Trekking From Choquequirao to Machu Picchu 8D/7N
- Tour Type: Trekking
- Departure city: Cuzco, Perú
- End city: Cuzco, Perú
- Price: $1199 USD
Overview
Choquequirao and Machu Picchu are the largest and best preserved Inca archaeological fortresses that exist in all of South America; there is a connection through roads and trails that connects both citadels; this is one of the most challenging and wonderful hikes, so much so that in 2015 National Geographic chose it as one of the most beautiful routes in the world.
The fortress of Machu Picchu is known worldwide, but what few know is that the Incas also built another very similar and equally impressive citadel, of which so far only less than 50% has been discovered and receives a very low number of visitors.
One of the reasons why few people visit Choquequirao is because to get to this citadel you have to walk 13 miles (21km) on foot, which implies descending from 9,186 ft (2800m) to 3,937 ft (1200m) meters above sea level , and then going up again to 10,499 ft (3200m), a real challenge!.
Key Tour Data | |
Tour Name: | Trekking From Choquequirao to Machu Picchu 8D/7N |
Location: | Cuzco, Perú |
Tour Type: | Hiking & Trekking |
Age Requirements: | 14+ |
Days walking: | 7 Days |
Total tour time: | 8 days (from Cuzco to Cuzco) |
Total walking distance: | 40 miles (65km) |
Elevation: | 19,685 ft (+), 16,404 ft (-) |
Technical difficulty: | 4 of 7 |
Maximum Altitude: | 13,451 ft (4100m): Abra San Juan |
Minimum Altitude: | 4,921 ft (1500m): Playa Rosalina |
Due to the difficulty of this trek, many visitors only reach Choquequirao and return to the starting point, but there are others who dare and continue the journey to continue discovering the wonders of the Incas and reach Machu Picchu, covering a total of more 40 miles (65km) on foot.
The Combo Expedition that connects these two highlights, Machu Picchu and Choquequirao will go beyond your dreams. Discover Machu Picchu and its sister Choquequirao with us; because we belong to the mountains.
A spectacular experience awaits you in the Andes Mountains; immerse yourself in the Inca culture, you will be impressed by its imposing mountains, roads and dreamlike trails, the hike to Machu Picchu through Choquequirao is the perfect combination for lovers of nature, culture and trekking.
Highlights Trekking From Choquequirao to Machu Picchu
- Visit the two most emblematic fortresses of the Inca Empire.
- Trekking in the Andes Mountains.
- Visit one of the wonders of the modern world.
Optional Services
- Train upgrade to Vistadome: $ 35 per person.
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu mountain: $ 60 per person.
- Entrance ticket to Huayna Picchu mountain: $ 60 per person.
- Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (round trip): $ 24 per person (In this tour we will do it walking).
*It is not possible to climb both mountains, Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountain, in the same tour.
What you get
6 nights Accommodation
1N nights hotel (in the town of Aguas Calientes), 5 nights camping.
Transport included
Travel easily from A to B (Bus / Train)
19 Meals
5 Breakfsat, 5 Lunch, 5 Dinner, 4 Snack(s) in the walking.
Guide
Professional bilingual guide (End-to-end accompaniment throughout your tour package)
Extras
Handy extras and accessories (Sleeping bag / tent / mat) / Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu & Choquequirao.
What is not included
- Airport pick-up/drop-off
- Accommodation in Cuzco and Lima
- Travel insurance
- Meals in the city
- Personal expenses
- Single accommodation (available on request).
Itinerary
Day A: Cuzco 11,155 ft (3400m) Walking around the city
Departure Time: Usually in the afternoon
We will give you a guided walking tour of about 04 hours approx. by the center of the city, this will depend on your availability at the time you arrive in the city of Cuzco. This tour is usually in the afternoon.
Activity: We will walk through the most emblematic streets and squares of Cuzco, we will learn about its history and customs.
Accommodation:
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Day 1 of 7: Cuzco 11,155 ft (3400m) – Chiquisca 6,693 ft (2040m)
One day before the trek, be sure to make all the necessary preparations.
Today you will be picked up at your accommodation between 6:00-7:00 am. Please be fully prepared with all your personal gear and have consumed your breakfast before boarding our transportation.
Now, before starting this amazing adventure, we will take you by bus (04 hours) to the town of Cachora, where we will have lunch and you can buy some last minute snacks, water and cookies, etc.
After lunch in Cachora, our transportation will continue its journey 6,2 miles (10km) more until we reach the town of Capuliyoc; this will be the starting point of our dream adventure, the hike begins here.
In Capuliyoc is where we meet our muleteers and horses that will help us all the way. This day we start our hike, it will be 4.3 miles (07km) of pure descent (03 hours approx) to Chiquisca, where we will have dinner and spend the night.
Difficulty: Slightly gentle because it will be seven kilometers of pure downhill.
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Day 2 of 7: Chiquisca 6,693 ft (2040m) – Marampata 9,350 ft (2850m)
Early after breakfast, from Chiquisca we continue descending until we reach 4,921 ft (Playa Rosalina), then we cross the Apurimac River and begin a very demanding ascent to Santa Rosa Baja where lunch awaits us.
After lunch recharged with energy, we continue ascending through a steeper slope, zigzagging the trail, this climb takes about 4 hours approximately to the town of Maranpata, where we will have dinner and spend the night.
Difficulty: A very physically demanding day, we are in for a great ascent.
Accommodation:
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Day 3 of 7: Marampata 9,350 ft (2850m) – Choquequirao 10,170 ft (3100m) – Pinchinuyoc 8,159 ft (2487m)
This morning we start our 02 hour hike to reach the fortress of Choquequirao; this is one of the most anticipated days because we will have the whole morning to enjoy a guided tour of the majestic architectural complex of Choquequirao.
After lunch in the afternoon we continue our journey to our goal, the great Machu Picchu, for that we will say to the Abra de Choquequirao that will be an hour climb, and then begin a two-hour descent to reach the fortress of Pinchauyuc, where we will set up our tents for dinner and overnight.
Difficulty: Today will also be a very exhausting day, 5.6 miles (9km) of hiking between ascents and descents.
Accommodation:
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Day 4 of 7: Pinchinuyoc 8,159 ft (2487m) – Maizal 9,484 ft (2891m)
After breakfast we will continue with the descent for 2 more hours until we reach Rio Blanco, and then begin a 4 hour ascent to the town of Maizal, where we will have lunch this time a little late (15:00hrs approx). We will spend the rest of the afternoon in Maizal, we will have dinner and spend the night there, appreciating the wonderful mountains and its imposing sky.
Difficulty: Very tiring day, 4.9 miles (8km) of hiking between ascents and descents.
Accommodation:
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Day 5 of 7: Maizal 9,484 ft (2891m) – Yanama 10,269 ft (3130m)
Today we will have an ascent of 2,953 ft (900m), about three hours of pure ascent to the Abra San Juan 13,451 ft (4100m), this is one of the most beautiful views where we can also appreciate the snowy Pumasillo; then continuing our way we begin a two-hour descent to the town of Yanama where we will have lunch, dinner and spend the night.
Difficulty: The body is already very exhausted, but we’ll have to be strong for a big climb and a big descent.
Accommodation:
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Day 6 of 7: Yanama 10,269 ft (3130m) – Aguas Calientes 6,693 ft (2040m)
After breakfast we will board our transportation that will take us to the town of Hidroeléctrica 42 miles (04 hours of travel).
Minutes before arriving to Hidroeléctrica we will enjoy our lunch in the town of Santa Teresa (located just 15 minutes from Hidroeléctrica).
We start our hike from Hidroeléctrica to the town of Aguas Calientes, now you will have to carry your personal backpack all the way; this is a flat trail with a few ascents along the train tracks, this hike takes about three hours 6.8 miles (11 km.).
In Aguas Calientes we will enjoy our dinner and rest in our hotel for the next big day where we will finally arrive at the long awaited Machu Picchu.
Difficulty: This is an almost flat trail, but the challenge is that we will walk carrying our backpacks, there are no pack horses here (you will only carry your personal backpack).
Accommodation:
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Day 7 of 7: Aguas Calientes 6,693 ft (2040m) – Machu Picchu 7.972 ft (2430) – Cusco 11,155 ft (3400)
Today is the big day, we wake up very early to enjoy our breakfast and finish the last stretch of our historic trek. Today we walk a stretch of 4km with a steep slope (800 meters positive difference in altitude) of ziksageantes roads; so in just two hours we will finally be in Machu Pichu, the wonder of the world.
We will take a guided tour to enjoy the most spectacular stone construction in the world, we will also learn about the mysteries and customs of the Incas.
After enjoying Machu Picchu, we will return to the city of Aguas Calientes in the same way, by the same trails that led us there, but this time downhill.
We will have lunch in Aguas Calientes and then board our return train (02 hours approx) to the town of Ollantaytambo, then we will board our transportation for another two hours to reach the Imperial City of Cuzco and go to your hotel.
Difficulty: This is an almost flat trail, but the challenge is that we will walk carrying our backpacks, there are no pack horses here (you will only carry your personal backpack).
Accommodation:
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Movility
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Meals provided
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Essential Information
Visa and passport information
Citizens of the United Kingdom, citizens of Western Europe, Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans and most other nationalities do not require a visa. If you have any doubts, please contact the nearest Peruvian Embassy.
Price Guarantee
Once your reservation is confirmed, we guarantee that the price will not increase, regardless of the circumstances. Before booking, please make sure you have read our important Information About tour prices.
Booking Conditions
Before booking your Made In Mountain trip, be sure to read both our Essential Information and Booking Conditions.
Travel Insurance
It is a condition of booking with Made In Mountain that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to take out adequate travel insurance and to ensure that you have read and understood all the terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake during the tour, including all optional activities. Your insurance policy should fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country.
In case of medical emergencies, illness or injury your insurance should cover the entire duration of your vacation. If you are trekking at high altitude, make sure there is no upper altitude limit that may limit or exclude coverage for your trip.
Maximum altitude
The fifth day of the trek (Maizal 2891m – Yanama 3130) we have an obligatory pass through the highest point of the entire trek, we will pass through the pass of San Juan 4150 meters above sea level, the climate is cold and tropical typical of the Peruvian Andes, in much of the day you can reach temperatures around 15 degrees Celsius on average.
Altitude information
This trip is at an altitude where there is a risk of being affected by acute mountain sickness (AMS), a common and generally harmless condition caused by reduced air pressure and lower oxygen concentration. While the itinerary has been specifically designed to allow your body to acclimatize gradually, the rate of onset and severity, as well as the altitude at which AMS develops, can vary greatly among individuals; being physically fit offers no special protection. If symptoms develop during your trip, you should report them to your Made In Mountain leader immediately.
Travelers with heart or lung conditions, anemia, asthma, high blood pressure, or who are taking the birth control pill should seek advice from their primary care physician and specifically mention the maximum altitude the trip reaches (refer to the trip itinerary). Bring your travel notes to your medical appointment so that your physician has all the details of your trip.
You should have adequate travel insurance for your trip. Make sure that your insurance policy covers you up to the maximum altitude indicated above.
Important for travel to Cuzco City
During the high season of visitors from April to October (Andean summer) our reservations sell out quickly, so we recommend that you book your vacation well in advance of your planned travel date, at least 5 to 6 months in advance when possible.
About flight delays
Made In Mountain does not currently include international flights from your home city in its itineraries, so it is very important that you schedule your arrival in Lima, Peru 1 or 2 days prior to the start of your tour to avoid delays with your itinerary.
Vaccinations
Due to the current COVID-19 situation, visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and you should inquire before traveling.
At present, in the current year 2022, the Peruvian Government requires to show the vaccination card for access to public places.
In Peru, in addition to the COVID-19 vaccine, no other vaccines are mandatory, but we recommend protection against typhoid fever, tetanus, polio and hepatitis A. Consult your travel clinic for the latest advice on malaria, dengue fever and Zika virus. Take preventive measures to avoid mosquito bites, which include mosquito repellent, as well as long pants and long-sleeved shirts to cover up when necessary.
About camping tents
You will be assigned a space in a shared tent of two, three or four people as organized by the main guide, but if you want more privacy and want a personal tent, this will have an additional cost of $ 50 dollars as a single payment for all the days of camping that we will have on the route.
If you come as a couple or with friends a private tent can be assigned according to availability, so it is very important that you reserve the tour well in advance.
Food in camping
The food is varied, prioritizing good nutrition to keep you active throughout the trip.
Your tour leader will contact you to ask you about your dietary preferences.
Travel Lima – Cuzco – Lima
To travel from the capital city of Lima to Cuzco (round trip) you must arrange your flights in advance, we suggest you arrive in the capital city of Lima one or two days prior to the start of your tour to avoid delays and inconveniences.
The present itinerary only counts from your arrival in the city of Cuzco.
If you require additional flight services, please contact our travel agents.
Expand activities in Cuzco
If you plan to stay a few more days in the city of Cuzco and wish to extend your experience to other emblematic places of the Inca empire, we can offer you other activities, but it will be important to let your main guide know in advance.
Basic services in Cuzco
Cuzco is a small city, but with a wide variety of hotel and gastronomic services due to the great touristic affluence it has. We always make the best effort to give you the best comfort and food when you are in this place; you will have a good internet access and the comforts with the primary services; our partners are the best that you can find in that city. You can find more information about Peru here.
Water
Drinking water is provided. Tap water in Peru is not safe to drink; boiled and filtered drinking water is provided on the trek and elsewhere your leader will purchase large water containers so you can refill your bottle.
Lodging, meals, flights or additional services
If you have problems to book your lodging, flights from Lima to Cuzco, food, etc. or any additional service we can assist you, it is only important that you make your tour reservations well in advance. Cuzco is a city with very high demand for tourist services, the basic services are full almost all year round.
Remember that any additional service that is not included in this tour will have an additional cost.