Choquequirao & Machu Picchu Trek 7 Days 6 Nights

Day 1: CUSCO – CACHORA – CAPULIYOC – CHIKISKA – PLAYA ROSALINA

We leave Cusco at 5 am in our minivan on a 4-hour trip through the provinces of Anta, Limatambo, Cachora and finally arrive at the Capuliyoc pass, located on the edge of the Apurimac Canyon, where we will have our breakfast. Once finished, we will meet the rest of the team (muleteers, horses, etc.). Then we begin the walk for 2 hours and a half until we reach Chiquisca (1,800 m.a.s.l.) where we will have our lunch. Then we will continue our walk for 1 more hour until we reach Rosalina Beach (1,500 m.a.s.l.), where we will spend our first night.

• Time: 5 hours of descent approximately.
• Meals: Lunch, dinner.
• Minimum altitude: 1500 meters above sea level Playa Rosalina
• Maximum altitude: 2945 masl in Abra Capuliyoc
• Distance traveled: 12 km from Capuliyoc – Rosalina Beach.
• Climate: Warm.

Day 2: PLAYA ROSALINA – MARAMPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAO

In the morning our alarm will be the river, after recharging energies with a good breakfast, the first part begins crossing the bridge over the Apurimac River that separates the department of Cusco and Apurimac, part consists of a 5-hour ascent along a winding road and narrow. Halfway there, we stop in the small towns of Santa Rosa Baja and Santa Rosa Alta for a short break; Then we go back to Marampata (2,900 m.a.s.l.), where our lunch will be, from here we will have our first view of the Choquequirao complex. Then we continue walking for 2 more hours to Choquequirao, we will camp very close to the archaeological complex and we can see the sunset and some flying condors.

• Time: 7 hours of ascent approximately.
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Minimum altitude: 1500 meters above sea level Playa Rosalina.
• Maximum altitude: 2900 m.a.s.l. in Choquequirao.
• Distance traveled: 14 km from Playa Rosalina – Choquequirao.
• Climate: Temperate, Warm.

Day 3: CHOQUEQUIRAO – PINCHINUYOC.

Today you will have a sunrise with fresh air and a hot breakfast, then we will start with the guided visit to the main sites of interest around Choquequirao, during the morning we will visit Paqchayoc, the house of the priest, the cultivation platforms. At noon our chef will bring our lunch to the main sector, after a short break we continue with the visit to the sector of llamas, the house of the Inca and the temples. Then we begin the ascent to the Choquequirao pass where you will have a privileged view.
Then we will descend to the terraces of Pinchinuyoc (2487 ​​masl), where we will spend the night with a clear sky full of stars.

• Time: 5 hours visit to Choquequirao and 2 hours descent to Pinchinuyoc.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner
• Camp: Pinchinuyoc 2487 masl.
• Minimum altitude: 2487 masl Pinchinuyoc.
• Maximum altitude: 3150 meters above sea leveL Choquequirao pass.
• Distance traveled: 12 km Choquequirao – Pinchinuyoc.
• Climate: Temperate, Warm.

Day 4: PINCHINUYOC – RÍO BLANCO – MAIZAL(Cornfield).

After a delicious and refreshing breakfast, we will continue down the valley until we reach the White River (1990 masl), there we will stop, a perfect place to take a refreshing dip in the river and relieve your tired muscles. After our bath, we will return to the opposite side of the valley and begin to ascend towards our camp in Maizal (2891 masl) where we will spend the night.

• Time: 2 hours of descent and 3 hours of ascent
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner
• Camp: Maizal (Cornfield) 2891 masl.
• Minimum altitude: 1990 masl Río Blanco.
• Maximum altitude: 2891 masl Cornfield.
• Distance traveled: 16 km Pinchinuyoc – Maizal.
• Climate: Temperate, Warm.

Day 5: MAIZAL – YANAMA – TOTORA – LUCMABAMBA.

After breakfast we leave and walk uphill through the humid forest, we will pass through the Victoria mines before climbing another hour to the Victoria pass. Where we can have spectacular views of the Vilcabamba mountain range with its glaciers over 5000 meters high. Soon we will descend to the charming town of Yanama where we will have our lunch and say goodbye to our muleteers.
Once we arrive in Yanama, we take the local transport up to 4643 meters above sea level, from the Mariano Llamocca pass with a view of the second highest glacier in Cusco, Salkantay, and then descend to Lucmabamba on a trip of approximately 3 hours. Along the way, we will enjoy the beautiful views of the snowy mountains and the falls.

• Time: 3 hours of ascent and 2 hours of descent.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner
• Camp: Lucmabamba 1900 masl.
• Minimum altitude: 2891 masl Cornfield.
• Maximum altitude: 4643 masl Mariano Llamocca Pass.
• Distance traveled: 80 km Maizal – Lucmabamba.
• Climate: Temperate, cold.

Day 6: LUCMABAMBA – LLACTAPATA – AGUAS CALIENTES.

Today is the final part of the walk before reaching Aguas Calientes (1900 masl). The main objective of today is a visit to the archaeological site of Llactapata, located on top of a mountain. Following an original and new Inca Trail, we will arrive at Llactapata early and visit the site for half an hour, where we can enjoy the fantastic views of the archeological site and we can also appreciate Machu Picchu from far.
Then we will start a 2-hour descent to the Hydroelectric station where we will have our lunch and here you have two options:

1. If you feel tired, you can take the train to Aguas Calientes ($ 31.00 “is not included”).
2. If you still have energy, we can walk from Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes for approximately 3 hours following the railroad. ¡This is the same path used by the American professor Hiram Bingham that rediscovered Machu Picchu!

Once in Aguas Calientes, you can rest a little before dinner or stroll through this attractive place. There are no buses in Aguas Calientes, so it is a quiet place. At 7:00 pm, we will have dinner at a local restaurant, where our guide will explain in more detail about the visit to Machupicchu. In your room, you will have a private bathroom, hot shower, wifi, breakfast in the morning and luggage storage while visiting Machu Picchu.

• Time: 6 hours of walking.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner
• Hotel: Aguas Calientes 1900 masl.
• Minimum altitude: 2050 masl Aguas Calientes.
• Maximum altitude: 2700 masl Llactapata.
• Distance traveled: 9 km Lucmabamba – Llactapata. / 10 km Hydroelectric- Aguas Calientes.
• Climate: Temperate – Cold.

Day 7: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU.

This day is probably the most anticipated by all, to visit Machu Picchu (2850 m.a.s.l.) we have several entry shifts; They can be at 6-7-8- or 9 in the morning, depending on the date of the advance payment of the tour we can book the entrance as early as possible.
Depending on the time of the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu we will get up to have breakfast.

To go to Machupicchu from Aguas Calientes, we have two alternatives:

• Go by Bus (24 US dollars round trip, not included)
• Go walking, in approximately 2 hours.

Already at the entrance of MachuPicchu our guide will start with the tour in the archaeological zone, where we can visit the different places the temple of the sun, sundial, house of the Inca, etc.
If you have a visit to one of the available mountains “Huaynapicchu or Machupicchu”, depending on the start time (first time 7 AM – 8 AM and a second time from 10 AM – 11 AM), our guide will organize everything, you just have to relax and enjoy the tour.
Once the tour is finished they can return walking or by bus, but keep in mind that sometimes the line to board the bus is so long that it can take an hour or more, between 12 to 1 in the afternoon.
Already in Aguas Calientes, it is where we will board the return train until we reach the town of Ollantaytambo, that is where our mobility will be waiting for you to return to the city of Cusco.

• Food: Breakfast
• Walking distance from Aguas Calientes to Machupicchu: Approximately 5 km.
• Maximum height: 2850 m.a.s.l. Macchu Picchu.
• Minimum height: 2050 m.a.s.l. Aguas Calientes
• Climate: Warm or cold depending on the weather season.