The Choquequirao Trek to Machupicchu is an adventure in the truest sense of the word!
This adventure begins in the magnificent Incan ruins at Choquequirao high in the Vilcabamba Range. Choquequirao is accessible only by foot, and has yet to become a tourist attraction like its sister city, Machupicchu.
- Pre-Trek briefing the night before the trek
- Collection from your hotel
- Private bus transport to starting point of the trek
- 7kg Personal luggage allowance to put on the horses –extra clothes, sleeping bag (you just need to carry a small daypack with everything you will need during the day).
- Personal Duffle Bags for your extra luggage to put on the horses
- Spacious tents / Thermarest Inflatable Mattress and pillow
- Toilet tent with portable toilet
- English speaking professional guide
- Full meals on the trek (3 meals per day, tea time every afternoon, snacks on the trail)
- First-aid kit including emergency oxygen tank and emergency horse
- Dining tent with tables and stools
- Cook, cooking tent, and cooking equipment
- Horsemen and horses (to carry tents/food/cooking equipment)
- Emergency horse in case we need it
- Hot water every morning/evening for hand washing purposes
- Boiled water to fill in water bottles every morning/afternoon
- Entry ticket to Choquequirao Archaeological Complex
- Hydroelectric Train to Aguas Calientes
- tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Entrance fee to Machu Picchu Archaeological Complex
- Round-trip bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Hotel (double room) in Aguas Calientes
- Private Transport back to hotel in Cusco
- Sleeping bags (can be rented from us)
- walking poles (can be rented from us)
- Gratuities.
- Original passport (if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both)
- Down or synthetic feather sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
- Clothes (trekking boots, warm fleece jacket, a few t-shirts, socks, sun hat, warm underwear, light long pants, gloves, rain jacket)
- Toiletries (toilet paper, wet wipes, personal towel)
- Sunscreen SPF 50+ recommended
- Head lamp
- Sunglasses
- Camera with spare batteries (batteries run down faster at high altitudes)
- Binoculars
- Trekking poles (recommended especially for the steep descents, can be rented from us)
- Insect repellent.
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 01: Cusco – Capuliyoc – Chiquisca
We pick you up at your hotel and drive for the next 4 hours to Capuliyoc. Along the way are spectacular views of villages, valleys, and snow-capped mountains. Next, we arrive at Cachora where meet our horsemen who pack all of our equipment onto the horses. Here you will see glaciers and the peaks of Padrayoc and Wayna Cachora mountains at the Apurimac Valley lookout.
We will descend for 2 hours to Chiquisa, where we will spend the night. It is considerably warmer here as compared to the starting point of our trip. We will feel a difference in heat and humidity as we change climate zones.
❊ Meals: Lunch/Dinner
❊ Accommodation: Camping
❊ Maximum altitude: 2,915 m/9,564 ft.
❊ Minimum altitude: 1,900 m/6,270 ft.
❊ Total distance to walk: 7 km/4.3 miles
❊ Estimated time: 4 hours
❊ Level of Difficulty: moderate
Day 02: Chiquisca – Maranpata – Choquequirao
This is the most difficult part of the trek. After an early breakfast we will start descending to the Apurimac River, and then walk uphill to the rural village of Maranpata all the while enjoying all the flowers, parrots and hummingbirds that nature offers us. We will have lunch overlooking the archeological site of Choquequirao. After lunch we will continue our ascent to Choquequirao for another 2 hours.
In Choquequirao we will see if we are lucky enough to witness the flight of a condor. We will leave the exploration of the archaeological complex and its history for the next day, and will rest after a hard day of hiking. We will set our camp in the vicinity of Choquequirao archaeological complex.
❊ Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
❊ Accommodation: Camping
❊ Maximum altitude: 3,035 m/9,957 ft
❊ Minimum altitude: 1,461 m/4,793 ft
❊ Total distance to walk: 17 km/10.5 miles
❊ Estimated time: 8-9 hours
❊ Level of Difficulty: challenging
Day 03: Choquequirao – Pinchiunuyoc
After breakfast our trek leader will give us a proper tour of the Choquequirao complex. We will visit the high sections (Hanan) and the low sections (Urin). Some areas are still covered in wild foliage and ready to be restored as in Incan times. We will rest a little before lunch, and then in the afternoon we will climb over a ridge and descend for 2 hours until we reach our campsite at the Pinchiunuyoc archaeological complex. This is definitely the easiest day of the trip.
❊ Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
❊ Accommodation: Camping
❊ Maximum altitude: 3,318 m/10,883 ft
❊ Minimum altitude: 2,420 m/7,940 ft
❊ Total distance to walk: 10 km/8.6 miles
❊ Estimated time: 5 hours
❊ Level of Difficulty: moderate
Day 04: Pinchiunuyoc – Rio Blanco – Maizal
From our campsite we hike downhill for 2 hours and arrive at the canyon on the Rio Blanco (1,990m / 6,527ft.). Its waters are warm so it’s a perfect place to stop and have a refreshing dip and ease out your tired muscles. After our swim, we’ll start a difficult climb to our campsite at Maizal. The climb is 3 -4 hours long.
❇︎ Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
❇︎ Accommodation: Camping
❇︎ Maximum altitude: 3,000 m/9,842 ft
❇︎ Minimum altitude: 1,990 m/6,527 ft
❇︎ Total distance to walk: 8 km/4.9 miles
❇︎ Estimated time: 5 hours
❇︎ Level of Difficulty: challenging
Day 05: Maizal – Yanama – Totora – Lucmabamba
Today we take a walk for about 4 hours to the pass of San Juan. From this high pass we will be able to see the imposing mountain Choquetacarpo . This is a fantastic spot to take pictures on a clear day. The spectacular views continue from the pass as we descend to the charming village of Yanama.
After lunch we will take the bus to the Lucmabamba village campsite. On the way you will visit an organic coffee plantation that produces some of the best organic coffee in the world. In Lucmabamba, the hot air and increased humidity signal that you are even closer to the edge of the Amazon Jungle.
❇︎ Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
❇︎ Accommodation: Camping
❇︎ Maximum altitude: 4,130 m/13,546 ft
❇︎ Minimum altitude: 2,100 m/6,890 ft
❇︎ Total distance to walk: 12 km/7.5 miles
❇︎ Estimated time: 7 hours
❇︎ Level of Difficulty: challenging
Day 06: Lucmabamba – Llactapata – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes
Today we come within sight of our goal, Machupicchu. We will begin the hike early and you will have the opportunity to enjoy a small part of the famous and highly-acclaimed Inca Trail! After a 2-hour climb we will arrive at the Llactapata Inca site right in front of Machupicchu. We will be able to see not only the ruins of Machupicchu from this spot, but also Huaynapicchu and Machupicchu Mountains.
After Llactapata, we will enjoy lunch in a meadow with a panoramic view. The final descent takes you through lush bamboo forest, until you end the day’s hike at the Hidroelectrica train station. A 45 minute scenic train ride delivers you to your final stop, the town of Aguas Calientes at the base of Machupicchu. On arrival at Aguas Calientes you will check into your hotel and dinner will be at the finest restaurant.
❇︎ Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
❇︎ Accommodation: hotel
❇︎ Maximum altitude: 2,736 m/8,974 ft.
❇︎ Minimum altitude: 1,771 m/5,809 ft.
❇︎ Total distance to walk: 22 km/13 miles
❇︎ Estimated time: 5 hours
❇︎ Level of Difficulty: Challenging
Day 07: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
It is an early start to Macchu Picchu to see the sunrise over this magnificent ancient city! We take the first bus up to Machupicchu and have a fully guided tour of around 2 hours. After the tour you have plenty of time to explore the citadel on your own, and maybe even climb Huayna Picchu or Inca Bridge. Afterwards, you can come back down to the town for lunch. Your extra time in the citadel is dependent on your return train time. In the afternoon we take the train back to Ollantaytambo where our driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Cusco.
❇︎ Meals: Breakfast
❇︎ Minimum altitude: 2,040 m/6,691 ft.
❇︎ Maximum altitude: 2,430 m/7,972 ft.
