrying equipment and personal gear, saddle horse for emergencies and auxiliary staff 
• Camping equipment: Personal tents (2 people in each 4-people capacity tent, they are 3 season and highly maintained), mattresses, kitchen tent, dining tent with tables and chairs, toilet tent, household items.
• Accommodation for all our staff
• Chef and cooking equipment
• Hot water every morning to clean up and boiled water to fill in your canteen every morning or night.
• First aid kit and emergency oxygen supply
• Bag for the gear you will need during the trek
• Choquequirao entrance fee
• All the garbage produced during the trek will be returned to the city of Cusco

Not included:

• Meals not included in the itinerary
• Sleeping bag (we have sleeping bags for hire at an extra cost)   
• Personal expenses
• Any kind of personal insurance
• Tips

We recommend that you take:

• Travel documents: passport, visas, travel insurance certificate, air tickets, vouchers
• Health requirements arranged
• Any Vaccination Certificates required
• Money: cash, credit card and money pouch
• Waterproof rain jacket or poncho
• A good sleeping bag (down bag for temperatures as low -15°C)
• Inner sleep sheet (for sleeping bag)
• Backpack for carrying items for daily use such as cameras, water bottles, etc.
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Short-sleeved t-shirts
• Comfortable pants
• Shorts
• Walking boots , waterproof trekking boots recommended
• Sports shoes or sandals for a higher comfort while at camp
• Warm clothing, including jacket, fleeces
• Flashlight/headlamp and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
• Hat, cap and accessories
• Underwear
• Towel, toilet paper
• Camera, video camera, binoculars, etc.
• Insect repellent
• Sun block
• Non-disposible canteen and water for the first morning. Optionally: water-sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported health problem so far
• Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount)
• Walking poles (you will need rubber tips to cover the metal tips and protect the trail)

Important:

• Departure and arrival times are approximated.
• Campsites are subject to change according to the designation of the governmental institution regulating the use of the trail, as well as 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