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The Choquequirao Trek To Machu Picchu 8 Days is an adventurous and exciting hike through the high jungle, which will take you to Machu Picchu through beautiful landscapes and Inca ruins.This expedition will take you to two of Peru’s most famous archeological sites: CHOQUEQUIRAO and MACHU PICCHU. Both of these ancient cities were considered towns of nobles and priests, and this means that they held high amounts of significance to the Inca people. You will get the chance to learn about the legends and treasures left behind by the Inca and listen to the stories the majestic mountains are aching to tell. These towns mark the beginning of the end of the Incas. Both cities were abandoned before the Spanish conquerors were able to follow them there and exploit their treasures. They were only found and popularized later by explorers on expeditions through the Andes. Join us on this trek to experience untouched beauty, live in scarcely visited history, and lament in the final steps of one of the world’s most influential ancient cultures.
The journey to Choquequirao is along one of the many ancient trails that snake their way through the Amazon. Many travel magazines list it as one of the top ten hikes in the world for the great variety of biodiversity and wildlife. Along the way, you will get to experience both tall mountains and deep jungle valleys. It will not disappoint! One thing that makes the Choquequirao trail so special is the lack of traffic it gets every year. Because the ruins are so remote and challenging to reach, it is common for less than 20 people to visit the site every day. This means that you will have a truly unique and personal experience!.
Due to the remote and challenging nature of the trek, it is essential to only travel with the most qualified tour operators. Our staff members are well trained and eager to make your trip as enjoyable as possible. They have all undergone three to five years of training at universities or specialist schools to earn their qualifications. This is one of the luxuries we have to offer – expert guides, rated as such by our clients.
Today’s Highlights: Your excitement for our rendezvous at Machu Picchu will rise as we are hiking early in the morning through the forest to reach the site before most other tourists – even the Inca Trail trekkers!! You will have plenty of time to explore this truly magnificent World Wonder while you enjoy the beautiful sunrise from this once-in-a-lifetime viewpoint. Your group will learn about this mystical place in a two-hour guided tour of the ruins. Afterwards, you can opt to climb Huayna Picchu or Machupicchu Mountain (if you have pre-booked tickets) or walk to the Sun Gate or Inca Bridge (without extra tickets).
Today we reach the finale of our trek, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu! We will wake up early after a refreshing night to enjoy the serenity of soft morning light as we hike for 2 hours from Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate or “Inti Punku.” Here, the Inca Trail officially ends. From this place, we will be able to look out onto the great beauty of the Inca citadel Machu Picchu! This is the same view the grand Inca would have seen as he traveled, like you, from Cusco to Machu Picchu. The Machu Picchu entrance checkpoint is open from 06:00 AM until 17:00 PM, so entrance to the site is extremely flexible and gives us lots of time to enjoy ourselves. After passing through the gate, we will walk downhill for about an hour and enter the hidden Royal Citadel of the Incas! Here, we will have a 2-hour guided tour through this incredible ancient city to visit temples, terraces, palaces, priest’s houses, the sundial, the industrial sector, and the agricultural sector. You will be amazed at the engineering ingenuity of the Incas, which was so far ahead of its time and still partially a mystery today! Without having modern tools or even steel and iron to work with, the people who built this city were genius in organizing their community in a sustainable and beautiful way on the side of a mountain. They even brought water in canals through the streets for their people to use! When a Peruvian guide showed this site to Hiram Bingham, it was almost unrecognizable, covered in thick vegetation, and in a state of disrepair. It has since been cleaned and restored to its former glory and is now protected and treasured by the world at large!
After this tour, feel free to climb up to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (Be sure to book these tickets in advance). Each mountain takes approximately 3 hours to hike up and down. Another, lower-impact option for which you do not need an extra ticket is to trek to the Sun Gate, the main entrance from the Inca Trail (this takes about 2 or 2.5 hours round-trip). Another option is walking to see the Incan Bridge. You will be able to stay and enjoy this magical city for more than 7 hours before hiking back down to Aguas Calientes to catch the train at 16:22 hrs (subject to availability) to Ollantaytambo. A private bus will pick up our group and drop you off at your hotel in Cusco at about 20:00 hrs. Rest your feet and your body now, because we can assure you your heart will still be soaring for weeks and years to come!
All information meetings are held in your hotel at 6:00 p.m., one night before the tour begins. If you cannot attend, you must coordinate another time at the Peru Hike offices. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes and there you will be given a small duffel bag, in which you’ll put all the belongings you intend to bring on the trek that won’t be in your day pack.
ou’ll receive a canvas case or duffel bag during your briefing. The porters will take them on the way and will deliver them to you when you get to each camp. They measure 66 cm / 2 ft. Long x 36 cm / 1 ft. Wide.
A maximum of 5 kg is allowed for each duffel bag that includes the weight of your sleeping bag, mat, clothes and other personal items.
The trek has to be paid for in full by at least 7.30 pm two days before departure. For example, if your tour departs on a Wednesday, then you must come to our office before 7.30 pm on Monday.
It would be much appreciated if you pay the trek balance in cash US dollars or local currency. You can withdraw some money from several ATMs along Avenida Sol (either in US dollars or local Peruvian Soles). You can pay by credit card or PAYPAL online, but you will have to pay an 8% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. We do not accept bank checks or payment of the balance by traveler’s checks.
Of course! During the travel, your main luggage can be stored at our office(you can organize briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment that you are not going to need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags, put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (In the unlikely case of theft many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing all the items). Best put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Peru Hike can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it’s in the Historic Center of Cusco. The pickup time will be coordinated with your guide in the briefing. The pickup time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic. Cusco is a very old city, therefore, it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. We strongly recommend that you book accommodation with good access.
Returning from Machu Picchu requires quite a bit of logistics, but don’t worry. Everything is included in your tour!
Group tours are made up of different types of people. Physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route. It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, it will be the guide who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if said modifications can be made.
Strikes and demonstrations are usually frequent in Peru and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your excursion as planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date. Under these circumstances, tours may also be cancelled. In case of changes or cancellations, all situations will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority and our decisions will be made to protect it.
You’re responsible for your objects during the tour. Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our trucks, tents, or restaurants.
Great trek. My guide Emerson was excellent, the food was delicious and the whole experience was well run. I enjoyed the ruins of Choquequirao over those at Machu Picchu, far fewer people and a beautifully picturesque location.
