Choquequirao to Machu Picchu : Tips and considerations

The Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek was not one of the hardest trek I had done so far but it was one of the hottest (I did it during mid-October). I was not very fit and still managed to complete each day before the timeframe stated on the trek operator's website. I would love to recommend this trek to anyone - visit Choquequirao before it is connected to the outside world via public transports and roads.    

Trekking independently

Independent trekking is possible so long you can carry your own tent or know how to hire a muleteer and his mule. When it is not the peak season, there is an option to hire mules along the way when one tires out (as in, you may not need a mule for the whole trip). You may not even want to trek from Cachora to Machu Picchu. Another option is to trek from Cachora to Choquequirao, return to Cuzco and take public/ private transports to Machu Picchu.

Finding camping grounds should not be an issue. I think the supply of land is adequate. One just walk to a village, find the patch of grass you like and negotiate with the villager on the price I think. 

Foodwise, most of the people whom we met carry their own food supplies. Along the trek, we saw small grocery stores and signages offering cooked food. These would serve as food sources as opposed to carrying ingredients for the whole trip. 

Trekking with operators

Now this is a tough one. From the internet, I think everyone offers the same programmes - the descriptions are exactly the same (I really wonder who copied whom, word for word):

The price difference between companies, however, can be as huge as 4 times, say US$400 vs US$1600 (for doing the same trek, using the same number of support staff, having similar meals and equipment and staying in the same location). 

Therefore, if you can afford the time, get down to Cuzco, shop around and choose the company you are comfortable with. I would not choose the cheapest (because if it is too cheap, it would mean that someone down the line gets exploited) but would want to ensure that the meals and equipment are alright and that I would not be subcontracted to another trekking company.  The flipside of doing so is that you may not get the dates you want and may have to wait around for a few days or weeks before there is a vacancy.

What to do

When using trekking companies, do put consideration into what you would want to do on Day 8. If I were to have a go at planning, I would skip the hot springs and zipline activities, go to Aguas Calientes on Day 7 and proceed to Machu Picchu for the whole day on Day 8. Depart for Cuzco on Day 9 at any time. 

The Machu Picchu site is huge and there are many places of interests to visit. I would have preferred to visit them all. Most trekking companies bring their clients (and I was one such client) to Machu Picchu early in the morning, leave at noon for lunch and depart for Cuzco in the afternoon. My guess is - the site would be slightly less crowded in the afternoon?

Do check if the places of interests require prior booking. To climb Waynapicchu, for example, there are 2 time slots every morning and the number of visitors are limited. Tickets for Waynapicchu, therefore, have to be bought in advance.

Peak hours for bus

Most tourists leave Machu Picchu for Aguas Calientes during the lunch. Consequently, the queue for the bus is very long during 12pm to 2pm. Although the buses depart frequently, we still had to wait for about half an hour before we were able to board a bus. You may want to plan accordingly if you have to catch a train near this time slot.

A very long queue for the bus

What to bring

Most trekking companies have very comprehensive "what to bring" list. The 2 most important items for me would been the sun screen and the insect repellant. Just apply and reapply diligently.

If you are trekking independently, bring a tent and not a hammock. We really saw someone with a hammock. Isn't it heavy? Also, not all campsites have 2 trees or structures to put up a hammock. Let's not also forget that it can rain any night.