Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek – 8 Days

We start the great adventure through Choquequirao Trek 8 Days. We leave the city of Cusco at 06:00 for Capulilloc; “it takes us approximately 4 hours of travel”.

At 10:30, our WARM-UP WALK OF THE DAY begins, descending towards the Apurimac Canyon until we reach the first camp. Chiquisca has a good location for camping overlooking the Apurimac River.

DATA: Hiking warm-up day entering the Apurimac Canyon

• Travel by Kondor car: From Cusco to Capuliyoc
  • Start time of the land trip from Cusco to Capuliyoc: 06:00
• At approximately 10:30, start hiking
• Trekking distance: 08 km / 4.9 miles
• Hiking time: 3 hours and a half
• Difficulty level: Moderate to challenging
• Lowest elevation: 1,900 meters (6,270 feet)
• Highest elevation: 2,915 meters (9,564 feet)
• Camp area: Chiquisca
• Meals: Box Lunch and Dinner

RECOMMENDATION for CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK 8 DAYS

• A pair of hiking poles “helps take the pressure off your knees as it stabilizes your safety for ascending and descending famous, rocky, dusty trails.”
• These are excellent hiking shoes with ankle support for all terrains.

Today, we leave early to avoid the sun inside the Apurimac Canyon and reach the cloud forest to freshen up and have a magnificent guided tour of Choquequirao.

At 04:50, we start walking towards the Apurimac River to cross the Rosalina suspension bridge and ascend the Apurimac Canyon until we reach MARAMPATA’s “lunch area.”

We continue the walk along the undulating road until we reach the archaeological ruins of Choquequirao. The guided tour of Choquequirao takes us the rest of the afternoon to explore the highlights of the tourist area.

DATA: HIKE between Chiquisca and Marampata and a guided tour to Choquequirao

• Start time of the walk: 04:50
• Hiking distance: 15 km (9.3 miles)
• Trekking time: 9 to 10 hours
• Difficulty level: Challenging
• Lowest elevation: 1,475 meters (4,839 feet)
• Highest elevation: 3,106 meters (10,190 feet)
• Camp Area: Marampata or INC Choquequirao
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

RECOMMENDATION

From 4 in the afternoon on, there are some gusts of wind, which is pretty cold. We recommend bringing a coat for the guided visit to Choquequirao to withstand the low temperatures, plus one flashlight since it could get dark. We returned to the INC base camp with our flashlight and overcoat without any inconvenience.

We have another challenging day on the other side of the Choquequirao Valley to reach the Pinchaunuyoc ruins and conquer our MAIZAL base camp.

At 6:00 a.m., the trek begins along one side of the Choquequirao ruins until we reach our first mountain pass, “Paso de Choquequirao.” The panoramic views and views of the other side of the valley are spectacular. We descend for an average of 2 hours to reach the beautiful ruins with their terrace systems of PINCHAUNUYOC; “it is the only place where we find fresh spring water.”

We descend for 1 hour and a half more to reach the RÍO-BLANCO River and canyon; walkers can soak or dip in the creek’s chilly waters before heading to lunch. We have about 03 more hours to climb the mountain by a zigzag path until we reach MAIZAL.

DATA: HIKE between INC Choquequirao and Maizal

• Start time of the walk: 06:00
• Hiking distance: 18 km (11.2 miles)
• Trekking time: 08 to 09 hours
• Difficulty level: Challenging
• Lowest elevation: 1,912 meters (6,272 feet)
• Highest peak: 2,983 meters (9,786 feet)
• Camp Area: Maizal
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

RECOMMENDATION

The day brings sunscreen and mosquito block because there are many mosquitoes, especially in the Rio-Blanco ravine. It is also essential to carry purification tablets to purify the water. The purification tablets help decontaminate the river or spring water in our Choquequirao Trek: 8 Days to Machu Picchu.

From Yanama to Lucmabamba by local car

Today, we conquer the highest pass of the entire Choquequirao Trek 8-Day DAYS Circuit, the Yanama Pass.

The activities start at 06:00, walking along the ancient Inca trail within the cloud forest vegetation, turning into a steppe where phreatic friezes and grasslands dominate. We walk for half a day, 4 hours of ascent to the Yanama Pass, and 40 minutes to reach the Yanama community. In Yanama, we say goodbye to the muleteers, and then we take the local transport services to transfer all the mountain equipment and adventurer crew to the LUCMABAMBA base camp.

Coffee plantations surround the Lucmabamba camp like the fruits of the low jungle. Ladies and gentlemen hikers, we are close to Machu Picchu, and only a mountain can observe the beautiful ruins of Machu Picchu from the natural viewpoint of the mountain.

DATA: Expedition between Maizal and Lucmabamba

• Start time of the walk: 06:00
• Hiking distance: 13 km (9.6 miles)
• Trekking time: 4 hours
• Difficulty level: Challenging to Moderate
• Lowest elevation: 2,829 meters (9,281 feet).
• Highest elevation: 4,200 meters (12,779 feet)
• Local car: From Yanama to Lucmabamba (approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes of trip)
• Camp Area: Lucmabamba
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

We ascend the Inca trail of LUCMABAMBA until we reach the top of the mountain or LUCMABAMBA PASS. We can already see Machu Picchu and the entire mountain chain of Huayna Picchu in the distance from the top. We continue descending the mountain until we reach the Aobamba River to head towards the hydroelectric train station and Aguas Calientes.

DATA: Adventure from Lucmabamba to AGUAS CALIENTES

• Start time of the walk: 06:00
• Walking distance: 11 km (6.8 miles)
• Walking time: 7 hours
• Difficulty level: Challenging to Moderate
• Lowest elevation: 1,799 meters (5,902 feet).
• Highest elevation: 3,000 meters (9,842 feet)
• Meals: breakfast, lunch (local rest at Hydro).

At 5:30, we start walking towards kilometer 104 of the railway for approximately 2 hours (follow the path next to the railway; watch out for some trains). Arriving at km 104, we enter the SACRED INCA ROAD. The walk from km 104 to Intipunku and Machu Picchu takes around 05 hours of walking through the cloud forest, “totaling 07 hours.”

It is only three hours of ascent, and the rest of the trek is semi-flat through different types of Inca Trail. From Intipunku, we have a spectacular view of Machu Picchu and its surroundings. In the afternoon, we board the bus service to descend towards Aguas Calientes and head towards our hotel.

DATA: Description of the walk inside the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu between KM 104 and INTI PUNKU

• Start time of the walk: 05:00
• Walking distance: 16 km (9.9 miles)
• Walking time: 7 hours
  • Aguas Calientes to KM 104: 2 hours of walking
  • KM 104, Inti Punku, Machu Picchu: 5 hours of hiking
• Difficulty level: challenging, moderate to Easy
• Lowest elevation: 2,065 meters (6,774 feet).
• Highest elevation: 2,730 meters (8,792 feet)
• Bus: One way (Machupicchu to Aguas Calientes)
• Meals: box lunch.

When buying entrance tickets to the Inca Trail, these tickets allow us to visit Machu Picchu. With the group of visitors of CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK 8 DAYS, we will decide a day before what time WE ARE GOING TO ENTER MACHU PICCHU for the sixth day.

At the time indicated by our tour guide, we go to the bus station to go up to Machu Picchu by vehicle and then have the guided tour of Machu Picchu in all its splendor. We will be inside Machu Picchu for approximately 2 hours, which allows us to visit as decreed by the updated general regulations of the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

In the afternoon, return to the city of Cusco via Ollantaytambo Station. From the OLLANTAYTAMBO train station, we go to CUSCO to drop you off at your respective hotels in our private transportation.

DATA: Machu Picchu Expedition and Activities

• Bus service to Machu Picchu (up and down)
• A two-hour guided tour inside the archaeological park of Machu Picchu
• In the afternoon, board your train service to the Ollantaytambo train station.

Train service information: [Inbound journey]

• Train company: INCA RAIL
• Service: MACHU PICCHU-OLLANTAYTAMBO (1 hour and 40 minutes of train ride).
• Class: The Voyager 44
• Departure: 14:30
• At Station: 14:00; otherwise, you may not be allowed to board.
• Ollantaytambo arrival: 16:04
• Cusco arrival by transport: 17:50

When you get to the OLLANTAYTAMBO train station, be met at the train arrivals area. Just look for a KONDOR PATH TOURS sign with your name.” Group name: Hiker of Choquequirao Trek 8 Days

To culminate our spectacular adventure through the Andes of Choquequirao Trek 8 Days, satisfying our feats of outdoor sports worldwide, explore the beautiful, colorful circuit of the rainbow mountain.

At 06:30, we head south from Cusco to reach the start of the trek. Today’s hike takes about 70 minutes to get to the colorful top and look at the beautiful rainbow mountain with its shining chain. We return by the same hiking trail to our private vehicle to return to the city of Cusco.

DATA: Hiking through the colorful mountains of Cusco

• Departure time to start the land trip until the beginning of the walk: 06:30
• Name of the beginning of the walk: Llactoq
• Walking distance: 14 km (8.6 miles)
• Walking time: 2 ½ hours
• Difficulty level: Challenging
• Lowest elevation: 4,900 m/16,076 feet.
• Highest elevation: 5,100 meters (16,732 feet)
• Meals: Box Lunch

Thank you, hikers, for taking our service, Choquequirao Trek, for 8 days. We hope they will return for more unique feats in Peru.