Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek 8 Days

Duration
Difficulty
Trekking Distance
Total Distance
Min Elev.
Max Elev.
Max Elev. Chg
Type
To Do

7 Days 6 Nights
3.5 of 5
36km/22.4mi
99km/61.5mi
1400m/4593ft
4108m/13480ft
1600m/5249ft
Camping/Hotel
Hiking Rivers Ruins

Day 1    Cusco - Cachora - Capuliyoc Mirador
At 6 am we leave Cusco on a double decker tour bus and arrive at Ramal de Cachora where we take a car through the town of Cachora and to the Capuliyoc Mirador arriving in the early afternoon. We have the rest of the day to enjoy scenic views of the snow-capped Padreyoc mountain and surrounding canyons from our glass sided bungalow. Night in bungalow.

Meals LD

Day 2    Chiquiska - Santa Rosa
At 7 am we begin our hike. Our mulateer will arrange our equipment and personal belongings on mules so we can enjoy the sites without the added weight. Today we will again see the majestic Padreyoc mountain as well as Corihuayrachina's glacier. The hike on this first day is 11km/7mi. On the way we can also see the Wayna Cachora snowfields, the Capuliyoc mirador lookout point and a beautiful mountainous descent towards the Apurimac river reaching the abandoned "Playa Rosalina" campsite (1550m/5085ft) for lunch before a difficult 2 hr ascent up to the Santa Rosa Baja campsite (1,966m/6,450ft).

Meals BLD

Day 2    Marampata - Choquequirao
Early morning at 5 am we continue our hike up to the pueblo of Marampata followed by Choquequirao. After arriving to Choquequirao in the early afternoon we will have time to visit the Agricultural Sector and House of the Waterfall which is 20 mins down from our campsite. There we can learn about Inca construction and terracing techniques which utilized adjacent canals along steps and pathways for year round irrigation. In the late afternoon we'll return to our campsite inside Choquequirao park.

Meals BLD

Day 4    Choquequirao Ruins - Pinchaunuyoc Ruins
This morning after a hearty breakfast we'll explore more of Choquequirao's ruins. We'll learn about the significance of the Inca's construction of double niches and niches for both sacred objects and mummified ancestors. From the campsite we'll go up to visit the Llama Sector on the west side followed by the Main Plaza, Ancestral Structure, Inca King's House, House of the Brothers (mummy room) and Hanan. After we make our way to the highest point we'll continue up further following a small unknown overgrown trail until we reach the Choquequirao Pass (3,300m/10,827ft) then down to a lookout point with a breathtaking view of the Vilcabamba mountains and Yanama and Apurimac river confluence. We'll continue down switchbacks for another 2 hrs through chaparral sage brush areas until finally arriving at the ruined terraces of Pinchaunuyoc (2,426m/7,960ft) where we will have dinner and make our campsite for the night on one of the many terraces.

Meals BLD

Day 5    Pinchaunuyoc - Rio Blanco - Maizal
Leaving Pinchaunuyoc we'll descend to 1869m/6134ft and to the Rio Blanco, "White River" named for the continual whitewater breaking over boulders. We can cool off in pristine clean water and rest a while before beginning another uphill hike. This day is very similar to our first day descending to the Apurimac then up to Santa Rosa Baja. We'll soon find ourselves in the Bosque Relicto "Relic Forest" which means an endemic species can be found there. Here it's possible to find wild fruits such as tomatillos and bean pods as well as vibrant butterflies and even Walking stick (Phasmids) insects. Long sleeves work best here for both flying insects and overhanging sage. Soon we pass through this ecological niche and find ourselves again heading for the clouds until we reach Maizal at 3032m/9946ft where we find a fork in the path and can either go left to a more touristic campsite or right to either Romulo or Zacharias' house to camp on one of the terraces. The view here tonight from your tent is surreal and it feels like sleeping in the clouds when the mist moves in and becomes lit by the moon "Mama Quilla".

Meals BLD

Day 6    Maizal - Yanama Pass - Yanama
This morning after breakfast we'll again head upwards through cloud forest finding a few blast mines along the way called the Victoria Mines. We'll reach the pass at 4,108 m/13,480ft around lunch time where we can relax and take in the panorama. Then we'll begin a 2 hr descent to Yanama 3,547m/11,638ft again passing by mines cut straight into the mountain. The views here are more crisp at this higher "Altiplano" elevation. We leave behind the humid jungle setting and prepare for a colder night near a campfire. Tonight marks the end of our difficult portion of the trek. Tonight we can celebrate with a soda or beer from the nearby tienda. Night camping with full/basic facilities.

Meals BLD

Day 7    Yanama - Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes
Today we begin with a passenger van ride through altiplano backcountry ~4 hrs. We'll first head up he valley to the Totora Pass where we may have to do some light maintenance where the river intersects with the road. This is a nice break from the duration and gives us a chance to snap photos of the surrounding landscape. After crossing the pass by car we head down towards Totora where it becomes greener and warmer. We continue by car through Colcalpampa (Salkantay Trek intersection) and down into jungle, watching the Santa Teresa River wind it's way along the road. Finally we reach Santa Teresa around 11 am and take a transfer with our backpacks to the Hydroelectric station "Hidroelectrica". After a short 10 min ride we begin a 2 hr walk along flat ground a follow the tracks until we reach Aguas Calientes early afternoon. Soon we're checked in to our hotel, cleaned up and ready to explore this very touristic town. Night in Hotel.

Meals BLD

Day 8    Machu Picchu - Train to Ollantaytambo - Cusco
Today we visit Machu Picchu. We'll begin by bus until we reach he entrance. After we meet up with our guide we'll tour these ruins for 2 hrs followed by 2 hrs Free Time to explore or take photos. Around noon we'll descend again to Aguas Calientes where we are on our own for lunch until our train departure time. We'll also have Free Time to see Aguas Calientes before we embark on a 1.5 hr train ride through the Peruvian jungle and along the Urubamba "Vilcanota" river. After reaching Ollantaytambo your bus transfer will be waiting at the station ready to take you back to Cusco arriving at night.

Meals B (Boxed Lunch)