Comments on: Discover Your Own Machu Picchu: Choquequirao, Peru

By: Hal Amen

Hal Amen — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 05:38:48 +0000

That’s very cool, Phil. Thanks so much for your feedback.

By: muttaphilly

muttaphilly — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 05:33:11 +0000

did this trek in april pretty much based on this article. was muy buena – definately worth the extra effort. Looks like the ruins are starting to get popular (theres a newly installed tourist information centre located right at the start of the trek which makes it pretty much impossible to get lost) thanks for this article – phil

By: Alessandro

Alessandro — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 05:03:02 +0000

I’ll be in Peru around August 2010 to make the Choquequirao trek, anyone interested in joining me?

Alessandro

By: Marco

Marco — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:53:51 +0000

Thought about Thoreau’s words while trekking down the Apurimac Canyon on my way to Choquequirao and Machu Picchu:

I was born upon thy bank, river,
My blood flows in thy stream,
And thou meanderest forever,
At the bottom of my dream.

Travelers can still find roads for traveling souls in the remote regions of Peru.
Find lots of good info here:

http://www.choquequiraolodge.com

By: Jessica Skelton

Jessica Skelton — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:36:22 +0000

I have been dying to take a trip to Peru since I was 17 and still have not made it out there yet. Thanks for the tip on an amazing alternative to Machu Picchu.

By: adeline

adeline — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:41:01 +0000

I did the choquequirao-Macchu Picchu trek a couple of years ago with three other people, and a good compromise was to hire an arriero (the guy who owns the mule) and 2 mules for the 4 first days to carry the more heavy stuffs (you do have to pay him an extra day for his return and provide him with some food) and we then continued on our own as carrying 9 days worth of food seemed quite heavy. Turned out to be pretty cheap (around 100$/person for 10 days, and that included renting a large tent, sleeping bags and other camping gear in Cusco. Do shop around to get the best prices). You don’t need to hire a guide who will charge you more than an arriero; and if you speak spanish it is a really good way to get to know more about local life. You should have no trouble finding someone in Cachora. This way you also know that the money goes directly in his pocket and not to an agency.

One of the highlight during the last part is a campsite near a hotspring (so nice after a long day descending through an rainforest-like environment). The last 2 days of this hike is the same as one of the other alternative trek to the Inca trail: the Salkantay.

Having done both the Salkantay and the Choquequirao trek, I’d definitely recommend the last one. Certainly not easy but so rewarding with its amazing landscapes and the fact that you will not see another tourist for days! Although the SAlkantay is not so busy either.

By: Machu Picchu Reopens Today

Machu Picchu Reopens Today — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 06:22:41 +0000

[...] might be places like Choquequirao, on the edge of Cuzco department, the trail of ruins in northern Peru, or just the remains of [...]

By: Hal Amen

Hal Amen — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:49:08 +0000

Hi Maria,

I believe I know the flies you’re talking about. They’re awful. I luckily didn’t get too many bites, but the ones I had turned into tiny blood blisters and stuck around for weeks. I don’t know of any more serious implications of the bites, and personally I doubt there are any, but I’m in no way a physician. If you have serious concerns, please seek professional advice.

By: Maria

Maria — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:47:50 +0000

HELP Please!
A couple of people have written about those little biting black fly things that hover around the river bottom. My husband and I returned last week from the 4-day trek to the ruins and now he is in agony from bites from those flies. Does anyone know about these insects? Is there greater cause for concern after the acute itchiness and swelling, i.e., any long-term disease transmission? THank you very much for any help-

By: flavio

flavio — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:15:12 +0000

hello dera friends.- it is really true about choquekirao to machupicchu it is really amizing trek iam tour guide from cusco i been there since from 2001 ,the views ,condors,orquids,machupicchu or if you want you can go to the last capital of the incas vilcabamba then if you want to espirutupampa which is 16 days trek you are welcome to go on that trek you ill never foget that trip it is life time experience