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4 days/3 nights Program
This four-day trek along a spectacular 60 kilometer route will lead you through deep gorges and breathtaking mountain scenery to the enigmatic Inca ruins of Choquequirao. Located at 10,178 feet above sea level, Choquequiroa is a vast archaeological complex considered by many as Machu Picchu’s sister due to its numerous similarities. The site is located in the surroundings of the Salkantay sacred mountain (6.271m/20569ft) and the Apurimac River canyon. Archeological teams continue to work to recover portions of Choquequirao providing visitors with the opportunity to witness its restoration process.
living wage and environmental commitment
Mondo Verde Expeditions is committed to providing a living wage to the indigenous porters that will be providing logistical support and guiding services for your trek. Our prices are both competitive while ensuring that local indigenous people benefit from your visit. We also are committed to the highest environmental standards to help preserve this sensitive and increasingly visited trail. For those travelers concerned about their impact on social and environmental issues we encourage you to research operators carefully before making a decision since many low-priced operators are not committed to these standards.
Commitment To Quality
Mondo Verde Expeditions uses only the highest quality camping equipment to ensure your comfort and safety on the trek. Your personal cook will serve only nutritious, safe, and well-prepared food.
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US$ Price per Person with a minimum of 2 clients based on double occupancy with private guide and transportation. Single supplement charges applied if clients requests single accommodations.
Price per Person (US$) |
2 -3 |
4 or more |
2-3 persons |
888 |
758 |
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High Altitude Note: It is very important that we follow certain precautions necessary in high altitude environments. Some people may suffer from headaches, nausea and shortness of breath while in Cuzco. Travelers should walk slowly, avoid alcohol, drink copious amounts of water and coca tea, and eat lightly.
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ITINERARY
Day 1
Cuzco – Chiquisca
Depart Cuzco at 7:00 am by private transportation, and drive towards Cachora, an Andean community located 4-5 hours from Cuzco. After driving for two and a half hours, we stop in Tarawasi, where we visit the archaeological remains of an Inca Usno, a place were ceremonies and celebrations to mother earth were conducted. We leave Tarawasi and continue along the road, across the Apurimac River and up again through Curawasi and to Saywite, our second stop an hour and a half later. Here we visit the famous Inca rock that was believed to be the construction plan for the Tahuantinsuyo Empire, with carvings of animals representing the main deities. From Saywite, we continue on to Cachora only 30 minutes away and at 2800m/9184ft, where we will enjoy our box lunch. In the afternoon we start our hike climbing for two and a half hours towards the Abra Capuliyoc at 2750m/9020ft, where may we enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and the Apurimac River Canyon. We then continue descending two more hours towards Chiquisca, where we set our camp and spend the night.
B,L,D
Day 2
Chiquisca - Choquequirao
We leave Chiquisca as early as 6.00 am to go down to Rosalina Beach, which will take about one hour. We then cross the Apurimac River and start climbing towards Santa Rosa, zigzagging up a steep slope. This climb will take an approximated 2hours. In Santa Rosa, we take a half an hour break, where those who wish may try Cambray, a local sugar cane extract. Afterwards, we continue our hike slowly climbing for two and a half hours until we reach our lunch spot in Marampata. From here we walk another two hours until we reach the archaeological complex of Choquequirao, located at 3103m/10178ft, where we will set up camp and enjoy some free time to explore the terraces and buildings. When the sun starts to set, you might want to sit and contemplate the canyon, where condors are sometimes spotted.
B,PL,D
Day 3
Choquequirao - Rosalina Beach
In the morning, we enjoy a complete guided tour of the Choquequirao complex where we will visit the upper (Hanan), and lower areas (Urin), and other areas still covered in wild foliage and ready for restoration. After the tour, we start our walk back towards Santa Rosa, where we have lunch. We then continue descending for another 2 hours until we reach Rosalina Beach at 1450m/4756ft, where we might have time to take a refreshing dip in the waters of the Apurimac River. We camp and dine here.
B, L, D
Day 4
Rosalina Beach to Cachora - Cuzco
We leave camp after breakfast to start the two to three hour climb to Chiquisca, to then make our way back to the Abra Capuliyoc, close to where we will have our lunch. In the afternoon, we continue on our two hour return route to Cachora, where our private transportation will be waiting to take us back to Cuzco. Estimated arrival time around 9.00pm.
B, L
* Departure and arrival times are approximated.
** Campsites are subject to change according to our guide’s criteria and the evolution of the group
Difficulty degree of this hike:
Challenging. The route has steep ups and downs, with changes of altitude in one day of over 1600m/5200ft. We recommend allowing one-day acclimatization in Cuzco prior to the trek departure.
What is included
- Pick up from your hotel in the morning and transfer in private bus to Cachora, starting point of the trek
- Personal tents: 2 persons in each 4-person tent, to allow for greater comfort and safe keeping of backpacks. Our tents are 3-season, 2005-new, highly maintained to ensure an excellent performance in field.
- One sleeping pad per person
- One sleeping bag per person if requested: our sleeping bags are -10ºC-comfort and mummy form. They are cleaned after every use and have a maximum usage of 30 trips.
- Dining tent with tables and chairs.
- Kitchen tent.
- Toilet tent.
- English speaking professional guide (2 guides for groups over 8 people).
- Cook and cooking equipment.
- Horsemen and horses (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment)
- Horses to carry personal gear up to 9 kg per passenger
- 1 emergency horse every 6 persons
- Accommodation for our guides, cook and horsemen
- Meals (03B, 04L, 03D + daily morning snack + daily tea service except last day)
- Other: hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunch time if requested with enough time ahead
- First-aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
- Private transportation from Cachora to Cuzco, including transfer to your hotel in Cuzco
What is not included
- Dinner on the last day of trek
- Meals not detailed
- Domestic air tickets Lima – Cuzco - Lima
- Tips: please beware that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip or not according to your wish
- Extra expenses
- Airport taxes
What we recommend that you bring
- A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek
- Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cuzco)
- Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended
- Warm clothes, including jacket, fleece.
- Flashlight and batteries
- Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
- Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
- Sun block
- After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
- Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported - Handkerchiefs
- Toilet paper
- Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc. Please beware that we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. This recommendation applies for all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it is not included in our selection.
- Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) 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 any health problem so far.
- Small towel
- Swimsuit (if you intend to take a bath in the river)
- Cash in soles and/or US$
- Optional: walking sticks or poles
Appropriate clothing along the Inca Trail
Hiking pants and T-shirts are commonly used during the day, complemented by sweaters, fleeces and waterproof jackets. It is very convenient to have light raingear available in the daypack (rain poncho or jacket and/or rain pants) as the weather changes easily and rains can suddenly occur. At night, warm clothing is required in the first two campsites, down jackets can be useful, otherwise a fleece and a jacket. During the third day (if sunny) and in Machu Picchu, convertible hiking pants are useful, and can be switched into shorts if necessary. Machu Picchu has a warm climate, getting only cold at night. The rest of necessary implements are included in the “What we recommend that you bring” list.
Climate
Cuzco’s climate is divided into two differentiated seasons: the rainy season, from November to April (the heaviest rainfalls occurring usually between January – March); and the dry season, from May to October. The dry season is colder, so temperatures can drop to below 0 degrees at night. Along the Inca Trail, temperatures range from 15-20ºC during the day if it’s sunny, to 05-10ºC during the day if not sunny or 0-05ºC at night in the first 2 campsites. At Wiñaywayna and Machu Picchu, at lower altitude, temperatures are usually warmer though warm clothes are still recommended at night.
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