This is a truly unique sojourn through the south part of the Cordillera of the Andes. You will be trekking through the Vilcabamba mountain range located in the department of Cusco and visit two ancient and remote cities from the Incas times. Explore the different ecosystems and experience the biodiversity of one of the longest mountain range in the world.
Choquequirao to Machu Picchu
Choquequirao is one of the largest of abandoned Inca cities.it was probably built by the Inca Tupac Yupanqui from 1471 to 1500 after his father Pachacutek.it was probably built as a political, social, military and religious retreat and center during the expansion of this Inca king and refuge of the last Incas. To reach it requires an extraordinary hike through the Andes in the Vilcabamba mountain range with the incredible Canyon view of a mighty river called Apurimac (one of the main heat water sources of the Amazon River).
Difficulty of the trek: moderate to difficult, good physical conditions.
Day 1: Distance: 10km, Altitude: 2915 to 1800mts, hours 5, 6, camping 1800mts
Day 2: Distance: 14km, Altitude: 1800 to 3033mts, hours 7 camping at 3055mts
Day 3: Distance: 6km, Altitude: 3033 to 3055mts, hours 7, camping 3055mts
Day 4: Distance: 12km, Altitude: 3033mtrs to 3055 mts, hours 8 camping 2200mts
Day 5: Distance: 19km, Altitude: 2200 to 3900mts, hours 8, and camping 2200mts
Day 6: Distance: 38km, hike and car, Altitude: 2200 to 4400mts, hours 8, and camping 1950mts
Day 7: Distance: 11km, Altitude: 1950 to 3000 mts, hours 8, and camping 2060mts
Day 8: Distance: 8km, Altitude: 2450 to 3100mts, hours 8, Cusco 3300mts
Ecosystems: Scrub bush vegetation, Andean semi dry forest, cloud forest, inter Andean valleys. Grass land, alpine, glaciers.
Highlights: Some Inca remains. High biodiversity, flora, fauna. Ancient Inca road, sacred mountains, amazing landscape.
Climate: The temperature varies in between below ºC to 2ºC, morning, night to 20ºC, middle day to 25ºC day. Mountain weather, sunny to cloudy, windy. Choquequirao to Machu picchu 8 days 7 nights.
Machu picchu tour
Cusco Machupicchu: Wake up early for a sunrise tour of Machu Picchu that will last about two hours were we will explore de site in order to discover purposse of the city. It was build by the Inca number nine during the times of Inca Pachacútec and it was his palace (John Rowe1990) during the expansion of the Inca Empire.Also probably for military and commerce because the proximity to two different ecosistems with natural resources and for the coca plantations. A Royal Inca state and sacred city and a religious and astronomical retreats. Religious and ceremonial purposses since the found 8 different roads, temple and places for high ceremonias and rituals. Theses roads connect Machu picchu withthe out site..In the city too you find Astronomical observatories and Religuios shrines.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is situated at the beginning, or “eye brow”, of the cloud forest. This allowed access to different altitudes, each with unique ecological conditions. The crops found at Machu Picchu include different varieties of corn, chilies, quinoa, tomatoes, trees, potatoes, suggesting that this was a good place to acclimate and domesticate species from the high and low jungles that later would be successfully introduced into the hanging valleys and elsewhere.
This small valley was suitable for the building of temples and astronomical observatories, plazas,palaces, streets, utilitarian and functional buildings,
ceremonial places, granaries, store houses and terraces for agriculture, Inca roads.
By analysis of soil, seeds, wood, and bones, Carbon Dating situates Incas in the area during the mid-1400s to mid-1500s. Machu Picchu was built by the Inca number 9 who named it “Pachacutek” or “Cusi Yupanqui”. Throughout the site, there is fine masonry and beautiful stonework, all of which is done without mortar. Construction used outside sources for laborers and two large granite quarries nearby. It is believed that the site was occupied by royalty and dignitaries, and that it was visited by the Inca and his entourage or royal court. Even though it was never quite completed, local scholars and historians believe that within a mere 100 years Machu Picchu was built, inhabited, and abandoned.
Several roads connect to bring pilgrims and essential supplies to Machu Picchu, the site of temples and astronomical observatories dedicated to the sun, moon, stars, the universe, the mother earth “Pachamama” and the creator “Wiracocha”.
All these beautiful buildings were occupied by royalty, nobility and important people and their entourages. These were palaces, religious retreats, plazas, ceremonial places, astronomical observatories and they also served as military stations, store houses, granaries, and terraces for farming, all connected by Inca roads. Construction included existing rock, the small valley itself, and the mountain. Fine masonry and well carved, well-polished stonework, all assembled without mortar. The work was done by laborers from elsewhere who used ramps, rollers, and manpower.
Afterwards, choose between climbing one of the nearby mountains, Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu (about a 2 to 3 hour hike), or exploring Machu Picchu on your own. Later in the afternoon, we will have one last lunch together before catching ourtrain back to the imperial city of Cusco.
