Trek to the Last Refuge of the Incas
How does heading out on an adventure to a place just as incredible as Machu Picchu sounds, but with fewer tourists? Our Classic Choquequirao Trek is just that. Join us on this epic journey to one of the most amazing Inca complexes in existence.
The name Choquequirao means “Cradle of Gold” in the Quechua language. This spectacular archaeological site is located above the furious Apurímac River and is surrounded by towering glacier peaks. Very few tourists visit it because it's not as well-known as Machu Picchu, but it's 3 times bigger! It's said to have been one of the last refuges of the Incas who tried to resist the Spanish invasion. Later, Choquequirao was abandoned, and the dense vegetation of the cloud forest ended up covering it and hiding it from civilization.
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
- Before You Go
- Packing List
- Pricing
- Enquire Now
The Classic Choquequirao Trek is an awesome option for true adventurers, history lovers, and nature enthusiasts. You’ll head off-the-beaten-path and away from other tourists as you venture through the incredible scenery along a rarely traveled trail to a real archaeological gem. Join us as part of a group or as a couple.
Choquequirao trek is an exciting alternative trek to the Inca Trail. The lesser-known ruins of Choquequirao feature similar architecture and layout to the more famous complex of Machu Picchu. The fact that you can only get there on foot, however, means that far fewer people visit this incredible site.
On this adventurous trek, you’ll hike into an ancient world, walk on Incan highways, trek through high Andean landscapes with majestic glaciers, descend into deep canyons where the condors fly, and pass through biologically diverse cloud forest ecosystems. You’ll also see native animals, such as Andean Condors, other smaller local birds, and native flora and fauna, including orchids, and so much more!
This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that’ll imprint itself in your mind and provide an unforgettable memory. Do you want to escape the crowds and visit a rarely trekked site? The Classic Choquequirao Trek is for you.
Itinerary at a Glance
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Day 01
Cusco | Cachora - Capuliyoc - Chiquisca
Start your hike with a day of stunning landscapes and views of the Apurimac River and valley. Spend the night in Chiquisca.
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Day 02
Chiquisca | Playa Rosalinas - Santa Rosa - Marampata
This morning, hike to Marampata and enjoy the incredible views of the place before arriving at our camp. In the afternoon, relax and feel the energy before heading to rest.
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Day 03
Marampata | Archaeological Complex of Choquequirao - Marampata
After breakfast, you’ll spend the entire day exploring every inch of this amazing archaeological complex, Choquequirao.
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Day 04
Marampata | Santa Rosa - Playa Rosalinas - Chiquisca
Say goodbye to Choquequirao as you make your way to Santa Rosa for lunch. This afternoon, walk to Chiquisca camp to spend time with local families and get some rest.
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Day 05
Chiquisca | Capuliyoc - Saywite Monolith - Conoc Hot Springs - Cusco
Hike the last leg to Capuliyoc and say goodbye to your trekking team before visiting Saywite Monolith. You’ll then relax in Conoc hot springs before coming back to Cusco.
What's it like
Highlights
- Escape the big crowds while you visit a site just as incredible as Machu Picchu.
- Hike through varying landscapes in the stunning Andes.
- Discover and explore one of the most significant Inca sites that very few people have had the privilege of seeing.
- Immerse yourself into the adventure and feel as though you’re living in the last days of the Inca empire.
- Trek into one of the deepest canyons of Peru and Latin America, the Apurimac.
- Enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable with unique flora and fauna to this part of the world.
Why Travel with us
Cusco | Cachora - Capuliyoc - Chiquisca
Highlight of the day: Take in the breathtaking scenery around you.
A day full of beautiful landscapes and fresh Andean air
This morning we will pick you up early in our private transportation and head to Cachora to have a good breakfast and explore its streets. Then, we will go to Capuliyoc and meet the team that will accompany us throughout the route. You will be amazed by the huge Apurimac valley and see beautiful landscapes. In the afternoon, we will continue the excursion while appreciating incredible mountain scenery and the Apurimac River running fast, ideal for rafting and canoeing. Finally, we will arrive at Chiquisca, where our campsite awaits us for dinner and rest.
We’ll start our exciting adventure very early in the morning. We’ll pick you up at your hotel at 4:30 am and travel in our private transport to Cachora. On the way, we’ll contemplate the impressive glacier mountains of Salkantay and Humantay in the distance.
Once we get to Cachora, we’ll visit the town and walk through its picturesque streets that tell us all about its rich culture. We will enjoy a nutritious and delicious breakfast. Then, we continue to Capuliyoc (2,890 m / 9,482 ft) and meet the rest of our trekking team: cooks and muleteers, who will carry our belongings all the way. After going over the last details, we will trek through the Apurimac Canyon. We will zigzag down for approximately three hours to Chiquisca (1,900 m / 6,234 ft), a beautiful hamlet full of fruit fields.
During the trail, we´ll be able to contemplate the impressive scenery offered by the Apurimac Valley, as well as have the opportunity to appreciate the majestic flight of the condor and the impressive views of two giant glacier mountains called Padreyoc and Qoriwayrachina. As we begin to approach deeper into the valley, the heat, the abundant vegetation and the rhythmic sounds of the rushing Apurimac River become more and more noticeable.
Hours later, we´ll arrive at the tropical hamlet of Chiquisca, a warm green camp in the middle of the arid mountain where we will have dinner and spend the night.
Chiquisca | Playa Rosalinas - Santa Rosa - Marampata
Highlight of the day: Marvel at the most spectacular views of the Andes.
Witness the beautiful sunset in the Andean sky
We´ll descend to Playa Rosalinas. Then, we´ll make a stop in the village of Santa Rosa to enjoy a revitalizing lunch and take a break. We´ll continue ascending for approximately three hours until we reach our campsite in Marampata. In the afternoon, you can enjoy the energy of being close to the citadel of Choquequirao while contemplating the beautiful sunset. Later, we´ll enjoy a delicious dinner before going to rest surrounded by nature.
After enjoying a delicious breakfast to recharge your batteries, we´ll continue our journey and begin our hike. A zigzagging ascent to Marampata (2,900 m / 9,514 ft) awaits us, where you can take impressive photos of the canyon and the snow-capped peaks that surround you.
We´ll start with a descent of one hour and fifteen minutes to reach the deepest part of the valley known as Playa Rosalinas (1,500 m / 4,921 ft). We will cross the pedestrian bridge to begin the toughest part of our trek.
On the way, we´ll make a brief stop at the hamlet of Santa Rosa (1,970 m / 6,463 ft), where you can enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our team to recover energy; we´ll continue ascending for approximately three hours until we reach the Marampata camp. In the afternoon, you will enjoy the impressive surroundings and feel the energy that this spectacular place has near the citadel of Choquequirao. In addition, you will take the time to stretch your muscles and enjoy a beautiful sunset that floods the endless valleys and white glacial mountains with its soft orange light.
When it starts to get dark, we will see the beautiful sunset accompanied by a sky full of thousands of stars covering the landscape and the vegetation around us. Then it will be time to have dinner before going to bed to rest.
Marampata | Archaeological Complex of Choquequirao - Marampata
Highlight of the day: Uncovering the secrets of the amazing Choquequirao Archaeological Complex.
Explore and discover the ancient wonder of Choquequirao
Wake up to enjoy a delicious breakfast before heading to the incredible archaeological complex of Choquequirao. We´ll explore every nook and cranny of the uncovered section and learn all about the history. Later, we´ll stop for lunch in the middle of the day. Then, we´ll continue exploring the site with our guide, who will answer any questions you may have about the site. In the evening, we´ll return to camp for dinner and a well-deserved rest.
We´ll start the day with a delicious breakfast that will give you a boost of energy. Then, we´ll take the day to explore every detail of this incredible Inca site located in the mountains and very close to the deepest canyon of the entire South American continent. You can already imagine the incredible landscapes that surround this colossal Inca construction. We´ll visit the most impressive corners of this place and our guide will share with you the fascinating stories of the past and the reason why it was built.
Choquequirao (3,050 m / 10,007 ft) is much larger than Machu Picchu, with plazas, temples, and impressive platforms that will make you constantly ponder the question: How could the Incas build this on top of the mountains? You´ll enjoy a picnic lunch at noon and have time to rest and recover your energy.
Don´t miss the famous white stone llamas that adorn the platforms built on the hillside and are located in the direction of the mountain that protects this sector known as the Apu Qoriwayrachina. According to experts, only an average of 40% of the entire site is visible and, in many ways, Choquequirao remains a mystery. We are sure that in the coming years we will learn even more about this amazing complex.
At the end of the day, we will return to our camp at Marampata (2,900 m / 9,514 ft) and enjoy a delicious dinner. Afterwards, you can go to bed to contemplate the incredible day you have just had and rest.
Marampata | Santa Rosa - Playa Rosalinas - Chiquisca
Highlight of the day: Spending time with locals in the Andean community and learning more about their culture.
Relax and Enjoy the Surrounding Natural Beauty of This Amazing Part of the World
You’ll bid farewell to Choquequirao this morning as you begin the journey back toward Cusco. We’ll stop at Marampata for some more photos before continuing onto Santa Rosa for lunch.
This afternoon, we’ll keep going to Chiquisca where we’ll camp this evening in the backyard of a local family. It’s a great chance to witness the Andean lifestyle and learn about customs and traditions. Enjoy a tasty dinner before going to bed.
After another delicious breakfast, we’ll start our return from Choquequirao. It’s goodbye for now to this unique site, so make sure you get a last glimpse before you head off. First, we will have another opportunity to take pictures of the great canyon from Marampata; then, we will descend for two hours until we reach Santa Rosa (2,970 m / 6,463 ft), lunch point. On the way, you will have the opportunity to observe the enormous variety of vegetation on this part of the trail.
After lunch, we’ll continue to Playa Rosalinas and dip our feet and freshen up in the cold waters of the Apurimac River in the middle of the canyon. Then, we’ll go up to Chiquisca camp (1,900 m / 6,234 ft), located in the backyard of the home of a local family. Use this time to make new friends and learn about the Andean lifestyle, like their customs and traditions. You’ll be able to closely observe the deep relationship that the Andean communities have with Pachamama or, as you know her, Mother Nature.
After a delicious dinner, you can rest peacefully for the night in our cozy camp and reflect on your journey up to this point.
Chiquisca | Capuliyoc - Saywite Monolith - Conoc Hot Springs - Cusco
Highlight of the day: Chilling in the hot springs and resting your muscles after days of hiking.
Relax In The Hot Springs Before Heading Back to Cusco
Enjoy your last breakfast of the trip before we set off on the last leg to Capuliyoc. Once you’re there, you’ll say goodbye to your trekking team and then board our vehicle to the intriguing Saywite rock. You’ll then be able to relax in the Conoc hot springs before enjoying a delicious lunch.
In the afternoon, you’ll enjoy the drive back to Cusco and witness some incredible scenery out of the window. Use this last opportunity to soak up the landscape. We’ll drop you off at the door of your accommodation around 6:00 p.m. so you can relax and unwind.
Today we will enjoy the last breakfast of our epic adventure while listening to the mighty roar of the river. Afterwards, we´ll leave as early as possible to avoid the sun hindering our hike, as it can make things very difficult at high altitudes. Take a deep breath and focus on the energy of mother nature as you hike for 4 hours to Capuliyoc.
Once there, we´ll say goodbye to the trekking team and board the private transportation that will take us to see the famous Saywite monolith, a colossal rock sculpted with more than 200 geometric and zoomorphic figures. You´ll discover that this place was a center of religious worship for the Inca people, centered on water and of great importance to their culture.
After learning all about the place's history, we’ll continue to the hot springs of Conoc to relax and unwind in the warm waters. Our lunch will be ready after enjoying these refreshing pools, and then we’ll start our drive back to the city of Cusco.
Take advantage of this last opportunity to observe the immense glacial mountains that have embraced you with pure affection during the route and that have allowed you to arrive safely to each destination along the route. Your body will likely be very tired, but the joy and satisfaction that you’ll feel in your soul will be incomparable. We’ll arrive in the city of Cusco at approximately 6:00 p.m. and drop you off at the door of your accommodation for you to finally kick back and relax.
At Salkantay Trekking, we specify the included and non-included services under all the tour itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please pay attention to the details to avoid missing anything. Some items may be different for specific programs, so please read carefully before booking with us.
What Is Included?
Permits & Entrance Tickets
Entrance Ticket for Choquequirao Trek
High Quality Service & Safety
Pre-departure Briefing - The day before the trip, at 5:00 pm you will meet your trekking guide.
You’ll meet your trekking guide and group in our office for an orientation before your trek. There, we’ll provide you with the duffle bags, which our horses will carry. The meeting will be at 5:00 pm the evening before the trip begins.
Experienced Tour Guide - All our guides have professionalism, experience, responsibility, seriousness and passion, which will make your trip safe and comfortable.
English and spanish speaking official tour guide. All our guides are graduates of the professional career of Tourism of the National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco. We choose them for their professionalism, experience, responsibility, seriousness, unbridled passion for exploring, and sincere desire to proudly share in our culture and history. He or she will keep you safe, sound, and comfortable on your trek so that you can enjoy your time worry-free!
- Bilingual Tour Guide in group service or shared (English and Spanish)
Private Camping Equipment
You’ll have spacious dining and kitchen tents where you can enjoy your food without problems. All our equipment like tables, chairs, cooking equipment, etc., will be carried by our horses.
Portable Travel Toilet
One Duffle Bag
On the trek, you can carry your personal belongings up to a maximum weight of 7 kg / 15.4 lb (this weight includes your sleeping bag).
Inflatable mattress
Our camping mattresses will help you sleep comfortably whilst camping!
Medical Kit or First AID Kit - Our guides are trained to deal with basic emergencies.
All Salkantay Trekking guides have received specialized training in first aid. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit to face basic emergencies (altitude sickness, travelers' diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) as well as oxygen. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the path as quickly as possible and ensure that you arrive at a clinic for treatment.
Extras Included in our Service
We believe that attention to small details is what sets us apart from other local companies. You’ll receive a cover to protect your backpack on the road and a rain poncho.
24/7 Customer Service - We have 24 hours a day telephone service.
We have telephone service available 24 hours/day for ease of communication with Salkantay Trekking leading up to your trek.
Satellite Phone - Each of our guides has a satellite phone that can be used anywhere on the mountain to call anywhere in the world in case of emergency.
Our main priority will always be the tranquillity of our clients. All of our guides are prepared for emergencies in the mountains; however, being a phone call away from any doctor, hospital, or friend helps you feel more secure. For this reason, each Salkantay Trekking guide has a satellite phone that can be used anywhere on the mountain to call anywhere in the world in case of an emergency.
Accommodation
4 Nights Accommodation in Tents
Salkantay Trekking uses the best equipment to ensure your safety and comfort. Every 2 people will share Eureka Timberline or Mountain Hard Wear tents with a capacity for 4 people.
Meals
5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, and 4 Dinners
Our chef prepares the best dishes in the middle of the mountain. Our passengers love our food! We respect all diets (vegetarian, vegan, or special menus are available at no extra cost), so let us know if you have any particular allergies or restrictions on your reservation form and remind your guide during the briefing. You’ll enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in addition to hot drinks and snacks.
Water on the trail - You will need to bring a camel bag or an empty bottle for us to give you boiled, filtered and refrigerated water.
We’ll provide you boiled, filtered, and cooled water during your trek. For this, you need to bring a camel bag or an empty bottle (we recommend a capacity of 2 liters).
Wake up tea - Every morning at campig we will provide you with hot coca tea.
Every morning at the campsite, you'll be woken up with a cup of hot coca tea. Our staff will provide you the tea in your tent so that you will be warm from inside out before you start your day.
Tea Time or Happy Hour - Every evening, before dinner, the cooks will provide you with popcorn, cookies, coffee, tea, hot water, etc.
Every afternoon before dinner, the cooks will provide you popcorn, biscuits/cookies, coffee, hot chocolate, teas, hot water, etc. After a long day of hiking, you won't have to wait until dinner to relax, warm-up, and enjoy a bite to eat!
Snacks on the trail daily - You will receive a bag with cookies, fruit and more, to be refilled each morning.
Before starting your trekking, your tour guide will provide you a cloth bag with local fruits, cookies, chocolate, caramels, etc. Every morning, we’ll refill it so that you can enjoy your snacks during the walk.
One cloth snack bag per person
To avoid the usage of plastic bags that contaminate our environment, we'll give you a cloth bag for your snacks.
Hygiene Products
You’ll be provided with a small towel and soap before each meal to clean your hands.
Transportation
Transport
- Day 1: You'll be picked up from your hotel in the morning and will travel in our private transportation to Capuliyoc, the trek's starting point.
- Day 5: Once you complete the tour, we'll take you back to the door of your hotel in Cusco.
Cargo Mules
While trekking, cargo mules will carry all the camping equipment and your baggage allowance (7 kg / 15.4 lb). Our muleteers will be responsible for your duffle bag and personal items, and they’ll hand them to you when you get to each camp.
What Is Not Included?
Extras and important equipment
Sleeping Bag - If you do not have your own, you can rent one from us at $25.00 per person.
You can rent one from our company if you don’t have your own. Our sleeping bags are effective and durable to protect you from temperatures as low as -18ºC (0ºF). They are mummy-form and include a sleeping liner. The bags are cleaned after every use and have a maximum usage of 30 trips.
- US$ 25.00 per person
Walking Sticks - You can rent Walking Sticks in our company at $25.00 per person.
Walking Sticks (with rubber tips) can be very useful on rough terrain and for ascending and descending. You can rent a set from our company if you’d like.
- US$ 25.00 per person
Day 5 Dinner in Cusco
Hiking Clothes & Gear
Travel Insurance
Tips for our staff
Tipping is the norm on any excursion to Machu Picchu. Although we pay good salaries to our entire team, something extra is always welcome, especially considering the hard work they do. Typically, group participants collect their tips to hand out to the horsemen and chefs together.
Additional costs or delays beyond our control
Landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to a safety concern, illness, pandemia, government policy changes, political instability, strikes, act of God, etc.
We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as carefree as possible. In this section, you’ll find the answers to all the questions you have about traveling with Salkantay Trekking in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.
How many days do I need to acclimate in Cusco before the Trek?
It’s very important to be well acclimated to the altitude before exerting yourself on a trek. We recommend that you arrive in Cusco at least 2 or 3 days before the trek starts to help you adjust and avoid possible problems with altitude sickness while on the trek.
You might have already been in another area of Peru at a high altitude before arriving in Cusco. In that case, we still recommend you have a whole day in Cusco to rest, recover from your travel, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Cusco before departing for the trek.
Here some suggestions for activities to do in the Cusco vicinity before starting your adventure trek:
Briefing or Informative Meeting
All information meetings and briefings are held in our main office in Cusco (or your hotel) at 5:00 pm, one night before the tour begins. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. If you’re unable to attend, you must coordinate another time by email, by phone or at the Salkantay Trekking office.
Trek Balance Payment (in Cusco)
If you still have a pending balance, you must pay it 2 days before your hike/tour. Otherwise, your trip reservation will not be confirmed.
If possible, it would be greatly appreciated if you could settle the remaining balance for the trek/tour in cash, either in US dollars or the local currency, at our office in Cusco. You can withdraw funds from various ATMs located along Avenida Sol, offering both US dollars and Peruvian Soles. Alternatively, you have the option to pay using a credit/debit card or PAYPAL, either online or in person, but please note that a 5% service charge will be applied by our payment gateway (Niubiz) and PAYPAL. We regret to inform you that we are unable to accept bank checks or traveler's checks as forms of payment for the balance.
Duffel Bag or Canvas Case
You’ll receive a canvas case or duffel bag during your briefing. Our horses will carry them, and the horsemen will hand them to you when you get to each camp. They measure 60 x 24 x 22 cm (23.6 x 9.45 x 8.66 in).
A maximum of 7 kg / 15.4 lb is allowed for each duffel bag, including the weight of your sleeping bag, sleeping mat, clothes, and other personal items.
Can I store my luggage at your office?
Of course! During the trip, your main luggage can be stored at our office (you can organize it with us on the briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment that you won’t need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags; put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (in the unlikely case of theft, many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing everything). It’s best to put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Pick up of guests
Please note:
- All pickups are within Cusco City, but we recommend booking a hotel in the historic center for its convenient location.
- Our guide or staff will confirm the pickup time the day before the tour.
- Due to traffic conditions, the pickup time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes.
- Cusco is an old city and has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs are located on streets without car access or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. For such reasons, we strongly advise you to book accommodation with good access.
Group Tours
Group tours are made up of different types of people, then physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route.
It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, the guide will be the one who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if such modifications are possible.
Strikes and demonstrations
Strikes and demonstrations are common in Peru, and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked, and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your trip as originally planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date.
Under these circumstances, tours may also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, everything will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority, and our decisions will be made to protect it.
Lost objects
Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our transport, tents or restaurants. You’re the only one responsible for your objects during the tour.
WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING?
ESSENTIAL
CLOTHING
EQUIPMENT
RECOMMENDED
"The Classic Choquequirao Trek" can leave any day of the week, from March through January. We don’t operate this itinerary in February because of the rainy season & maintenance of the route.
2025 Land Cost
Group Price: US$ 600.00 per person.
Required Pre-payment: US$ 300.00 per person.
Balance (Cusco): US$ 300.00 (Commonly paid in Cusco after the briefing).
This small-group journey is guaranteed to operate with just two guests.
Notice that PayPal charges a fee of 5%, which we ask the client to cover since it's due to the use of its service. This tax is just for online deposits so that you will pay the remaining in cash (the briefing day in Cusco) without charges.
Extensions & Offers
There are several extensions you can include to your Peru Adventure.
- Rainbow Mountain: US$ 100.00 US$ 80.00
- Sacred Valley: US$ 100.00 US$ 80.00
- City Tour: US$ 50.00 US$ 40.00
Additional Items
There are additional items you can include in this trip. Below is a quick list of prices.
- Sleeping bag:: US$ 25.00
- Walking poles (pair): US$ 25.00
Price Guarantee
Once your booking has been confirmed, we guarantee the price won’t increase, whatever the circumstances. So please, before booking, ensure you’ve read all our important tour information.
Student Discount
US$20.00 off
Student discounts apply to anyone 17 years old or younger. To receive the discount, we require a copy or clear photo of the passport at the time of booking. It must be valid and not expire within the travel dates. Please send it to info@salkantaytrekking.com.
Thank you for your interest in having an adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Salkantay Trekking. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.
Our Pledge | Your privacy is respected and protected. The Salkantay Trekking Company will never share, sell, or make public any of your personal contact information to third parties.
Remember | One of our Travel Experts will contact you soon to confirm the availability of the trip you chose, give you more information, and/or provide you alternative options. Once availability is established, we will ask for a deposit and a completed online registration to confirm your spot on the trek. Please call us at (+51) 958 191 179 with any questions or to confirm availability over the phone.
Note | Due to the rainy season and trail maintenance, we don't offer this trek during the whole month of february. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, we are working to provide you a better service!