Hi all,
we are heading to Cusco in early July and plan to do 12-13 days of trekking after acclimatising in Cusco.
We were hoping to start the Choquequirao trek, then branch off to do some of Salkantay as far as the pass, then backtrack along Santa Teresa and on to Machu Picchu.
We are looking at booking this beforehand and it is a bit difficult. Is it easy to book a trek like this when we arrive? Are we risking much by leaving it too late?
Thanks!
Or would we better completing the Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu and then driving to Huayllabamba and doing the Salkantay trek?
Thanks :)
What do you mean with book? For a custom trek like this, you won't be able to join a group, so are you looking for a private guide? You shouldn't have a problem finding a private guided trek in Cusco on arrival. If you mean you're looking just for muleteers and no guide, then it might be harder to organize. You'd probably have to find a muleteer in Cachora for the trek to Totora (or maybe even just Yanama and then car transport from Yanama to Totora). And then another muleteer/car for your continuations (up the pass and back, and then on to La Playa and eventually Hidroelectrica).
Im addition, I'm not sure how much a there-and-back to the Salkantay pass will add to your experience, though. I haven't done it, but there were hordes and hordes of people coming off that pass, and I don't think the scenery is all that different from the Totora pass which you come across on the Choquequirao-Santa Teresa trek. If you want more trekking, perhaps look at the Ausangate region instead?
If you want, I can pass you the contact info for the guy who guided us. He is an expert mountaineer and prefers tours that go high into the mountains, but knows all the trails around there like the back of his hand.
If you want a supplement to a normal trek, in Yanama you can continue to Huancacalle and the Vitcos ruins. you probably won't see any other tourists there.
This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.