The Choquequirao trek to the ancient Incan citadel has a number of itinerary and route variations. The journey can last anywhere from four to nine days. Sam Travel Peru gives customers an option to take a four, five, seven, or nine-day trek to Machu Picchu.
Choquequirao, which is Quechua for “Cradle for Gold,” is an Incan site in south Peru built during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Historians believe that Pachacuti, the Incan Emperor who commissioned Machu Picchu, founded Choquequirao.
The site is in the Willkapamba mountain range, above the valley of the Apurímac River. Travelers can reach the ruins by hiking a few days from the towns of Yanama, Huanipaca or Cachora.
Two main seasons prevail in the trail region: a wet season that begins mid-October and runs through mid-to-late April, and a dry season that starts in late April and runs through early October. A great time to take this journey to Machu Picchu is from May to September. Unlike the popular Inca trek that’s bustling during this period, the trail via Choquequirao is uncrowded and quiet.
The main concern when hiking during the dry season is the intensity of the sun. Wearing long-sleeve shirts, a good hat and lots of sunscreen is necessary to protect yourself from sunburn.
Aerobic conditioning is crucial on this particular trek, as you’ll be hiking in thinner air, with up to 40 percent less oxygen than the air at sea level. Conditioning your body before the journey allows you to enjoy the trek and have enough energy for extra activities. You should do at least an hour of aerobic exercise three to four times per week for one month. Cycling, jogging, walking and hiking are great forms of exercise, as long as you’re building stamina and strengthening leg muscles.
Thinking of joining our next Choquequirao alternative expedition to Machu Picchu? Give us a call at (347) 480-1609.
SAM Travel Peru is a socially responsible tour operator concerned about the environment. Our Plant A Tree campaign creates awareness to local communities and the citizens of the city of Cusco that deforestation issue in the Andes Mountains is a serious one. As each year, many mountain slopes are void of trees and that causes a huge decline in the wildlife.
December of 2017, SAM Travel Peru fulfilled the dreams of 36 children and their parents from the indigenous community of Pampamarca way up in the Andean mountains in the south of Cusco. They got to tour Cusco City, Sacred Valley and the Citadel of Machu Picchu all paid for by SAM Travel Peru. These are children do not have the resources nor ability for many reasons to be able to experience the historical sites of their Inca heritage. Sam Travel Peru wants to give them a once in a lifetime experience up close and in person of their heritage and restore their pride in their culture, history and Inca heritage.
We kick off our annual Christmas social project focused on helping communities surrounding the imperial city of Cusco and the Sacred Valley. We journeyed towards the community of Pacchanta, located within the district of Ocongate (home to Ausangate Mountain). This quaint and isolated community is home to about 400 people or so. SAM Travel Peru was able to complete this project successfully with the help of its dedicated team members!
We are ISO 9001 certified, which ensures that all our customers get consistent, good quality services and products. Sam Travel honors and is committed to these principles.
ISO 14001 sets an internationally agreed upon standard for Environmental sustainability. They encourage organizations to protect the environment through the efficient use of resources and reduction of waste. Sam travel adopts a holistic approach to environmental sustainability and management.
We are honored to have been chosen by our travelers as their travelers’ choice of 2022. Trust us to plan your travel, for an unforgettable, once in a lifetime experience. We are humbled and proud to provide the best tours to Machu Picchu, trekking the Inca trail and other tours and treks throughout the Cusco region and beyond.
Sam Travel is committed to a greener earth. We make direct contributions to counter the carbon emissions created by our website and its foot traffic. We play our part in reducing the impact on our environment by neutralizing our carbon emissions.
