The hike to Choquequirao and Machu Picchu will begin at an early hour, with pick-up at your hotel at 4:30 AM. We will travel by private bus for about 4 hours to reach Cachora, stopping for breakfast and enjoying the distant mountain views, including the snow-capped peaks of Salkantay and Humantay.

Upon arrival in Cachora (2,850 m/9,350 ft), we will meet up with the rest of our team and finalize the necessary details before embarking on the 4-hour descent hike. This will take us through high-altitude rainforest, characterized by a warm, humid and rainy climate that supports rich tropical vegetation and fauna. Along the way, we will admire the breathtaking scenery of the Apurimac Valley, including the imposing mountains of Padreyoc (5771 m / 18933.7 ft) and Wayna Cachora.

We will stop for lunch at Chikiska (1890 m / 6200.8 ft.) to recharge our batteries. Then, we will continue our adventure with a 2-hour ascent, crossing the mighty Apurimac River (whose name means “talking god”) until we reach Santa Rosa (2095 m / 6873 ft.), where we will set up our first camp of the trek.

Food

Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Physical Level

1, Easy

Walking Distance

11.8060 miles – 19 km

Hiking Time

Aruond 6 – 7 h

The next morning, our cook and assistants will serve us hot coca tea in our tents before breakfast to wake us up early. After a delicious and nutritious breakfast, we will begin our hike with a gradual ascent to Marampata (2,900 m / 9,514.4 ft). On the way, we will be able to appreciate the Apurimac River canyon, as well as a variety of flora and fauna. With a little luck, we may spot condors flying over the canyon.

Upon arrival in Marampata, we will take a break and have lunch prepared by our chef. From there, we will be able to see the archaeological center of Choquequirao in the distance. After lunch and some rest, we will continue our hike through gentle, undulating terrain until we reach the ruins of Choquequirao (3,100 m./10,168 ft.), where we will have all afternoon to take photos and explore. Our guide will give us detailed explanations about the archaeological complex, which covers 1800 hectares and includes a vast complex of terraces, irrigation canals and several religious and administrative buildings.

We will spend the night in this enchanting place, camping near the ruins.

Food

breakfast – lunch – dinner

Physical Level

1, Easy

Walking Distance

11.8060 miles – 19 km

Hiking Time

aruond 6 – 7h

We will begin our third day by waking up early and sipping a cup of hot coca tea, a routine that will continue throughout our journey from Choquequirao to Machu Picchu. After a satisfying breakfast, we will leave the Inca city of Choquequirao and begin our gentle three-hour hike to the Choquequirao pass (3,300 m/10,890 ft). Then, we will begin to descend to Rio Blanco (1,900 m/6,270 ft), where we will enter the cloud forest.

Here, we will be able to observe native mountain trees with shredded and multilayered bark, epiphytes, bromeliads, orchids and several species of birds, as well as water sources. We will also see the lush cloud forest vegetation that still covers part of the Inca agricultural terraces of Pinchiunuyoc (2,487 m/8,160 ft). Our guide will give us a brief explanation about this Inca site before we continue our descent, passing through coca plantations and gradually transitioning into a dry Andean forest. After enjoying our lunch, we will ascend for another three hours to the village of Maizal (3,000 m/9,900 ft), where we will set up our next camp.

Food

breakfast – lunch – dinner

Physical Level

1, Easy

Walking Distance

11.8060 miles – 19 km

Hiking Time

aruond 6 – 7h

After an early breakfast, we start the ascent to Victoria Pass (4,150 m/13,695 ft). It is a steep 4-hour climb to Minas Victoria, an abandoned silver mining center dating back to Inca and colonial times. As we continue our hike up the Qoriwayrachina hill, we pass through an area where recent archaeological explorations have been carried out. As we approach Paso Victoria, we begin to follow a remarkably well-preserved authentic Inca trail, with stone steps in the middle! Arriving at Victoria Pass, we will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the snow-capped peaks of Humantay (5,700 m/18,700 ft) and Salkantay (6,271 m/20,574 ft), revered by locals as the “guardian spirit of the jungle”. We will then descend to Yanama (3,590 m/11,778.2 ft), a village where we will spend the night at another campsite. From there, we will enjoy views of the Yanama River and the majestic Pumasillo Mountain.

Food

breakfast – lunch – dinner

Physical Level

1, Easy

Walking Distance

11.8060 miles – 19 km

Hiking Time

Aruond 6 – 7h

Our trek begins in the morning as we head towards the Yanama Valley, passing through green farmland and lush vegetation. The highlight of the day is overcoming the highest point of the route, Yanama Pass (4,668 m / 15,315 ft), which promises an exciting hike and a challenging day.

At Yanama Pass, we are rewarded with breathtaking views of a chain of snow-capped peaks, including the Sacsarayoc and Padreyoc mountains. Lucky hikers may even catch a glimpse of majestic condors soaring over the surrounding cliffs.

Upon reaching the pass, visitors can see a pile of stones added by previous hikers to express their gratitude to Apus, the mountain god, for a safe journey and good fortune. We then descend to Totora Pampa, where our next campsite is located near the village of Totora (3,630 m / 11,979 ft). After happy hour and dinner, we retire to our tents to rest after a long day of trekking.

Physical Level

1, Easy

After enjoying a delicious breakfast prepared by our Peru trekking chef, we embark on a journey that begins by following the course of the Totora River. As we gradually descend, we enter a region of high jungle, known in Spanish as the “Ceja de selva”. Here, we notice the rapidly changing vegetation and the increasingly warm temperature. The high jungle is home to a great variety of flora and fauna, such as wild orchids, bromeliads and beautiful birds.

As we descend, we reach the bamboo forests, where we enjoy breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks framed by bamboo leaves. On the way, we pass through the village of Luscamayo, and after a 4-hour descent, we reach a small settlement called Collpapampa (2,850 m / 9,348 ft), where we stop for lunch.

Our journey continues, as we descend further with the Santa Teresa River on our left, observing small coffee and tropical fruit crops along the way. Finally, we reach the slopes of Wiñaypoco hill, where our campsite awaits (2680 m / 8793 ft).

Physical Level

1, Easy

After a nutritious breakfast, we resume our hike to the Aobamba River. The trail takes us through bamboo forests, orchards and coffee plantations, providing ample opportunities for bird watching, including hummingbirds and woodpeckers.

The trail is a delight to the senses as we walk among strawberries at our feet and passion fruit hanging overhead, all with purple begonias and orchids as a backdrop. After two and a half hours, we arrive at La Playa (2100 m), a small place where we take a short break and enjoy a delicious lunch.

Our journey continues as we make our way to Lucmabamba (2250 m / 7381.89 ft), where we will spend the night. This is another easy day of trekking, during which we will have the opportunity to observe the lush vegetation and various plants grown in the area, such as bananas, avocados, coca leaves and coffee. The area is also home to the spectacled bear and many parrots.

In Lucmabamba, we will have the opportunity to learn about the coffee-making process through a demonstration, while exploring this important crop and its impact on the region.

Physical Level

1, Easy

This day we will walk from the village of La Playa to the hydroelectric plant on the Urubamba River. In the morning, we will embark on a newly opened stretch of the Inca Trail.

Originally used to transport agricultural products to the town of Machu Picchu, this trail will take us through an area of coffee plantations and subtropical fruit crops. Suddenly, we will come across a dense forest, full of trees covered with a thick layer of moss.

Then, we will catch our first glimpse of the impressive Machu Picchu on a mountain in the distance. After a 10-minute hike, we will arrive at Llactapata for lunch and rest. From here, we will enjoy a beautiful view of the mountains and Machu Picchu. We will then walk along the river until we reach the Urubamba hydroelectric plant.

Here we can visit the Intihuatana while waiting for the train to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, we will receive assistance and be escorted to the selected hotel.

Physical Level

1, Easy

This day, we will take the bus from Aguas Calientes to the entrance of Machu Picchu. We will begin our visit by exploring the most important areas of the archaeological site, and our guide will provide us with information about the significance of this citadel as a religious and astronomical center. We will spend the rest of the day at this impressive site and have the opportunity to climb Huayna Picchu or visit the Temple of the Moon.

Afterwards, we will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes for lunch. In the afternoon, we will board a train back to Ollantaytambo, where our private vehicle will be waiting to take us to our hotel in Cusco (arrival in the evening).

Physical Level

1, Easy