Choquequirao Trek To Machu Picchu 8 Days

Visit places

A hearty breakfast will be ready and waiting for you today to give you the boost you need to start our amazing hike. We set out on a path that winds its way up the mountainside.

We will ascend in a zigzagging way for two and a half hours until we reach the small village of Santa Rosa (1,970 m / 6,463 ft), we will visit a family farm and learn about the elaboration of Cambray, a handmade liquor made from sugar cane grown in this place. After enjoying a delicious lunch and being part of this experience, we will climb for three more hours to reach Marampata (2,900 m / 9,514 ft). Here, you will appreciate the most spectacular views and take excellent photographs to remember your trip through the snow-capped mountains and canyon.

Then we continue a winding trail for 2 hours to our camp in choquequirao (2,900 m / 9,514 ft), after settling into our comfortable tents we will go to explore the main square of the archaeological center of choquequirao (3,050 m / 10,006 ft).

You will have a fantastic opportunity to see the brilliant sunset behind Choquequirao and the surrounding mountains. An orange glow will be cast over the giant rocks that will fill you with peace. Once it gets dark, we will enjoy a delicious dinner that will fill your hungry stomach and replenish your energy. Afterwards, you will head back to your tent to rest under the stars.

Visit places

Today we will get up early to enjoy one of the most spectacular sunrises you can imagine. The sun’s rays will fill this place with color and life. Take a moment to thank Mother Nature for all the wonderful things she has given us. After breakfast, we will hike for half hour athrough the cloud forest. You will really feel like you are among the clouds.

Once in Choquequirao, our guide will explain the history of this incredible place, also known as “the last refuge of the Incas”. Around noon, we will enjoy a picnic lunch that the chef will bring to the complex. Then, we will walk until we reach the Usnu and have a better panoramic view of the area; with luck, we will be able to observe the condor flying through the Andean sky, we will also visit the terraces and the Pacchayoc waterfall.

After a magical experience in this enigmatic citadel, we will start ascending for an hour until we reach the Choquequirao Pass (3,270 m / 10,728 ft), then, we will descend to the next archaeological complex on our route, Pinchaunuyoc (2,420 m / 7,940 ft). You will be amazed by the platforms that appear suspended over the abyss of the Blanco River canyon. You will enjoy a short tour of the site before resting at our campsite.

Visit places

After recharging our energy with another nourishing breakfast, we’ll continue our way down to the bottom of the canyon until we reach the Blanco River. Then, we´ll ascend to where the landscape becomes lush and full of green vegetation. If the sky is clear, we´ll be able to enjoy the beautiful snow-capped mountains that surround us. Otherwise, we will see the clouds falling down the valley below us. In both cases, the view becomes incredibly beautiful, so don’t worry too much about the weather.

Later, we´ll continue ascending until we reach the summit. One of our favorite parts of the fourth day is waking up to the rhythmic sounds of the forest and birds. It is a truly fantastic experience that will strengthen your bond with mother nature.

After three and a half hours of pure ascent, we´ll arrive at Maizal (3,000 m / 9,843 ft), a beautiful hamlet in the middle of beautiful valleys. We´ll continue ascending, and this part of the trail is historically significant due to the large presence of Inca trails. We´ll pass by the impressive Inca mines, called Minas Victoria, from which silver used to be extracted. Next, we´ll head towards the San Juan Pass (4,200 m / 13,780 ft). We´ll have lunch while enjoying the views of the snow-capped peaks of Choquetakarpo and Padreyoc. If you were not able to see the condors before this point, you may have the opportunity here, depending on the season.

Finally, we´ll descend to our campsite at Yanama (3,600 m / 11,811 ft), a small settlement at the bottom of a long valley surrounded by mountains. Another delicious dinner and a well-deserved night’s sleep awaits you.

Visit places

Yanama, where you slept last night, is a remote indigenous community that’s nestled in the hills of the Andes. You’ll find that when you start your day this morning, we’re joined by excited local children and serenaded by the sounds of the jungle and a rushing waterfall.

After breakfast, we’ll begin hiking uphill for 5 hours to the highest part of our entire trek, the Yanama Pass (4,650 m / 15,256 ft). As we walk, we’ll be able to observe Andean villagers farming their potatoes in the terraced valley hills. Potatoes are native to this part of the world, and it shows with the many varieties on offer and the diverse ways of cooking them. Here, we’ll have a fantastic view of the Saqsarayoc and Padreyoc mountain ranges.

The morning’s climb will bring us into a new environment—depending on the season, and we could be walking through snow at this point of the trek. It’s here that we’ll get the first view of the Salkantay Mountain, one of the ancient Inca gods, also known as an Apu.

Afterward, we’ll descend on a long, foggy path through grassy fields, bushy areas, and crossing bridges on the way to the community of Totora. Along this stretch, we‘ll have a break for lunch and rest to recuperate. Then, we’ll continue for one hour more until we reach our campsite in Collpapampa. In total, we’ll descend for 4 hours. We’ll spend the night in tents, surrounded by this warm and welcoming community and outstanding natural beauty.

Visit places

You’ll wake up to another tasty breakfast this morning. Today’s trek is mainly downhill, continuing along an original Inca trail. We’ll walk through dark woods and appreciate the depths of the cloud forest—a really fascinating part of the hike.

We’ll walk for around 6 hours today as we head back into the heat of the jungle. We’ll get to see wildlife, such as hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and many species of wild orchids and begonias, which are common in this region.

As you hike along a trail on the left side of the Santa Teresa River, you’ll spot small plantations of bananas, passion fruit, and coffee, which you can taste if you would like. On the way, we’ll also stop at small waterfalls for refreshment. The climate and vegetation are very different here from the other days of our trek. La Playa is the biggest village on the route, and after a rest there, we’ll continue walking for 30 minutes to Lucmabamba, where we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch and settle into our campsite.

Since you’ll have free time this afternoon, we recommend you visit the relaxing thermo-medicinal waters of Cocalmayo that are nearby. It’s the best way to recover after so many days of walking and will help to relax your muscles. This evening, you’ll head back for a filling dinner before heading to bed in your jungle accommodation for the night.

Visit places

The last day of actual hiking has arrived. We’ll walk 3 hours after breakfast uphill on a section of the original Inca Trail. Along this stretch, you can see the incredible landscape of Santa Teresa valley and some coffee and passion fruit plantations below.

Once we reach the top of that mountain, we’ll find the fabulous Inca site of Llactapata, from where you’ll get to enjoy your first views of the Inca city of Machu Picchu. You’ll also tour the site and learn all about it from your guide.

Afterward, we’ll descend for an hour and a half to our lunch place in Aobamba. Once you’re full and refreshed, we’ll continue to Hidroelectrica from where we’ll follow the railway for three more hours to the small town of Aguas Calientes (2,040 m / 6,693 ft). If you’re tired at this point, you can also take the train for this last part.

When you get to the town, you’ll check into a comfortable hotel and have some time to relax. Before dinner, you’ll have the option to visit the thermo-medicinal waters, the reason why the town is known as Aguas Calientes. This is another fantastic chance to rest your tired muscles.

Tonight, we’ll have dinner in a restaurant. Then a night of well-deserved rest awaits you because the next morning, you’ll need to wake up before dawn to go to the incredible archaeological complex of Machu Picchu.

Visit places

Your excitement for our visit to Machu Picchu will be huge this morning as we awake bright and early in the morning. After a nourishing breakfast at your hotel, we’ll take one of the first buses to Machu Picchu entrance checkpoint which is open from 6:00 am until 17:00 pm.

You´ll arrive when the sun rises and shines its beautiful morning light on the huge rocks. After enjoying the spectacular view, you´ll have time to explore this Wonder of the World while touring the citadel on a guided tour of approximately two hours to some of the important sectors: temples, terraces, palaces, houses, fields, among others. You´ll be impressed by the engineering of the Incas, which was far ahead of its time and to this day remains a mystery.

Then, you can choose to climb Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu mountain (if you have tickets booked in advance). You´ll be able to get an incredible view of the whole site. Don’t forget to take good pictures in this sacred place.

Once back in the town, you’ll have time to find a restaurant you want to have lunch in before you have to catch the train at 15:20 pm (subject to availability) to Ollantaytambo. There, our private transport will pick up your group and drop you off at your accommodation in Cusco at around 8:00 pm. Rest your feet and your body now because we can assure you your heart will still be soaring for weeks and years to come with the rhythm of the Andes.