choquequirao-salkantay-machu-picchu.htm
Full itinerary Choquequirao - Salkantay to Machu Picchu trek 12d/11nigths
All kilometres and altitude gains & loss cited are approximate and considered a
guide only. 
Day 1:
We depart Cusco at 6.am in a private car for a 4 hour drive to the charming
village of Cachora, situated on the edge of the Apurimac canyon and surrounded
by impressive snowcapped peaks. After lunch, it is a 2 hour hike to Capuliyoc
(2915 metres/ 9561 feet) from where we have our first beautiful views of the
Apurimac valley stretching below as well as the snow-capped peaks of Padrayoc
and Wayna Cachora. Our total hiking time today is about eight hours.
Accommodation: Camping at Chiccisqa 1950 m
16 km descending 1200m in altitude - cachora to chikisca
Day 2:
Departing early, we descend to the magnificent Apurimac River (1550 metres/ 5084
feet) before beginning our climb to Santa Rosa and then onto Maranpata where we
will have lunch. The climb from the river takes about 4 hours and is tough. From
our lunch spot we can see the ruins of Choquequirao, from here we have two hours
more hike to the ruins. (3110 metres/ 10120 feet) We will spend the late evening
in the ruins, where we will watch the sunset and have the chance to see condors.
Accommodation: Camping at Choquequirao campsite 3033m
13 km ascending 1600 m in altitude -Chikisca to Choquequirao
Day 3:
We have a chance to more fully explore the ruins and have a little rest in the
morning. In the afternoon we will climbing over a ridge hike to the ruins
Pinchinuyoc, where we will camp the night. This is definately the easiest day of
the trip! Accommodation: Camping at Pinchinuyoc about 3000m/ or depending on the
group at Rio Blanco, a further 1.5 to 2 hours descent.
10 km descending 1450 m in altitude – Choquequirao to Rio Blanco
Day 4:
After 2 hours of walking, we will arrive at the canyon of the Rio Blanco (1990
metres/6527 feet) where will have a rest before starting a difficult climb to
our campsite of Victoria Silver Mine . The climb is 6-7 hours. Accommodation:
Camping at Victoria Silver mine 3500m
8km ascend 2000 m in altitude – Rio Blanco to Mina Victoria
Day 5 :
We depart at 7am, and walk uphill for about 2 hours through semi-jungle. We
visit the ancient mines and some Inca Ruins before climbing an hour more to the
pass of Abra Victoria. (4130 metres/ 13 546 feet). The newly discovered
Coryhuayrachina ruins are between Yanama and Maizal and we do follow well
constructed inca steps at an area that we call "Mina Victoria" (we started
calling it this because that's what the muleeteers called it)
There are spectacular views from the pass as we descend to the charming village
of Yanama. (about 3 hours walk). Accommodation: Camping at Yanama 4100m
12km 500m descend and ascend 600m in altitude - Mina victoria to Yanama
Day 6:
A day of mountain peaks. In this day we walk for seven hours, preferably rising
early to appreciate the chain of snowpeaks that we can see from here. We lightly
ascend to the second pass which is the highest of our trek at 4850 metres/ 15908
feet. After the pass we descend for three hours to the Valley of Totora, where
will spend the night. Accommodation: Camping at Colpapampa about 3100m .
18km 700 m ascend and descend 1900m in altitude - Yanama to Colpapampa
Day 7:
A day of botany and glacier . Today we also walk up for 7-8 hours, but the
whole day is hiking up ,we can easily notice the changing scenery and different
varieties of plants typical of the high jungle - known in Spanish as the
"eyebrow of the jungle",
we can
appreciate Vizcachas (andean chinchilla) and a very small lake. You finally
arrive at the pass which is the highest
point of the trip (4,600 metres/13451 feet
then we’ll descent until camp site Salkantay pampa.
Day 8.
Alter a cold night, we continue our hike to start the 3-4-hour steep climb
towards the Incachiriasca pass (4850m/15908ft), the highest of the entire route,
offering impressive views of the Salkantay snow peak. After a celebratory rest
on the pass we will then descend towards our lunch spot at Sisaypampa, a flat
area from which one can observe the Salkantay´s neighboring valleys (it is
possible that you will see condors in this area). After lunch we continue
towards the Pampacahuana community, located next to an original Inca canal,
where we set our second camp and spend the night.
14km hiking in total 8-9 hours aprox.
Day 9.
In the morning you will see that the valley begins to narrow and the river
becomes a canal. The Incas frequently cut canals through valleys to increase the
agricultural land. From Pampachuana it's a 3 hours hike down the narrow, steep
valley to the Inca fortress of Inkaracay (also known as Paucarcancha). This is a
site well worth exploring and little known to the vast majority of visitors to
Peru.
It's about another 2 hours walk down to the small village of Wayllabamba which
is the point that we join the Traditional (or Classic) Inca Trail to Machu
Picchu. As mules are not allowed on the Traditional Inca Trail, at this point
we say goodbye to our mules and muleteers and welcome our porters who will
accompany us for the next few days. Wayllabamba is our cap site 3000mts.
12km hiking in total 7-8 hours aprox.
Day 10:
we leave Wayllabamba behind to start our way up the Warmihuañusca mountain pass
(Dead Woman’s pass) through an abrupt and steep ascent that stretches for 9 km.
reaching the mountain pass of Abra Warmihuañusca (4200m/13776ft) after about 4
hours. Immediately after the pass, we descend about 1 hours until
campsite Pacaymayo valley (3600m).
Day 11.Today
we continue our trek up until halfway to visit the very impressive
archaeological complex Runkurakay. This site, located at 3800m/12464ft, consists
of a small oval structure that is believed to have served the purpose of a
watchtower then continue to climb to the second pass, the Abra Runkurakay
(3970m/13022ft).
After going over the pass, we descend towards Yanacocha (Black Lagoon) and enter
the cloud forest to finally arrive at Sayacmarca (3624m/11887ft). This is a
beautiful complex made up of a semicircular construction. Only 20 minutes away
is Chaquicocha – 3400m (dry lake in Quechua), where we will have launch. After
siesta we have an easy climb, to arrive at the third pass, the Abra de
Phuyupatamarca (3700m/12136ft). Phuyupatamarca is one of the most complete and
best-preserved archaeological complexes along the Inca Trail to Machupicchu, and
is located on the highest point of a mountain. Curiously, Phyupatamarca means
¨town over the clouds¨. From here we also have impressive views of the Urubamba
River valley. We descend by stone to Wiñaywayna (2650m/8692ft).
Wiñaywayna is an impressive complex made up of an agricultural center with
numerous terraces, a religious sector and an urban sector – even if you are
tired and enjoying the relative luxury of this campsite, don’t miss this
archaelogical complex!
Day 12:On
this last day we get up at 4.00 am to leave Wiñaywayna at approx. 5am and climb
to the Intipunku, or the Sun Gate. This will take an hour of hiking along a
trail of flat stones on the edges of cliffs in highland jungle. From this
fabulous spot, we may see the sunrise over Machu Picchu. From Intipunku we
descend into Machupicchu, and 40 minutes later we enter this famous city. We
then descend to the control point where we register ourselves and leave our
backpacks. We immediately begin a complete guided tour Machu Picchu that will
take approximately two hours.
After your tour you can further explore the ruins by yourself or climb Huayna
(Wayna)Picchu for that classic photo of Machu Picchu. Please note that new
regulations (designed to protect the ruins and for the safety of visitors) mean
that there are two entry times to Huayna Picchu - at 7am and 10am, and each time
has a limit of 400 enries. Also try to fit in a visit to the Temple of the Moon
or Uñay Huayna Picchu while visiting Huayna Picchu.
Normally, during high season those people who climb Huayna picchu spend a extra
day at the ruins just to get for the mountain and then spend a good amount of
time on this classic mountain. If you don't get to do Huayna Picchu, other
options are:
- Inti Punku (gate of the sun) this is the location where the classic inca trail
arrives.
- Inca Bridge
- Machu Picchu mountain.
We highly recommend walking down from Machu Picchu to get a feeling for the
vegetation and also the audacity of its builders. Its a 1.5 hour walk back to
the village of Aguas Calientes. We return to Cusco in the afternoon by the
backpacker train (leaves either at 2.30pm or 6pm) and are met by a driver at
Ollantaytambo who will transfer you directly back to your hotel. You will arrive
in Cusco approximately 4 hours after your train's departure from Aguas
Calientes.
INCLUYE :
-
Recollection from your hotel to cachora ( point to start the treking )
-
Profesional guide
-
Alimentation 4 breakfast / 4 lunch / 4 dinners
-
Cookers ans equipement of cook .
-
Horsman and horses ( the horses carrier only the equipement )
-
1
horse to emergencie
-
Matts ans
tends
-
Balon de oxigeno
-
Firsts aid kit
-
Entrance to machupicchu
-
Train to Cusco in service backpacker
-
Transfer train station to hotel
No Incluye:
-
Sleeping bag
-
tips for the guide ans porters
-
the firts breakfast and other meals in aguas calientes .
