CHOQUEQUIRAO - MACHUPICCHU: 10 DAYS AND 9 NIGHTS

DAY 01: CUSCO – VILLA LOS LOROS
Picking up passengers from their hotels, we leave Cusco at 8:00 a. m. on our private deluxe bus. We will be Taking the road to Abancay, cross the Apurimac River at 1.600 m.as.l. to pass by the Abra of Qorimarca (4,000 m.a.s.l.) from where we descend to the Huanipaca interandean Valley to finally reach to the town Los Loros, where we will enjoy our lunch, dinner and overnight.  

DAY 02: VILLA LOS LOROS (2,200m.s.n.m.) - CHOQUEQUIRAO (2,900m.s.n.m.)
Breakfast. We start this morning with a two-and- a- half-hour walk to reach the noisy Apurimac River banks (in Qechua  language: God that speaks). After crossing the suspension bridge in San Ignacio and we will start our ascent from the river level (1.500 m.a.s.l) to reach the Choquequirao campsite located at 2,900 m.a.s.l. along the way you can appreciate the beauty of the landscape and variety of flora and fauna of the zone.
After lunch we will visit the Terraces, Inca system of Cultivation, of Phaqchayoq and the House of the waterfall, to finally return to our campsite, where they will serve dinner and spend the night. (Walking time:  7 to 8 hours).

DAY 03: FULL DAY EN CHOQUEQUIRAO
Breakfast, We will spend all day visiting the principal sectors of the Archaeological Park, such as: Pikiwasi , the area of Administrative houses of the Archeological Site of Choquequirao, the home of the priests, the Ushnu or Ceremonial Platform, the main square or Hauqaypata, the Deposits or Qolqa, the High class group or Hanan, among others.
We'll have lunch near the site so we won’t interrupt our visit and see, with a little of luck, the majestic Andean Condor flying over the deep canyon of the Apurimac River. Finally we will return to our campsite, where we will have dinner and spend the night.

DAY 04: CHOQUEQUIRAO (2,900m.s.n.m.) - PINCHAUNUYOC (2,487 m.s.n.m.)
Breakfast, we begin the ascent from our camp, through the high land forest which are rich in epiphytes, bromeliads and beautiful orchids, to surround the passage of Choquequirao (3,270 m) and begin a long descent down to the slopes on the west side of Choquequirao: known as the new Machu Picchu mountain. We will visit the archaeological site of PinchaUnuyoc, a growing range of platforms topped by a small ceremonial site, we will spend overnight after setting up our camp here. (travel time: 5 hours).

DAY 05: PINCHAUNUYOC (2,487m.s.n.m.) - MAIZAL (2,892m.s.n.m.)
Breakfast, we will continue down to the Rio Blanco or Yuraqmayo hot valley (1,875 m.a.s.l.)where we will have consume lunch. Then we begin to climb the Qoriwayrachina mountain until we reach Maizal, a natural balcony with a breathtaking view. There we set up our camp and spend the night. Dinner. (Journey time: 5 hours).

DAY 06: MAIZAL (2,892m.s.n.m.) - YANAMA (3,520m.s.n.m.)
Breakfast, We walk through a diverse forest passing by the old Victoria Mining Camp until the pass of San Juan (4,200 m.a.s.l.), where we will be able to enjoy extraordinary views of the Cordillera de Vilcabamba (mountain range) keeping on going  in the middle of the cliffs, we will arrive to the Yamana community. (Walking time 7 hours).

DAY 07: YANAMA (3,520m.s.n.m.) - TOTORA (3,400m.s.n.m.)
Our route starts by climbing grasslands of high Andean valley, with a moderate slope, until we reach the Abra of Yanama (4.620m). From this point we will begin the descent to the Santa Teresa valley, with the stunning views  of the scenery of the Salcantay mountain (6,270 m) and Humantay mountain (5.917 m), two of the highest peaks in the Vilcabamba mountain range, whose slopes take us to finally reach Machu Picchu. We will go down in a zigzag way to the campsite which lies next to the Totora village river (Walking time 7 hours).

DAY 08:  TOTORA (3,400m.s.n.m.) – LA PLAYA (2,135m.s.n.m.) (HOY COMEREMOS PACHAMANCA).
Our walk today will be downhill, through a winding path to reach Collpapampa, where our chefs will prepare a delicious Pachamanca for us, this is a traditional dish in ancient Peru. It is basically an underground cooking technique, using pre-heated rocks forming a kind of oven. It is made of some typical vegetables and legumes and meat products which are buried under the rocks and the banquet participants will eat them directly from it, this technique was widely used in Inca times. Pachamanca (a kind of barbecue) is closely related to ritual ceremonies.  This will be our lunch today and we can enjoy the nearby hot springs in Santa Teresa. Then we follow the road through imposing mountains on both sides of the way with a destination to the place known as La Playa where we will camp. Overnight (travel time: 5 hours).

DAY 09:  LA PLAYA (2,135m.s.n.m.) - HYDRO (1,875m.s.n.m.) – MACHU PICCHU
Today we must choose between two options: continue with the walk to reach the Hydroelectric power plant, from where we will take the train which will take us to Machu Picchu Pueblo, or  board a bus or a truck from La Playa which will lead us to the same hydroelectric plant and take the train to Machu Picchu Pueblo. If we choose the first option we expect a 6-hour walk along the route we can visit the archaeological complex of Llactapata (2,590 m) which is relating to the sun rising ceremony of the winter solstice, whose rising over Machu Picchu can be seen. In the second case our journey to Hydroelectrica will be one of 1-2 hours only. In both cases the train will take us to Machu Picchu Pueblo in 15 minutes. Here we can rest in the hotel or enjoy the soothing hot springs. (Journey time: 6 hours).

DAY 10: MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO
We leave early to catch the first bus which will take us up the hill and will leave us in the same Inca Sanctuary, located above the Urubamba River canyon in the heart of the Salcantay Cordillera jungle, wonder of the world which will be visited the rest of the day, having the opportunity to perform the optional visits to the imposing mountain of Waynapicchu, or to the Door of the Sun, Intipunku. We will then to Machu Picchu train station to take the train back to Cusco. Transfer to Hotel.

PROGRAMME INCLUDES:

• Private bus Cusco - Huanipaca.
• Entrance tickets to Choquequirao, Machu Picchu archaeological sites.
• Professional bilingual tour guide (English – Spanish).
• Food (8D, 9A, 9C), with options for vegetarians.
• Camping equipment (personal, two people, three people  tents, kitchen tent, dining tent, toilet tent, chairs, table, mattress.
• Biodegradable Bathroom.
• Professional Chef  in charge of food preparation and cooking equipment.
• Horsemen and horses in charge of all camping equipment transportation (not for paxs)
• First aid kit.
• Emergency oxygen bottle.
• Accommodation for guides, cooks and carriers.
• Snacks for the route.
• Backpacker train service back from Aguas Calientes to Cusco.
• Arrival transfer from the train station to your hotel in Cusco.

WE DO NOT INCLUDE:

• Breakfast on the first day, breakfast and lunch on the ninth day.
• Sleeping bags.

WE RECOMMEND TO BRING:

• Hiking shoes.
• Rain jacket or poncho for rain.
• Hat or cap to protect against sun or cold.
• Proper clothing for the walk to the cold and heat.
• Sleeping bags (You can hire them at our office).
• Small towel.
• Sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
• Original passport.
• Bottled water,  purifying tablets (Micropur).
• Canteen.
• energizers.
• Flashlight.
• Toilet paper.
• Camera film and batteries.

OPTIONAL:

• Poles covered with rubber for the walk.
• Extra horse($ 140.00 per person).
• Discount of $ 10.00 with International Student Card (ISIC Card).
• For children under 8 years (a copy of your passport) deduct $ 10.00.
• Hiring Feather sleeping bag ($ 45.00) for the whole trip.
• Backpack renting ($ 20.00) for the whole trip
• Vistadome train service for the return (add $ 40.00 per person).