Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu

Your 6-Day Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek begins with an early pick-up from your hotel in Cusco at approximately 4:30 a.m. We will travel by private transportation for around four hours to Capuliyoc, where the trekking adventure begins.

From Capuliyoc (2,950 m / 9,678 ft), we begin a scenic descent into the spectacular Apurimac Canyon. This first day introduces you to the impressive scale of the Andes, with expansive mountain views, warmer valleys, changing vegetation, and dramatic canyon walls rising above the river below.

After several hours of hiking, we will reach Chikiska (1,950 m / 6,398 ft), where our trekking team will set up camp and prepare dinner. Tonight, you will rest in your tent and enjoy your first night surrounded by the Andean landscape.

You will wake up at approximately 5:00 a.m. After packing your belongings and getting ready for the day, enjoy breakfast at the campsite before beginning the morning hike.

The first section is an approximately 1.5-hour descent to La Playa, located near the river at the lowest elevation of the route. This area is noticeably warmer than the higher sections of the trek.

After reaching La Playa, we will cross the Apurimac River and begin an approximately two-hour ascent to Santa Rosa, where we will stop for lunch. This section can be challenging, but the climb rewards you with impressive views of the canyon.

Lunch will be served at a local family home, where you will have the opportunity to learn about a traditional drink made from sugar cane. After a short rest, continue uphill for another two to three hours. This final section is one of the most demanding parts of the day.

Eventually, we will arrive at Marampata (2,940 m / 9,646 ft), where spectacular views of the Andes and surrounding valleys await. After dinner, enjoy the clear mountain sky from one of the trek’s most memorable campsites.

After an early breakfast, you can leave most of your belongings at the campsite because you will spend a second night in Marampata. Today is dedicated to exploring the remarkable Choquequirao Archaeological Site.

You will receive a packed lunch before beginning the approximately 1.5-hour hike toward the archaeological complex. Once there, your guide will introduce you to Choquequirao and lead you through some of its most important areas while explaining the history and significance of this extraordinary Inca site.

Often described as the sister city of Machu Picchu, Choquequirao remains significantly less visited, providing an opportunity to explore an impressive archaeological complex surrounded by remote Andean scenery.

After enjoying your packed lunch, continue exploring the lower areas of Choquequirao, including its remarkable agricultural terraces. Once the visit is complete, begin the approximately 1.5-hour trek back to Marampata, where you will have time to relax before dinner and another night at the campsite.

After breakfast, prepare for one of the longest hiking days of the journey. We will begin with an approximately two-hour descent from Marampata to Santa Rosa, followed by another hour downhill toward La Playa.

Because much of the morning involves descending, trekking poles can be particularly useful along this section. After reaching La Playa, we will begin an approximately one-hour ascent to Chikiska, where we will stop for lunch.

After lunch and a short rest, continue for approximately one more hour toward the campsite. The lower elevation makes this section warmer, so staying hydrated throughout the day is important.

After another early breakfast, begin the final trekking section toward the trailhead at Capuliyoc. Along the way, take in your final views of the spectacular Apurimac Canyon and surrounding mountains.

Upon reaching Capuliyoc, we will enjoy our final lunch with the trekking team before saying goodbye to the staff who accompanied us during this part of the expedition.

After lunch, travel by private transportation for approximately four hours to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. From Ollantaytambo, continue by train to Aguas Calientes, where you will check into your hotel and enjoy a well-deserved night of rest before visiting Machu Picchu.

After an early breakfast at the hotel, take the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, your guide will accompany you through the archaeological site and introduce you to the spectacular scenery surrounding the Inca citadel.

You will then enjoy an approximately two-to-three-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu. Your guide will explain the history and significance of the areas included in your assigned circuit while you experience one of Peru’s most extraordinary archaeological sites.

If you have separately booked an additional mountain hike, you will complete it according to the conditions of your corresponding ticket. Otherwise, after your Machu Picchu visit, return by bus to Aguas Calientes, where lunch will be on your own.

Later, board the train to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. Upon arrival, our driver will meet you at the train station for the approximately two-hour journey back to Cusco, where you will be dropped off at your hotel.