Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu 8D/7N

Itinerary

• Day 1 : Cusco – Cachora – Capulichayoq – Chiquisca
• Day 2 : Chiquisca – Marampata – Choquequirao
• Day 3 : Marampata – Choquequirao – Marampata 
• Day 4 : Choquequirao – Pinchaunuyoc – Corihuayrachina
• Day 5 : Corihuayrachina – San Juan Pass – Yanama
• Day 6 : Yanama – Yanama Pass – La Playa
• Day 7 : La Playa – Llactapata – Aguas Calientes
• Day 8 : Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco

DAY 1 – CUSCO – CACHORA – CAPULICHAYOC – CHIQUISCA

The Trek to Choquequirao starts with pick up at 5am from your hotel in Cusco.

Your private transportation will take you on a 3.5-hour drive through the lush valley of the Apurímac River, until we reach the mountain town of San Pedro de Cachora at 2,900 m / 9,514 ft. Here you will be greeted by your chef and horsemen and enjoy a hearty breakfast at a local restaurant.

After breakfast in Cachora, you’ll load the horses and follow your guide on a 3-hour trek to El Mirador Capulichayoc. From the viewpoint, you’ll be treated to your first panoramic vista of the archaeological park of Choquequirao, including its stunning Apurimac Canyon, the deepest canyon in the world. Amidst that beautiful backdrop, you’ll also rest and have lunch.

Continuing along the trail for a further 3-hours, you’ll descend through the canyon, accompanied by breathtaking views of the snow-capped peak of Pedrayoc, until you reach camp in Chiquisca at 1,869 m / 6,132 ft. Upon arrival, you will set up camp, enjoy a freshly cooked dinner, and sleep alongside the sound of the Apurimac River under a starlit Andean sky.

DAY 2 – CHIQUISCA – MARAMPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAO

Day 2 will begin with breakfast at the Chiquisca camp, prepared fresh by our personal chef.

After breakfast you will embark on a 4-hour hike, ascending up the valley to our camp in Marampata at 2,870 m / 9,416 ft. As this will be our resting point for the night, you will have an opportunity to get settled and take lunch before the afternoons’ hike to Choquequirai.

After refueling at camp, you and your guide will begin the 90 minute trek to the archaeological site of Choquequirai at 3,050 m / 10,010 ft, meaning ‘Cradle of Gold’ in Quechua. This spectacular complex is considered to be ‘the last refuge of the Incas’ and is famously referred to as the ‘Sacred Sister of Machu Picchu’ due its resemblence to the Inca Citadel. It is widely believed that 15th century site was one of the last bastions of resistance and refuge of the Inca royality, after the seige of Cusco by the Spanish.

In its entirety, the complex of Choquequirai spans 1,800 hectares, making it larger than the citadel of Machu Picchu. However currently only 40% of the ruins have been excavated. Delightfully for you though, this leaves plenty for you to explore with your guide, whilst you unravel the mysteries hidden beneath its walls. The afternoon will be yours to investigate the sites’ urban sector, agricultural terraces and religious sector, before returning to camp in Marampata in the evening, for a hot cup of coca and a delicious dinner.

DAY 3 – MARAMPATA – TOUR OF CHOQUEQUIRAO – MARAMPATA

Day 3 will begin with breakfast at dawn at the Marampata camp, whilst admiring the sunrise over Choquequirai.

After breakfast, you will follow the trail back to the archaeological complex of Choquequirao. After a 90 minute walk, your guide will take you on a journey through the rich history of the site and lead you along the archaeological terraces to a beautiful waterfall. All the while hoping to see the local Andean Condors in the skies above. Shortly after, you will return to camp for a wholesome lunch prepared fresh by our chef.

In the afternoon, your guide will give you an extensive tour of the lower section of the site that sits 300 meters below the main structure. These include the terraces of the restored llamas, the house of the Inca, the main temple, the house of the priest and the sacrificial platform. Afterwhich you will retrace your steps back to camp for dinner and rest.

DAY 4 – CHOQUEQUIRAO – PINCHAUNUYOC – CORIHUAYRACHINA

Day 4 will begin with breakfast at dawn at the Marampata camp, whilst admiring the sunrise over Choquequirai.

After breakfast, you will ascend towards the Abra Choquequirao Pass at 3,500 m / 11,483 ft. Once at the summit, you will be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of the archaeolgical park and the skyscraper mountains surrounding it. After crossing the pass over the Vilcabamba mountain range, you will begin descending into the Rio Blanco Canyon, into cloud forests that are home to the Pinchaunuyoc terraces at 2,750 m / 8,120 ft. Tha name of the complex means ‘water shrine’ in Quechua, and is a demonstration of the profound sophistication of the Inca empire in water management and agricultural ingenuity. It is here you will take lunch after a tough morning of trekking.

Continuing through the canyon, we will spend the afternoon ascending up the valley to our camp at Corihuayrachina at 3,900 m / 12,795 ft.

DAY 5 – CORIHUAYRACHINA – SAN JUAN PASS – YANAMA

Day 5 will begin with breakfast at the Corihuayrachina camp, followed by a tour of the nearby archaeological site.

Corihuayrachina was only discovered in a recent expedition in 1999. At 3,900 m / 12,795 ft, it is one of the highest Inca sites in the region. The complex covers 6 km², comprising of pyramids, storehouses, towers, temples and a cemetery. Although not much is yet known of its origins, it is thought to be a place of resistance for the Incas and a remote religious site.

After exploring the ruins, you will begin the climb up a stunningly well preserved Inca Trail to the San Juan Pass at 4,150 m / 13,615 ft. At the summit you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the peaks of Pumasillo, Yanama, and Choquetacarpo. Near to the top you will also stop for lunch admist the backdrop of the Vilcabamba mountain range.

In the afternoon you will descend down the mountain for 2.5-hours into tropical vegetation, past the old silver mines of Victoria, eventually reaching camp in the charming Andean village of Yanama at 3,700 m / 12,139 ft.

DAY 6 – YANAMA – YANAMA PASS – LA PLAYA

Day 6 will begin with an early breakfast at the Yanama camp, before beginning a 5-hour ascent to the Yanama Pass at 4,700 m / 15,419 ft. From the summit you will discover stunning views of the glacial peak of Sacsarayoc and possibily even an Andean Condor in the skies above.

After feeling like you have reached the top of the world, you will begin the long descent through picturesque meadows and over old wooden bridges. As you leave behind the treeless highlands of the glacial mountains, and journey down into the humid, tropical valley, the surrounding egology will begin to change. Welcoming you into the forest with a vast variety of birds, orchids, coffee and banana plantations. 

In late afternoon you will have descended to an altitude of 2,320 m / 7,611 ft, where you will find our campsite in the town of La Playa, on the banks of the Salkantay River.

DAY 7 – LA PLAYA – LLACTAPATA – AGUAS CALIENTES

Day 7 will begin with a freshly cooked breakfast at the camp in La Playa, along the shores of the Salkantay river.

With the promise of Macchu Picchu on the horizon, you’ll spend the morning ascending up an ancient Inca Trail for 3-hours to the archaeological site of Llactapata at 2,840 m / 9,317 ft. The trail passes by native Quechua villages, home to coffee plantations and citrus tree orchards, before reaching the beautiful high altitude grasslands at the viewpoint. It is here where you’ll be treated to your first panoramic view of the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, and the Lost City of the Incas from above.

After taking some breathtaking souvenir photos, you will descend for 2 hours towards the town of Hidroelectrica, where you will enjoy your final meal with our chef. This afternoon, you will say thank you and goodbye to the horseman and chef, as they return to their homes and you seek to complete the penultimate day of the tour.

The final leg of the hike, will be a 12 km walk alongside the railway line to Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu town at 2,040 m / 6,693 ft. The official finish line of the 8 day Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu! Here you will indulge in a delicious restaurant dinner and fall into a comfortable hotel bed for the night.

*In the event you don’t want to walk from La Playa to Aguas Calientes, there’s an option to pay an extra fee for a car from La Playa to Hidroelectrica, and the train to Aguas Calientes*

DAY 8 – AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

After taking breakfast in your hotel, your guide will meet you at reception and escort you the bus station where you will board the tourist bus to Machu Picchu. The scenic route from Aguas calientes takes you on a 30 minute bus ride up the mountainside to the entrance of the Inca citadel. Once inside, you will be taken on a 2-hour tour of Machu Picchu, journeying through its rich history, as you make your way through the Inca city with your personal tour guide. Aswell as visting the famous sites of the temple of the sun, the central plaza and the stepped terraces, you will have plenty opportunity to take the bucket list photos you came for atop the panoramic viewpoint of Machu Picchu.

Before boarding the bus back down the mountain, your guide will also allow you time to explore the mysteries of the sanctuary alone.

Once you have regrouped with your guide and taken the bus back to Aguas Calientes, there will be time to take lunch in one of Machu Picchu towns’ many restaurants (optional extra), before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo. There you will be greeted by your guide and private transportation who will take you on the 2-hour drive back to your hotel in Cusco. Arrival time in Cusco is approximatley 6.30pm.

*There will also be time to climb Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu mountain in this tour after your guided tour of the Inca citadel. However please be aware, this will be an extra cost of $70 USD per person and will involve an extra 2-hours hiking. Return to Cusco will therefore be aboard a later train and arrival time in Cusco will be approx 8.30pm.*