Day 3 - Choquequirao (3000 m / 9850 ft) to Choquequirao Pass (3400 m / 11150 ft) to Rio Blanco (1800 m / 5900 ft) to Farm (3000 m / 9850 ft)
This day was the toughest day of the hike. Lots of elevation change and the steep trail going up from the Rio Blanco to Victoria pass was very muddy and slick. Most itineraries, including the original United Mice itinerary I saw on their website include camping at Rio Blanco and taking an extra day to climb up to Victoria pass. we compressed 2 days into 1 by ascending to a farm near Minas Victoria. Our guide Edgar told us that the extra day is typically scheduled in for unforseen conditions such as the Rio Blanco being too strong to be forded or the Yanama pass being snowed in. We saw a lot of flowers during the trek, including many wild orchids in the later days when we hike through cloud forests. On our way down to the Rio Blanco, we briefly explored some as yet uncovered Inca buildings.
