Choquequirao & Machu Picchu

Our 9-day epic adventure begins very early in the morning today. We’ll pick you up at your hotel at 4:30 am and travel for 5 hours in our private vehicle to Capuliyoc (2,890 m / 9,482 ft). Here, we’ll enjoy a nutritious and delicious breakfast to give you the energy you need to get started on your long trek. We’ll also meet the rest of the team, which includes a horseman and our chef, who’ll accompany us the entire way.

After defining some final details, we’ll begin our hike, which starts with 3 hours downhill to the lunch point in Chiquisca (1,900 m / 6,234 ft), a beautiful town full of fruit fields. Along the way, we’ll be able to observe the impressive landscape of the Apurímac Valley, and two other gigantic glacier mountains called Padreyoc and Qoriwayrachina.

We’ll continue the descent for another hour until we get to the bottom of the valley where you’ll find the fast-moving Apurimac river (1,500 m / 4,911 ft), whose name in Quechua means “Speaking God.” The fast-flowing waters are ideal for canoeing thanks to the class V rapids.

Finally, we’ll make a 2-hour ascent until we reach our Santa Rosa camp (1,970 m / 6,463 ft), where a delicious dinner and an incredible night of rest await you.

After devouring a delicious breakfast, we will hit the road again and start hiking a 3-hour zigzagging ascent to Marampata (2,900 m / 9,514 ft), from where you can take beautiful pictures of the canyon and snow-capped peaks. We will enjoy a break, leave some of our gear here, and after lunch continue for another hour and a half to the archaeological complex of Choquequirao (3,050 m / 10,007 ft).

Once there you will have plenty of time to enjoy your new beautiful surroundings, you will feel the energy that this place has stored for 5 centuries, take advantage and stretch your tired muscles while we briefly visit some places of Choquequirao, the last place of refuge of the Incas.

After exploring, you will enjoy a beautiful sunset that will flood the endless valleys and white glacial mountains with its warm orange glow. When it starts to get dark, we will return to the Marampata camp (2,900 m / 9,514 ft) and enjoy a nice dinner. You will go to bed happy after such a wonderful day.

After another nutritious breakfast, we will take the day to explore in great detail this incredible Inca site of Choquequirao (3,050 m / 10,007 ft) which is located in the giant Andean mountains and very close to the deepest canyon in the entire American continent. Surely you can already imagine the incredible landscapes that surround this colossal Inca construction.

We’ll stop off at the most impressive parts of this incredible place and your guide will tell you all they know. Much larger than Machu Picchu, Choquequirao is an excellent example of Inca squares, storage centers, temples, and impressive platforms. There’s no doubt you’ll constantly wonder; how were the Incas able to build this on top of the mountains?

While at Choquequirao, don’t miss the famous white stone flames that adorn the platforms that are practically built on the hillside and located in the direction of the mountain that protects that sector, the Apu Qoriwayrachina. In many ways, Choquequirao remains a mystery to this day and experts are constantly studying the site. According to many experts, for now, only about 40% is visible. This means there’s still a lot to uncover and learn about this grand place.

In the afternoon, after enjoying a picnic lunch, we will begin our ascent into the cloud forest, a truly unique and fascinating area for many hikers because it feels like you are walking among the clouds.

We will reach the Choquequirao Pass (3,270 m / 10,728 ft) to descend to the archaeological site of Pinchaunuyoc (2,420 m / 7,940 ft) that will amaze you with its agricultural platforms suspended over the abysses of the Rio Blanco canyon. We will take advantage of the immense terraces to set up our camp and spend the night.

Today we recommend waking up before the sun comes up to appreciate the magnificent sunrise against the archaeological complex and surrounding scenery. See how the rays of Father Sun or Tayta Inti fill all the corners with color and life. Connect with this powerful star and feel his warmth. Take the opportunity to thank the sacred mountains that surround you and the powerful Apurimac River. In this way, we’ll be saying the perfect goodbye to Choquequirao.

After breakfast, we continue our descent to the Blanco River (1,900 m / 6,234 ft) and hike through a lush cloud forest. This is a truly unique and fascinating area for many hikers because it feels like a dream to be among the clouds.

Once at the bottom of the valley, you will be able to appreciate the great variety of bird species, different orchids, and plantations of the sacred coca leaf, which has been an important plant since the Inca empire. Many of our travelers take this opportunity to take a dip in the cold and crystalline waters of the river to refresh themselves, it will be a pleasure to take a bath after three days of trekking!

After relaxing for a while, we will continue our trek. A zigzagging and steep road of approximately three hours will lead us to our next campsite, located in another small hamlet, known as Maizal (3,000 m / 9,843 ft). This place has impressive views of the snow-capped mountains that give rise to three beautiful valleys.

We´ll enjoy a comforting lunch and then take the rest of the day to rest. We will spend the night in this beautiful place.

Today you’ll wake up with the wonderful, chirpy song of the birds that’ll greet the sun and help you wake up ready to face the day. After recharging your energy with a delicious breakfast, we’ll head along an uphill path covered by lush vegetation. Soon, the snowy mountains will surround us once again reminding us of their sheer power and natural beauty. If the sky isn’t clear, you’ll see how the clouds cover the valley below us. No matter what the weather is like, it’s bound to impress you.

There’s a five-hour ascent ahead. This sector of the route is of great historical importance because several archaeological sites are scattered along the way for you to see. You’ll be able to observe some ancient Inca silver mines called Minas Victoria as well, and then you’ll ascend to the San Juan Pass (4,200 m / 13,780 ft). It’ll be a long climb, but the beauty of the route is so immense that you won't even notice the effort.

We’ll walk through the Amazonian cloud forest and then we’ll begin to enter the Andean Puna that’s known for its grasslands. Near the top, we’ll start to see cobbled sectors on the path that are original constructions of the Incas. We’ll have lunch observing the stunning glacial mountains of Choquetakarpo and Padreyoc. If we’re lucky, and the weather allows it, it’s very likely that you’ll get a glimpse of the flight of the condor whose wings reach 3 meters in length when spread, the largest of all flying birds on Earth.

Finally, we will make our descent to the Yanama camp (3,600 m / 11,811 ft), which is a small town located at the bottom of a huge valley. As with every other day, you can expect to end the day with a tasty dinner and a pleasant night’s sleep surrounded by nature.

The people of Yanama preserve the ancestral traditions of the Andes to this day, and it’s a great place to immerse yourself in the local culture. Take the opportunity to make new friends and perhaps give some things to the children who’ll come to greet you. You’ll wake up to the relaxing sound of a waterfall and the hidden noises of the jungle.

After breakfast, we’ll begin a 5-hour ascent to the highest point of the entire trek, known as the Yanama Pass (4,650 m / 15,256 ft). On our walk, we’ll observe the people from the area lovingly working the land in the potato fields. Along the way, the snowy mountain ranges of Saqsarayoc and Padreyoc will appear with their gigantic bodies of snow. Depending on the season, we may be able to walk on the snow at this point of the trek. You’ll also get to see, for the first time, the imposing sacred mountain of Salkantay, one of the main deities of the region.

Later, we’ll descend through a long and mysterious fog-filled path towards the community of Totora. Along the way, we'll have a break for lunch and rest to regather our energy. Then, we’ll continue for one more hour until we reach the camp for the night in Collpapampa. After dinner, enjoy a restful night amid the tranquillity of nature.

After yet another outstanding breakfast to begin the day, we’ll descend through a humid forest where you’ll begin to see trekkers who are walking the Salkantay route to Machu Picchu. At this point, we’ll be able to observe beautiful rivers, impressive waterfalls, wild orchids, coffee, banana, and avocado plantations. The place is so fertile that it’s full of fruit everywhere you look. Try the delicious flavor of passion fruit and granadilla.

We’ll have lunch at approximately noon at La Playa and then walk for around 30 minutes to our camp in Lucmabamba (2,000 m / 6,562 ft). Once we get there, we can explore the tropical jungle a little and visit a plantation where they grow coffee. If you’re a coffee-lover, this place will be heaven for you. You’ll feel the pleasant aroma and powerful flavor of one of the best coffees in all of Peru that’s exported to the United States, Asia, and Europe.

Since you’ll have plenty of free time this afternoon, we recommend you visit the relaxing thermo-medicinal waters of Cocalmayo (price not included) that are close to our camp. It’s the best way to recover after so many days of walking! In the evening, you’ll be delighted with a tasty dinner and a lovely night’s rest as you listen to the sounds of the jungle to help you drift off.

The last day of trekking is here. We’ll walk for 3 hours uphill on a section of the original Inca Trail. From there, you’ll see the incredible Santa Teresa valley landscape and some coffee and passion fruit plantations. Once we reach the top of that mountain we’re walking on, we’ll be at the fabulous Inca site of Llactapata from where you can enjoy your first glimpse of the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. You’ll explore the site and your guide will tell you all about the history of the place.

Then, we’ll descend for an hour and a half to our lunch spot in Aobamba. After we’ve replenished our energy with a delicious meal, we’ll continue to Hidroelectrica, from there we’ll follow the rail route for three more hours to the town of Aguas Calientes (2,040 m / 6,562 ft). If you’re very tired at this point, you can also pay a little extra to board the train the rest of the way.

Once you reach the small town, you’ll stay in a comfortable hotel. You’ll have some free time this afternoon and have the option of visiting the thermo-medicinal waters that exist in the place (price not included) or wandering around the town to explore a little. Then, we’ll meet for dinner in a nice restaurant before a night of well-deserved rest awaits you. You’ll need to head to bed early because, the next morning, we’ll go to the fantastic archaeological complex of Machu Picchu before dawn.

Today this incredible adventure comes to an end, and we’re sure that you’ll feel like a completely different person. As we’ve done every day, we’ll start very early to take advantage of the amazing early morning light. You’ll enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then choose between 2 options: Go by bus for 25 minutes to Machu Picchu or walk to the sacred city on a mysterious and pretty route in the company of your guide. Remember to notify your guide the night before if you decide to walk so they know not to wait for you at the bus stop.

Once you arrive at this impressive site, you´ll take a guided tour of approximately two hours through some of the most important sites. Machu Picchu is a true architectural and engineering marvel. Discover how the huge rustic stones become magnificent buildings that are always in careful harmony with nature. You´ll feel powerful energy that will transform your spirit after this intense hike. Remember that Machu Picchu is an extremely sacred place, it was when it was built and remains so to this day.

If you’ve booked extra tickets to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, you’ll have the opportunity to stay an additional amount of time to do the hike and experience an outstanding panoramic view of the entire Machu Picchu.

Later, you´ll take your bus back to Aguas Calientes, where you can choose one of the restaurants for lunch (price not included). You´ll pick up your luggage from the hotel and go to the station where you will board your train. After a magical journey along the banks of the Urubamba River, you´ll arrive in Ollantaytambo, where our private transportation will be waiting to take you back to the door of your accommodation in Cusco.

It’s now time to get some very well-deserved rest after nine long days of hiking, exploring, and learning all about ancient cultures. There’s one thing for sure: You’ll never forget this once-in-a-lifetime journey through the Andes and ancient lands.