Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu

Arrive in Cusco, Peru at the Cusco International Airport. Transportation to your hotel is included, and at your hotel you’ll meet your guide for tour briefing. Depending on what time you arrive, you will probably have time to explore the city. The city of Cusco, high in the Andes mountains, was the capital of the ancient Incan Empire. There are many remains left from the Incas and you can also see Spanish mansions and churches. Cusco also offers a vibrant nightlife and wonderful Peruvian restaurants.

Today is left free for you to acclimitize and also to explore Cusco at your own pace, wherever your interests take you. There is so much to see, do, and learn here in South America’s oldest, continuously inhabited city. What was once the Inca’s capital city has now become the archaeological capital of South America.

To help you make the most of your visit, you can choose from one of two tours. Choose between the Sacred Valley Tour and the Maras Moray Tour.

The Sacred Valley Tour is a full day of experiences. You’ll visit an Indian market in Pisac to experience this colourful tradition. You can barter with the local craftsmen to purchase unique, handmade souvenirs. You’ll then travel to the town of Ollantaytambo, a town of narrow streets and canals that are largely unchanged since the time the Incas inhabited it. Finally, visit the Chinchero market. This market is more authentic and less geared toward tourists. According to legend, Chinchero is the birthplace of the rainbow. When you are finished in Chinchero, return to Cusco.

The Maras Moray tour begins with a drive from your hotel to Moray (approx. 1.5 hours). Moray is known as the “Inca agricultural greenhouse or laboratory.” Here, the Incas carved amphitheatre-like terraces in a bowl shape. It is thought that these were used to test and determine optimal growing conditions for different crops. After exploring Moray, continue another two miles to visit the Maras salt mines. In this area, you can see a series of tiny channels carved so that the highly salty water coming from a natural spring would run into terraced ponds. Exposed to the sun, the water dries and leaves the salt behind. It is believed that salt was harvested in this way in this place since a time before even the Incas. After exploring the Maras salt mines, return to Cusco.

Meet the private bus at your hotel after breakfast for a 4-hour drive to reach the start of your trek. At the Cachora trailhead (2,800 m / 9,184 ft), we’ll load the horses with all our equipment and hike for about 2.5 hours to the Capuliyoc Pass (2,750 m / 9,020 ft). After a break, your trek continues for another 2.5 hours, descending into the Apurimac Canyon to reach your first campsite of the trek at Chiquisca (1,800 m / 5,905 ft).

Hit the trail early today to avoid a steep climb in the hottest part of the day. Descend further into the canyon for about an hour until you reach Playa Rosalina (1,400 m / 4,593 ft), where you will cross the Apurimac River. From here, the trail climbs steeply. After hiking for about two hours, there is a wonderful, shady place to stop and rest in Santa Rosa. Continue climbing for about two hours to reach Marampata, where you will stop to eat lunch. From here, the trail is gentler and in about two hours you will reach the Choquequirao campsite (3,103 m / 10,178 ft).

Most of today will be spent exploring the archaeological site of Choquequirao. Get an early start and enjoy a guided tour of this ancient city. Though Choquequirao is not as well-known as Machu Picchu, the two sites are related. Choquequirao was discovered first, by the Spanish explorers of the 17th Century, but little was done to explore it and it lay forgotten for many years. During more recent years, tourism has brought renewed interest in the city and it is now being studied more thoroughly. On your tour, you’ll learn more about the Incas and their culture, and you’ll see the most interesting and important areas that have been discovered so far. Since only about 25% of Choquequirao has been explored, there are still plenty of secrets waiting to be uncovered. After the tour, return to the campsite at Choquequirao.

Start the morning by climbing toward Choquequirao Pass (3,250 m / 10,660 ft), you’ll enter the enchanting cloud forest area, full of wonderful and diverse plant life. Once you have crossed the pass, you’ll descend to the Yuracmayo River and cross the riverbed. Climb from here up to Maizal, which is a balcony that offers a wonderful view of the Yuracmayo and Yanama river gorges, especially where they meet and rush as one toward the Apurimac Canyon. Here at the Maizal campsite (3,000 m / 9,842 ft), you’ll find a beautiful natural viewpoint, which faces to the west and offers a spectacular sunset view.

Leaving the Maizal camp, the trail climbs steeply up toward the Mina Victoria. This area was originally mined by the Incas but later became a colonial mine. You’ll then hike along Qoriwayrachina Hill, another Incan ruin that has only recently begun to be explored by archaeologists. Stop for lunch nearby as you cross the pass (3,900 m / 12,792 ft) and then descend into Yanama village (3,600 m / 11,811 ft) to camp for the night. From here you’ll enjoy fantastic views of the mountains all around you, including Mt. Pumasillo (5,991 m / 19,656 ft).

Hike through the Yanama Valley today, passing fields of crops along the way, until you reach the trailhead for Quiswar Pass. As you cross the pass, on a clear day you can expect incredible views of Mt. Salkantay and Mt. Humantay. After the pass, the trail winds down through the valley to the village of Totora (3,300 m / 10,826 ft), where you will camp for the night.

Today’s hike takes you along the lovely Salkamayo River. The vegetation here is lush and green, you’ll pass numerous waterfalls, and have a chance to see plantations growing coffee and passion fruit. Arrive at La Playa (2,155 m / 7,068 ft) in the afternoon, and with time to take a refreshing dip in the river before it is time for dinner.

After breakfast, the hike begins by crossing the river. The trail then climbs through plantations growing fruit and coffee, eventually coming to a viewpoint at El Mirador (2,860 m / 9,381 ft). From here, enjoy incredible views of Machu Picchu. Continue hiking to your lunch stop at Llaqtapata (2,650 m / 8,692 ft), which is another Incan site that has been restored recently. Enjoy lunch with views of Machu Picchu and Mt. Salkantay. Then descend for about 2 hours to reach the Hidroelectrica train station (1,800 m / 5,905 ft), where you will board a train to Aguas Calientes.

An early morning today, with a great reward. Have breakfast and meet your guide at 5:40 AM, ready to explore for the day. From Aguas Calientes, a short bus ride takes you to Machu Picchu in time to watch the sunrise. Begin with a guided walking tour of the Citadel that lasts about 2 hours, then you are free to explore the area on your own.

For those who are interested in climbing Wayna (Huayna) Picchu, the mountain behind Machu Picchu, an optional tour can be arranged for an additional fee. The Wayna Picchu hike allows you to see Machu Picchu from a new perspective, as well as view steps that the Incas cut into the rocks. Since permits are required, please book this optional tour ahead of time.

Return to Aguas Calientes by bus to eat lunch, then take the train back Ollantaytambo. Transportation from the train station back to your hotel is provided.

All good things must come to an end, and sadly, your Choquequirao Trek and Machu Picchu tour have now ended. After breakfast, depending on your flight times, you are free to explore Cusco, and possibly enjoy extra optional activities until it is time for your transfer to the airport. Have a pleasant journey!