Peru Tourist Guide
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SOUTHERN PERU:
Cusco: Cusco City     Sacsayhuaman, Kenko and Tambo Machay     The Sacred Valley     Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu village)     Machu Picchu (The Site)     Inca Trail     Treks around Cusco     Manu Reserve (Jungle)     Tambopata Reserve (Jungle)     Salkantay     Choquequirao.     Lares     Ausengate     Rafting     San Blas    

Choquequirao

The Choquequirao hike is a truly spectacular trek that plunges down into the Apurimac canyon and then up again to the fascinating ruins of Choquequirao. While this is a quite tough hike, you are rewarded with spectacular views the whole way. The ruins of Choquequirao, perched on a ledge high above the Apurimac are not as extensive as Machu Picchu, but probably more fascinating and much more remote.

Day 1: We depart Cusco at 7am in a private car. If there is time, we will visit the archaelogical site of Saywite before descending to the mountain village of Cachora, After lunch, it is a 2 hour hike to Capuliyoc (2915m) 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 five hours. Accommodation: Camping at Chiccisqa .

Day 2: Departing early, we descend to the magnificent Apurimac River (1550m) 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. 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

Day 3: We have a chance to more fully explore the ruins and have a little rest in the morning. In the afternoon we return along the edge of the Apurimac canyon, descending to our tropical campsite at Santa Rosa. (5 hours hiking) Accommodation: Camping at Santa Rosa

Day 4: Early in the morning, in order to escape the heat of the canyon of the Apurimac, we descend to the raging river, and then begin an arduous climb that is rewarded with spectacular views. We climb for about four hours, and have lunch in Capuliyoc. The final two hours of our hike into the village of Cachora refreshingly flat through pretty farming countryside. Our private car will be waiting to take us back to Cusco (4 hours drive). We will arrive in Cusco between 7and 8pm.
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