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Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek 9 Days

Choquequirao, Machu Picchu

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Considered one of the last refuges of the Incas, located at the top of a mountain at almost 3,350 m. and surrounded by the Nevados de Salkantay and Humantay

Choquequirao or Choquequiraw means “Cradle of Gold” in the language of the Incas (Quechua), although this is probably not its original name. “Lost City of the Incas” this remote and mysterious archaeological center has preserved its architecture intact.

During the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Hike you will have the company of our team of professionals in adventure routes: professional guides, experienced cooks and porters and we will also have the support of muleteers and their attendants.

The Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek 9 Days will take you to two of the most important archaeological sites in Peru and Cusco: Choquequirao and Machu Picchu.

Itinerary:

Early in the morning we will pick you up at your hotel in our private mobility to take you to the town of Cachora (2,850 m / 9,350 ft) in a panoramic trip for an approximate time of 4 hours, where we will meet our muleteers who will accompany us throughout the excursion. We begin our walk for an approximate time of 2 hours towards the Abra de Kapuliyoq (2,800 m / 9,186 ft), where we will have the first amazing view of the deep valley of the Apurímac River and the snow-capped peaks that are around this place, here we can have a short break to continue our journey, with a descent of approximately 3 hours that will take us to our first camp of the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Hike in Chiquiska (1,930 m / 6,332 ft).

After enjoying our breakfast we will begin our descent for a period of 1 hour until we reach Playa Rosalina (1,495 m / 4,904 ft), during the journey we will appreciate magnificent landscapes of the Apurímac Canyon, in the Rosalina Beach we will pass through the suspension bridge of the Apurímac river . From here we will begin to ascend through the canyon, it will be a long and hard road of approximately 4 hours to our lunch point in the town of Marampata (2,850 m / 9,350 ft) from here we will have a beautiful view of Choquequirao, then we will continue walking towards the archaeological site of Choquequirao (3,033 m / 9,951 ft). We will arrive just in time to enjoy the incredible sunset over the snowy peaks before enjoying a delicious dinner and a well-deserved rest in our camp.

After breakfast, we will have a good time to enjoy the archaeological complex. We will be able to appreciate the houses, the terraces and other parts of this impressive Inca citadel. We will also have the opportunity to see the progress of the excavations and some unexplored areas. After lunch we will walk, through Choquequirao, to go to our next camp. We will follow the old water channel before starting our 3-hour hike to the Pinchaunuyoc ruins, discovered in 1998. We will walk through the cloud forest to an open meadow with beautiful views of the mountain and the Pinchaunuyoc valley. The ruins of Pinchaunuyoc are something very special, as they appear suddenly, almost invisible in the cloud forest, covered by a thick layer of moss and vegetation. We will spend the night here, in an ancient Inca terrace.

This morning we will walk through an interesting vegetation known as the Andean Dry Forest in which the trees and plants look totally different from those we saw in previous days. After a few hours of walking, we will arrive at the Victoria River, here we will take the opportunity to take a break and enjoy a refreshing swim in its cold and crystal clear waters. Then, we will walk across the river to cross it and begin a long and steep hike to Maizal, the place where we will camp tonight, high up the river near the sacred Apu of the Incas. During our ascent, we will take a break in the shade of some small trees and other plants that we will find along the way. We will have lunch in Maizal and then we will enjoy a well-deserved rest. Maizal is probably the most beautiful place of our entire trip, where we will camp. From here we can see the 3 valleys and a spectacular snowy peak. It is a good place to relax and think.

We will leave our camp in Maizal and head towards Paso San Juan. Once again a great walk awaits us. This time, in a beautiful and impressive area, first over the cloud forest, and then over the Andean Puna, where we will find the very well known “ichu” grass. We will rest near the Victoria mines, where the sparkles in the stones will reveal the high degree of concentration of minerals and metals existing in the area. In our walk through the Puna we will walk on the very well preserved Inca Trail, with its classic zigzag shape. Before starting the descent to Yanama –a small settlement in a valley surrounded by mountains–, we will have lunch at 4,000 m / 13,123 ft with a beautiful view of the Choquetakarpo mountain.

We will camp and have dinner in Yanama.

We will continue from Yanama, through the valley, towards the highest point of our tour, the Yanama Pass (4,800 m / 15,748 ft). On the way we will enjoy a spectacular view of the snowy Sacsarayoc and we will have the opportunity to see the condors fly. In the pass, we may have to walk on the snow and the descent will be a long walk over grass fields. On our way to the community of Totora we will pass through tree areas and cross small wooden bridges.

We will spend the night in Totora (3,700 m / 12,139 ft).

We will descend 200 meters through the changing vegetation, towards a warmer camp in the town of La Playa (2,320 m / 7,611 ft). This tour will take us approximately 7 hours walking. Along the way we will see small waterfalls in which we can take a refreshing bath. As the climate and vegetation change, we will have the opportunity to see a great variety of birds and orchids. La Playa is the largest town on the road. Here we can see coffee and banana plantations.

Dinner and camp at La Playa.

This day we will go from the town of La Playa to the hydroelectric plant on the Urubamba River. In the morning we will set off on a recently opened section of the Inca Trail. This road was originally used to transport agricultural products to the population in Machu Picchu and will take us through an area of ??coffee plantations and subtropical fruit crops. Suddenly on the way we will come across a dense forest, full of trees covered with a thick layer of moss. Then, we will see for the first time the impressive Machu Picchu on a mountain far from the valley. After 10 minutes of walking we will arrive at Llactapata, to have lunch and enjoy a restful rest. From here, we will enjoy a beautiful view of the mountains and Machu Picchu. Then, we will walk along the river until we reach the Urubamba hydroelectric plant. In this place we can visit the Intihuatana while we wait for the train to Aguas Calientes. Upon our arrival in Aguas Calientes, we will receive assistance and accompaniment to the selected hotel.

This day we will take the bus from Aguas Calientes to the entrance of Machu Picchu. We will begin our visit through the most important areas of the archaeological site and our guide will tell us about the importance of this citadel as a religious and astronomical center. We will spend the rest of the day in this impressive place and we will have the opportunity to climb Huayna Picchu or visit the Temple of the Moon. Then we go down by bus to Aguas Calientes to have lunch. In the afternoon we will take a train back to Ollantaytambo, where our driver will wait for us with a private vehicle to take you to your hotel in Cusco (arrival at night). End of the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek 9 Days.

Included:

  • Interview with the guide prior to the walk and he will give us the maps.
  • Additional guide for groups greater than 9 people.
  • An expert chef on roads.
  • Chef’s assistant for groups larger than 9 people
  • Horses carrying camping equipment and food.
  • Food along the way: 8x breakfast, 8x lunch, 8x dinner.
  • Vegetarian option is free; just inform us in advance, please.
  • First aid kit.
  • Oxygen balloon.
  • Camping equipment: tents and mats.
  • Kitchen equipment: kitchen tent, dining tent, kitchen utensils.
  • Basic Accommodation in Aguas Calientes.
  • Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
  • Return train Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo, Expedition Service, hours: 16:22 hrs. or 18:20 hrs. or 21:50 hrs., subject to availability.
  • Tourist transport: Ollantaytambo Station – Cusco.

Not included:

  • Entrance to Huayna Picchu of USD $ 65.00.
  • Rent an extra horse to ride when they get tired at USD $ 200.00.
  • Vistadome service: USD $ 30.00.
  • If you want to extend your stay in Aguas Calientes (the town just below Machu Picchu), contact us for hotel prices, please).

NOTE:

There is a minimium of 4 passengers to book this tour, please if you require a private tour for less than 4 passengers, ask our sales department to send you an special price for the group.

We recommend to bring:

  • Bag
  • Hiking shoes
  • Warm clothing
  • Waterproof jacket or Rain Poncho
  • Plastic bags for your used clothes
  • Sleeping bag
  • Flashlight and batteries, pocket knife.
  • Camera
  • Water bottle, preferably metal to better withstand the heat.
  • Hat and / or cap to protect yourself from the sun and cold
  • High factor sun protection cream and insect repellent
  • Toilet paper.
  • Snack (cookies, energy bars, chocolate).
  • Towel.
  • Money.
  • Personal first-aid kit.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How important is Choquequirao?

Choquequirao is a surprisingly well-preserved ruin of an Inca city located in Vilcabamba – Cusco – Peru. It is considered to be the “Sister City” of Machu Picchu as there are many similarities between the two.

Choquequirao in Inca times was both a cultural and religious center for the Incas. Predictably, this citadel was used as a checkpoint to ensure access to the Vilcabamba areas, which connected the jungle with other important centers such as Písac and Machu Picchu. It was also considered a refuge for the Incas who, on the orders of Manco Inca, left the city of Cusco to take refuge in the cities of the Vilcabamba region, when around the year 1535 Cusco was besieged by the Spanish. At present we can still see that Choquequirao has some walls with decorations of figures like llamas

What is the height of Choquequirao?

The lost citadel of Choquequirao is at 3,035 m.a.s.l. and at the lowest point of the walk you will be at 1,461 m.s.n.m. The climate is similar to that of Cusco, so it is advisable to acclimatize to the heights before the walk. It should be noted that the road to Choquequirao is warm due to the Apurímac canyon.

What is the distance between Choquequirao and Machu Picchu?

There is 43.8 km that separate the archaeological site “Choquequirao” from the citadel of Machu Picchu.

We also offer you an exclusive package for this journey: the “Choquequirao Trek 8 days”.

This adventure is certainly for those who are addicted to heights. The route is one of the complex ones in Peru, it is full of winding paths, unique panoramic views, deep valleys, a great variety of plants (orchids, groves), animals in their habitat, etc.

How is the weather in Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Hike?

The archaeological site of Choquequirao has a temperate climate. The walk to this place has a hot climate due to the proximity of the so-called ‘Apurímac Canyon’.

When is the best time to go to Choquequirao?

The best time to visit Choquequirao is during the high tourism season (April to October). During those days, there is little chance of rain so the walks are safer.

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