Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu: 8 Days, 7 Nights
Cusco, Peru
Trip Type: Multi-day Tours
Duration: 8 days
Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu is the place where you will discover the great citadel of the last Inca kings and also you will reach the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful ecosystem.
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Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu is the place where you will discover the great citadel of the last Inca kings and also you will reach the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful ecosystem.
Day 1: Cusco to Chiquisca
You leave Cusco early in a private transport and drive towards Cachora, where you will meet the horseman and horses. You start the trek climbing for 2 hours towards the Abra Capuliyoc, where you enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and the Apurimac River Canyon. You then descend for two more hours towards Chiquisca.
DAY 2: Chiquisca to Choquequirao
You leave Chiquisca very early when you will be hiking down for about an hour where you cross the Apurimac River and start climbing towards Santa Rosa, zigzagging up a steep slope for about 2 hours. From Santa Rosa you continue climbing slowly for about 4 hours until you reach the archaeological complex of Choquequirao, where you will set up camp and enjoy some free time to explore.
Day 3: Choquequirao to Maizal
You will climb gradually to a low pass at 3,299 meters and then descend to Rio Blanco where you can have a cool swim. You'll cross the river and then start a long and steep climb of about 3 hours to the camp in Maizal, high above the river close to the sacred Apus of the Incas at 3000 meters.
Day 4: Maizal to Yanama
You start walking uphill passing by the impressive Inca mines Victoria. First you walk through cloud forest and the through Andean pampa grass. It is a long climb to the top of Victoria Pass and where you will have a a fantastic view of the mountain Choquetakarpo. You will camp in a small isolated settlement at the bottom of a long valley surrounded by mountains.
Day 5: Yanama to Ccollpapampa
After breakfast you'll start climbing slowly to the highest pass Yanama Pass 4668m. Again the view is amazing, you are surrounded by snowcapped mountains the Mt. Sacsarayoj and Mt. Padreyoj. If you are lucky you can see condors. The descent is a long hike through grassy fields and bush areas on the way towards the community of Ccollpapampa, where you spend the night, near the camp site we will find medicinal hot springs.
Day 6: Ccollpapampa to La Playa
On this day you make a long descent about 2,000 meters to the Totora river. As you go down the bird-life is very interesting especially hummingbirds and woodpeckers and there are many species of orchids and begonias. You gradually climb and camp in a warmer campsite in the village of La Playa.
Day 7: La Playa - Aguas Calientes Town
From La Playa you'll take a local transportation for approximately 20 minutes to Lucma ( or hike), from here you start a climb of about 3 hours to Llactapata which is famous for a “great condor view of Machu Picchu”. You'll then hike down hill for about 2 hours to the Hydroelectric Station. You will take the local train to Aguas Calientes. Camp in Puente Ruinas.
Day 8: Machu Picchu - Cusco
After an early breakfast from Aguas Calientes you'll take a bus to Machu Picchu. You start a visit with a 2-3 hours guided tour. The rest of the morning you spend at this amazing site taking pictures. You meet in the afternoon in Aguas Calientes and take the train back to Cusco.
You leave Cusco early in a private transport and drive towards Cachora, where you will meet the horseman and horses. You start the trek climbing for 2 hours towards the Abra Capuliyoc, where you enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and the Apurimac River Canyon. You then descend for two more hours towards Chiquisca.
DAY 2: Chiquisca to Choquequirao
You leave Chiquisca very early when you will be hiking down for about an hour where you cross the Apurimac River and start climbing towards Santa Rosa, zigzagging up a steep slope for about 2 hours. From Santa Rosa you continue climbing slowly for about 4 hours until you reach the archaeological complex of Choquequirao, where you will set up camp and enjoy some free time to explore.
Day 3: Choquequirao to Maizal
You will climb gradually to a low pass at 3,299 meters and then descend to Rio Blanco where you can have a cool swim. You'll cross the river and then start a long and steep climb of about 3 hours to the camp in Maizal, high above the river close to the sacred Apus of the Incas at 3000 meters.
Day 4: Maizal to Yanama
You start walking uphill passing by the impressive Inca mines Victoria. First you walk through cloud forest and the through Andean pampa grass. It is a long climb to the top of Victoria Pass and where you will have a a fantastic view of the mountain Choquetakarpo. You will camp in a small isolated settlement at the bottom of a long valley surrounded by mountains.
Day 5: Yanama to Ccollpapampa
After breakfast you'll start climbing slowly to the highest pass Yanama Pass 4668m. Again the view is amazing, you are surrounded by snowcapped mountains the Mt. Sacsarayoj and Mt. Padreyoj. If you are lucky you can see condors. The descent is a long hike through grassy fields and bush areas on the way towards the community of Ccollpapampa, where you spend the night, near the camp site we will find medicinal hot springs.
Day 6: Ccollpapampa to La Playa
On this day you make a long descent about 2,000 meters to the Totora river. As you go down the bird-life is very interesting especially hummingbirds and woodpeckers and there are many species of orchids and begonias. You gradually climb and camp in a warmer campsite in the village of La Playa.
Day 7: La Playa - Aguas Calientes Town
From La Playa you'll take a local transportation for approximately 20 minutes to Lucma ( or hike), from here you start a climb of about 3 hours to Llactapata which is famous for a “great condor view of Machu Picchu”. You'll then hike down hill for about 2 hours to the Hydroelectric Station. You will take the local train to Aguas Calientes. Camp in Puente Ruinas.
Day 8: Machu Picchu - Cusco
After an early breakfast from Aguas Calientes you'll take a bus to Machu Picchu. You start a visit with a 2-3 hours guided tour. The rest of the morning you spend at this amazing site taking pictures. You meet in the afternoon in Aguas Calientes and take the train back to Cusco.
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