Have the unique opportunity to visit Choquequirao, the sister city of Machu Picchu, and the famous Inca citadel, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, on an unforgettable journey!
Start by hiking through the valley that leads to the Apurímac Canyon, passing through cloud forests until you reach the legendary citadel of Choquequirao. As if that were not enough, you will connect this incredible experience with the Cusco jungle until you arrive at Machu Picchu.
Are you ready?
5571 m.s.n.m
Up to 8
Group or private
Trekking
Formidable
5 days / 4 nights
We start the day early. Pick-up is at 4:00 a.m. for the nearly 5-hour drive to Capuliyoc, the starting point of the trek. Use the drive to rest and recover some sleep. Once we arrive, you will have time to prepare your last belongings, buy snacks from the local kiosks, and get ready for the hike.
The descent from Capuliyoc to Playa Rosalinas takes about 3 to 3.5 hours. The trail is rocky and dry, typical of this desert area. You will walk among trees and pass through small forest sections until you reach the deepest part of the canyon: Playa Rosalinas. Here you will have a short break and enjoy lunch to recover your energy. From this point, the exciting part begins: the uphill climb.
Start the ascent to our campsite at Santa Rosa. This section also takes about 3 hours. Walk at your own pace, as the heat and weather will be your biggest challenge. Enjoy beautiful views of the river while making your way up. Along the trail you will find small local shops where you can buy a snack or a drink to keep going.
When you arrive at Santa Rosa, you will camp in the middle of the mountains and end this challenging first day.
Your guide will wake you up for this incredible day through the mountains and forests. After breakfast, you will hike for about 2 hours to Maranpata (2,850 m / 9,350 ft). Enjoy the beautiful scenery and observe the different types of plants and wildlife. Along the way you may see colorful birds, trees, waterfalls, and wonderful mountain views.
From Maranpata, continue for about 2 more hours with some uphill and downhill sections through the jungle until you reach Choquequirao. You will have lunch near the archaeological complex and relax in the peaceful silence of the mountains.
After lunch, you will enjoy a private guided tour of this fascinating site.
During the tour, explore the most important areas, including palaces, temples, ceremonial water fountains, the impressive Usnu (ceremonial platform), agricultural terraces, the famous llama terraces, and much more. Your guide will share the fascinating history of this incredible place. Finally, spend the night in this magical setting.
Day 3 of our adventure begins with breakfast in Choquequirao. From here, we hike through the Apurímac Valley toward Yanama, a small village surrounded by mountains. Along the way, you will notice how the landscape changes from the dry desert to the beautiful cloud forest, with breathtaking views all around you.
After arriving in Yanama, we will have lunch and continue to the mountain pass, the highest point of the trek. From there, private transportation will take us down through the cloud forest to Collpapampa, where we will stay in our exclusive panoramic Sky Dome Camp. Here you can enjoy dinner, relax in a comfortable hotel-style bed, and take a hot shower after several days of hiking.
After another hot drink enjoyed in your comfortable dome, you will have the last delicious breakfast prepared by our chef. From here, we take local transportation to Lucmabamba, then walk along the ancient and remote Inca Trail for about 3 hours to Puncuyoc Pass (2,700 m / 8,858 ft).
Along the way, enjoy incredible views of deep valleys and fruit plantations. We then arrive at the Llactapata Inca Ruins, located directly across the valley from Machu Picchu. Here you will have time to admire the amazing views of Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu, the surrounding mountains, and the Aobamba Canyon.
From Llactapata, we descend for about 2 hours to the hydroelectric station, the main power source for Cusco. Nearby, we enjoy lunch before taking the train to Aguas Calientes, where we will have dinner and spend the night at the hotel.
This is the day you have been waiting for!
After an early breakfast at the hotel, take one of the first buses to Machu Picchu to enjoy the unforgettable sunrise over the citadel. It is a truly amazing experience that you will never forget.
Your guide will lead a tour of about 2 hours, showing you the most important areas of the citadel. Learn how Machu Picchu is divided into three main sectors: agricultural, residential, and religious.
After enjoying the incredible views, take the bus back to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Depending on your train schedule, you may also have time for shopping, sightseeing, or visiting the local museum or hot springs.
The Expedition Train departs at 2:55 p.m. or 3:20 p.m., following the beautiful Urubamba River to Ollantaytambo. Near Aguas Calientes, the canyon becomes narrow and the river flows through impressive whitewater sections. If you look high up the canyon walls, you may even spot Wiñay Wayna from the train.
At Ollantaytambo, our driver will meet you at the train station and take you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private vehicle. Arrival at your hotel is around 7:00 p.m.
Our trekking days flow through natural phases, designed to keep you energized and safe while maximizing your time in the mountains:
The Choquequirao Trek (5 Days) is available on any date that suits your schedule, provided we have a minimum of 2 hikers.
#This price includes a personal porter who will carry your belongings (up to 7 kg / 15 lbs), ensuring you have a more comfortable trek. We provide a professional-grade duffle bag for your items.
We believe in providing an all-inclusive, worry-free experience. The following items and services are included in your trek price at no extra cost:
Start by clicking “BOOK NOW” on our homepage. We require a deposit of US$200.00 per person to purchase your permits. When booking, please have the following information for each participant ready: Full name (exactly as it appears on your passport), Gender, Passport number, Date of Birth, and Nationality.
We appreciate it if you can pay your balance in cash (US dollars or Peruvian Soles) at our office here in Cusco; there are many cash machines in the historical center. Alternatively, you can pay via VISA or PayPal online, but please note there is a 5.5% service charge. To pay via PayPal, please log into your account using our email address: info@incatrailhikeperu.com.
Generally, no. Once tickets are purchased, government rules do not allow changes. Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable. If you cancel, the deposit is non-refundable. For alternative treks, we may be able to change dates for a fee depending on what has already been purchased. Contact our office as soon as possible if you face issues.
Yes. You must bring the exact same passport you used to book your trek. Rangers will check this at the entrance to Choquequirao. If you renew your passport, we can update your details for a $25 fee per person (we need copies of both the old and new passports). If you do not wish to pay the fee, you must carry both your old and new passports to enter. If you do not have both, you will not be allowed to enter the site.
You will meet your guide the evening before your trek departs at 6:00 PM. The briefing is held at our office: Garcilaso Street 210, Office Nº 213 (2nd Floor), inside “La Casa del Abuelo.”
Of course. During the Choquequirao Trek, your main luggage can be stored at our office or your hotel, both free of charge.
Absolutely. Included in the package, on the final day, we will drop you off at your hotel in Cusco. If you have booked accommodation in the Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo or Urubamba), we will drop you there as well.
The maximum group size is 8 people. Usually, our groups are between 2–6 people. We specialize in small, private groups to provide a personalized service.
You will have 1 cook per group. The number of porters scales with the group size.
The evening before departure, you will receive a small duffel bag (7kg/15lb allowance). Porters carry this bag plus food and camping gear. You will not have access to this until the end of each day. You must carry a daypack (30–50 liters) for essentials like a warm jacket, rain gear, camera, sunscreen, snacks, and water.
Yes. We provide private, sanitary facilities. Unlike government-run facilities, we set up an individual tent with a “camping toilet with a seat” at a comfortable distance from the campsite. It is kept clean and is readily accessible at night.
Train departure depends on availability. We aim to maximize your time, so we typically book the train for 4:22 PM to allow you to enjoy the views on the way back to Cusco.
Yes, it is considered difficult. You need to be in good physical condition and well-acclimated to the altitude. If you do not exercise regularly, we advise you to do extra walking, hiking, or aerobic activity in the months leading up to your trip.
We will assist you to the nearest town for transportation. We always carry oxygen for respiratory problems. In extreme cases, a helicopter pickup can be arranged at your own expense (travel insurance is required). There are no refunds if you are unable to finish.
If you exercise regularly and spend 2–3 days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley acclimatizing, you should be fine. The recommended “medicine” is water, coca tea, and oxygen (which we carry). Our guides are trained to treat altitude sickness. We also offer day tours of Cusco and the Sacred Valley to help you acclimatize.
The weather is unpredictable and difficult to forecast. You will pass through numerous microclimates, so temperatures will vary significantly depending on your location. We highly recommend bringing warm clothes and good rain gear in your daypack.
Tipping is not compulsory, but it is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry and is of great significance to the team taking care of you. If you are happy with the excellent service provided, it is appreciated and inspires our staff. You are free to tip what your budget allows based on your perception of the service quality.
Yes. We are a local, sustainable, and responsible operator. We incorporate the universal principles of tourism: protecting the environment and benefiting local communities by respecting their culture and religion. Our local staff are trained to know, understand, and respect the places we visit and the people who live there.
To ensure you are fully prepared for the variable mountain conditions and the demands of the Apurimac Canyon, please use this checklist to prepare for your journey.
(Rental items available upon request: Sleeping bag, Air mattress, Trekking poles)
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