Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Capuliyoc – Playa Rosalina.

Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu starts with an incredible adventure that will start at 04:30 am, after picking you up from your hotel to go to Capuliyoc (2,850m.s.n.m / 9,407 feet). Along the way, there are picturesque views of villages, amazing valleys, and snow-capped mountains. Once in Capuliyoc, we will meet the riders and pack all of our gear onto the horses. You will only carry a small backpack with the most essentials that you will need on the hike.

From here, we can enjoy the spectacular view of the archaeological site of Choquequirao, in the Apurimac canyon and the impressive snow-capped mountains such as Padreyoc (5,571m.s.n.m / 18,387ft). Then we go down for 3 hours to Chikisca to have lunch. After lunch we continue for 2 more hours downhill to our first campsite at Playa Rosalinas (2061m.a.s.l. / 6762ft), there we will enjoy hot drinks and snacks, then you will rest in your tent, which will already be ready, before dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon tea – Dinner.
• Accommodation: camping
• Elevation: 2,915m/9,564 ft.
• Distance: 14 km
• Walking time: Approximately 7-8 hours
• Difficulty: Easy

Day 2:  Playa Rosalina – Marampata –  Choquequirao.

Continuing with this tour, on the second day, we will prepare to continue on our way very early, after breakfast, we will cross the bridge and leave Playa Rosalinas, where we will begin with a zigzag path for approximately 4 hours until we reach Marampata, where we will have lunch.

For the first time we will enjoy the views of the archaeological site of Choquequirao in the distance. After lunch we will continue until our campsite, we will spend the night. It is only 20 minutes from the archaeological site of Choquequirao. We will have a free afternoon. We will be able to see the majestic condor, flying, and enjoy the wind of the canyon, as well as the flora that this wonderful place offers.

• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon tea – Dinner.
• Accommodation: camping
• Elevation: 3,150m/10,397 ft.
• Distance: 16 km
• Walking time: Approximately 6-7 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging

Day 3 Choquequirao – Pinchaunuyoc .

After breakfast, we will visit the magnificent archaeological site of Choquequirao, in this place there is much to see, since this archaeological monument is three times larger than Machu Picchu. You will be able to enjoy the guided tour for 3 hours and thus explore all its sections, its temples, terraces and palaces, even its llama sections and many other spaces that you will surely love.

After learning more about the history of Choquequirao, we will return to our campsite to have lunch and rest.

Afterwards, you will have more time to explore areas of the site with our expert tour guide. You will be able to explore the area of the llamas which is a downhill walk where you will be able to see narrow agricultural terraces. These llamas are represented on the walls of these terraces, in white stones. According to historians they were probably built by the Incas to represent the Constellation of the Llama in the Milky Way.

• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon tea – Dinner.
• Accommodation: camping
• Elevation: 3,150m/10,397 ft.
• Distance: 8km
• Walking time: Approximately 5-6 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 4: Pinchaunuyoc – Maizal.

Today we will get up very early, have breakfast and start our trip to Machu Picchu. Today another spectacular day awaits us; we will appreciate more flora and fauna and incredible landscapes of the place. We will also pass by a river, called Río Blanco, where we will have lunch and once full of energy, we will begin our 4-hour walk until we reach Maizal, the campsite where we will spend the night.

• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon tea – Dinner.
• Accommodation: camping
• Elevation: 4,000m/13,123 ft.
• Distance: 10 km
• Walking time: Approximately 6-7 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging

Day 5: Maizal -Yanama.

We will start our journey at 7 am uphill for approximately 3 hours through the cloud forest, where we can see several species of orchids and plants such as begonia and wild flowers, as well as butterflies and birds.

We will cross the Minas Victoria pass (4200m.a.s.l.). Then we will go through a section of the original Inca trail, which is preserved.

Following the path through the highland where the Ichu reigns, a type of Andean grass. In this place we will rest and have lunch while we enjoy the beautiful splendor of the entire Vilcabamba mountain range with certain snow-capped peaks such as Apu Plumacillo, Sacsara and Qoriwaynachina. In the afternoon, we will descend for approximately 2 hours until we reach a charming isolated community in the valley, surrounded by mountains, Manama, where we will finally set up our camp.

• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon tea – Dinner.
• Accommodation: camping
• Elevation: 4,130m/13,546 ft.
• Distance: 16 km
• Walking time: Approximately 7-8 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging

Day 6: Yanama – Colpapampa.

Today we will visit high mountain peaks, so it is better to start walking very early, to appreciate the great mountain chain of glaciers what nature offers us.

Later we will ascend in a moderate way to the second highest point of the entire walk, the Yanama pass (4670m.a.s.l.), there we will have a really great view of the nearby valleys and snow-capped mountains.

After that, we will descend for 3 hours until we reach the community of Totora, where we will enjoy a delicious lunch, to later continue the walk, going down for a couple of hours to the town of Colpapampa (2870m.a.s.l.), where we will camp.

• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon tea – Dinner.
• Accommodation: camping
• Elevation: 4 672m/15 324 ft.
• Distance: 22 km
• Walking time: Approximately 7-8 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging

Day 7: Collpapampa – Lucmabamba.

Today will be a special botanical-style walk, as we will enter an exuberant world of rich vegetation that is very typical of the Edge of the jungle, passing by several waterfalls and beautiful streams in all their splendor.

Likewise, we can take the opportunity to admire a great variety of orchids, insects and butterflies during the walk. In the lower part, we can see several crops and types of coffee, cocoa and others. All this before reaching the beach (2060m.s.n.m), where we will have lunch.

• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon tea – Dinner.
• Accommodation: camping
• Elevation: 3 398m/11 445 ft.
• Distance: 21 km
• Walking time: Approximately 7-8 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 8: Llucmabamba – Llactapata – Hidroeléctrica Y Aguas Calientes Town.

We will start the walk uphill of approximately 3 hours through the mist-filled forest to the Puncuyoc pass and after that we will arrive at the archaeological site of Llactapata (2700m.a.s.l.).

A beautiful little visited tourist attraction, which in the Inca time was a very important place; since, it served as an observatory of the sun during the winter solstice. From this place we can appreciate the enigmatic mountains of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu.

At the end of the Tour, we will descend to the town of Hidroeléctrica, where we will have lunch and say goodbye to our chef. Then we will walk for a couple of hours along the railway. We will continue our journey along the route used by the great expeditionaries like Hiram Bingham to the town of Aguas Calientes, where we will take a refreshing shower and prepare for dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon tea – Dinner.
• Accommodation: Hotel in Aguas Calientes Town
• Elevation: 3 100m/10 170 ft.
• Distance: 14 km
• Walking time: Approximately 8-9 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 9: Aguas Calientes Town  – Machu Picchu – Cusco.

This is the day you’ve been waiting for! You will visit the famous sacred city of the Incas, with your tour guide.

The best time to start your day. After breakfast, early at your hotel. You will take one of the first buses to Machu Picchu. Most passengers get up at 06:00 a.m. After a 25-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu, our tour guide will take you to the best views before other hikers arrive and start the guided walking tour for two hours.

We will explore the famous sites of this impressive citadel, including the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Condor, the Temple of the Three Windows and other important places. If you have booked the Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain option (this must be booked in advance and has an additional cost) you will have free time to walk and explore on your own. In the afternoon you will return to the bus and head to the town of Aguas Calientes. Then you will board the train back to Ollantaytambo, where our bus will wait for us to return to Cusco.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Elevation: 2 440m/8 052 ft.
• Difficulty: Easy

Note:The hike to Huayna Picchu, and/or Machu Picchu Mountain depends on availability, please let us know if you would like to add one of these additional hikes at the time of your booking.