Choquequirao + Machu Picchu Trek 6 Days – Epic Lost Inca Adventure

Your adventure will begin early in the morning when you will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco at approximately 5:30 a.m. You will travel by private tourist transport for around 4 hours through the stunning Andean highlands until you reach the traditional village of Cachora (2,900 m / 9,514 ft), the starting point of the Choquequirao trek.

Here, you will meet your professional trekking team, including muleteers and chef, before starting your adventure with a short briefing and preparation for the hike.

You will begin your trek with a steady ascent towards Capuliyoc, where you will enjoy your first panoramic views of the impressive Apurímac Canyon and surrounding snow-capped Andean peaks. As you continue hiking, you will descend through Coca Masana, where the landscape gradually changes from high Andean terrain into warmer, semi-tropical vegetation typical of the cloud forest transition zone.

You will continue descending along scenic mountain trails until you reach Playa Rosalina (1,550 m / 5,085 ft), located on the banks of the powerful Apurímac River. Here, you will set up your first campsite and enjoy dinner surrounded by nature, mountain sounds, and a star-filled sky.

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping 4 people tents  for  2 people per tents
• Distance: 16 km (approx.)
• Hiking time: 6–7 hours
• Max altitude: 3,000 m (Capuliyoc)
• Min altitude: 1,550 m (Playa Rosalina)

After an early breakfast, you will begin one of the most challenging and rewarding sections of the Choquequirao trek as you start the steep ascent from Playa Rosalina toward the high Andean village of Marampata. This demanding uphill hike will take you through changing ecosystems, where you will feel the temperature drop and the landscape shift from tropical canyon vegetation to high-altitude Andean scenery.

You will continue climbing along narrow mountain trails with spectacular views of the Apurímac Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world. The route is known for its intense but breathtaking scenery, and it is one of the most iconic trekking experiences in Peru’s adventure tourism routes.

By midday, you will reach Marampata, where you can rest and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. From here, you will continue the final stretch to Choquequirao Archaeological Park, one of the most important Inca sites in South America and often considered the “sister city of Machu Picchu.”

Upon arrival, you will explore the vast Inca complex with your professional guide, discovering terraces, ceremonial platforms, temples, and ancient agricultural systems that demonstrate the advanced engineering of the Inca civilization. After the visit, you will continue to the nearby campsite at Raqaypata, where you will spend the night surrounded by silence, mountains, and star-filled skies.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping (2 people per tent)
• Distance: 15 km (approx.)
• Hiking time: 7–8 hours
• Max altitude: 3,050 m (Choquequirao)
• Min altitude: 1,550 m (Playa Rosalina)
• Difficulty: Challenging – high mountain trekking in the Andes
• Approximate Walking Time: 7- 8 Hours

This day will be dedicated entirely to exploring the incredible Choquequirao Archaeological Park, one of the most impressive and least-visited Inca sites in Peru. You will enjoy a guided visit through the main sectors of the citadel, discovering its terraces, temples, ceremonial platforms, and ancient Inca architecture spread across the mountain ridge.

You will explore the different archaeological zones, including residential areas, storage structures (qullqas), ceremonial plazas, and agricultural terraces that demonstrate the advanced engineering of the Inca civilization. Choquequirao is divided into multiple sectors, revealing its role as a major political, religious, and administrative center of the late Inca Empire.

During your visit, you will also learn about the ongoing excavations and partially uncovered areas, which continue to reveal the secrets of this “Lost City of the Incas.” From strategic viewpoints, you will appreciate the scale of the complex and its dramatic location above the Apurímac Canyon.

In the afternoon, you will have the chance to observe the majestic flight of Andean condors, often seen gliding over the canyon using thermal winds—a truly unforgettable natural spectacle.

After the visit, you will return to your campsite for lunch and enjoy a peaceful afternoon surrounded by the silence and energy of the Andes.

After breakfast, you will begin one of the most demanding and rewarding sections of the Choquequirao trek. You will cross the Apurímac River at Playa Rosalina (1,550 m / 5,085 ft) and immediately start a steep and continuous ascent toward Santa Rosa.

You will hike up a challenging zigzag trail surrounded by the dramatic landscapes of the Apurímac Canyon. As you gain altitude, you will notice how the vegetation becomes more abundant and the climate gradually changes from warm canyon temperatures to cooler Andean conditions.

After approximately 2 hours of steady climbing, you will reach Santa Rosa, where you will take a short break before continuing the ascent through rural mountain terrain. You will then proceed along scenic trails toward Chiquisca, passing remote valleys, panoramic viewpoints, and changing ecosystems typical of the Andes.

By late afternoon, you will arrive at Chiquisca (1,930 m / 6,332 ft), where you will set up camp, enjoy dinner, and rest after a challenging but unforgettable trekking day in the Apurímac Valley.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping (2 people per tent)
Distance: 17 km (approx.)
Hiking time: 8–9 hours
Max altitude: 3,200 m (Choquequirao sector)
Min altitude: 1,550 m (Playa Rosalina)
Difficulty: Challenging – steep ascent in the Andes

You will wake up surrounded by the sounds of birds and the peaceful Andean landscape. After breakfast, you will begin your final descent from Chiquisca back toward Cachora, enjoying the changing scenery as the canyon gradually opens and the climate becomes warmer.

You will hike for approximately 5 to 7 hours, depending on your physical condition, until you reach Cachora, where your private transport will be waiting for you. From here, you will travel by road to Ollantaytambo, passing through beautiful landscapes of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

From Ollantaytambo, you will board the train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. The train journey offers spectacular views of the Urubamba River, cloud forest, and Andean mountains as you descend into the jungle. You will arrive in Aguas Calientes in the evening, where you will spend the night in a comfortable hostel, resting before your visit to Machu Picchu.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Hostel (Aguas Calientes)
• Distance: 10 km (approx. hiking)
• Hiking time: 5–7 hours
• Max altitude: 3,000 m (Capuliyoc area)
• Min altitude: 2,040 m (Aguas Calientes)
• Difficulty: Moderate – descent trek + transport + train
• Approximate Walking Time:7 – 8 Hour

After an early breakfast in Aguas Calientes, you will take the first bus at approximately 5:30 a.m. to Machu Picchu, arriving around 6:15 a.m. You will enter the citadel early to enjoy a peaceful atmosphere and avoid crowds in one of the world’s most important archaeological sites.

You will enjoy a guided tour of Machu Picchu (UNESCO World Heritage Site) for approximately 2 hours, where your expert guide will explain the history, architecture, and spiritual significance of the Inca civilization, including temples, terraces, ceremonial areas, and sacred viewpoints.

Machu Picchu is one of the most iconic destinations in South America and a highlight of Peru travel and adventure tourism. Built in the 15th century under Inca Emperor Pachacuti, it is considered a masterpiece of Inca engineering, sacred architecture, and Andean cosmology, hidden among the lush cloud forest of the Andes.

After the guided tour, you will have free time to explore the citadel on your own. Optional hikes include Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain (subject to availability and advance booking), offering panoramic views over the Urubamba Valley.

At the scheduled time, you will return to Aguas Calientes and board the train to Ollantaytambo, followed by private transport back to Cusco, arriving in the evening.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation:Not Included,
• Maximum Altitude:2,700 m / 8,856 ft
• Minimum Altitude:2,400 m / 7,872 ft ( Machupicchu )
• Distance Travelled:8 Km approx plus exploration of Machu Picchu
• Approximate Walking Time:6-7 hours / Descent : 300 m