Peru has great tourist destinations and that includes extraordinary routes as part of the country's natural landscapes. One of the spaces for trekking is the well-known “Inca Trail” located in Cusco, but it's not the only one, since there are two more routes that will surprise you.
You will appreciate the natural scenery, abundant biodiversity, archaeological sites and an ancestral culture that remains valid to this day.
The hikes are as follows: from Choquequirao to Machu Picchu and the one that joins the Ausangate snow and the mountain of seven colors or Vinicunca, according to the prestigious international travel and tourism publication Travel+Leisure.
The list called the “Twelve of the Most Epic Walks in South America You've Never Heard of”, written by Michaela Trimble, states that South America has the best walking trips. “Whether you're one day or fourteen, here's a guide to the best under-the-radar hikes in South America,” he says.
That is why, below, we will show you the two routes considered the most epic for an unforgettable hiking or trekking experience in Peru and South America. Take note and take the opportunity to visit them during this Holy Week.
ROUTE TO CHOQUEQUIRAO - MACHU PICCHU
It is a long route of 115 kilometers and to travel it, it takes about eight days. It is a very difficult and challenging path, since it is between 2,000 and 5,085 meters above sea level, which can cause altitude sickness, also known as soroche. That is why it is necessary to perform previous physical activity and acclimatization.
The walk starts in the town of Cachora, located in the department of Abancay. It is in this place where the first day of walking to Rosalina Beach begins where you camp and have dinner. The trek lasts about 4 or 5 hours.
The next day you will have to go to the hamlet of Marampata which takes between 4 or 5 hours and is where you have lunch. Then the trail will lead to the archaeological site of Choquequirao.
This important Inca site is considered the “younger brother” of Machu Picchu, as its design and architecture are very similar. Choquequirao is a Quechua word, whose meaning is “Cradle of Gold” and is located 3,050 meters above sea level, in the Vilcanota mountain range.
Access to this citadel can be done through two routes and they depart from the regions of Cusco and Apurimac. According to the researchers, there are still more spaces to be discovered, due to the fact that only 30% of its entire area has been excavated so far.
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ROUTE TO THE “MOUNTAIN OF THE 7 COLORS”
It is a 15-kilometer journey and it takes four days to go through it. It has a moderate to challenging level of difficulty for the tourist who wants to go trekking. In this case, as in the first case, it is necessary to be in good physical condition and have proper acclimatization.
Southeast of the city of Cusco, in the Ocongate district of the province of Quispicanchis and with an altitude of 6,380 meters above sea level, is located Ausangate Mountain, also called Vinicunca by the Zonales or “Mountain of the 7 Colors” by tourists, considered a divinity among the locals, an Apu, since ancient times. Tourists claim that this is the most impressive excursion in the Peruvian Andes.
“During the tour, the fabulous landscape shows snowy peaks, natural gazebos and viewpoints, pools of hot springs that are the perfect respite for both altitude sickness and tired muscles. But the real prize of this trip is at the end of the trek, when you reach the mountain of the seven colors or rainbow mountain, also known as Vinicunca by the locals. Its hills painted in various chromatic tones leave visitors breathless and this experience is the highlight of this reverential walk in Peru”, read in the publication Travel + Leisure.
It is said that the movement of the tectonic plates in the area caused the sediments to rise, to the point of forming several mountains. Over time, sediments formed layers that are now seen as stripes and the striking colors are due to the oxidation of minerals, exerted by moisture in the area, and erosion.
The “Mountain of 7 Colors” is called as such, because of the colors seen in the upper part and are as follows: fuchsia and pink (mixture of red clay, mud and sand); purple or lavender (a mixture of clay and calcium carbonate and silicates); red (argillites and clays); green (mixture of iron, magnesium and copper oxide), mustard or golden (limonite, calcareous sandstones rich in sulphur minerals or combined with sulfur); white and cream (sandstone or quartz sand and limestone).
RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLEMENTS FOR TREKKING
To access any of these two routes, it is important to hire an excursion service from an authorized tourist agency and to verify that it is, users must check the list at the Cusco Regional Tourism Office and on prestigious travel portals. It is of the utmost importance to acclimatize at least two days before starting the route.
The tools that every tourist should have for these routes are the following: tent, cane, suitable clothing such as sneakers, waterproof trousers and jacket, warm clothing for the night (gloves, caps, scarves and wool socks) and ponchos for rain.
Flashlights with solar charger, separate solar charger, cameras and video cameras and portable batteries. Bring packaged food, bottled water, water purifying tablet, UV sunglasses and sunscreen.
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