Leaving Cusco due north on the main highway to Antapampa, a flat agricultural valley.  Once we begin to descend into Limatambo we’ll visit the Inca site of Tarawasi.  The road continues until we reach the Apurimac River, an impressive gorge.  Past the village of Curawasi and onto the Sayhuite- stone – a carved map of the Inca empire it is said.  A small side road over a ridge brings us down to the village of Cachora, where we start today’s hike. Here we will meet the rest of our field crew. Taking our day packs we start walking along the edge of the mountain.  At Capuliyoc we get our first view of the Apurimac canyon with the Snow capped mountains of Nev. Padreyoc up front and towards the left the Nev. Qoriwayrachina and the trail that lies ahead.

Early departure, crossing the river on a footbridge marking the start of the day.  From here an uphill walk of half day brings us to a small meadow where we have lunch.  As we ascend on the steep trail we begin to appreciate the canyonland vegetation and environment on both sides of the Apurimac canyon.  The afternoon hike is not as steep as we approach the hanging valley where the site of Choquequirao is found.  We camp at an available flat part at Marampampa – as we begin to explore the isolated Inca sites and the surrounding thin cloudforest.  We can also visit the Choquequirao main plaza where we can appreciate a group of Terraces with Llama Fisgures called ¨the Llamas of the Sun¨ (Distance: 12.800 km, Time: 8 hrs.) B/L/D

We spend the day exploring the Choquequirao complex situated on a ridge overlooking the Canyon and some of the outlying buildings working our way through the terracing.  After lunch you can also spend the afternoon at leisure at camp. B/L/D

Early morning departure to start our descent towards Playa San Ignacio for approximately 4 hours.   The first part downhill is mild, but as the trail continues it gets very steep.   We continue towards Playa San Ignacio, 1,430 m.a.s.l where the trail starts going up again until reaching the Former Hacienda San Ignacio at 1,700 m.a.s.l for another hour of steep trail until reaching El Carmen Bridge.  From here we continue for another 45 minutes until reaching the Villa Los Loros Lodging, where we will spend the night. (Distance: 16.5 km, Time: 7 to 8 hrs.) B/L/D

Today our vehicle will pick us up at mid morning to start our drive back to Cusco, a panoramic ascent out of this side valley, with views of the surrounding peaks, on the same road we took at the beginning.  We will arrive to the city in the early afternoon. B/L