On our Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu explore the two grandest and most intact archeological sites that the Inca ancestors have left to us. Our original Choquequirao Machu Picchu Trek is the ultimate adventure for altitude junkies with a love of trekking through the wilderness. This challenging Choquequirao Machu Picchu 9-day Trek snakes its way between the most incredible Incan ruins in South America. The Choquequirao Machu Picchu Trek is a whole lot more than you can imagine. Actually, of all the trekking alternatives in South America, this is the most authentic and the most wonderful trekking route.
If you are an intrepid traveler looking for a world class destination and an adrenaline filled trekking adventures through the Peruvian Andes, the Trek Choquequirao Machu Picchu is the perfect trip for you. To trek this famous trail in Peru, is to hike through beautiful Andean landscapes with stunning views of mountains and valleys. Certainly, this excursion will transport you to that essential point where you are connected with Mother Nature, with the Andean Mountain Range, and with the High Rainforest Overlooking the Amazon Basin.
Remember that this Choquequirao Machu Picchu Trek 9 Days will leave behind the modern world and take you exploring back in time as you walk the trails of the Incas. Visit the two most impressive Inca cities in Latin America, Choquequirao and Machu Picchu. Both cities are Incan masterpieces. While Machu Picchu receives thousands of tourists every day, at Choquequirao you will have the area for yourself and your guides.
If you are a trekker who is looking for almost hallucinatory journeys to the most amazing destinations on Earth, you should not pass up our Machu Picchu Choquequirao Trek which will give you the opportunity to hike the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
As a socially responsible Tour Operator, we always care about the environment. For over 3 years we have offered discerning travelers authentic, Private Luxury Treks in South America. Our equipment is state-of-the-art and we use first-class trek guides. We operate our own treks with locals in this region. Therefore, we can ensure the fair treatment of our porters and the first-class quality of our food and camping equipment.
For both your safety and ours, all of our Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu are private tours. During January, February and March we do not operate the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek because it is the rainy season. The high country is almost always cloudy at that time of year.
For 2019 – 2020 it is recommended that you book your Choquequirao Machu Picchu Tour as early as possible, especially if you are travelling during the high season (May – September). As long as you make your reservation early, we can guarantee you the best chef, the best guide and the finest transportation from Cusco to Cachora. Another reason for reserving early is that the Machu Picchu entrance tickets and the return Vistadome Train tickets will be available at best hours. That way you will be guaranteed the absolutely finest service.
During the 9 Days of trekking, we will bring pack animals along with us to carry all the camping and cooking gear, and the heavy packs. These will be cared for and guided by local mule-skinners from the town of San Pedro de Cachora.
The Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu is the new fantastic alternative trek to Machu Picchu, and that is for many good reasons. It offers hikers an incredibly diverse trekking experience throughout the 9-days of the trek; it is relatively easy to access from Cusco or Abancay; and unlike the Classic Inca Trail, this authentic trekking route is not subject to permit limitations.
To carry:
We recommend that you let us know in advance about any special needs that you might have. Before taking this Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek, you should acclimatize yourself in Cusco for a couple days before beginning this unique excursion.
You need to be healthy when you begin the trek. We can offer to take you on a warm up tour of 1 day or of half a day before you take the 9 Day Choquequirao Machu Picchu Trek.
*Price in USD per Person.
At 4 am. we will pick you up at your hotel and set out for the town of Cachora which is where you will begin one of the most spectacular treks in southern Peru. First you will eat a very nutritious breakfast. Then you will meet your guide and listen to his recommendations. Next your guide will introduce you to our team.
Your hike will start at Capuliyuq. From there you´ll be able to see the imposing canyon of the Apurimac River, and the Vilcanota Mountain Range. Off in the distance you´ll see fantastic snow-capped peaks, and you´ll experience the grandeur of the Andes with the Salkantay Mountain in the foreground. There will be very interesting flora and fauna to see along the way.
From the beginning of your journey you will be passing through small communities like Cocamasana. Soon you will arrive at Chiquiska which is where you will eat lunch. After lunch you will begin descending to the shore of the Apurimac River at Playa Rosalinas. It is there that you will take a short break before beginning to climb up the other side of the canyon. This part of the journey is more challenging. You will continue on to the campsite at Sta. Rosa. Your camp will be all set up. So, all you have to do is rest, relax, and enjoy cold drinks and a hot supper in the evening.
We will wake you up early in the morning. After awakening you can enjoy a delicious breakfast prepared by your chef. Then you will set out along the verdant, zigzag trail that will lead you up to Marampata. From that point you will be able to see Choquequirao Archeological Park in the distance. When you arrive at Marampata, you will take a short break. From there it will be an easy hike to your second campsite.
Our team will have your lunch all ready for you. After lunch you will have a complete guided tour of the Choquequirao Archeological Site. You will visit the main plaza and the surrounding terraces. Choquequirao was built on top of a mountain in very steep country in the province of La Convención. The ancient walls are made of stone and adorned with white stone llamas that were meant to protect the temples and palaces.
Today every visitor is amazed by the beauty of the ingenious system of fountains and aqueducts that fed water to the terraces. You can visit the colcas which served as storage sites where food and clothing was stored. If you are so lucky you will have the opportunity to see the giant condors fliying overhead.
Then you can relax and take photos while you watch the sunset behind the mountains in the heart of the Andes. After enjoying the peaceful afternoon, you will return to camp to eat supper and get a good night´s sleep.
Bright and early our team will serve you a really good breakfast. Then you will return to visit some of the most notable parts of Choquequirao under the bright blue morning sky of the Peruvian Andes. You will be able to better appreciate the colcas, terraces and waterfalls, and you´ll also be able to pass by present day excavations which are still being worked on. Early in the morning is the best time to capture postcard-quality photos of the Andes and the ruins. After exploring you will return to the camp for lunch and a siesta, and then you’ll begin your hike through the lush green vegetation to your 3rd campsite.
This day’s hike is not very demanding, so you will be able to take it pretty easy. The trail leading to the Choquequirao Pass is not very steep. From that point you will be able to appreciate the beauty of the great mountainous forest. From there you will descend to the small Pinchiunuyocc Archeological Center. It will be time for a break there, and to set up camp. You can relax and enjoy the sunset while your dinner is prepared. Then you will go to sleep and dream.
On Day 4 you will get up early, have a hearty breakfast, and get ready for your challenging hike. At around 7 am., you will start walking. From Pinchiunuyocc you will head downhill until you reach Rio Blanco. There you can take a break and gaze into the crystal clear waters. The forest that you will travel through now will be completely different than the previous forest. This will be the dry Andean forest where other species of plants and trees dominate.
As we head uphill, you will rest for a bit and enjoy lunch. After lunch, you will continue on until you reach your campsite at Maizal which you should reach by 3 pm. Here you can have some cool drinks and snacks when you arrive. Therefore, you can take it easy and appreciate the beauty of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Off in the distance you will observe the grandeur of the snowcapped peaks.
In the evening you can swap stories with our team members while your supper in being prepared. Then you can sleep and recoup your energy for the following day’s adventures.
You will have another wonderful day of hiking through the heart of the Andes. When we wake you up early in the morning, you will be served a delicious hot drink. You will eat a great breakfast while looking out over magical mountains of the Vilcanota Range.
After breakfast, as usual, the chef will give you some nutritious snacks that you can munch along the way. You will head uphill along rocky trails. At turns in the path, you will encounter spectacular views of the surrounding glacier-covered peaks and the green fertile valleys. After about 4 hours of hiking, you will reach your first high mountain pass which is at 4200 masl. Your chef will serve you a delicious lunch there. You will be able to see the great mountain chains all around you, and appreciate the flora and the local wildlife.
Then you will descend for another 4 hours, until you reach your camp at the village of Yanama. This small community has been here for thousands of years. Hopefully, there will be time to learn about their traditions and of their vision of the Cosmos. After this emotion filled day of trekking through the Andes, you will enjoy your relaxed supper and lay down and go to sleep.
Every morning when you wake up on this fascinating trail, you will remember that you are on an epic journey to one of the Wonders of the Modern World. All of our team members appreciate this fact. Every day you will wake up in a different spot, and our chef will cook up breakfast which includes a variety of different dishes. The same is true of lunch and dinner.
Today’s section of the Trek Choquequirao to Machu Picchu will be a long one. So, you will get an early start. When you reach the pass (4500 masl), you will have arrived at the highest point on your journey. From this point you will be able to see Mt. Salkantay, and the mountains of the Vilcabamba Range and you’ll even see Machu Picchu off in the distance. You will have lunch at the pass as the silent Apus look on. The panoramic view of the mountains from here is majestic.
Then you will head down the steep trail until you reach your campsite. It will take 4 or 5 hours of hiking until you reach Totora where your camp will be set up and waiting for you. Along the way, depending on the season, you will observe different animals and plants. At camp you can enjoy your well-deserved rest after an exciting day. Supper will be served, and you can get together with our team members until it is time to hit the hay.
Our team will wake you up with a delicious hot drink. After you have breakfast and wash up, you will start out hiking on Day 7 of your journey to the Ancient Citadel of the Incas. You’ll head downhill for 3 hours until you reach Ccolpampa. From there you can enjoy the beautiful view out over the eyebrow of the jungle. You might meet up with some other groups of trekkers coming in from the Salkantay Trek and the Inca Jungle Trek. They will also be headed to Machu Picchu.
This is where our chef will cook up a delicious lunch. Then it will be time to say good-bye to most of the team that has been traveling with you, because they will head back along the same trail that you have been traveling on for the past week. You will have a farewell ceremony before our team departs for Cachora.
All of our gear will be loaded into the waiting van while you continue hiking down to La Playa. (the Beach). There you can admire the waterfalls, the orchards, and the tropical rain forest. When you reach La Playa, our team will be there waiting with cool drinks and snacks. You can relax there until supper is ready, and enjoy the warm evening until you feel like going to sleep.
This will be a very special day. It is the last day of your trek, and it also the day when you can hike along a section of the Classic Inca Trail. After a delicious breakfast, you will begin your hike to Llaqtapata. The route is through the fertile countryside of the Santa Teresa Valley. You will pass through coffee plantations and orchards full of tropical fruit trees. After 3 hours, you will arrive at Llaqtapata which is an attractive, though seldom visited tourist site. During Incan times this was an important place as it served as a solar observation station during the winter solstice. Also, from Llactapata, you can look up and see the mysterious mountains of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu.
Next you will head over to Hidroeléctrica where your chef will have lunch all prepared for you. After lunch you will bid farewell to your chef, and continue along the route of the great expeditions like the Hiram Bingham expedition. When you arrive at Aguas Calientes, your guide will lead you over to your hotel where you can enjoy a hot shower and get ready for your celebratory dinner. Then you can turn in early and get a good night’s sleep.
At last the day that you have been waiting for has arrived. You’ll get to visit one of the Wonders of the World. After appreciating the beauty of Choquequirao, and after having hiked about 150 km., you now get to visit the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu.
You will have to wake up early in order to enter the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu by 6 am. You’ll enter the site before sunrise so you can receive inspiration from the incredible sight of the sun coming up over this peaceful, magical place. Then you will have a 3-hour private, guided tour on which you will visit the most important points of interest. After the guided tour, there will be free time to explore the ruins on your own, and visit the Gate of the Sun or the Inka’s Bridge which you will have no difficulty finding. After touring in Machu Picchu you can take some fantastic photos which you will be sure to treasure when you return home.
At around noon, you will return to Aguas Calientes and have your farewell lunch at the most exclusive restaurant in Aguas Calientes, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, prior to boarding your train and riding to the Sacred Valley or Poroy. The trip usually take 3 hours approximately. From there you will jump on our private van which will take you to Cusco. There you can enjoy a well-deserved rest after your epic journey along one of the world’s most fascinating trails upon which you had the time of your life!
It felt like I had been transported to another world, another more magical time.