Trek to Machu Picchu: Choquequirao to Machu Picchu

• Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek
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Unknown to many travelers, the majestic Choquequirao site is one of the last strongholds of the Incas, who retreated from the Spanish in this natural fortress. Much bigger and more isolated than Machu Picchu, Choquequirao is equally beautiful and truly awe-inspiring. From this remote hideout in the Vilcabamba range, the Incas played out the final and tragic chapter of their Empire’s glorious history.   

Today, modern day explorers can retrace the Incas’ steps on this challenging but incredibly rewarding Peru trekking adventure that starts in the Vilcabamba, visits the remote site of Choquequirao and ends with a tour of the site's world famous sister citadel: Machu Picchu. To ensure you get the most out of this exhilarating adventure in the wilderness, you will be accompanied by the very best trekking services available, with the highest quality guides, food, and equipment.

Day 1 : Cusco to Chikiska
Day 2 : Chikiska to Choquequirao
Day 3 : Choquequirao Tour
Day 4 : Choquequirao to Pinchaunuyoq
Day 5 : Pinchiunuyoq to Maizal
Day 6 : Maizal to Yanama
Day 7 : Yanama to Totora
Day 8 : Totora to Playa Santa Teresa
Day 9 : Playa Santa Teresa to Aguas Calientes
Day 10 : Machu Picchu Tour & Return to Cusco

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Day 1 : Cusco to Chikiska

• After an early breakfast in your Cusco hotel you will meet your guide for the drive out of the city and into the Limatambo valley. You will travel through some of the Cusco region's spectacular scenery until you reach the small Andean town of San Pedro de Cachora where you will enjoy a delicious lunch.
• Leaving the town on foot, your trek begins on a trail that crosses the Cachora ravine and rises until you reach the Capuliyoc lookout point for stunning views of the Apurimac Canyon as it winds through the Vilcabamba.
• Your trail begins to descend through a forest of native trees until you arrive at the first camp at Chikiska, where you will enjoy a delicious evening meal and relax after your first day's hike.

Distance: 11.80 miles (19 km)
Maximum altitude: 9,514 feet (2,900 m)
Approximate time: 6 hours
Gradient: moderate

Day 2 : Chikiska to Choquequirao

• After an early breakfast, you will begin your second day following a gradual descent towards the Apurimac River. After crossing the river you begin the long climb toward Choquequirao, passing traditional agricultural settlements and enjoying the striking Andean surroundings.
• You will stop for a well deserved lunch at Marampata while also enjoying fine views of the sumptuous Choquequirao site, hidden within the Vilcabamba. From here the trail follows a varied route of up and downhill sections until you reach the campsite at Choquequirao.

Distance: 8.69 miles (14 km)
Maximum Altitude: 10,043 feet (3,061 m)
Approximate Time: 8 hours
Gradient: challenging

Day 3 : Choquequirao Tour

• After a filling breakfast, you will spend the third day exploring the entire site of Choquequirao. You will be one of the very few outsiders who get a chance to visit these isolated ruins. Your expert guide will explain the significance of this ancient site, as well as its many mysteries.
• The site reveals the Inca's ingenious blend of various Andean and Amazonian materials and decoration, as well as stonework that is as equally impressive as in the Sacred Valley. You will identify irrigation channels, agricultural terraces and spiritual centers, and see some of the great stretches of the site that are yet to be excavated and understood.
• After the tour, you will return to the campsite to enjoy dinner and a relaxing evening before the next day’s adventures. 

Day 4 : Choquequirao to Pinchaunuyoq

• After breakfast and a short detour around the Choquequirao site you will follow a trail that rises up through a wood of native trees and other flora which arrives at a wide pampa before making a descent towards the archeological site of Pinchiunuyoq.
• After lunch you will enjoy a tour of the site, exploring more of the Inca's final footsteps through the Vilcabamba. You will then make your way to your campsite for the night, not far from the ruins. 

Distance: 2.97 miles (4.5 km)
Maximum Altitude: 10,826 feet (3,300 m)
Approximate time: 6 hours
Gradient: moderate

Day 5 : Pinchiunuyoq to Maizal

• Leaving the camp early after breakfast, you will follow a descending trail towards the Rio Blanco. Crossing the river you climb through a forest where your guide will help you spot various species of native birds and other fauna.
• You’ll continue the steep climb until you reach the small, traditionally Andean village of Maizal, where the way of life has continued largely unchanged for centuries, and where you will spend the night

Distance: 3.23 miles (5.2 km)
Maximum Altitude: 9,881 feet (3,012 m)
Approximate Time: 6 hours
Gradient: challenging

Day 6 : Maizal to Yanama

• After setting off from camp, your route continues along a challenging climb and enters a beautiful forest where you’ll follow an ancient stone path which will take you right up to the high pass at Mina Victoria. Here, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the entire Vilcabamba range, including the snow-capped peaks of Choqetacarpo and Pumasillo.
• From this high point you will make the long descent to your lunch spot before continuing to your campsite in the community of Yanama where you will relax and enjoy a delicious evening meal.

Distance: 4.97 miles (8 km)
Maximum Altitude: 13,779 feet (4,200 m)
Approximate Time: 7 hours
Gradient: challenging

Day 7 : Yanama to Totora

• You will enjoy another energizing breakfast before setting off on the most challenging day yet. The trail climbs the ravine of the Yanama River starting on a gentle incline before developing into a steep climb as it approaches a high mountain pass. The views from this point demonstrate the marked contrasts in ecological levels as you reach the high puna, before descending again towards the Totora River valley, where you will rest your weary legs, enjoy a restoring evening meal and relax in the small community of Totora.

Distance: 4.97 miles (8 km)
Maximum Altitude: 13,779 feet (4,200 m)
Approximate Time: 7 hours
Gradient: challenging

Day 8 : Totora to Playa Santa Teresa

• Enjoy an early breakfast and set off on your route that follows the path of the Totora River until its confluence with the Chalan River, which you will follow downstream on a gentle path. The trail past this point winds through lush, dense flora and several sets of beautiful waterfalls. After a gentle day's walking you will arrive at the camp at Playa Santa Teresa where you’ll spend the night.

Distance: 4.97 miles (8 km)
Maximum Altitude:9,383 feet (2,860 m)
Approximate: 6 hours
Gradient: moderate

Day 9 : Playa Santa Teresa to Aguas Calientes

• After breakfast, you will say goodbye to your team of mule handlers and porters. From here you head to the archeological site of Patallaqta and will climb through coffee plantations on a trail that will offer tantalizing glimpses of your final destination, Machu Picchu.
• Your trail will bring you down to river level at the hydroelectric plant from where you catch a train to Aguas Calientes, the town near Machu Picchu. You will spend the night here in your comfortable Machu Picchu hotel.

Distance: 6.21 miles (10 km)
Maximum Altitude: 9,842 feet (3,000 m)
Gradient: moderate

Day 10 : Machu Picchu Tour & Return to Cusco

• Rise early and head to the bus station for the drive up to the citadel itself, which is hidden on a mountain top amid cloud forests. You will enjoy a professional 2-hour guided tour during which you will be able to appreciate the intricate stonework of the Incas carved into the fantastic Andean scenery. The giant mortarless stones were hauled by hand to the top of the mountain centuries ago, and yet their foundations still remain. You will have the chance to explore the 3 zones of this centuries-old city: the urban, agricultural, and adjacent zones. The Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana, and the Principal Bath are only a few of the impressive sights that you will see.
• After your tour, you have the option to explore more of the site and capture some final photos. Some take advantage of Machu Picchu’s spiritual setting to meditate and whisper a thank you to Pachamama, the Inca’s Mother Nature. If your trek gets you yearning for more, you can take a 90-minute climb up the lush peak of Huayna Picchu.
• An additional trek to Huayna Picchu, or the Temple of the Moon, is included in your Machu Picchu entrance ticket and lasts about four hours. The extra trek is not for the faint of heart and must be done with extreme caution. But the opportunity to see Machu Picchu from another angle often beckons the more adventurous visitor. Numbers are limited to 400 visitors per day.
• In the afternoon, you will take a comfortable train back to Cusco. You also have the option to stay an extra night in Aguas Calientes.

See our Machu Picchu Guide for more information on what see and do, as well as Machu Picchu Restaurants that we recommend for tasty dining.

Check our Trekking & Adventure FAQs to help you prepare for your Vilcabamba Trek and contact your travel advisor for any additional questions.

Type	Group
Double	$ 489
Single	$ 619
Prices may vary according to the season, availability, and client preferences. Certain transport costs may not be included. Please contact one of our expert travel advisors for more information.

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Included

• Private transportation Cusco to Cachora
• English-speaking guide
• Sleeping Bag per person (-10 ºC)
• Cook & cooking equipment
• Cooking equipment
• All meals on the trek
• Cooking, eating and bathroom tents
• Two person tents (3-people capacity tent) & single tents available at extra cost
• Porters & mules
• Saddled horse (one saddled horse for every 6 passengers)
• First-aid kit & emergency oxygen bottle
• Train ticket Hydroelectric Plant to Aguas Calientes
• Entrance fee to Machu Picchu
• Round trip bus ticket to Machu Picchu
• Train ticket Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
• Private Transportation Ollantaytambo to Cusco

Not Included

• Hotel in Aguas Calientes
• Extra food
• Optional tip for field staff
• Extra costs

Packing List

• Water-resistant hiking shoes
• Warm clothing (thermal underwear, fleece, hat, gloves, socks)
• Waterproof clothing (poncho)
• Synthetic or cotton clothing (socks, trousers, shorts, t-shirts)
• Sunhat and sunglasses
• Sun cream and insect repellent
• Water bottles
• Any required medications
• Walking sticks
• Swimsuit and towel
• Personal items
• Personal snacks