choquequirao TREK TO MACHUPICCHU 8D/7N
choquequirao 5 day
This challenging trek visits two major Inca archaeological sites. The first site, Choquequirao, is only accessible by hiking through the Andes to the relatively newly discovered Choquequirao (The Sister City of Machu Picchu). It receives few visitors because it is so remote, and you will enjoy exploring these archeological ruins without the crowds at other Inca sites. Then the trek continues to the famous and mystical Seventh Wonder of the World, Machu Picchu, through some of the most scenic mountains on earth! This 8-Day version spends less time at Choquequirao than our 9-Day or 10-Day options in order to compress the trip length to accommodate those on tighter schedules.
itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Cachora – Capuliyuc – Playa Rosalina
We pick you up very early at your hotel in Cusco and drive by private transport to the village of Cachora. In Cachora we meet our staff and drive 30 more minutes to the Capuliyoc lookout point and our trailhead. After a good lunch enjoying the amazing view of the Apurimac Canyon, we will descend for about 6 hours to our campsite at Playa Rosalina beside the Apurimac River. We can expect a warm night at our campsite in the valley.
Meals: L, D
Maximum Altitude: 2,977m / 9,767ft
Minimum Altitude: 1,500m / 4,921ft
Distance: 10 km / 6.2mi
Walking Time: 6 hrs
Day 2: Playa Rosalina – Santa Rosa – Marampata – Choquequirao
We leave very early in the morning and cross the Playa Rosalina Bridge. Here is where our climb to Choquequirao begins. At Marampata we will have lunch and rest. Then we will continue about 2 more hours until we reach Choquequirao, the remote and ancient city of the Incas. You will have all afternoon to explore as much you like with your guide, and this is the most likely time to see the Andean condor. We will spend the night camped just below Choquequirao.
Meals: B, L, D
Maximum Altitude: 3,050m / 10,007ft
Minimum Altitude: 1,500m / 4,921ft
Distance: 14km / 8.7mi
Walking Time: 8 hrs
Day 3: Choquequirao – Pinchaunuyoc – Maizal
After breakfast we will have a short extra visit to the principal complex of Choquequirao, then continue climbing to the highest point of the day before descending to the Pinchiunuyoc Inca remains where we will have lunch. Leaving Pinchiunuyoc, we descend to the Río Blanco stream. After crossing the Rio Blanco, we have a long climb to Maizal, where we’ll set up our camp for the night.
Meals: B, L, D
Maximum Altitude: 3,300m / 10,827ft
Minimum Altitude: 1,910m / 6,266ft
Distance: 14km / 8.7mi
Walking Time: 8 hrs
Day 4: Maizal – Highpass Mina Victoria – Yanama
This might be the most scenic day of this amazing trek. After a big breakfast we climb on a stone path through a beautiful forest of native trees to reach Mina Victoria Pass. Here you will have a spectacular view of the cordillera, including the snow-capped peaks of Choquetacarpo and Pumasillo. We then descend to the community of Yanama, where we will spend the night.
Meals: B, L, D
Maximum Altitude: 4,200m / 13,780ft
Minimum Altitude: 3,000m / 9,843
Distance: 11km / 6.8mi
Walking Time: 7 hrs
Day 5: Yanama – Abra Apacheta – Totora
This is a big day. We start by climbing the gentle slope of the Yanama River which grows steeper and steeper as we progress. On the way we will experience a beautiful contrast of ecological levels as we approach Yanama Pass (4,668m / 15,315ft) and then descend into the Totora Valley. We will spend the night in the community of Totora.
Meals: B, L, D
Maximum Altitude: 4,668m / 15,315ft
Minimum Altitude: 3,801m / 12,470ft
Distance: 18km / 11.2miWalking Time: 9 hrs
Day 6: Totora – Colpapampa – Playa – Lucmabamba
Today we follow the Totora River down a steep and beautiful valley towards the point where it meets the Chalan River. Exuberant vegetation and picturesque waterfalls line our path. We will walk through a tropical valley where we can find coffee plantations, banana trees and a new blend of flora and fauna. We will lunch in the community of La Playa, then continue to our next camp at Lucmabamba. That afternoon we will have a coffee tour with a local family and sample the best organic coffee of the region.
Meals: B, L, D
Maximum Altitude: 4,100m / 13,451ft
Minimum Altitude: 2,135m / 7,005ft
Distance: 11km / 6.8mi
Walking Time: 7 hrs
Day 7: Lucmabamba – Llactapata – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes
From Lucmabamba, we climb for approximately 3 hours on an original Inca Trail and through the Andean cloud forest to the Puncuyoc Pass. From there, a short walk down will take us to Llactapata, an Inca city with a beautiful view of Machu Picchu, Wayna Picchu and Machu Picchu mountains. You will learn the history and stories of this sacred place. Two-hours further downhill we will come to the hydroelectric plant. There we can choose to either take the train (35 minutes) or hike the rest of the way to Aguas Calientes (3 hours) and check into our hotel for the night.
Meals: B, L
Maximum Altitude: 2,953m / 9,688ft
Minimum Altitude: 2,135m / 7,005ft
Distance Travelled: 11km / 6.8mi
Walking Time: 5 hrs
Day 8: Tour of Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco
Early in the morning we take the bus from the town of Aguas Calientes to the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu. The tour of Machu Picchu will allow us to understand the high level of development the Andean civilization achieved under the Incas. A supremely religious site, Machu Picchu demonstrates impressive architectural prowess and a keen knowledge of astronomy, which was essential for predicting weather cycles and planning agriculture. We will try to spend as long as possible in the archaeological complex before returning to Aguas Calientes in time for our train back to Ollantaytambo (1:50 min), and private transport back to Cusco, about (2 hours).
Meals: B
Maximum Altitude: 2,437m / 7,995ft
