Do you like the idea of traveling back in time to a time when we were one with nature? Does the sound of visiting two incredible archaeological complexes excite you? Then join us on this incredible 8-day expedition to Choquequirao hike to Machu Picchu, the two most important Inca sites that have ever existed. Many travel magazines around the world mention it as one of the ten best trails in the world for the great variety of biodiversity and wildlife. Along the way, you will trek through high mountains and deep jungle valleys. Unique doesn’t even begin to describe this experience! Choquequirao is rarely visited and off the beaten path for those who love to escape the big crowds.
Your next stop is Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Due to the remote and challenging nature of the trek, it is essential to travel only with the most qualified tour operators. Our highly qualified staff is well-trained and ready to make your trip as pleasant as possible.
Choquequirao hike is located in the foothills of the Salkantay mountain range at (3035 masl – 9957 ft), surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of Yanama, Ampay, Choquetacarpo, Pumasillo and Panta on the right side of the Apurimac River. Choquequirao is an Inca town consisting of many small sites that form a complex metropolis located on top of the mountain called Choquequirao.
So, what are you waiting for? Join us today for this incredible adventure that you will never forget.
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco to start the adventure of your life, which will be the Choquequirao hike to Machu Picchu! We start by driving for 5 hours from Cusco to Capuliyoc. Here we will have breakfast later, we will meet with the rest of the team, a rider and our chef will accompany each walk. They will help make the logistics of our trip smooth and comfortable. We will start by walking through the Capuliyoc pass.
We will walk downhill for 3 hours to our Chiquisca lunch spot on the way, we will have a great view of the Apurimac Canyon, and we will be able to experience the exuberant microclimate of the valley. Finally, we will descend through a cactus forest to Playa Rosalina, on the banks of the Apurimac River, the main tributary of the Amazon River. This is where we will camp for our first night.
Sleeping well is important so that we can be ready for the Choquequirao hike to Machu Picchu 8 days, the next day.
Every day after breakfast on the hike, you will be given a bag of snacks to munch on throughout the day. This will help keep your energy levels up until your next meal.
The first part of our hike today is a six-hour ascent up a narrow trail to the summit. After 2 hours, we will arrive at Santa Rosa, which is a small town where you can rest and enjoy a snack.
Then we will continue until we reach Marampata for lunch. From here, you will be amazed at your first view of the Choquequirao complex.
After an hour and a half walk, we will arrive at Choquequirao (Cradle of Gold), which is considered the sister city of Machu Picchu due to its many similarities. It is located at 1,500 m / 4,921 ft above the Apurimac Canyon, and Machu Picchu is at 2,430 m / 7,972 ft above the Urubamba Canyon. Both are huge Inca complexes that were very important in their empire.
In the afternoon, you will have free time to explore the archaeological site, learn a little more about the Inca history and enjoy the views of the canyon at sunset, which are truly spectacular. You may also have the opportunity to see Andean condors flying in the mountains, the largest flying bird in the world. Tonight, we will enjoy another great meal and camp in Choquequirao.
At night we can experience the mystical atmosphere of Choquequirao, where the gods of the Incas once ruled and their spirits still float.
Before breakfast, we recommend getting up early to appreciate the magnificent sunrise from a picturesque spot not far from the camp! It will be the highlight of your trip if you go the extra mile.
We will have breakfast at 5:45 am and then begin today’s adventure touring and exploring the ruins of Choquequirao. Your expert guide will tell you everything he knows about the incredible site and you will discover many secrets of the Incas.
With a bit of luck, we can also see the amazing condor. From Choquequirao we will start our trip to the magnificent Inca city Machu Picchu. The journey to Machu Picchu begins with an uphill trek through cloud forests, mountains, and valleys to reach the Choquequirao pass. It is a very picturesque route. After 5 hours of walking, we will arrive at Pinchainuyoc, which means “water leaping forward” (2,420 m / 7,940 ft). This place is a system of ancient agricultural terraces that will surely fascinate you. We will continue descending to enjoy our lunch near the river where you will be able to appreciate several species of birds, different orchids and plantations of the sacred coca leaf, a plant that has been used by humans for centuries thanks to its many healthy properties. Properties. Many choose to take advantage of this time to take a dip in the clear, cold water of the river to cool off after days without showering.
After lunch, we will cross the river on foot as there are no bridges. Once on the other side, we will begin the long and steep climb to our camp at Maizal, which is located high above the river and closer to the sacred Apus of the Incas, the huge sacred mountains of the Andes. This climb takes about 4 hours.
Once the most challenging day of our trek is over, you’ll be happy to get some rest and enjoy a great meal. We will camp at (3000 m – 9843 ft).
During breakfast, we watch a magical sunrise over the mountains. We start our hike to Machu Picchu with an uphill path, where the landscape is lush and full of green vegetation. If the sky is clear, we can enjoy the beautiful snowy mountains that surround us. If not, we will be able to see the clouds falling through the valley below us. Both are incredibly beautiful, so don’t worry too much about the weather!
Today we will climb uphill for about 5 hours until we reach the top. One of our favorite parts of day four is waking up on the hillside and listening to the sounds of the forest and the birds. It’s a truly great experience and really strengthens your bond with Mother Nature.
This portion of the trail is historically significant due to the large number of ruins that can be found along the way. We will pass through the impressive Inca mines, called Minas Victoria, from which silver was extracted. Next, we will head towards the San Juan Pass (4,200 m / 13,780 ft). This is a long climb, but you won’t get out of phase because you are surrounded by beautiful scenery everywhere you look.
First, we will cross the intriguing cloud forest and then over the Andean Puna, which is known for its famous Ichu hay-like grass. As we get closer to the top, we will have the opportunity to walk some original paved Inca trails. We savor our lunch while enjoying the views of the Choquetakarpo and Padrayoc mountains. If you haven’t seen condors (the largest bird in the Andes), before this point, you may have a chance here, depending on the season.
Finally, we will descend to our camp at Yanama, this is a small indigenous town at the bottom of a long valley surrounded by mountains (3,600 m/11,811ft). Where, if time allows, we can visit some houses of local families to learn how the people here still live their lives according to the old traditions. At this point, we will also have a delicious dinner and a well-deserved night’s sleep.
Today we will start walking through the famous Vilcabamba mountain range (Vilcabamba was the last city of the Incas).
You will find that as you start your day this morning, we are joined by excited local children and serenaded by the sounds of the jungle and a waterfall.
After breakfast, we will start hiking uphill for 5 hours to the highest part of our entire trek, Yanama Pass (4,650 m/15,256ft). As we walk, we will be able to observe the Andean villagers cultivating their potatoes on the terraced hills of the valley. Potatoes are native to this part of the world, and it shows with the many varieties on offer and the many ways to cook them. Here, we will have a fantastic view of the Saqsarayoc and Padreyoc mountain ranges.
The morning ascent will take us into a new environment, depending on the season, and we could be walking on snow at this point in the hike. Since this is the last stage of the trip to Machu Picchu, you will enjoy being in the highlands for the last time and the views of Salkantay and Humantay one of the ancient Inca gods, also known as Apus.
Afterward, we will descend on a long and misty road through grassy fields, bushy areas and crossing bridges on the way to the community of Totora. Throughout this section, we will have a break for lunch and rest to recover. Then, we will continue for one more hour until we reach our camp in Collpapampa. In total, we will descend for 4 hours. We will spend the night in tents, surrounded by this warm and welcoming community and outstanding natural beauty.
You’ll wake up to another nutritious breakfast this morning. Today’s walk is mainly downhill, continuing along an original Inca trail. We will walk through dark forests and appreciate the depths of the cloud forest, a really fascinating part of the walk.
We will walk around 6 hours today as we return to the heat of the jungle. We will see wildlife such as hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and many species of orchids and wild begonias, which are common in this region.
As you walk along a path on the left side of the Santa Teresa River, you will see small plantations of bananas, passion fruit, and coffee, which you can sample if you wish. Along the way, we will also stop at small waterfalls to cool off. The weather and vegetation are very different here than the other days of our trek. La Playa is the largest town on the route, and after a break there, we will continue walking for 30 minutes to Lucmabamba, where we will enjoy a delicious lunch and settle in our camp.
Since you will have free time this afternoon, we recommend you visit the relaxing thermo-medicinal waters of Cocalmayo that are located nearby. It is the best way to recover after so many days of walking, and it will help to relax the muscles. Tonight, you will return for a hearty dinner before going to bed at your jungle lodge for the night.
The last day of our Choquequirao hike to Machupicchu 8 days route has arrived. We will walk 3 hours after breakfast uphill on a section of the original Inca Trail. Along this section, you can see the incredible landscape of the Santa Teresa valley and some coffee and passion fruit plantations below.
Once we reach the top of that mountain, we will find the fabulous Inca site of Llactapata, from where you can enjoy your first views of the Inca city of Machu Picchu and a part of the famous Inca trail. You will also tour the site and learn all about it from your guide.
Afterwards, we will descend for an hour and a half to our lunch spot in Aobamba. Once it is full and renovated, we will continue to Hidroelectrica, from where we will follow the railway for three more hours to the small town of Aguas Calientes (2040 m / 6693 ft). If you are tired at this point, you can also take the train for this last part.
When you arrive in the city, you will check into a comfortable hotel and have time to relax. Before dinner, you will have the option to visit the thermo-medicinal waters, which is why the town is known as Aguas Calientes. This is another fantastic opportunity to rest tired muscles.
Tonight we will have dinner in a restaurant. Then a night of well-deserved rest awaits you because the next morning you will have to get up before dawn to go to the incredible archaeological complex of Machu Picchu.
Your enthusiasm for our visit to Machu Picchu will be enormous this morning when we wake up early in the morning. After a nutritious breakfast at your hotel, we will take one of the first buses to go to the Machu Picchu entrance checkpoint (2,400 m/7,875 ft), which is open from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. m. to 5:00 p.m. m.
You will arrive there when the sun rises and shines its beautiful morning light on the huge rocks. After you have enjoyed the spectacular view, you will have plenty of time to explore this truly magnificent Wonder of the World as you enjoy a 2-hour guided tour of all the important sectors including temples, terraces, palaces, priest houses, Intihuatana. , the industrial sector and the agricultural sector. You will be amazed at the engineering ingenuity of the Incas, which was far ahead of its time and remains a mystery today.
You can then choose to climb Huayna Picchu or Machupicchu Mountain (if you have tickets booked in advance) or walk to Puerta del Sol or the Inca Bridge. From all these points, you can get an amazing view of the entire site. You will be able to stay and enjoy this magical city for more than 5 hours on your own before returning to Aguas Calientes.
Once back in town, you will have time to find a restaurant where you want to have lunch before catching the train at 4:22 pm. m. (subject to availability) to Ollantaytambo. There, our private transportation will pick up your group and drop you off at your accommodation in Cusco around 8:00 p.m. Rest your feet and your body after the magical Choquequirao hike to Machu Picchu 8 days, because we can assure you that your heart will continue to beat for weeks and years to the rhythm of the Andes.
In the summer we would go on a trip to Choquequirao where Elias was our guide. During the eight day trip, he not only guided us very well, but he also explained the different sites accurately and answered all our questions accurately. The trip was an amazing experience and we can only recommend the Peru Trek team.
Thank you PERU TREK, especially our trek from Choquequirao to Machu Pichu has been exhilarating confronting beautiful raw landscapes and we have met so many wonderful human beings from the salt of the earth, kind human beings with so little but offered so much of their warmth, generosity and patience, especially Alex our beautiful guide, chef Rocky, always so loving. Thank you.
Wow, what an amazing experience. I think this is one of the best services offered because of the quality, thoughtfulness and people, and it was a life changing experience for me. I felt equipped and welcomed not only to the trip, but also to Peru’s rich history, land, plants, animals, culture, and beautiful people. I learned more than I expected and have a greater appreciation for the trail, the Quechua people, and life in general.
