We leave Cusco at 6.00 am in our private transport and drive towards Cachora, an Andean community located 4-5h from Cusco at 2800m/9184ft, the starting point of the trek where we meet our horsemen and horses. We start our hike climbing for two and a half hours towards the Abra Capuliyoc at 2750m/9020ft, where may we enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and the Apurimac River Canyon. We then continue descending for two more hours towards Chiquisca, where we set our camp and spend the night.
Meals: L, D

We leave Chiquisca as early as 6.00am to go down to Rosalina Beach, which will take about one hour. We then cross the Apurimac River and start climbing towards Santa Rosa, zigzagging up a steep slope. This climb will take an approximated 2h, and it is important that we leave early so that the heat does not make it more difficult than it has to be. In Santa Rosa, we make a half an hour break, where those who wish may try Cambray, a local sugar cane extract. Afterwards, we continue our hike slowly climbing for two and a half hours until we reach our lunch spot in Marampata. From here we walk another two hours until we reach the archaeological complex of Choquequirao, located at 3103m/10178ft, where we will set up camp and enjoy some free time to explore the terraces and buildings. When the sun starts to set, you might want to sit and contemplate the canyon, where condors are sometimes spotted.
Meals: B, L, D

This morning we enjoy a complete guided tour of the Choquequirao complex: we will visit the high parts (Hanan), and the lower parts (Urin), and some areas that are still covered in wild foliage and ready to be restored into the way it was when the Incas owned it. After the tour, we start our walk back towards Santa Rosa, where we have lunch. We then continue descending for another 2 hours until we reach Rosalina Beach at 1450m/4756ft, where we might have time to take a refreshing dip in the waters of the Apurimac River. We camp and dine here.
Meals: B, L, D

We leave camp after breakfast to start the two to three hour climb to Chiquisca, to then make our way back to the Abra Capuliyoc, close to which we have our lunch. In the afternoon, we continue on our two-hour return route to Cachora, where a private transport will be waiting to take us back to Cusco. Estimated arrival time around 9.00pm.
Meals: B, L

*Departure and arrival times are approximated.

** Campsites are subject to change according to our guide’s criteria and the group progress

Difficulty degree of this hike

Challenging: The route has steep ups and downs, with changes of altitude in one day of over 1600m/5200ft and usually warm weather during the day due to the lower altitude vs Cusco. We recommend allowing one-day acclimatization in Cusco prior to the trek departure.

Price Information

Prices per person 2009 – Standard Pool service:

§         Peruvian Soles US$ 445.00

Available discounts (these discounts are not cumulative):

§         Students: US$ 6.00 (students require a valid International Student Identity Card. Please note that Youth Travel Cards are not valid)

§         Teenagers: US$ 6.00 (up to 15 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)

§         Children: US$ 12.00 (up to 7 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)

Available discounts (that may be added to the above-mentioned):

§         SAE: 5% on full program price (valid South American Explorers Club membership card required). This discount may not be applicable in case a promotional price is offered

Group Size

Maximum 12, no minimum required

§         Pre-departure briefing

§         Collection from your hotel in the morning and transfer in private transport to Cachora, starting point of the trek

§         Choquequirao entrance fee for visitors and agency staff

§         Personal tents: 2 people in each 4-people-capacity tent, to allow for higher comfort and a safe keeping of backpacks. Our tents are 3-season, highly maintained to ensure an excellent performance in field

§         One foamy sleeping pad per person

§         Dining tent with tables and chairs

§         Kitchen tent

§         Toilet tent with biodegradable toilet facilities

§         English speaking professional guide (2 guides for groups of over 8 people)

§         Chef and cooking equipment

§         Pack animals (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment)

§         1 emergency horse every 6 persons

§         Wranglers

§         Accommodation for all our staff

§         Meals (03B, 04L, 03D + daily morning snack + daily tea service except last day). Vegetarian or special menus are available at no extra cost

§         Others: hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunch time if requested with enough time ahead

§         First-aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle

§         Private transport from Cachora to Cusco, including transfer to your hotel in Cusco

§         Breakfast on the first day

§         Dinner on the last day

§         Tips: please note that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip or not as you wish

§         A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek

§         Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)

§         Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended

§         Sandals or jogging shoes for a higher comfort while at camp

§         Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces

§         Sleeping bag (please inform our Reservations Department if you wish to book this extra service at the moment of your booking)

§         Flashlight/headlamp and batteries

§         Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)

§         Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold

§         Sun block

§         After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body

§         Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported

§         Handkerchiefs

§         Toilet paper

§         Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc. Please note that we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. This recommendation applies for all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it is not included in our selection

§         Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning. Optionally: water -sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far

§         Small towel

§         Swimsuit (if you wish to take a bath in the river)

§         Cash in soles and/or US$

§         Original passport

§         Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount)

§         Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required in order not to damage archaeological sites)

§  An extra horse to carry your personal items: US$ 72.00 / 4 days. A horse can carry up to 20 kg.

§  Sleeping bag rent: US$ 20.00 / 4 days. Our sleeping bags are –18ºC-comfort (0ºF) and mummy form and include a sleeping liner. They are cleaned after every use and have a maximum usage of 30 trips

§  Therm-a-rest inflatable sleeping pad rent: US$ 20.00 / 4 days

§  Massage sessions: US$60.00 per 1-hour session (US$50.00 per session if at least 2 sessions are booked). Our massage therapists have the highest recognition in Cusco and offer the following treatments: relaxing massage, stress-relieving massage, spinal column massage, energizing massage, Inca massage, altitude problems, aroma therapy, therapy with honey, therapy with glass, therapy with stones, foot reflexology, shiatzu, reiki and puddle of flowering. We recommend massage sessions before and after your trekking program. Services are at the hotel and are only available in Cusco.

Appropriate clothing along this hike

Hiking pants and T-shirts are recommended during the day, eventually complemented by sweaters, fleeces and jackets in the evening. We recommend convertible hiking pants and / or shorts as some parts of the route run at low altitude and warm weather. It is also very convenient to have light raingear available in the daypack (rain poncho or jacket and/or rain pants) as the weather changes easily and rains can suddenly occur. At night, warm clothing is required along the route. The rest of necessary implements are included in the “What we recommend that you bring” list.

Climate

Cusco’s climate is divided into two differentiated seasons: the rainy season, from November to April (the heaviest rainfalls occurring usually between January – March); and the dry season, from May to October. The dry season is colder, so temperatures can drop to below 0 degrees at night.

Along the route to Choquequirao, temperatures range from 15-25ºC during the day if it’s sunny, to 10-20ºC during the day if not sunny. Temperatures drop in the evening and at night, especially in Choquequirao, at a higher elevation, reaching 5ºC although rarely below. Warm clothes are hence however necessary for this hike.

How to make a Booking

If you would like to make a reservation for this program, please go directly to the Booking Online section of this website by clicking here  or Please contact us; info@etnikas.com

1.        Once you have chosen your tour, please read the Booking Terms & Conditions, as your booking is subject to these terms.

2.       Then fill out and submit the Reservation Form that you will find in the Booking Online section of this website.

3.       In a maximum of two working days, you will receive an email from one of our travel consultants confirming or denying your booking.

4.      In case your reservation is confirmed, a money deposit will be requested to secure your reservation.

5.       Once we confirm the deposit reception, your booking is confirmed. A Service Confirmation Form will be sent to you including all the details of your program.

In case you have any doubts, queries or require additional information, please contact us to info@etnikas.com , we will be very glad to assist you. Your request will be answered by return mail within a maximum of 2 working days.

1. CANCELLATION BY ETNIKAS TRAVEL ETHNO TOUR OPERATOR
 ETNIKAS TRAVEL Tour Operator reserves the right to cancel a program in case any of the following circumstances occur:
(i) Client's failure to pay the final balance two days prior to departure date.
(ii) Force majeure: Impossibility to operate the program or trek due to unusual or unforeseen circumstances outside ETNIKA’s control. Ie. weather conditions not permitting, strike not allowing operation or putting it at risk, sudden inaccessibility of route, etc.

The following refund policies apply in each case:
(i) In the event of a client's failure to pay the due balance, the client will not have any right for the deposit refund.
(ii) In case force majeure occurs, ETNIKAS TRAVEL will propose viable solutions to operate the program within the available dates, or if impossible, will then propose an alternative program. If the alternative program chosen by the client is of lower value than that originally booked then the client is entitled to a refund of the price difference. All costs derived will be at the expense of the client. In case none of these would be feasible, ETNIKAS TRAVEL would refund all the money paid except all the incurred expenses so far.

2. CANCELLATION BY THE CLIENT
Please note that the program deposit is non-refundable. The deposit is used to purchase the space within the group and once a space is purchased it cannot be resold afterwards.

In case of cancellation by the client, the following refund policies apply:

Inca Trail or any trek including the Inca Trail
(i) Cancellation up to two days prior to departure: loss of program deposit
(ii) Cancellation between two days and the departure date: will be considered a No Show and no refund will be applicable. The unused trek permit will be returned as well as the return train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Cusco and the bus tickets from Machu Picchu to Cusco. Clients may be able to re-use the tickets by presenting them to the respective authorities and paying an additional amount, which varies depending on the ticket.
(iii) If the trek balance is not paid two days before the trek departure date, ETNIKAS TRAVEL will assume the client is cancelling the trek or the Retreat and the deposit will not be refunded.

All other treks or programs (excluding custom itineraries and Tours programs)
(i) Cancellation with at least one month prior to departure: ETNIKAS HEALING CENTER AND ETNIKAS TRAVEL will refund 75% of the program costs in case the full amount has been paid, or 50% of the program deposit in case only the deposit has been paid. Cost of the refund transfer will be at the client's expense.
(ii) Cancellation between one month and two days prior to departure: ETNIKAS TRAVEL will refund 50% of the program costs in case the full amount has been paid. In case only the 50% deposit has been paid, the client will have no right to refund. Cost of the refund transfer will be at the client's expense.
(iii) Cancellation with less than two days prior to departure: will be considered a No Show and no refund will be applicable.
(iv) If the trek balance is not paid two days before the trek departure date,ETNIKAS TRAVEL will assume the client is cancelling the trek and the deposit will not be refunded.

Cancellations regarding custom itineraries and Tour programs will depend on each specific program and will therefore be agreed upon between ETNIKAS TRAVEL and the client by e-mail accordingly. ETNIKAS TRAVEL reserves the right to modify the above-mentioned cancellations and refund policies. All modifications will be immediately informed to the affected client through written communication.

3. PRICES AND SURCHARGES
As we publish our prices well in advance, we may occasionally be faced with significant cost increases due to factors over which we have no control. As such we reserve the right to impose surcharges (or price decreases) up to one month before departure due to increases in entrance fees, train fares or other transport costs, taxes, if government action should require us to do so or others. Any surcharge or price decrease will be fully explained and justified by ETNIKAS TRAVEL before implementation. If any surcharge results in an increase of more than 10% of the program cost the client may cancel the booking and obtain a full refund less expenses already incurred, provided the cancellation is made with at least one month prior to departure date.

4. ACCEPTANCE OF RISK
Some of ETNIKAS TRAVEL itineraries have been designed to provide participants with an exposure to the true nature of the environment visited. They therefore involve an element of personal risk and exposure to potential, which could result in physical or emotional injury, paralysis, death, or damage to the client, his/her property or to third parties. The client understands that such risks simply cannot be eliminated without jeopardizing the essential qualities of the activity and therefore assumes them as part of the tour. The client accepts that he/she is aware of his physical and health condition and that, under the knowledge of this he/she decides to undertake the above-mentioned risks. The client excludes  ETNIKAS TRAVEL from any responsibility linked to any accident or injury that may occur associated to the clients' health, physical condition or other.

5. AUTHORITY ON TOUR
At all times the decision of the company's guide, tour leader or representative will be final on all matters likely to endanger the safety and well being of the tour group. The client must at all times strictly comply with the laws, customs, and foreign exchange and drug regulations of Peru. Should the client fail to comply with the above, or should the client interfere with the well being of the group then the guide, tour leader or company representative may order the client to leave the tour without recourse to any refund.

6. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
The client must be in possession of a valid passport and all visas required for the whole of the journey and the client accepts responsibility for obtaining the same. Any information or advice given by the company on visas, vaccinations, climate, clothing, baggage, special equipment, etc is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of the company.

7. FACTORS OUTSIDE THE COMPANY'S CONTROL (FORCE MAJEURE)
The company will do its best to minimize the effects of matters outside its control, but cannot accept any liability for these matters which include political disputes, border closures, refusals of visas, industrial action, delayed flights, unforeseeable climate, landslides, etc. The client accepts to assume all extra costs derived by any of these factors.

8. RESPONSIBILITY
The company shall not be liable for any damage or loss if the failure to carry out the contract is:
1) Attributable to the client
2) Attributable to a third party unconnected with the provision of the services contracted for and the event is unforeseeable or unavoidable
3) Due to unforeseen and unusual circumstances beyond the company's control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had to be exercised
4) Due to political disputes, industrial action, climate or other matters of a similar nature and any other force majeure
5) Due to an event, which the company, even with all due care could not foresee or forestall. Any liability is limited to the full price paid for the tour. In all cases the company specifically excludes all liability for indirect or consequential loss or expense including loss of profits.

9. CLAIMS AND COMPLAINTS
If a client has a complaint against the company the client must first inform the trek guide, tour leader or company representative while on the tour in order that the guide/representative can attempt to rectify the matter. Any further complaint must be put in writing to the company within 7 days of the end of the tour. I have had sufficient opportunity to read this entire document. I have read and understood it, and I agree to be bound by its terms.