The Lost City of Choquequirao

The group flights depart London this evening.
**

Day 2

The group flights usually arrive into Cuzco late morning. The Inca capital -
though small enough to be easily manageable - is among the most attractive
cities in South America, with much of the centre comprising colonial-era
buildings with Inca foundations, and it is full of interesting museums,
churches and pre-Columbian sites. We will have a short walking tour around
the compact city centre to get our bearings.

It is recommended to take it easy upon arrival into Cuzco and to drink plenty
of water to allow your body time to acclimatise to the altitude (3400m).

There will be a welcome briefing in the hotel lobby this evening.

*Hotel Warari/ Koyllur Inn/ Hotel Garcilazo (or similar)*

Day 3

Today has been left free for exploring Cuzco. The Plaza de Armas is a
fantastic spot for people watching, and Qorikancha (the ‘Sun Temple’),
located in the Santo Domingo Church and monastery is worth a visit. The
Mercado San Pedro is the place to try some local produce and there are many
handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs such as alpaca jumpers and scarves.

If you fancy something more active then there is an array of other optional
activities available from Cuzco, although you may wish to leave these until
your return to Cuzco after the Inca Trail trek, by which time you will be
fully acclimatised. These include paddle-boarding on a lake, mountain biking,
or a combination of via ferrata and zip-lining in the Sacred Valley.

*Hotel Warari/ Koyllur Inn/ Hotel Garcilazo (or similar)*

Day 4

We leave Cuzco very early this morning, around 5am, and drive for
approximately 5 hours to Capuliyoc Pass (approx. 2915m) in time for lunch,
stopping to explore the archaeological sites of Tarawasi and Saywite en
route. From the top of the pass, we enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the
Apurimac River and the surrounding snow-capped peaks, as well as
Choquequirao itself. Descending from the pass, the path zigzags its way
through dry forest above the raging waters of the Apurimac River. Our camp
tonight is at Chiquisaca (1950m).

*Full-Service Camping - Chiquisaca (1950m)*

Day 5

Another very early start for a long day’s trek. Just over an hour of
walking downhill brings us to Playa Rosalina (1500m), from where we cross
over the Apurimac River before beginning the long and steep switchback climb
up to the village of Santa Rosa. After a rest stop, we continue climbing to a
plateau above Maranpata (2920m) where we usually have a lunch break in a
small village. The gradient eases off a little here and the path undulates
towards Choquequirao for a couple of hours. The forests here are home to
Spectacled bears, and we may catch sight of them as we approach the Inca
citadel. After walking through the terraces, we set up camp close to the
ruins themselves (3035m). This campsite has cold showers and flushing
toilets.

*Full-Service Camping - Choquequirao (3035m)*

Day 6

We have ample time to fully explore the vast, sprawling ruins of
Choquequirao. Larger than Machu Picchu, the site is made up of nine different
areas which each had a distinct role covering religious, political and
military functions. The quality of the stonework indicates that it housed
important Inca officials or royalty, and in common with other important
sites, it features ritual baths and temples dedicated to the sun, moon and
Pachamama, the earth spirit. Much of Choquequirao is unexcavated and many
buildings are still hidden beneath the thick forest which surrounds the main
site. There are incredible views of the whole site and the Apurimac Valley
from the truncated hilltop of Sunch'u Pata, a short distance up from the main
plaza. In the afternoon we will visit the terraces of Pacchanta.

*Full-Service Camping - Choquequirao (3035m)*

Day 7

We cover a lot of ground today, starting with a short but steep climb to the
top of the Choquequirao Pass (3215m) from where we enjoy our last panoramic
view over Choquequirao. After the pass we walk steeply downhill on a wide but
dusty road to Pinchinoyoc (2400m) where we visit Inca terraces that were
previously covered in vegetation. We continue our descent right to the bottom
of the valley, where we cross the Rio Blanco (1800m) and begin our ascent up
the other side of the valley. This is a long, steep climb up to Maizal at
3000m. This is a strenuous day, descending over 1500m and ascending over
1500m over the course of the day.  

*Full-Service Camping - Maizal (3000m)*

Day 8

We start the day with a steep, switchback climb (approx. 5hrs) up the San
Juan Pass (4170m) - the effort of ascending the pass is balanced with
incredible views of the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Vilcabamba,
including Choquetacarpo, Pumasillo and Sacsarayoc. On a clear day you can see
the magnificent glaciers and enjoy a 360 degree panorama of these beautiful,
serrated mountains. As we near the top, we stop at the 500-year-old La
Victoria silver mines. Crossing the pass, we descend for roughly three hours
to our camp at Yanama (3400m), following an old miners track which glitters
with silver dust. In May this path winds through landscapes filled with wild
lupins in flower. Today you have good chances to spot a mighty Andean condor
as it soars on the thermals.

*Full-Service Camping - Yanama (3400m)*

Day 9

Stunning scenery abounds today as we trek deep in the heart of the Vilcabamba
Range, climbing for approx.5 hours up to the highest point of the trek, the
Yanama Pass (4660m). There is a new road from Yanama village up and over the
pass, however, our trail avoids it wherever possible – and vehicles are few
and far between. Our gravelly trail follows the river up the valley before it
begins the climb, crisscrossing the new road until reaching the top of the
pass and the high point of the trek where lofty Sacsarayoc dominates the
skyline from the pass. A long (approx. 4hr) descent from the pass brings us
through along the valley, passing small villages along the way and following
the river to Totora campsite (3440m), where we spend the night.

*Full-Service Camping - Totora (3400m)*

Day 10

From Totora it is a descent (approx. 7hrs) to Lucabamba. We will notice more
trekkers around today as we converge with a section of the Salcantay trail
and pass enter a more inhabited area. We follow the road for a short section,
then a gravel path beside the river; the surroundings are green as we are
walking through cloud forest once again. We’ll also see lots of fruit trees
and coffee plantations. Tonight’s campsite is particularly special: your
tents will be pitched on Inca terraces, and the campsite is in the middle of
a coffee plantation. Time permitting, there is the chance for a tour of the
coffee plantation (for PEN10, or free entry should you purchase some coffee,
PEN25 for a large bag).

*Full-Service Camping - Lucabamba*

Day 11

Rising early, we follow an original Inca trail which climbs uphill for three
hours to the site of Llactapacta. After a final two hour descent, we reach
the hydroelectric station at Santa Teresa (1900m) – a good spot for lunch.
After lunch, we cross the Vilcanota River and finish our trek at the train
station. We board the train to Aguas Calientes in the afternoon and check
into our hotel upon arrival for a well-earned rest and a shower!

*Hotel Inti Punku El Tambo (or similar)*

Day 12

In order to beat the day-trippers arriving from Cuzco and reach the ruins as
early as possible, a very early start is required to queue for Machu Picchu;
only government-registered buses can make the 30-minute drive up the winding
road to the site entrance and during high season (May-October) queues can be
hours long. 

Machu Picchu is one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the
ancient world and what makes it all the more dramatic is its mountain
backdrop of staggering immensity. The Spaniards never found it, the Incas
left no records of it, and so Machu Picchu remained a great enigma, a city
lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the
American historian Hiram Bingham. 

New regulations for visiting Machu Picchu are now fully enforced; of the
three possible visiting slots, Exodus will purchase the morning slot from
06:00 until 12:00 (unless unavailable), you will be limited to a maximum of
four hours within the site and must be accompanied by a guide. There will
also be three set routes to follow around Machu Picchu; Exodus selects the
most comprehensive route. 

We catch an afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30 mins) where we
spend the night.

*Tunupa Lodge (or similar)*

Day 13

We wake to explore the narrow cobbled streets and the colossal Inca stone
terraces which dominate the hillside above Ollantaytambo town. The
archaeological site at Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of Inca Emperor
Pachacuti as well as being of religious and defensive significance.
Travelling by road we next visit the ruins of the Citadel at Pisac where Inca
terraces are carved into the solid rock itself and there will also be time to
walk around the colourful market. Afterwards, we continue the drive to Cuzco,
passing through high-Andean scenery dotted with old towns and villages dating
back to pre-Columbian times.

*Hotel Warari / Koyllur Inn / Hotel Garcilazo (or similar)*

Day 14

For land only travellers, the trip ends in Cuzco after breakfast today. Those
who are travelling on the group flights will be taken to Cuzco airport to
catch your overnight flight back to London.

Day 15

The group flights arrive back into London today.
**