• Total Walking Distance: 16km
• Total Walking Time: 10h
• Minimum Altitude: 2095m (6873 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 3110m (10,120 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 2900m (9514 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: 5°C

It’s another early start this morning as we depart early to escape the heat of the canyon. Today, we are continuing upwards towards Maranpata (2940m (9646 ft). After a good night’s sleep, we should be ready to tackle this tough, 3-hour uphill stretch.

A little beyond Maranpata we’ll be treated to our first views of Choquequirao, a nice reward for the morning’s challenge. From here, it’s just another 2 hours over gentle, undulating terrain until we reach the ruins – a welcome change of pace! Stopping first for lunch at the Choquequirao campsite (2900m / 9,514ft), we then head for the site itself where we have the entire afternoon to explore.

Originally discovered in 1710, Choquequirao was given little importance by European explorers passing through the area until it was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1909. This was largely overshadowed by Bingham’s additional rediscovery of Machu Picchu, and so it wasn’t until the 1970s that the Peruvian government began to excavate at Choquequirao.

With only about 30% of the site excavated today, Choquequirao consists of an extensive set of terraces, irrigation channels and various religious and administrative complexes extending over 1800 hectares. And all this set against the dramatic background of the Apurimac Canyon!

We’ll watch the sunset over the ruins and, with any luck, catch a glimpse of condors soaring through the canyon that surrounds us.

• Total Walking Distance: 14km
• Total Walking Time: 9h
• Minimum Altitude: 1800m (5905 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 3300m (10,826 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 1800m (5905 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: 15°C

Early this morning, we’ll have another chance to wander the ruins at Choquequirao before continuing on to Pinchiunuyoc after lunch. This is a 3-hour hike taking us over a ridge and then down towards this other stunning archaeological site.

We’ll take a short break here to enjoy the majestic views and then continue our descent for another 1.5 h to the Rio Blanco where we’ll camp for the night. Note: insect repellent is a must at Rio Blanco!

• Total Walking Distance: 16km
• Total Walking Time: 9-10h
• Minimum Altitude: 1800m (5905 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 4150m (13,615 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 4150m (13,615 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: -10°C

After a nourishing breakfast, we start a difficult 3-hour climb, zig-zagging uphill to Maizal (3000m / 9,842ft), a small, cleared agricultural area on the mountain. Make sure you are physically and mentally prepared before we head out: many people find this to be the hardest section of the entire Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek!

We’ll have lunch in Maizal and then climb a further 4-5 hours uphill through cloud forest to the Victoria Mines, gaining about 2000m in elevation as we go! We’ll take a short rest here and admire the shine of the outcropped rocks illustrating the high concentration of minerals and metals – it’s no wonder this was an ancient mining site!

We then continue our trek through the puna, treading well-preserved Inca trails with their classic zig-zag shape, before setting up camp for the night at Pajonal (4150m / 13,615 ft). From here we can look back over the terrain we’ve just traveled towards the incredible Apurimac Valley. This will be a cold night so make sure you’re prepared to bundle up!

Between Maizal and Yanama are the recently discovered Coryhuayrachina ruins. We won’t have time to stop and explore them, but we encourage you to read more about this fascinating and little-known Inca history.

• Total Walking Distance: 13km
• Total Walking Time: 6h
• Minimum Altitude: 3100m (10,170 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 4150m (13,615 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 3700m (12,139 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: -5°C

After spending the night at this cold, high altitude campsite, we venture higher still, climbing for about an hour to the San Juan Pass (4150m / 13,615 ft).

From the pass we’ll have spectacular views as we descend for about 2.5h to the charming village of Yanama (3700m (12,139ft). We’ll visit Yanama, having lunch near the village. Some of the horsemen accompanying you on your trip may even be from Yanama! We always try to hire locals and many come from this community.

From here, we head into virtually uncharted territory on a route pioneered by Apus Peru that takes us to Vilcabamba, the Last Bastion of the Incas! This is what makes our Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu so unique.

After lunch, we head down into a valley towards a small river, and then start climbing again on the other side towards Yutuypata where we’ll have beautiful views through the valley. Hiking time to Yutuypata is around 3 hours. Although we are still at high altitude, the valley creates an interesting microclimate, leaving the landscape green and forested with lush vegetation.

• Total Walking Distance: 17km
• Total Walking Time: 9h
• Minimum Altitude: 4000m (13,123 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 4600m (15,091 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 4000m (13,123 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: -10°C

We’ll have a relatively easy morning today, walking for about 4 hours through the Quellqua Machay valley over gentle terrain. We will be surrounded by dramatic mountain views until we reach our lunch spot.

After lunch, we climb another 2 hours to our highest point along the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu route, the Choquetacarpo Pass (4600m / 15,091ft). Surrounded by craggy mountain peaks, this is a spectacular pass with an incredible view, a definite high point – literally and figuratively! – of the trek.

At this point, we have the chance to walk an almost perfectly preserved Inca trail. Following in the footsteps of the Inca chaskis or runners, you’ll marvel at the engineering skill of the ancient Incas who created these unique trails.

We head down for about a 1.5h over original Inca steps, observing many ancient Inca dwellings along the way. This is an incredible immersion into ancient Incan history as we’ll have constant opportunities to admire their ingenuity. How did they manage to build in such remote places??

We end our long day at a beautiful, isolated campsite where we will rest our weary legs and absorb the tranquility and awe-inspiring scenery.

• Total Walking Distance: 17km
• Total Walking Time: 8-9h
• Minimum Altitude: 2900m (9514 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 4000m (13,123 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 2900m (9514 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: 0°C (32°F)

We continue downwards this morning, following a gentle slope and passing some small roads no longer used for transportation along the way. After about 4 hours, we arrive at the village of Huancacalle (2900m / 9514 ft) where we will have lunch.

From here, we will climb up to visit the interesting ruins of Vitcos-Rosaspata and Ñustahispana for the afternoon before returning to Huancacalle for the night. The route from Huancacalle to the ruins and back again is around 3.5 hours.

• Total Walking Distance: 0km
• Total Walking Time: 0h / Total Driving Time: 5h
• Minimum Altitude: 2040m (6693 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 2900m (9514 ft)
• Altitude of hotel: 2040m (6693 ft)

This morning we can relax and reflect on the journey we’ve just taken along the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trail, from the verdant valleys and plunging canyons to the high mountain passes at San Juan and Choquecatarpo.

Huancacalle is a quaint rural village, where you might spot pigs and their adorable piglets wandering the streets. Isolated in the mountains, you might feel a sense of nostalgia for a forgotten time as you take in the peaceful lifestyle. This is a stark difference from what awaits us in Aguas Calientes, a busy city bustling with tourists eager to visit Machu Picchu.

From here we will take private transport over narrow, winding mountain roads to Santa Teresa (1550m / 5085 ft). The 5-hour drive is an amazing journey in itself, as you go from high Andean plains down to the lush vegetation of the jungle, passing villages and then banana, tea and coffee fields. The final leg of the journey sees us traveling along the edge of the rushing Vilcanota River – a reminder of the powerful natural forces that are a constant presence in the Andes.

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

From Santa Teresa we take the train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes. This will feel like a nice change of pace after days of hiking from Choquequirao to Vilcabamba and finally, Machu Picchu, including hours of driving! Peek up as the train winds along the canyon and you might get a tantalizing glimpse of the lower reaches of Machu Picchu!

Arriving at Aguas Calientes, a soak in the thermal baths might just be the perfect recipe for aching muscles! We’ll enjoy a celebratory dinner in Aguas Calientes before turning in early in anticipation of the next day’s centerpiece: Machu Picchu.

Today we achieve what for many is a lifelong dream: a visit to the Imperial Inca City of Machu Picchu! In the pre-dawn hours, we’ll take the bus up to the site to enjoy the ruins at sunrise. 

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 7 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.