Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu 7 Days

Day 1: Cusco – Capuliyoc – Chikiska – Santa Rosa. After being collected from your hotel at 4:30 am, drive for 4 hours to the trailhead located at the village of Capuliyoc, on the way you’ll visit the Inca site of Sayhuite, and enormous monolithic rock with geometrical and animal figures, considered as some kind of engineering map that shows the complex irrigating system of the area. After enjoying a delicious breakfast, You’ll meet the trekking staff and start the trek to the great “lost cities of the Incas”. The first 4 hours downhill to Chickiska, starting the hike in the highlands into the Apurimac Canyon where the weather is warmer, lunch is served by your trekking chef using fresh products from the area. The second part of the day is 2.5 hours uphill until the Campsite in Santa Rosa village.

Day 2: Santa Rosa – Marampata – Choquequirao. After breakfast, you’ll start the most challenging part of the Tour. The hike starts with a 4-hour zigzag climb to Marampata where lunch will be waiting for you with an amazing view of the mountains, and a wide variety of flora and fauna. After lunch, you´ll hike for 2 more hours to Choquequirao Inca Site, in the afternoon you can go to explore and enjoy the sunset. The campsite is located near the archeological site.

Day 3: Choquequirao – Pinchiunuyoc – Rio Blanco. Wake up with a nice hot cup of coffee or tea in your tent while you enjoy the view on the Andes, you´ll have a guided tour to the most impressive sight at the great citadel of Choquequirao. After lunch, you start ascending for 1-hour to Choquequirao pass, next is a 3-hour downhill until the Inca Site of Pinchiuniyoc, After exploring the ancient terraces, you’ll continue for 2-more hours downhill. The Campsite is at Rio Blanco (1880 m / 6167 ft) – Be sure you bring a good mosquito repellent.

Day 4: Rio Blanco – Maizal – Pajonal. After Breakfast, you’ll continue the trek, the first part is a 4-hour challenging zig-zag climb to Maizal (2891m / 9488 ft.). After enjoying a well-deserved lunch, you’ll continue a steep climb for 4-hours until the campsite at Pajonal at (4000m /13124ft). Along the way, you’ll enjoy the beautiful views of farming lands, native plants, birds, and the ancient Victoria Mines.

Day 5: Pajonal – Yanama – Lucmabamba. After breakfast, hike for 1 hour to San Juan Pass at (4210m/135549), once reaching the top, you’ll take some time to enjoy the amazing vistas of the mountains, then you’ll go down the mountain for 3 hours until the Village of Yanama at (3700m /12139ft). After lunch, say goodbye to the muleteers, and take the transportation to Lucmabamba (2100m/6890ft. I spent the night in a coffee farmer’s house.

Day 6: Lucmabamba – Llaqtapata – Aguas Calientes. Wake up among coffee and avocado trees, visit the organic coffee farm, learn the process of harvesting, then, you’ll follow for 3-hours through an ancient Inca Trail up to Llaqtapata from where you’ll have the first and best view of the Great Inca city of Machu Picchu. After enjoying the views, you’ll continue down to hydroelectric for lunch, then hike for 3 more hours the final part along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes. Spend the night in a Hotel at Aguas Calientes.

Day 7: Machu Picchu – Cusco. Waking up early and prepare for the most important day of the trek, you’ll take the first bus back up to Machu Picchu to enter before the sunrise. You’ll visit the Inca bridge first and then start the guided tour, exploring the most important streets, plazas, temples. After the guided tour you’ll have time to explore by yourself or hike to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain (Extra hikes different from the citadel), In the afternoon take the Vistadome panoramic train back to Cusco. Drop off at your hotel around 7.30 pm where the Choquequiro trek to Machu Picchu ends.