Duration
12 Days / 11 Nights
Package Type
Adventure
Activity Level
Very High
Physical Difficulty
Cultural rating
Wildlife expectation
Our Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu takes you to two of the most impressive Inca archaeological sites in South America. Machu Picchu, of course, is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, a true wonder that everyone has heard about, and the main tourist attraction in Peru. But this trek also takes us to Choquequirao, a stunning site that is equal to Machu Picchu, but receives far fewer visitors. Why don’t you try off season? March, April, September and October are particularly good months, either side of high season, the weather is still decent and there are even fewer people!
The Inca archaeological site of Choquequirao is very similar to Machu Picchu, both in structure, intricacy and geographical setting. But unlike the world-famous Machu Picchu, Choquequirao has only started to open up to tourism in recent years. It’s a challenging trek to get to Choquequirao, but the route passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in Peru. And with plans afoot to build a cable car to Choquequirao, making it far more accessible, now is the time to visit this stunning Inca complex, before it becomes one of Peru’s next tourist hotspots. Combining these two incredible sites gives you the chance to see far more than you would if you only took the classic Inca Trail trek or the Choquequirao trek individually. It also offers a true trekking experience that will take you off-grid for days, trekking through remote locations that encompass a wide spectrum of geographical landscapes and a variety of ecosystems. It’s a physical challenge, that’s for sure, but we’ll be with you every step of the way, with our guides, porters and cooks. This is a true adventure, and one you’ll never forget.
Special features of our Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu:
Type of Tourism: Trekking, Hiking and Cultural
Places To Visit: Cusco, Sacred Valley, Choquequirao & Machu Picchu
Duration: 12 Days and 11 Nights
Type of Service: some tours are small group service tours and other tours are private
Accommodation: 4 star hotels at every destination that you will visit. These hotels had been carefully chosen and we can guarantee that you will feel comfortable and pampered
Arrival to Cusco with a transfer to your hotel; a welcome meeting will be organized by your guide for a quick briefing of the tour. The rest of the day can be spent exploring Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, set in the Andes Mountains. Discover Spanish churches and mansions that sit alongside Inca remains, visit the local market of San Pedro and their array of products from handicrafts to vegetable products, fresh juices and items for traditional Andean ceremonies. ...
After breakfast, enjoy a free day to explore Cusco at your ease. The capital city of the Inca Empire is now the undisputed archaeological capital of the Americas, as well as the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city. You may visit the local archaeological sites of Saqsaywaman, Tambomachay and Qenqo or you can take part in a Peruvian cooking class or chocolate making class, depending on how you want to spend your free day. We can help arrange and suggest all activities a...
Our trekking adventure starts when we pick you up from your hotel in Cusco. We’ll first drive for about four hours to the village of Cachora, where we begin our trek. We will load our gear onto horses and climb for two and a half hours to the Capuliyoc pass, which sits at 2,750m (9,020 ft) above sea level. We’ll then descend the other side of the pass, heading into the beautiful Apurimac Valley, where we have spectacular views of snow-capped peaks in the distance and the v...
Today, we will have an early breakfast, before setting off in the cool air of the morning. First, we’ll descend for one hour to Playa Rosalina, where we’ll cross the Apurimac River. Next is a steep climb of about two hours. It's quite tough going, for sure, but you’ll be constantly rewarded with the spectacular views from the trail, as well as the wide variety of flora and fauna you’ll find on this side of the valley. We’ll make our way passing by beautif...
All our tough trekking will be rewarded today when we wake up early to explore the archaeological site of Choquequirao. Your guide will take you around the site, showing you all the most important sections and explaining the history of Choquequirao. You’ll learn about the Inca Empire, its traditions and culture, as well as the close relationship between Choquequirao and Machu Picchu.
Choquequirao has not been explored or studied as comprehensively as Machu Pi...
We will wake up to a hearty breakfast after which, we will begin the ascent from our campsite up to the Choquequirao pass, at 3,250 m (10,660 ft). As we walk, we’ll enter the cloud forest, where polylepis trees, epiphytes and bromeliads grow. On the other side of the pass, we’ll descend towards the Yuracmayo River, passing some Inca agricultural terraces that once supplied Choquequirao. After a few hours of trekking, we’ll reach the river, which we’ll cross. He...
After breakfast, we’ll set off on a steeply-climbing trail up towards Mina Victoria, an old silver and copper mine used by the Incas and later by the Spanish colonials. From here we’ll hike along a hill called Qoriwayrachina, an Inca site that was discovered relatively recently, and which few people have visited. Probably connected to the nearby mines, the hills around Qoriwayrachina are covered with stones from more than 200 structures built at this Inca outpost. Show more
After breakfast, we’ll set off on a steeply-climbing trail up towards Mina Victoria, an old silver and copper mine used by the Incas and later by the Spanish colonials. From here we’ll hike along a hill called Qoriwayrachina, an Inca site that was discovered relatively recently, and which few people have visited. Probably connected to the nearby mines, the hills around Qoriwayrachina are covered with stones from more than 200 structures built at this Inca outpost. Show more
After the high-altitude trekking of the previous day, today will feel like a breeze, as we hike along the path of the Salkamayo River. As we go, we’ll pass through an area of increasingly lush vegetation, where we’ll find a paradise of crystalline waterfalls, plentiful passion fruit and coffee plantations. In the afternoon we’ll reach our campsite at the village of La Playa, where you’ll have plenty of free time to relax and take a swim in the river as we set u...
Today will be our final day of trekking, taking us within easy reach of Machu Picchu. After breakfast, we’ll the cross the river and start climbing up through coffee and fruit plantations until we reach El Mirador, a wonderful spot at 2,860 m (9,381 ft) with exceptional views of Machu Picchu.
We’ll then continue on towards the Inca site of Llaqtapata, which was discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1912, but only extensively explored and mapped in 2003. Llaqta...
To best appreciated Machu Picchu, we’ll wake up early in the morning so we can get to the citadel in good time. You’ll have time for breakfast first, and then your guide will pick you up from the hotel at around 5:40 a.m. We’ll then walk to the bus departure point for the short but zigzagging ascent up the road to Machu Picchu.
We’ll then pass through the gates into the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Here you’ll begin your guided wa...
After breakfast, enjoy your last day at leisure before your transfer to the airport for your return flight home, via Lima.