• Total Walking Distance: 3 km
• Total Walking Time: 5-6 h
• Minimum Altitude: 2095m (6,873 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 3050m (10,007 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 2900m (9,514 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: 5°C (41°F)

We depart early again today, in order to get the most out of the day! We begin by continuing upwards to Marampata where we will have a break. The climb from the Santa Rosa campsite to Marampata (2940m / 9646 ft) takes about 3 hours and is a tough uphill stretch. A little further on from our break site we will get our first view of the ruins of Choquequirao! From here we have 2 more hours of hiking over gentle, undulating terrain until we reach the ruins. We take our lunch at the Choquequirao campsite (2900m / 9514 ft) nearest to the ruins, before we head to Choquequirao itself for the afternoon.

Only around 30% of the Inca remains of Choquequirao have been excavated. What can be seen today, however, is most impressive and very much worth the challenging trek to get there! The stonework in Choquequirao is not as sophisticated as that found in Machu Picchu, because the stone found here is very difficult to carve, but the buildings are impressive and suggest a site of high status. Choquequirao evokes a sense of awe simply because of the site’s surrounding beauty and isolation.

Spending the afternoon exploring the ruins, we will watch the sunset and keep our fingers crossed for the chance to see condors soaring through the sky!

• Total Walking Distance: 6km
• Total Walking Time: 4h (not counting time spent at the ruins)
• Minimum Altitude: 2470m (8,104 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 3300m (10,826 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 2470m (8,104 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: 10°C (50°F)

We begin this part of the Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu with an early morning visit to the impressive Choquequirao site. Originally discovered in 1710, there were a series of European explorers who passed through this area and knew about this site, however little importance was given to Choquequirao until 1909 when Hiram Bingham, who is credited with the scientific discovery of Machu Picchu, came across the site. This brought more international attention to Choquequirao but even then, the site was largely ignored until the 1970s when the Peruvian government started its excavations.

Choquequirao is composed of an amazing and extensive set of terraces and a smaller religious and administrative area with a total area of over 1800 hectares. There are impressive irrigation channels and all of this set in the dramatic setting of the steep Apurimac Canyon.

We will take our lunch within the upper part of the ruins today to allow for more exploration time. After lunch, we climb over a ridge for about 1 hour to the Choquequirao Pass, and then descend for 3h to the ruins at Pinchiunuyoc (2470m / 8104 ft). We will have time to explore these ruins and admire the majestic views before settling in for the night at the nearby campsite of the same name. This is one of the most impressive campsites on the Choquequirao hike to Machu Picchu, and if it’s a clear day, you will be treated to one of the most spectacular sunsets.

• Total Walking Distance: 8 km
• Total Walking Time: 6-7 h
• Minimum Altitude: 1920m (6299 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 3000m (9843 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 3000m (9843 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: 7°C (45°F)

Today, after breakfast, we will descend steeply to the Rio Blanco (1920m / 6299 ft), a 1.5 to 2 hour walk. Here we can dip our toes in the cool waters of the river before facing the next leg of our journey.

From here, we start a challenging climb to a small cleared agricultural area on the mountain known as Maizal (3000m / 9843 ft). For many people, this is the most difficult section of the whole Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu. The climb is a grinding 4.5h hours zig-zag uphill.

We’ll break for lunch here and then have the rest of the afternoon to relax and rest our tired legs, in preparation for tomorrow’s long day of hiking. We will camp here for the night.

• Total Walking Distance: 11km
• Total Walking Time: 7-8h of walking + 3h driving
• Minimum Altitude: 2100m (6,889 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 4130m (13,549 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 2100m (6,889 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: 15°C (59°F)

We wake early and climb uphill through cloud forest to the Victoria Mines, an incredible and breathtaking climb, with an elevation gain of more than 1000m! Here we can admire the shine of the outcropped rocks illustrating the high concentration of minerals and metals and the reason for the ancient mines.

During our trek through the puna, we’ll walk over well-preserved Inca trails, with their classical zig-zag shape. Along the way, we pass Pajonal (4000m / 13,123ft). Pajonal affords stunning views of the trail where we have just walked, back towards the amazing Apurimac valley.

Finally, after 4-5 hours of climbing, we will reach the San Juan Pass, also known as Victoria Pass (4130 m / 13,549ft). From this high pass we will be able to see the imposing Mount Choquetacarpo in front. This is a fantastic spot to take pictures on a clear day, possibly the best photo ops on the whole Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu!

Time- and conditions-permitting, we will have our lunch here at San Juan Pass, in front of these breathtaking views. There is a good chance we will spot condors soaring past, especially if it’s a sunny day.

After lunch, the spectacular views continue from the pass as we descend about 2.5h to the charming village of Yanama (3700m /12,139 ft), which is also our alternative lunch spot.

At this point, we will say farewell to our muleteers, some of whom may be from Yanama itself, and your group will be met by a vehicle which will transfer you to the high jungle village of Lucmabamba (2100m / 6889ft), about a 3h drive. You will enjoy the warm high jungle climate and a totally different atmosphere!

Once we arrive at Lucmabamba, a local coffee grower will provide us with a coffee making demonstration and you will have the chance to learn more about the coffee growing process.

We will camp the night at Lucmabamba. Note, your campsite altitude tonight is half of what it was the night before! You can also choose to spend the night in a homestay in Lucmabamba. Spend the night with a local coffee-growing family and enjoy a hot shower and a comfortable bed! There is an extra cost for this option. Read more about our homestay options.

*Please note that some private transport on the road is lower quality than in Cusco.

Fun Fact: The newly discovered Coryhuayrachina ruins are between Maizal and Yanama. Though we do not visit Coryhuayrachina, it is still interesting to learn some of the little-known Inca history about Coryhuayrachina in the areas that we are hiking through.

• Total Walking Distance: 12km
• Total Walking Time: 5-6h
• Minimum Altitude: 1800m (5,905 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 2800m (9,186 ft)

We leave early from Lucmabamba and climb for about three hours through the jungle to reach the Llactapata pass. From here, we descend about 10 minutes to the interesting but largely covered ruins of Llactapacta. Here we will have our first view of Machu Picchu in the saddle of the mountain opposite, an amazing introduction to our final destination.

Originally discovered by Hiram Bingham at the same time that he discovered Machu Picchu, modern day explorers Vincent Lee and Gary Ziegler recently established that the Llactapacta ruins are much bigger and more important than previously thought.

After a 20-30 guided tour of the ruins, we descend very steeply for about 15 minutes until we reach the esplanade of the Llactapata Lodge where we can enjoy our boxed lunch. After a brief lunch break (40 min), we will continue descending on a dirt track for two hours to Aobamba (caution: this track can get muddy in the rainy season!), and finally, after another 30 minutes, we will reach the impressive Machu Picchu Hydroelectric Station (Hidroelectrica). If there is time and you have the strength, you can visit the Inca ruin of Intihuatana.

We will then board the train at Hidroelectrica in the mid-afternoon, arriving in Aguas Calientes about an hour later. After checking into our accommodations, we will enjoy a celebratory dinner before having an early night in preparation for the next day’s visit to Machu Picchu.

We made it! Today we will have a guided visit to the unparalleled Inca Citadel, Machu Picchu. This is a lifelong dream for many, and also the pinnacle of the Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu!

We will take a bus in the wee hours of the morning up to the ruins of Machu Picchu so that you can appreciate this famous city in the early morning light, aiming to enter the site around 8 AM. Your guide will give you a 2h walking tour of the historic citadel which will leave you in awe of the Incan people’s ingenuity!

Get ready for extra fun! After the guided tour, we re-enter the citadel for our Huayna Picchu hike scheduled at 10 am.

After our hike, we exit the site and head to the nearby Tinkuy Restaurant conveniently located inside the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge just outside the gates. Here we will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch before taking the bus down to Aguas Calientes in time to catch our train (you can choose to walk down, but the bus ticket is included in the price of your trek).

We will travel on the Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo where our driver will meet us and transfer you directly back to your hotel in Cusco. Total travel time is about 4 hours from Aguas Calientes to Cusco.