Choquequirao To Machu Picchu

Departure begins at 4:30 am, leaving Cusco while the city is still quiet. The drive moves west for around three hours to Cachora, where breakfast is prepared in a small local setting. There is time to adjust gear and walk briefly through the village before continuing by road to Capuliyoc.
From the viewpoint, the full depth of the canyon opens ahead, with Choquequirao visible across the valley. The trail descends steadily, the air warming as altitude is lost. Movement becomes consistent—long steps, short pauses—until reaching Chiquisca, where lunch is prepared and shared in the shade near the slope.
The route continues down toward Playa Rosalina, where the Apurímac River runs narrow and strong. From here, the direction changes into a steady climb toward Santa Rosa Baja. The camp is set near a local family home, surrounded by small crops and fruit trees adapted to the steep terrain. Dinner is prepared as light fades, and the canyon settles into quiet.

Details
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Maximum altitude: 3020 m
• Walking time: 8 hrs
• Walking distance: 14 km
• Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation: Andean Expedition Camps
• Capuliyoc (trailhead): 3020 m / 9,908 ft
• Playa Rosalina: 1470 m / 4,822 ft
• Santa Rosa Baja (camp): 1970 m / 6,463 ft
• Arrival: 5:00 pm aprox

The morning begins with a warm drink prepared by the team before sunrise. Breakfast is taken slowly, as the day starts immediately with a sustained ascent. The trail climbs in long switchbacks, gaining elevation at a steady pace. Conversation fades naturally as each person finds their rhythm.
After several hours, the terrain opens near Marampata. Fields appear, and the presence of local life becomes visible—people working the land, animals moving along the slopes. A short break allows the body to settle before continuing.
Lunch is prepared near the Choquequirao campsite. Packs are left, and the first exploration of the site begins in the afternoon. The structures appear gradually, integrated into the mountain rather than separated from it. The walk moves through terraces, open spaces, and initial ceremonial areas, with views extending across the canyon.
Return to camp follows the same quiet rhythm. Dinner is shared with the team, and the night remains still at this elevation.

Details
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Maximum altitude: 3100 m/ 10,170ft
• Walking time: 8 hrs
• Walking distance: 12 km/ 7.4ft
• Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation: Andean Expedition Camps
• Santa Rosa Baja (trailhead): 1970 m / 6,463 ft
• Marampata: 2950 m / 9,678 ft
• Choquequirao (camp): 3050 mt / 10,006 ft
• Arrival: 4:00 pm aprox

Early morning light reaches the terraces slowly. After breakfast, the second visit to Choquequirao moves deeper into the site. The route includes sectors less visited, where terraces extend toward the canyon and ceremonial spaces remain partially hidden within the terrain.
Vegetation becomes more present along the edges—orchids, bromeliads, and shaded areas where moisture holds. Movement remains unhurried, allowing time to observe how the site connects with the mountain itself.
By midday, lunch is taken before continuing toward the Choquequirao Pass. The trail shifts again, moving away from the main complex into a quieter section of the route. The descent toward Pinchuyniyoc follows a narrow path, where another Inca site appears across the slope.
Camp is set nearby, with time in the afternoon to walk through this secondary site. The river remains visible below, and the evening settles without interruption.

Details
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Maximum altitude: 3200 m
• Walking time: 6 hrs
• Walking distance: 13 km / 8.0mi
• Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation: Andean Expedition Camps
• Choquequirao camp (trailhead): 3050 mt / 10,006 ft
• Choquequirao : 3100 m / 10,170ft
• Pinchuyniyoc (camp): 2600 mt /8,530 ft
• Arrival: 3:00 pm

The day begins with a simple breakfast before descending for approximately two hours toward Río Blanco. The air becomes warmer again as the trail drops into the lower part of the canyon. Water flows cold and clear, coming from higher glacial sources.
A short pause near the river allows time to rest before beginning the ascent toward Maizal. This section is steady and exposed, requiring a controlled pace. The climb gains elevation gradually, with the vegetation shifting again as altitude increases.
Maizal is a small settlement with limited presence—often only one family working the land. Camp is set nearby. Lunch and dinner are prepared by the team, shared without structure, allowing time to recover from the effort of the climb.

Details
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Maximum altitude: 3000 m
• Walking time: 8 hrs
• Walking distance: 15 km / 9.3 mi
• Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation: Andean Expedition Camps
• Pinchuyniyoc (trailhead): 2600 mt /8,530 ft
• Río Blanco: 1470 mt /4,822ft
• Maizal (camp): 3000 mt /  9,842ft
• Arrival: 2:00 pm

Morning begins early as the trail climbs toward Yanama Pass, following an old route that passes through areas once used for mining. The terrain becomes more open as the path reaches higher ground again, with colder air returning.
From the pass, the descent toward Yanama unfolds gradually. The valley holds small communities where farming and livestock remain part of daily life. Lunch is taken here before transitioning from trekking to transport.
A vehicle continues the journey toward Lucmabamba, where the environment shifts again—warmer, more humid, with visible coffee cultivation. Dinner is prepared at camp, and the evening remains quiet.

Details
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Maximum altitude: 4600 m
• Walking time: 8 hrs
• Walking distance: 11 km / 6.8 ft
• Accommodation: Andean Expedition Camps
• Maizal (trailhead): 3000 mt / 9,842ft
• Yanama Pass: 4250 mt / 13.943 ft
• Lucmabamba (camp): 2000 mt / 6,561ft
• Arrival: 5:00 pm

Breakfast is prepared with local products—coffee grown nearby, fruits, and simple field preparations. A short visit allows understanding of how these crops are cultivated and processed.
The trail climbs for several hours toward Llactapata, following an older Inca route. From this point, the first distant view of Machu Picchu appears across the valley, framed by surrounding peaks.
After a brief guided visit, the descent continues toward Hidroeléctrica, where lunch is taken. The final section follows the railway line toward Aguas Calientes, walking alongside the river at a steady pace.
Arrival is in the late afternoon. Accommodation and dinner are arranged in town.

Details
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Maximum altitude: 2700 mt/8,858ft
• Walking time: 9 hrs
• Walking distance: 24 km/ 14.9ft
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Lucmabamba (trail head): 2000mt/6,561ft
• Llactapata 2700 mt/8,858ft
• Aguas Calientes (campsite):2070mt/6,791ft
• Arrival at Camp: Approx. 4:30 pm

The final day begins early with breakfast around 5:00 am, preparing for a timely ascent to Machu Picchu. Reaching the site in the early hours allows entry ahead of the main flow of visitors, offering a quieter moment to experience the setting as the light gradually reveals the surrounding mountains.
A guided visit of approximately two hours provides context and understanding of the site, focusing on its history, structure, and significance within the Andean world. After the guided portion, there is free time to explore at your own pace, allowing space to walk, observe, and take in the atmosphere without a fixed schedule.
Following the visit, the return to Aguas Calientes allows time for lunch before boarding the train. The journey follows the Urubamba River, moving from the dense vegetation of the jungle back toward the Sacred Valley, with changing views along the way. Arrival is in Ollantaytambo, where those staying in the valley can end their journey. The rest continue by road to Cusco, with an estimated arrival around 6:30 pm, depending on train schedules.
Upon arrival, you are dropped off at your hotel, marking the end of the Choquequirao 7 Days: From the mysterious Choquequirao to Machu Picchu—a journey defined by the gradual transition across landscapes, the people encountered along the way, and the quiet rhythm of the Andes.

Details
• Difficulty: Moderade
• Maximum altitude: 2400 mt/ 7,874ft
• Walking time: 6 hrs
• Walking distance: 8 km/ 4.9mi
• Aguas Calientes:2070mt/6,791ft
• Machupicchu: 2400 mt/ 7,874ft
• Cusco (final): 3350mt/10,990ft
• Arrival in cusco: Approx. 6:30 pm
• Total distance: 97 km/ 60.2mi