Choquequirao Trek Day 1

First stage: Colmena - Santa Rosa Alta
Length: 25 km
Duration: 9 hours
Difference in elevation: approx. 2220 m (ascent: 855m // descent: 1365m)

Our starting point: The Colmena farm in Cachora.

Daime and his son during our breakfast in Colmena before departure. Daime (65) organized the trip and his brother Pedro (69) accompanied us during the 5 days trek.

The balcony in front of our room after a cold night.

Two of the three mules/horses that helped carrying our bags, material and food throughout the trek.

With the right equipment we are ready to start.

The first 8 km were quite flat which facilitated us to get into the mood.

After 2 hours of hiking we arrived at our first Mirador: 2915 meters above sea level (masl)

The view from Capuliyoc on the Apurimac Canyon.

Our way from 2915m down to the banks of the Apurimac river (Playa Rosalinda) at 1550m.

 

The way through the bushes and cactus forest was a torture for our knees.

A lonely tree surrounded by enormous mountain ranges.

Finally, after 4 hours downhill, the bridge to cross the river is in sight.

The view of our way down (approx. 1400m altitude difference) from the other side of the mountain.

After arriving at the banks of the Apurimac river (1550m) we had to climb again to 2190m to reach our first camp side (Santa Rosa Alta).

The first night we discovered what it means to sleep in the mountains without the right equipment (sleeping bags with comfort zone until 13°C while outside the temperature was less than 5 degrees, a tent with holes in the ground and no pickets to fix the fly sheet, ...). But what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger, right? :)