5 Days Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu

Your adventure begins at 4:30 a.m. with a pickup from your accommodation in Cusco and a 5-hour drive in private transport to Capuliyoc, where you’ll enjoy a delicious breakfast and meet the team of cooks and horsemen.

The trek starts with a 3-hour descent through the stunning Apurímac Valley, offering breathtaking views of the Padreyoc and Qoriwayrachina mountains. After lunch at Chiquisca, we’ll continue for 1 hour and 15 minutes downhill to the bottom of the valley, where you’ll cross the Apurímac River, known as the “Speaking God” in Quechua.

Finally, we’ll ascend for 2 hours to Santa Rosa (1,970 m), our first campsite, where you’ll enjoy a hearty dinner and a well-deserved rest.

Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodations: Camping at Santa Rosa
Lowest Elevation: 1,970 m/ 6,463 ft
Highest Elevation: 2,890 meters/9,482 feet
Distance to walk: 15 km / 9,32 miles
Approximate walking time: 6 – 7 hours
Level of Difficulty: Moderate to Demanding

The day begins with a hearty breakfast to fuel your hike. At 5:30 a.m., you’ll start a 3-hour ascent to Marampata (2,900 m / 9,514 ft), where you’ll enjoy stunning views of the canyon and snow-capped peaks. After a short rest, you’ll hike 1.5 hours further to the Choquequirao complex (3,050 m / 10,007 ft).

Here, you’ll explore the ancient site, immersing yourself in its energy and breathtaking scenery. Your guide will lead you through plazas, temples, and terraces, explaining the history and mysteries of Choquequirao, which is larger than Machu Picchu but only 40% excavated. Don’t miss the white stone llamas, built to honor the sacred Apu Qoriwayrachina mountain.

At noon, you’ll enjoy lunch at the site before returning to your camp at Marampata for dinner and a peaceful night under a star-filled sky.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodations: Camping
Highest Elevation: 3,050 m/ 10,007 ft
Distance to walk: 10 km / 6,21 miles
Approximate walking time: 6 hours
Level of Difficulty: Demanding

The day begins with a hearty breakfast before retracing your steps toward Santa Rosa (1,970 m / 6,463 ft), where you’ll visit a local hacienda to see how sugar cane is cultivated and turned into Cambray, a regional liquor.

After lunch and a short rest, you’ll descend to Rosalinas Beach (1,500 m / 4,921 ft), where you can cool your feet in the Apurímac River. The trek continues with a 1 hour and 15-minute ascent to Chiquisca (1,900 m / 6,234 ft), where you’ll have dinner, relax, and reflect on the day’s adventures before a well-deserved rest.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Accommodations: Camping
Highest Elevation: 3,050 m/ 10,007 ft
Distance to walk: 11 km / 6,82 miles
Approximate walking time: 7 hours
Level of Difficulty: Moderate to Demanding

You’ll enjoy your final breakfast in the mountains while listening to the roar of the Apurímac River, then set off early to avoid hiking under the intense sun. Take a deep breath and let Mother Nature guide you through this last section of the trek back to Capuliyoc.

Upon arriving at the village, you’ll bid farewell to the trekking team that accompanied you throughout this incredible adventure. From there, you’ll board our private vehicle to visit the colossal Saywite Rock, a site of great religious significance to the Incas, particularly dedicated to water.

After immersing yourself in this fascinating history, we’ll continue our journey to Ollantaytambo, where you’ll board the train that will take you to the charming town of Aguas Calientes.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Highest Elevation: 2,000 m/ 9,407 ft
Distance to walk: 8 km / 4,97 miles
Approximate walking time: 4 hours
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Today, you’ll finally visit the iconic Machu Picchu, one of the 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll start early to enjoy the peace and beauty of the site before the crowds arrive.

During a 2-hour guided tour, you’ll explore the most important sections of the Inca citadel, including houses, temples, terraces, and crop fields. You’ll be amazed by the advanced engineering and architectural skills of the Incas, who built this incredible city without modern tools, creating intricate water systems and structures on the mountainside.

Fun Fact: When Hiram Bingham was first shown Machu Picchu, it was covered in dense vegetation and in a state of disrepair. Today, it has been restored and is cherished worldwide.

After exploring, return to Aguas Calientes for lunch and catch your afternoon train to Ollantaytambo. From there, our private transport will take you back to Cusco, arriving around 8 pm. You’ll finally get to rest, but the rhythm of the Andes will stay in your heart for a lifetime.

Meals: Breakfast
Total distance: 4 km (aprox.)
Estimated walking time: 1- 2 hours
Maximum altitude point: 2,700 m (aprox.)