Choquequirao And Machu Picchu 8D & 7N

DAY 1: CUSCO – CCACHORA – CAPULIYOC – CHIKISKA – PLAYA ROSALINA – SANTA ROSA L/D

We begin the tour with pickup at approximately 4:00 a.m. from your hotel and don't worry, you can rest on the 4-hour drive to the trailhead, where breakfast will be ready for you. There you will also meet the hiking team, riders and horses, who will carry your canvas bags. After breakfast, the expedition to Machu Picchu will begin.

The first 4 hours are downhill, stopping in the small town of Chikiska-Chikiska to have lunch there. During the hike you will have a great view of the Apurímac River and the valley, as well as the snow-capped peaks. After lunch, the weather will be much warmer as we are descending, 2 hours later, the Apurimac River will welcome us to the bottom of the valley. When you see a bridge, that's our cue, it's just 2 more hours of uphill hiking to the campground in Santa Rosa.

DAY 2: SANTA ROSA – MARAMPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAO B/L/D

After an early breakfast, you will continue the expedition with a 2-hour uphill hike to Marampata, this section has many switchback trails, is at an altitude of (3,100) and offers a great view of the canyon and surrounding snow-capped peaks.

From this point the walk is shortened for 2 hours to the famous Inca site Choquequirao, it is the perfect place to have lunch and visit the Inca site. On this tour, visit the most important places: the religious area, the observatory and the llama terrace sections and then enjoy the sunset over the valley and mountains before returning to the camp for the night.

DAY 3: CHOQUEQIRAO – CHOQUEQIRAO PASS – PINCHAWNIYOC – RIO BLANCO – MAIZAL   B/L/D

After an early breakfast, the hike will begin at 6:30 a.m. to reach the first pass of Choquequirao at 3,500m for 40 minutes uphill. Then the easy part of the walk begins, it is about 30 minutes of flat and elevated walking, before you begin to descend along the zigzag path for an hour and a half, which will take you to Pinchauniyoc. It is an Inca agricultural site and was a resting point for the Incas when they traveled for one of their expeditions to Machu Picchu.

The walk downhill for another hour and a half until reaching the Calle Río Blanco river at 1,750 m altitude for lunch time. After lunch, we will take a 4-hour uphill hike to Maizal, a camp surrounded by Andean mountains.

DAY 4: MAIZAL – MINAS VICTORIA – CONDOR PASS – YANAMA   B/L/D

We will get up early to have a hot drink followed by breakfast. We will start this day by taking a rocky path for a 4-hour uphill hike, surrounded by green valleys and also some arid mountain peaks.

Once we reach the top of the pass (at 4,200m), we will get a lunch box. The view will include snow-capped peaks, valleys and perhaps some condors (the largest bird in the Andes). After some rest time, we have a three and a half hour downhill hike ahead of us before arriving at our camp in Yanama. This is a small indigenous village and if we have time you can visit some local homes to see how the people live and learn about the ancient traditions they have kept alive for 100 years.

DAY 5: YANAMA – MARIANO LLAMOCCA PASS – TOTORA B/L/D

Around 6:00 in the morning the expedition begins. On this day, the walk is through the famous Vilcabamba mountain range, the last city of the Incas. It will take around 5 hours to reach the pass, with a few stops along the way to rest and listen to unforgettable information given by the guide.

Once you reach the pass at 4,500m, a lunch box will be provided. This is the last leg of the trip to Machu Picchu and the special part of this section is the view of Salkantay and Humantay. Grandfather's glacial peaks.

The roads can sometimes be slippery in the rainy season, but dusty and rocky in the dry season. Along the way, you may see some black bears and Andean birds such as hawks, eagles, falcons, condors, and geese. Once you arrive at camp, there are some hot drinks and a delicious dinner.

DAY 6: TOTORA – CCOLPAPAMPA – LA PLAYA       B/L/D

After breakfast, the trek will begin with 3 hours downhill towards Ccolpapampa, where you will have lunch and say thank you and goodbye to our riders, it is time for them to return home.

From there, the porters will continue by car and continue the adventure on foot, it will take approximately 5 hours to reach the camp in La Playa. Along the way you will see waterfalls and fruit plantations and you can also visit some coffee plantations.

DAY 7: LA PLAYA – HYDROELECTRIC – AGUAS CALIENTES       B/L/D

Our last day of walking will end around lunch time. The hike is approximately 6 hours, 3 of them uphill, along the hillside with a great view of the Santa Teresa Valley. Once you reach the top of this mountain you will be at the famous Inca site Llactapata, it is an observation point built by the Incas to watch the sunrise during the winter solstice. Also to see Machu Picchu for the first time, including the valleys and mountains of Machu Picchu (Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu mountains). 

Then the walk is 3 hours, descending to the hydroelectric station. There will be the last lunch on the way and you will say goodbye to the trekking chef and the porters.

The train is around 3:30 p.m. After a one-hour train ride to Aguas Calientes, our staff will be waiting to assist you and direct you to your selected hotel. . If you wish, you can visit the famous hot springs in Aguas Calientes (entrance fee is $3 per person) and enjoy dinner at a restaurant.

DAY 8: MACHUPICCHU - CUSCO: (D)

Once again it is an early day to arrive at Machu Picchu for sunrise. Start with breakfast at the hotel and then take one of the first buses to Machu Picchu or you can walk to the citadel with your tour guide (you must coordinate this with your trekking guide the night before).

In Machu Picchu, you will go to the most famous places, so you can get beautiful images, also enjoy the sunrise (weather permitting). After this is a walking tour and visit the most important places of the Machu Picchu complex, such as the Temple of the Sun.

The walking tour lasts between 2 or 3 hours, if you have obtained additional permits, you can climb Huayna Picchu mountain after our tour. (which will be during the second slot, at 10 a.m. and ends around noon). Afterwards, you will still have time to explore Machu Picchu on your own. Around 3 p.m., you should take the bus back to Aguas Calientes to have lunch at one of the many restaurants on your own.

After lunch, it's time to collect your bags from the hotel and walk to the train station. The 2-hour train ride leaves at 4:20 p.m. approximately. (tourist / expedition class) upon arriving at the town of Ollantaytambo, our transportation will be waiting to take you back to Cusco. You will arrive at your hotel around 8:30 p.m.

On this trip we use horses to carry the camping equipment and your duffel bags, so be sure to bring a small backpack to carry your personal items needed during the day. One thing we want to highlight is that the weather is extremely variable and often changes from hot to cold and humid. Also, be sure to bring mosquito repellent.