Choquequirao To Machu Picchu Trek – 9D/8N

Day 2: Challenging Day: Chiquisca- Marampata -Choquequirao

We will wake you up gently at 5:00 am with hot coca tea and enjoy some delicious breakfast. We will then head out on the trail. Today is one of the most challenging days. Your hike will be one of the steepest uphill hikes of the trek. Halfway through the trail, you’ll have a brief rest and snack stop. You’ll resume your hike until you reach the small community of Marampata where you’ll enjoy lunch. After 3 more hours of walking, you’ll reach Choquequirao. Prior to reaching Choquequirao, you will have a beautiful panoramic view of the Apurimac Canyon and various farmlands along the path. Dinner will be served and enjoy a much deserved good night’s rest.

• Minimum Altitude: 6023ft / 1836m
• Maximum Altitude: 9679ft /2950m
• Distance Travelled: 8.7mi/14km
• Walking Time: 6 hrs

Day 3: The Hidden Citadel: Full Day Choquequirao

On this day you will have the opportunity to visit the entire archaeological citadel of Choquequirao. After an early breakfast, you will head towards Choquequirao and begin your guided tour. Your tour leader will explore with you and guide you to the most recent excavations and findings in the last years.

The Temple of the Llamas, Temple of Water, Ceremonial Platform, Storehouses, and much more will be seen on this day. For lunch, you’ll return to your campsite and then head off again to explore this site. As sunset is approaching your tour leader will take you to the highest platform of Choquequirao. You’ll observe a beautiful sunset and absorb all the magical energy Choquequirao offers. Dinner is served at your campsite followed by a good night’s rest.

• Minimum Altitude: 9514ft / 2900m
• Maximum Altitude: 9843ft / 3000m
• Distance Travelled: 3mi / 5km
• Walking Time: 6 hrs

Day 4: The Bamboo Pat

Day 4: The Bamboo Path: Choquequirao – Pinchaunuyoc – Maizal

After waking up call and a good breakfast, we will leave the archeological site of Choquequirao. We begin hiking for an hour in a path that will lead us to the humid subtropical Andean forest. You will observe a variety of vegetation and paths filled with Andean bamboo.

We will continue on a narrow path but impressive path where we might have the opportunity to observe the largest bird of the Andes, The Condor. We then begin descending to the Pinchaunuyoc complex where lunch is served. Afterward, you will have a short tour of this recently discovered archaeological site. Your trek continues downward towards a river called “Rio Blanco.” After crossing the river you will begin an ascent hike for a period of 3 hours to the Maizal campsite. Here you will have dinner and camp overnight.

• Minimum Altitude: 4921ft / 1500m
• Maximum Altitude: 10827ft / 3300m
• Distance Travelled: 8.7mi / 14km
• Walking Time: 8 hrs

Day 5: The Puma Path: Maizal – Minas Victoria Trail – San Juan Pass – Yanama

Early in the morning we will leave Maizal campsite and begin an uphill hike towards San Juan Pass. We walk along a path that today is used by mule drivers and miners from previous years. We’ll pass a lot of mine tunnels. You will walk an original Inca path until you reach San Juan Pass. Lunch is served here. Impressive views of the surrounding glaciers are appreciated here amongst the high Andean valleys. After a break, we begin walking to the last part of the trail to the community of Yanama. Here we have dinner camp overnight.

• Minimum Altitude: 12467ft / 3800m
• Maximum Altitude: 13615ft / 4150m
• Distance Travelled: 6.84mi /11km
• Walking Time: 7 hrs

Day 6: The Condor Pass: Yanama – Abra Apacheta – Totora

Like every Morning after a wakeup call and a good breakfast, we will continue the route from Yanama to Totora camping site. Yanama is a Quechua speaking community that still continues a bond of traditions and customs of our Inca ancestors. On this day we will appreciate the farmland as people from these communities cultivate organic products such as potatoes and their variants as is Chuńo, and Moraraya (dried potatoes). You will be surrounded by beautiful nature views such as glaciers, flora and fauna, and wildlife.

Today will be the ascent to the highest point of our adventure. We will gradually walk uphill for approximately 4 to 5 hours to the Yanama pass. This pass is over 15,000ft or 4600 meters above sea level. Lunch will be served along the way prior to your descent hike. After reaching the highest point we will continue downhill for approximately 3 hours to Totora. Here we camp and enjoy dinner.

• Minimum Altitude: 11680ft / 3560m
• Maximum Altitude: 15091ft / 4600m
• Distance Travelled: 11.2mi / 18km
• Walking Time: 9 hrs

Day 7: Cloud Forest Path: Totora – Colpapampa – La Playa Hotsprings – Lucmabamba

Today you will walk for half a day as you view Peru’s beautiful ecosystems and microclimates. In this path, you can appreciate a variety of wildlife flora, and natural landscapes. The diversity of nature such as orchids, birds, hummingbirds, toucans, waterfalls, and rivers will be seen along this route.

Our destination is to reach the community of La Playa where we will have lunch and camp overnight. In La Playa, we are officially in the high jungle of Peru. The high jungle means we will see different vegetation as well as farmlands of Coffee, Avocado, passion fruits, Bananas, Coca leaves, Pineapples and etc. We will try to eat the fruits grown in the place according to their season. Afterward, you will go to the beautiful Santa Teresa Hot Springs by bus. When you return back to La Playa after a few hours of the Hot Springs you will have dinner followed by a campfire with warm drinks.

Note: Round trip transportation and the entrance fee to Santa Teresa Hot Springs is included in your tour at no extra cost to you!!

• Minimum Altitude: 6850ft / 2088m
• Maximum Altitude: 9383ft / 2860m
• Distance Travelled: 6.84mi/ 11km
• Walking Time: 5 hrs

Day 8: An Inca Path: Coffee Plantation – Lucmabamba – Llactapata- Hydroelectric Town – Aguas Calientes

We’ll have breakfast around 7:00 am and then begin our trek to Llactapata. On the way, you will walk through coffee plantations, visit a local family, and taste the world-renowned Peruvian Coffee (coffee lovers you are in for a treat!) You will continue your hike until you reach the balcony view of Machupicchu. After some photos and rest, you will continue on a two-hour downhill hike to the hydroelectric town. There you will be served lunch. At around 3 pm you will board your train to Aguas Calientes where you will spend the night.

Enjoy a nice warm shower and we will meet up for dinner at the famous Indio Feliz restaurant. You will have a delicious dinner at this 5-star restaurant. Afterward, you can explore this small town on your own as it is very touristy or you can head back to your hotel. Make sure to have a good night’s rest because you will get up very early the following day to visit Machupicchu.

Note: The 5-star restaurant Indio Feliz is Included in your tour at no extra cost to you!!

• Minimum Altitude: 5905ft / 1800m
• Maximum Altitude: 6562ft / 2000m
• Distance Travelled: 6.84mi / 11km
• Walking Time: 5 hours

Day 9: Magical Day: Machupicchu Tour – Return to Cusco

To avoid large lines and crowds we highly suggest you have a very early breakfast (5:00 am) at your hotel before taking the earliest bus to Machupicchu. We recommend everyone to try and be the first ones in line because it fills up incredibly quickly. Enjoy the first view of Machupicchu and the sunrise (depending on the weather). Your tour leader will guide you throughout this magnificent site for about 3 hours.

• Meals: Breakfast at your hotel
• Minimum Altitude: 6791ft / 2070m
• Maximum Altitude: 8005ft / 2440m
• Distance Travelled: 1mi / 1.61km
• Walking Time: Approx. 3 hrs