Hike from Choquequirao to Machu Picchu on this Amazing Tour

Enjoy a life-changing experience as you hike from Choquequirao to Machu Picchu. You will have a great time in Peru as you hike, interact with locals, and explore fantastic, remote Inca sites. Walk through the Amazon jungle and appreciate views of incredible canyons.

Your comfort and enjoyment are our primary responsibility and the trek includes porters. Immerse yourself in the stunning landscape and connect with the nature of the Andes while we take care of all the details, carrying your gear, preparing your meals, and setting up the tents. Our experienced tour guides will tell you all about the history of the Incas and a professional chef will cook you delicious, traditional, organic meals.

Highlights

Connect with nature as you hike and camp in Andean mountain passes and Peruvian jungle
Explore ancient Inca archaeological sites, including Machu Picchu
Marvel at spectacular views of the Peruvian countryside

Tour information

Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
Start and end location: Cusco
Availability: Year-round, recommended between April and November

Itinerary

Day 1 – Enjoy a Beautiful Drive to Capuliyoc, Walk to Chikiska, and Camp at Playa Rosalinas
You will start your Choquequirao to Machu Picchu tour with a 5:00 am pickup and 4-hour drive to Capuliyoc, on the edge of the Apurimac Canyon, surrounded by impressive snow-capped peaks.

Then, you will walk for 3 hours to Chikiska, where you will have lunch. Afterward, you will continue hiking for another hour to Playa Rosalinas (5,084 feet / 1,550 meters), where you will camp for the night. The total hiking distance today is 8 miles (13 kilometers).

Day 2 – Have a Challenging Hike and Enjoy Stunning Views from the Lookout at Marampata
The second day of your Choquequirao to Machu Picchu tour starts as we wake you up with coca tea and breakfast. Then, you will have a challenging 4-hour uphill hike beside a river to Santa Rosa and Marampata, where you will have lunch. From the lunch spot, you can see the Inca remains of Choquequirao.

Then, you will have a 2-hour hike to reach the archaeological site, at an elevation of 10,120 feet (3,110 meters). In the evening, you can watch the sunset and spot some Andean condors. These birds are the biggest in the world, with a wingspan of up to 10 feet (3 meters)! The total hiking distance today is 8 miles (13 kilometers). You will camp near Choquequirao.

Day 3 – Explore the Archaeological Sites of Choquequirao and Pinchinuyoc
After breakfast and coca tea, you will have more time to explore the archaeological site of Choquequirao and rest for a bit before lunch. In the afternoon, you will start the journey from Choquequirao to Machu Picchu as you climb over a ridge and hike to the Inca site of Pinchinuyoc, where you will camp for the night. Today is the easiest day of the trip in terms of hiking, with only 2 hours of hiking down, 6.2 miles (10 kilometers).

Day 4 – Hike Rio Blanco Canyon and Climb to your Maizal Campsite
After a delicious breakfast, you will hike for 2 hours down to the canyon of Rio Blanco, elevation 6,527 feet (1,990 meters). There, you will rest before starting a difficult climb to your campsite at Maizal. This climb is 3-4 hours long. The total hiking distance for the day is 6.2 miles (10 kilometers).

Day 5 – Trek through Victoria Pass and Drive through a Breathtaking Valley to Lucmabamba
Today, you leave the campsite at 7:00 am, after breakfast, and walk uphill for about 3 hours through a semi-jungle environment. Then, you will visit some Inca sites before climbing an hour more to Victoria Pass, elevation 13,546 feet (4,130 meters). Enjoy the spectacular views of the pass as you descend for about 2 hours on some well-constructed Inca steps to the charming village of Yanama.

Once you get to Yanama, you will take a car to Lucmabamba through gorgeous valley, which is the beginning of the Amazon jungle. Look for waterfalls, local villages, and granadilla fruits along the way. Finally, you will stop to camp and enjoy a taste of the coffee cultivated nearby. The total hiking distance for the day is 7.5 miles (12 kilometers).

Day 6 – Discover a Hidden Inca site above Machu Picchu and Hike to Aguas Calientes
First, you will wake up by 5:00 am and have a nice breakfast. Afterward, enjoy a lovely 3-hour uphill hike through the green Andes mountains. When you arrive to the mountain ridge, you will come to the end of the hike from Choquequirao to Machu Picchu as you see the iconic archaeological site from a lookout point. You will be able to visit a hidden Inca site named Llactapata at an altitude of 8,907 feet (2,700 meters).

Then, you will hike downhill for 2 hours, seeing some nice waterfalls, then arriving to the train station. There, you will have lunch, then hike through Machu Picchu valley to Aguas Calientes. Tonight, you will have a comfortable stay in a hostel in Aguas Calientes with a private room, private bathroom, and Wifi. The total hiking distance today is 11 miles (18 kilometers).

Day 7 – Experience Machu Picchu and Return to Cusco
After waking up at 5:00 am and enjoying a buffet breakfast at the hostel, you will take the 30-minute bus to Machu Picchu. As soon as the bus arrives to Machu Picchu, we will take you to an amazing viewpoint where you can take photos. You will have a guided tour and 2 hours to explore this iconic site.

In your free time, you can climb up Huaynapicchu mountain (if you arrange tickets in advance) or hike a gentle uphill to the Sun Gate for a classic view. The Sun Gate hike is 2 hours round-trip and is free, with unlimited access. Then, your Choquequirao to Machu Picchu tour will come to an end as you go back down to Aguas Calientes, take the train to Ollantaytambo, and are dropped off at your hotel in Cusco.

What’s included

Pick up and drop off with private transport at your Cusco hotel at the beginning and end of the tour
Train ticket (expedition service) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
English-speaking professional tour guide plus paramedic and chef
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, with only breakfast on the last day
1 emergency horse which can be ridden if you’re feeling exhausted or ill
First Aid kit including emergency oxygen tank
Camping accommodations with a mattress roll and all-season roomy tents
Hostel in Aguas Calientes with private room, private bathroom, and Wifi
Porter and duffle bag to carry up to 14 pounds (7 kilos) of your personal items, sleeping bag, clothes, and mattress roll
Duffle bags and trash plastic bags
Boiled water to fill your water bottle
Portable camping toilet carried by the staff

What’s not included

Sleeping bag adequate for temperatures down to 14°F (-10°C)
1 way bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes (You can hike this)
Additional horse for extra personal luggage in addition to the porter mentioned above
Optional upgrades (train and hotels)
Tips for the working team

What to bring

A lightweight, waterproof day pack with change of clothes for the whole period of the trek (must not exceed 15 pounds–7 kilos)
Sleeping bag adequate for temperatures down to 14°F (-10°C)
Warm clothes and trekking pants
Flashlight with spare batteries
Sunblock, sun hat, sunglasses, and insect repellent
Personal medical kit
Sandals or flip-flops
Original passport and ISIC card (if applicable)

Important notes

There are vegetarian options available for the meals. Please let us know in advance at info@keteka.com.
You can rent a sleeping bag from the tour operator for US $35. Rentals for tents and inflatable mats are also available.
We recommend taking this tour between April and November for the best weather conditions.
You can change the train transportation type from expedition to Vistadome for an extra US $35.
We provide all the equipment for our porters and cooks.
Be aware that the itinerary is approximate and could change based on external conditions.
We strongly recommend this trek for experienced hikers and campers. The trek is an adventurous and challenging experience with little traveling infrastructure. The hiking level ranges from moderate to challenging.