The Choquequirao Archaeological Center is a magical Inca city located to the South East of the city of Cusco, between the Apurímac River and the Vilcabamba mountain range, where the Salkantay snowfall stands out with a height of 6 271 m.s.n.m. (20575 ft.). It is an exciting hike, which combines the different heights of the highlands of Peru with a variety of wildlife. The range offered by this walk is to see some species that are in extinction such is the case of the condor of the Andes, the puma and the spectacled bear.
This area served as a refuge and natural fortress for the 16th century Inca resistance movement, for that area is preserved in the oral tradition that for that place is located EL DORADO, still hidden for archaeology. There is another Inca road network that connected the areas of Espíritu Pampa, Ñusta Hispana, Vilcabamba la Antigua, Vitcos, Rosas Pampa.
Choquequirao (Google Map)
We pick you up from the hotel at 6:00 a.m. to start the journey to the town of Cachora passing through the towns of Izcuchaca until you reach the Archaeological Complex of Tarawasi, we continue our journey to the Cunyac bridge, We will pass through the district of Curawasi and Saywite to finally reach Cachora (10:00 a.m.).
There we prepare the animals of load and the drovers and we begin our walk for a gentle slope until arriving to the step of Capuliyoc (2800 m.s.n.m) where we will have lunch after two hours of walk, to then we go towards the town of Chiquisca (1930 m.s.n.m.) During this trip we will have the opportunity to observe magnificent views, beautiful landscapes, warm climate, glacial of the Vilcabamba mountain range and the impressive abyss of the Apurímac, in this place we will have our first camp.
After breakfast at 5:00 a.m. approximately, we continue with our walk to the beach Rosalinas (1550 m.s.n.m), and climb the slope very early, the most difficult route, with direction to Santa Rosa (2100 m.s.n.m) in 3 hours approximate, to then ascend to Maranpata (2850 m.s.n.m) softer ascent where we appreciate all the way of the first day and the vegetation existing in this place, we will also observe orchids, if luck accompanies us we can appreciate fauna like Deer, Anteater bear and diversity of birds and insects, then we will travel a stretch towards Choquequirao where we will have our camp an hour from the Archaeological Complex.
Very early after breakfast we will go to the Archaeological Complex of Choquequirao to an hour of walk and to observe the sunrise of Choquequirao, place visited for approximately three hours accompanied by our guide who will explain about this important Inca refuge. At a specified time we will start the return to our camp and descend to Santa Rosa place of our lunch, then descend to the Rosalinas beach and go to the town of Chiquisca which is two hours from Rosalinas where we will have our camping place.
After a good breakfast in our camp in Playa Rosalinas at 06:00 a.m. we start our return by the same road to Cachora which is the slope that is lowered on the first day that is softer with a two-hour ascent until you reach the pass of Capuliyoc and then be in 2 hours in the town of Cachora much smoother stretch where We will arrive at approximately 12:00 p.m.,
In this route we will appreciate enough exotic flora and fauna, panoramic views of imposing snowfalls, the impressive canyon of the Apurímac, considered as the most spectacular in South America. Optionally in the afternoon we will move to the thermal- medicinal baths of Qonoc where we will rest for space of an hour and continue our return to the Imperial City of Cusco at approximately 8:00 p.m. ending our service with the transfer to the hotel.
The ruins of Choquequirao are estimated to be around 500 years old and are believed to have been an important Incan settlement in the region. The experience of visiting Choquequirao is truly unforgettable and one that should not be missed.