Classic Choquequirao Trek Tour

Arrival in Lima, Reception at the airport and transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, a private guided visit of colonial and modern Lima, including the cathedral, dating from 1654, the main square, which still houses the original bronze fountain built in 1650, and the San Francisco Convent and its catacombs. Known as the city of the kings, Lima was founded in 1535 by Pizarro and rebuilt in 1991, the same year that UNESCO declared it a world heritage site. One of the very few South American cities that preserve the colonial past, Lima was home to the Spanish viceroy during the time of the Spanish colonialists. After lunch, a visit to a museum of your choice. Choose from amongst the Gold Museum, the National Museum of Anthropology, Archaeology and History or the Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum. Return to your hotel.

After an early rise, morning transfer to the airport for the 6AM flight to Cuzco. After the hour long flight, arrival to Cuzco, reception and transfer to your hotel. Free morning to take a leisurely walk around the ancient capital of the Incas. A guide will be available or if preferred, a private walk around the ancient capital. Return to the hotel for lunch. After lunch, guided walking tour of the city of Cuzco; including the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Koricancha or Temple of the Sun. A visit to the Inca Museum before returning to your hotel for dinner.

After breakfast, a tour of the ruins surrounding the Inca capital including the Sacsayhuaman Fortress overlooking the city of Cuzco, a pre Inca architectural masterpiece; Kenko, a rock sanctuary whose main attraction is the monolithic altar representing a puma, the red fortress of Puca-Pucara, and Tambomachay.
After lunch free day to relax and enjoy the city.
  After breakfast, full day excursion to the beautiful Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Inca situated between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. The Sacred Valley is an exceptionally fertile valley that was and still remains the larder of Cuzco. Visit the village of Pisac, founded during colonial times, and set at the foot of a hill crowned by the remains of an ancient Inca city.
On Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Indians barter their products in the main square and artisans from around the area sell their woven alpaca wool blankets and ponchos, engraved gourds, antique reproductions, jewellery, etc. On Sundays it is also the meeting place for Mayors from all the villages in the region, dressed in their traditional costumes to attend morning mass. A visit to the rarely visited Inca ruins above Pisac. After lunch, a visit to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town that was not defeated by the Spanish. Explore the ruins above Ollantaytambo before returning to Cuzco in the late afternoon. Accommodation at your hotel and briefing on your upcoming trek.

Early departure from Cuzco to Cachora town for breakfast. A meeting with all the porters and muleteers to arrange all the equipment on the mules and horses and then you start the trek with a 2 hour hike to Capuliyoc (2915m). From here, you will have your first beautiful view of the Apurimac valley stretching below as well as the snow-capped peaks of Padrayoc and Wayna Cachora. Descend towards Coca Masana (2330m) where the climate becomes noticeably warmer and the flora and fauna begin to change. Finally arriving at Playa Rosalina (Rosalina Beach) at 1550m beside the raging Apurimac River. Overnight camp.

This is considered the hardest of the 5 days. After an early breakfast to climb a steep trail, a 5 hour hike to Raqaypata beside the Chunchullumayo River where you will have a late lunch and a good rest. Along the way you will observe many orchids and wild flowers as well as many birds. From Raqaypata to Choquequirao (3035m) there is a 2 hour hike. Arriving at the archaeological site of Choquequirao in time to enjoy the sunset and maybe an opportunity to see a Condor flying. The campsite will be just outside the ruins.

Today is dedicated to exploring the incredible ruins of Choquequirao, known as the other Machu Picchu where the last Inca, Tupac Amaru, was raised among Inca Priestesses. The guide will explain the history and importance of the site. After you will have free time to visit the many sectors of the complex. Late in the afternoon start the return trek and camp the night at Raqaypata.

After breakfast, continue the return trek with a steep descent towards the Apurimac River where you will stop and have lunch. In the afternoon a climb for approximately 4 hours to the final campsite at Coca Masana.

The last day of trekking. You will appreciate the canyon that forms the Apurimac river. Then you will take a new trail that crosses the throat of the canyon, with an impressive view of Wayna Qalli towards the canyon, considered the most spectacular in South America. Arrive to Cachora with a return bus to Cuzco.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima and your connecting return flight home.