Choquequirao & Machu Picchu Route

Our exciting adventure begins today! We will pick you up from your hotel around 7:00 a.m. and head to Capuliyoc on a four-hour drive. You will have a delicious breakfast that will give you the energy to start the epic hike. After exploring the area, we will head along a flat trail until we reach the Capuliyoc viewpoint (2,890 m / 9,482 ft). Here, we will enjoy the breathtaking views of the Apurimac Canyon and, if we are lucky, we will be able to witness the amazing flight of the condor.

We will begin to descend through a constant zigzagging under intense heat, where you can only hear the sound of the wind and the rhythmic songs of birds and cicadas. On the way, we will stop for a moment at Cocamasana, where the views are simply majestic.

After three hours of intense descent, we will arrive at the tropical oasis of Chiquisca (1,900 m / 6,234 ft), a place full of life in the middle of the arid canyon. We will walk around the area and learn a little more about the farming activities of the families that live in this beautiful place. In the evening, we will have dinner and rest in this magical oasis.

A hearty breakfast will be ready and waiting for you today to give you the boost you need to start our amazing hike. We set out on a path that winds its way up the mountainside. An hour and a half later, we will arrive at Rosalina beach and we will see the large pedestrian bridge that we will have to cross to continue our journey.

We will ascend in a zigzagging way for two and a half hours until we reach the small village of Santa Rosa (1,970 m / 6,463 ft), we will visit a family farm and learn about the elaboration of Cambray, a handmade liquor made from sugar cane grown in this place. After enjoying a delicious lunch and being part of this experience, we will climb for three more hours to reach Marampata (2,900 m / 9,514 ft). Here, you will appreciate the most spectacular views and take excellent photographs to remember your trip through the snow-capped mountains and canyon.

You will have a fantastic opportunity to see the brilliant sunset behind Choquequirao and the surrounding mountains. An orange glow will be cast over the giant rocks that will fill you with peace. Once it gets dark, we will enjoy a delicious dinner that will fill your hungry stomach and replenish your energy. Afterwards, you will head back to your tent to rest under the stars.

Today we will get up early to enjoy one of the most spectacular sunrises you can imagine. The sun's rays will fill this place with color and life. Take a moment to thank Mother Nature for all the wonderful things she has given us. After breakfast, we will hike for an hour and a half through the cloud forest. You will really feel like you are among the clouds.

Once in Choquequirao, our guide will explain the history of this incredible place, also known as "the last refuge of the Incas". Around noon, we will enjoy a picnic lunch that the chef will bring to the complex. Then, we will walk until we reach the Usnu and have a better panoramic view of the area; with luck, we will be able to observe the condor flying through the Andean sky, we will also visit the terraces and the Pacchayoc waterfall.

After a magical experience in this enigmatic citadel, we will start ascending for an hour until we reach the Choquequirao Pass (3,270 m / 10,728 ft), then, we will descend to the next archaeological complex on our route, Pinchaunuyoc (2,420 m / 7,940 ft). You will be amazed by the platforms that appear suspended over the abyss of the Blanco River canyon. You will enjoy a short tour of the site before resting at our campsite.

After a nutritious breakfast, we will start descending to the Blanco River. During the hike, we will see many species of birds, different orchids, and plantations of the sacred coca leaf. We will cross the river and begin a strenuous climb to our lunch point, known as Maizal (3,000 m / 9,843 ft). Today is the most challenging day of all, but you will be able to rest your legs here before continuing the trek.

We will continue uphill for about three and a half hours until we reach the summit. This part of the trail is historically significant because of the many ruins that can be found along the way. We will pass the impressive Inca mines, called Minas Victoria, from which silver used to be extracted. Next, we will head towards the San Juan Pass (4,200 m / 13,780 ft).

Then, we will cross the intriguing cloud forest and the Andean puna, known for its famous ichu grass. We will enjoy lunch while contemplating the views of the Choquetacarpo and Padreyoc mountains. If you did not see the flight of the condors before this point, you may have the opportunity to see them here, depending on the season.

Finally, we will descend to our campsite at Yanama (3,600 m / 11,811 ft) located at the bottom of the valley, where a delicious dinner will be waiting for you before another beautiful night's sleep in the middle of nature.

Today, you’ll be woken up by jungle sounds and a relaxing waterfall. The locals who live in the Yanama community have preserved ancient traditions to this day, and it provides the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in their culture. You’ll be able to make some new friends and hand out gifts to the local children.

Once you’ve had a filling breakfast, we’ll start a 5-hour ascent to the highest part of the hike, the Yanama Pass (4,650 m / 15,256 ft). Along this part of the trek, you’ll see farmers working their land in potato fields. You’ll also spot Saqsarayoc and Padreyoc in all their snowy glory. You might even get to step on snow here, depending on the time of year. You’ll see the imposing Salkantay mountain in the distance for the first time, too.

Later on, we’ll descend for three hours along a fog-filled, mysterious path to the Totora community and have lunch along the way to replenish our energy. We’ll then hike for another hour to Collpapampa, where you’ll enjoy a spectacular dinner and a tranquil night’s rest in our exclusive Mountain Sky View in the middle of nature.

Today’s your last day of hiking. You’ll enjoy a great breakfast before we continue our hike and cross the river to the other side of the valley. Five hours of hiking through the jungle await us, and you’ll observe plantations of passion fruit, banana, papaya, avocado, and coffee—of course, you can try the taste of these delicious fruits that this place offers us.

Once you reach Playa Sahuayaco, you’ll have time to rest and enjoy your last lunch made by our talented chef. We’ll then head to Hydroelectric in our private transport. From there, you can either hike alongside the railway through lush vegetation to Aguas Calientes (2,040 m / 6,693 ft) for around 3 hours or take the train.

When you get there, you’ll check into your hotel and then have the rest of the afternoon free. You can either relax in your room, explore the town, or go to the hot springs to relax and unwind after all the trekking.

We’ll meet for dinner in a nice restaurant and go over any last details about tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu. Then, it’ll be time to head to bed because we need to be up before the sun to get to the Lost City of the Incas.

Your epic journey comes to a close today, with a visit to the New World Wonder and UNESCO World Heritage Site Machu Picchu. You’ll get to enjoy breakfast at the hotel before we set off early. We’ll board the bus from Aguas Calientes up to the archaeological complex to get there before the large crowds. This way, you can take advantage of the early morning light and watch the sun come up and cast its glow on the huge ancient rocks.

Once there, you´ll feel the energy of the place and you´ll see how the gigantic rustic stones become magnificent buildings that are always in peaceful harmony with nature. Our specialized guide will give you all the information you need to know about this sacred place. If you have booked additional tickets for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain, you can use them now to go up and get a spectacular view of the site.

After exploring this magical site from start to finish, around noon, we´ll return to Aguas Calientes for lunch at a restaurant of your choice and head to the train station for Ollantaytambo. Here, private transportation will be waiting for us to return to Cusco.

Now it will be time to rest your legs after an epic seven-day adventure through the mountains and jungle. We are sure you will never forget this life-changing trek.