Choquequirao Machu Picchu trekking, takes us by a non-frequented path, you will see choquequirao Inca site and several remote villages. We decided to include this trek in our programs because we want you see both, Choquequirao and Machu Picchu.
The Choquequirao sits in the saddle of a high Andean ridge, 3000m. /10,000 ft. The area is ringed by spectacular snow-capped peaks and flanked by plunging, thickly forested slopes, the city is an inspiring example of an elite Inca ceremonial center, dedicated to the worship of the mountain gods, the river and the elements of nature.
Choquequirao has been called “Machu Picchu’s sacred sister”, because of the striking similarities of design and ceremonial architecture to its famous counterpart above the Urubamba Gorge. While Machu Picchu is the wonder of the world, let us to show you all this magnificent sites.
The trek is recommended for nature lovers, challenge hikes in the world, and for people who are looking to discover remote places where you can get in touch with nature and run away from the stress of the city.
We also have do other fascinating treks such as: salkantay trek, ancascocha trek, vilcabamba, lares, and all ranked between, the top trekking tours in peru.
Daily departures in private service.
05:00 hours
This Choquequirao Machu Picchu adventure, starts at 05:00 hrs. Our guide will meet you at your hotel and drive towards west, pass by Cachora “the last village before the hike, and finally arrive up to Huancalle, it takes about 4.2 hours. This is the truck road end, at arrival we will meet our local muleteers and while they set up the equipment will have a breakfast.
After it we begin our trekking, a nice view of the majestic padrayoc mountain view will encourage start the adventure, the trail goes by a gentle uphill and reaches capuliyoc lookout point; here we’ll observe Apurimac canyon with its impressive depth (one of the deepest canyons in Peru and the world), from here the trail follows a downhill trail up to Chikiska which is the place for lunch.
After lunch get the lowest point of the train, and cross the apurimac river 1.500 masl, then climb up for 2.5 hours and arrive to Santa Rosa campsite.
In this day we will pass the small settlement Cocamasana (2330 above sea level), chiquisca (1950 asl), and santa rosa 2,000m; a grove place where we can find water.
Wake up at 05:30 hrs, then have breakfast and get ready for the missing uphill trail, From here the trail goes uphill by a switch back path until Maranpata and stop for lunch. After a good time to relax and get energy, we follow a gentle section, then arrive in to a lookout point of choquequirao.
Finally after 2 more hours we arrive to the second camp ground, our team will set up our tents, we spend the afternoon just relaxing and enjoying the nature. Dinner is served at 6.30.
After a nutritious breakfast we begin the day with sightseeing of choquequirao, we will see all the most important sector then we will reach the trail by an uphill section, the trail keeps uphill for about an hour up to 3299 meters, then all the trail becomes steep open prairie with open views of the Mountains and valleys.
After about 2 hours downhill we reach Pinchaunuyoc – these site is a nice inca buildings, the site has been recently restored and it shown all its beauty, then continue the walk for 1 more hour up to the rio blanco river, we’ll lunch at the river.
After lunch we re-start hiking on uphill trail ornamented by native trees, all the path is and steep climb up to the camp at Maizal. It is home for about 3 families that are leaving far away from the populations, they farm corn and potatoes. From Rio Blanco to the camp takes about 3 hours of climb, we camp at 3000 on a lookout place.
From the camp the trail leads gentle for about 1 hours, then it turns in to switchback uphill section, the trail goes covered by native trees and goes towards the Victoria mines and Pass. The trail is amazingly beautiful, firstly we walk by the cloud forest, then over Andean Puna covered by icchu or grass.
At the minas Victoria we can see metal shining stones, these stones has a high concentration of minerals. At the summit we can be surprised by the impressive mount ranges such as choquetacarpo and puma sillu, we will have time to relax and if we are lucky we can be surprised by the soar of the condors, the summit is located over 4.400 meters, while we lunch we’ll enjoy the great scenery at both sides of the mountain.
After lunch we continue our walk towards yanama which is at 3.5 hours of walk, all the trail is downhill, we will see nice valley at the bottom of the mount, then suddenly the trail reaches a narrow section that look like a landscape scene from the lord of rings movie, in the middle there is a tunnel made by the miners, we pass it and arrive to a bushy sector and after 1 more hour we arrive to the village of yanama 3800m, where we camp at the backyard of our muleteer house.
After a nutritious breakfast, you will catch a local transportation up to Ccolpapampa, the road leads towards east, following a highland valley, in 30 minutes’ drive you’ll reach the Mariano Llamocca pass, 4500m, with a great scenic view, the road descends by Totora, and finally get Collpapampa.
From here you will walk by the left side of the river and enjoy a nice cloud forest and high jungle landscape, arrive to la playa and stop for lunch, after lunch continue for 1 hour more of walk and reach the camp site at Lucmabamba, where you can have dinner and cap in a nice warm place.
At 07:00 hrs, you’ll atch a local transport and drive us for about 1.5 hours arrive to Hydro and relax for an about 30 minutes while our cook make us our box lunch, after lunch we take a trail that is beside the train tracks and walk the 6 miles, by a gentle level trail banking the Urubamba river, this section usually takes about 03 hours in slow walk.
We arrive to Machu Picchu town, the guide will take you to your hotel where you can relax. In the evening you meet the guide and go for dinner in a restaurant and spend the night. (Optionally in the afternoon you can go to the hot spring or relax at your hotel).
Early departure is needed and after that we take bus ride for 30 minutes to machu picchu entrance control, once we enter in to the archaeological park, we have the opportunity to have the sun rise in machu picchu, the guided tour will take you to visit all the most important sector of the place.
The usual guided tour takes 2 hours in a rush time, our guides will do it in 03 hour, we’ll learn about the importance, religious and historical of the place, place to appreciate the fine architecture of the incas after tour if have got a ticket for huayna picchu, you can climb up the mountain which is on the mountains saddle high over the Urubamba River that offers a good overview of the whole area, and the full site of Machu Picchu.
After a great tour in machu picchu it is time to catch bus to aguas calientes, catch train back to Ollantaytambo, then catch bus to Cusco, where our fantastic service ends.
