Day 1: Cusco — Capuliyoc — Marampata.
We will pick you up from your hotel between 3:30 to 4:00 AM to start our trip in a private van for 4 hours to northeast of Cusco city, through small towns until Capuliyoc town (2.800masl) where we have a delicious breakfast and where also we will meet with our trip staff (muleteers and horses).
After breakfast we begin with our hiking for about 20 minutes and will arrive to our first viewer where we have a panoramic view, in front of us we can see the vilcabamba mountain range called ( padreyoc) and the famous Apurimac Canon, after having an amazing view we will start our descend for 3 hours through beautiful landscapes where you will be able to see different medicinal plants which were used by our ancestors ( muña, chilca and different varieties of plants) If we are lucky we will be able to see the majestic Condor, we descend until Chiquisca Hamlet (1800masl) where we have a delicious tipycal Cusco Lunch Buffet.
After having Lunch we will have a 30 min break to continue with or hiking, Descending 45 minutes more until Playa Rosalinas (1700masl), located in Apurimac River separated by two important Peruvian regions CUSCO and APURIMAC
After passing the famous Apurimac river we continue descending for 4 hours until Marampata (3500masl) on the way we will see bird dance, at sunset we will see andean people, how they live in the mountains with a style of life that maybe you wont believe compared to the city. We will arrive to our private Choquequirao trek Lodge approximately at 5:30 pm, after a small break its time for dinner, approximately at 7pm and overnight in our LOGDE, during the night you will be able to see constellations according Andean or Inca religión.
Hiking distance: 15 Km. / 9.3 mile.
Hiking time: 6½ to 7 hour approximately.
Climate: hot in the day and warm in the night.
Acomodation: Lodge: Choquequirao Sanctuary Lodge.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner.
Maximum Altitude: 2850 masl. / 9350 ft. (Marampata)
Minimum Altitude: 1475 masl. / 4839 ft. (Playa Rosalinas)
Day 2: Maranpata — Choquequirao — Choquequirao Camp Site.
In the early morning you will be woke up with a coca tea and have enough time to organize our stuff. Approximately at 7:30am we will have a delicious typical Breakfast. Then we will continue with our hiking to Marampata, on this day the hiking is going to have a high level physically, where we will be able to see an amazing view of the Archeological Choquequirao Complex (3900masl) through our hiking we will have amazing canon views where our tour guide will explain about the flora and fauna, we´ll have 3 hours to explore all the Choquequirao Complex (cradle of gold) also knew as the lost city where you will visit plazas sector, llamas sector, astronomic sector and other important places.
After to visit all of this places we will start our descend until Choquequirao Camping where our picnic Lunch is waiting for us, after having lunch we will take a 30min break and continue to an amazing place that only us know about it, this place is called cataratas de Pachayoc (water falls) a place where you will be in touch with the nature. Finally we will return to Choquequirao Camp where dinner is ready and is time to stop over.
Hiking distance: 8 Km. / 4.9 mile.
Hiking time: 5½ to 6 hour approximately.
Climate: hot in the day and warm in the night.
Acomodation: Lodge: Choquequirao Sanctuary Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Maximum Altitude: 3106 masl / 10190 ft. (Choauqueiaro)
Minimum Altitude: 2850 masl / 9350 ft. (Marampata)
Day 3: Choquequirao — Rio Blanco — Maizal.
Before breakfast, we recommend going to appreciate the magnificent sunrise from this picturesque spot! We will have breakfast at 6 AM.
We start today’s trek passing through and exploring the Choquequirao ruins. We hike uphill through cloud forest, mountains, and valleys to reach the Choquequirao pass.
After 5 hours trekking, the trail continues through agricultural terraces called Pinchinoyoc which means “water jumping forward” (2750 MASL – 9022 FASL).
There we will see different species of birds, varieties of orchids, and local coca plantations.
We will have our lunch near the Rio Blanco. We use the break here to take a refreshing dip in the cold, clear river water if you would like.
We cross the river by walking because there are no bridges.
On the other side, we start the long, steep climb to our camp in Maizal high over the river and closer to the sacred Apus of the Incas. This climb takes about 3 hours. This is the most challenging day. We will camp at 3000 MASL – 9842 FASL.
Hiking distance: 19 Km. / 12.3 mile
Hiking time: 6 hour approximately.
Climate: hot in the day and warm in the night.
Acomodation: Camping: Soraypampa.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Maximum Altitude: 4200 masl / 13779 ft. (Laguna Humantay)
Minimum Altitude: 1475 masl. / 4839 ft. (Playa Rosalinas)
Day 4: Maizal — Yanama — Santa Teresa.
You leave camp behind and climb past old silver mines to the highest pass of the trip. Abra San Juan at 4,000m (13123ft) affords spectacular views of the Cordillera Vilcabamba mountain range. Here we are going to take our lunch
You then take a delightful and at times precipitous path down to the charming Andean village of Yanama. Here you say goodbye to your muleteers and climb aboard the waiting vehicle for the spectacular drive on dirt road over the Totora pass to the small hamlet of Lucmabamba and finally Santa Teresa. 4:30 hours by bus
We can go to take shower and enjoy the hotspring cocalmayo.
Hiking distance: 18 Km. / 10.7 mile
Hiking time: 6 to 7 hour approximately.
Shuttle to Santa Teresa: 3½ hour by bus from Yanama.
Climate: we start with a cold weather and we end up in a tropical climate.
Acomodation: Camping: Santa Teresa.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Maximum Altitude: 4630 masl / 15190 ft. (Paso Salkantay)
Minimum Altitude: 2900 masl. / 9514 ft. (santa Teresa)
Day 5: Santa Teresa — Hidrioelectrica — Aguas Calientes.
After breakfast, we will board our transport to the hydroelectric plant, where the government control is located and the entrance to Machu Picchu National Park (Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary).
At this point we will start our trekking to the town of Aguas Calientes, passing through the area called Intihuatana, a small archaeological site where the guide will share an explanation to better understand the site.
Then we will continue to Inka Rakay, where we will enjoy our lunch. During the journey, we will enjoy and contemplate the majesty of the Machu Picchu mountains, Huayna Picchu as well as other agrological sites in the heights of the mountain.
We will finish the hike in the town of Aguas Calientes, where we will spend the third night of the tour.
Hiking distance: 26 Km. / 16.1 mile
Hiking time: 6 to 7 hour approximately.
Climate: we start with a cold weather and we end up in a tropical climate.
Acomodation: Hostel: Aguas Calientes.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Maximum Altitude: 2900 masl. / 9514 ft. (Chaullay)
Minimum Altitude: 2040 masl. / 6692 ft. (Aguas Calientes)
Day 6: Aguas Calientes — Machupicchu — Cusco.
Today we arrive at the long-awaited finale of our trek, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu! We will wake up early after a refreshing night at our hostel to beat the crowds to the top of Machu Picchu and enjoy its serenity in the soft morning light. The Machu Picchu entrance check point is open from 06:00 AM until 17:00 PM. We will hike up to Machu Picchu (a bus ride is optional and included if you do not want to walk) and enter the hidden Royal Citadel of the Incas.
Here we will have a 2-hour guided tour through this incredible ancient city to visit temples, terraces, palaces, priest’s houses, the sundial, the industrial sector, and the farming fields. Be amazed at the engineering ingenuity of the Incas which was so far ahead of their time and still partially a mystery today! Without having modern tools or even steel and iron to work with, the people who built this city were genius in organizing this community in a sustainable and beautiful way on the side of a mountain, even bringing water in canals through its streets for the people to use. When a Peruvian guide showed this site to Hiram Bingham, it was almost unrecognizable, covered in thick vegetation and in a state of disrepair. It has since been cleaned and restored and is now protected and treasured by the world at large!
After this tour, you are free to climb up to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (Be sure to book in advance to get tickets for these!). Each mountain takes approximately 3 hours to hike up and down. Another lower-impact option for which you do not need an extra ticket is to trek to the Sun Gate, the main entrance from the Inca Trail (this takes about 2 or 2.5 hours round-trip).
Another option is walking to see the Incan Bridge. You will be able to stay and enjoy this magical city for more than 7 hours before hiking back down to Aguas Calientes for the train ride at 6:45 PM to Ollantaytambo. A private bus will pick up our group and drop you off at your hostel in Cusco at about 11:00 PM. Rest your feet and your body now, but we can assure you your heart will still be soaring for weeks and years to come!
Distance Travelled: 8 Km. / 4.9 mile
Hiking time: 2 hour approximately.
Optional: Shuttle to Machu Picchu:25 minutes from Aguas Calientes.
Machu Picchu guided tour: 2½ hour.
Climate: tropical warm.
Shuttle to Cusco:3 hours by train and bus from Aguas Calientes to Cusco.
Meals: Breakfast.
Maximum Altitude: 3399 masl / 11151 ft. (Cusco)
Minimum Altitude: 2040 masl. / 6692 ft. (Aguas Calientes)
