Warm-up walk to Lamay before Choquequequirao Hike

We leave the city of Cusco at 06:00 hours, heading northwest from Cusco towards the Huchuy Qosqo trail near the Piuray and Koricocha lagoon. Once we arrive at the beginning of the warm-up walk, we will start the trek through the INCA TRAILS OF HUCHUY QOSQO.

After a 40-minute walk, we arrive at the pass of the Tres Cruzes. Then we descend the Inca trail, finding some Inca ruins on our way, such as the ruins of PUCA MARCA and LÉON PUNKO. After two hours of walking, we get to the ruins of Huchuy Qosqo. Huchuy Qosqo was the royal palace of the eighth Inca ruler of the Inca Empire.

We end our trekking walk just 30 minutes down the mountain from Huchuy Qosqo. In the afternoon, we board our vehicle to return to Cusco. THE NEXT DAY, WE ARE OFFICIALLY GOING FOR THE GREAT OUTDOOR WALK THROUGH THE ANDES OF CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK FOR 9 DAYS.

Hiking Data

• Start time of the walk: 06:30
• Hiking distance: 13 km (8 miles)
• Trekking time: 3 hours and 40 minutes of walking
• Difficulty level: Moderate – Challenging
• Lowest elevation: 3,320 meters (10,829 feet)
• Highest elevation: 4,426 meters (14,520 feet).
• Meals: Box Lunch

NOTE: After the hike to Huchuy Qosqo! We return to Cusco to visit the visitor hotel. DOES NOT INCLUDE the first night of hotel, lodging, or Airbnb.

2nd day of the warm-up walk

We headed towards Choquequirao Trek 9 Days; TODAY is the first day of the official walk. We leave the city of CUSCO neither too early nor too late. At 06:00, we start our land trip of approximately 4 hours until we reach Capuliyoc, the “start of the adventure.”

Today, we have the second day of warm-up, descent to the Apurimac Canyon with high temperatures, “bring enough water for this day of hiking and other days,” and 3 hours and a half of hiking in the mountains. There are three spectacular viewpoints to take various photos and videos of the spectacular APURÍMAC CANYON and the Andes Mountain ranges.

Description of the warm-up day of the walk officially 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

Bring a pair of hiking poles and shoes with ankle support to enjoy Choquequirao’s grounds fully. Also, get excellent sunscreen, repellent, water purifier, etc., for our Choquequirao Trek 9 Days expedition, completing the circuit of the tour package in the fullness of the adventure through Peru.

To avoid the high temperatures of the APURÍMAC CANYON, at 04:50, we start our walk towards the canyon’s interior to descend and ascend. Going up in the middle of the mountain, we will already have the green area of ​​the cloud forest to cool off naturally and walk in the shade to enjoy the fresh walk until we reach MARAMPATA, “up to this point, we have already walked 06 hours”.

In the community of MARAMPATA, we will have lunch with an incredible view of the Andes. In Marampata, we have local stores to purchase drinks or snacks for the following days.

We walk for another hour and a half to reach the IMPRESSIVE RUINS OF CHOQUEQUIRAO. We have a guided tour of Choquequirao throughout the afternoon, exploring the most outstanding parts of the archaeological ruins.

We resume part of the trail until we reach our INC CHOQUEQUIRAO camp to camp in the cloud forest area. We recommend bringing a warm jacket to Choquequirao and a personal flashlight because the night could overtake us, and it would get dark halfway back to Base Camp. At approximately 5:50 p.m., it gets dark in Peru.

HIKING DATA

• 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

Our walking activities start at 05:30 to go around the ruins of Choquequirao to reach the ruins of Pincha Unuyoc. We ascend towards the Choquequirao Pass to begin descending an entire mountain until we reach the banks of the RÍO-BLANCO River. From RÍO-BLANCO, we climb the next mountain to reach our base camp of MAIZAL. In Maizal, we have a small camping area, spring water, and a local store. “Sometimes there are some things to buy,” but for sure, there is plenty of fresh spring water.

The hike at the beginning is moderate due to the presence of a greenish tangle for a few hours, but as you descend towards the RÍO-BLANCO valley, it becomes increasingly hot as you ascend to the MAIZAL camp.

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

Today, we have a half-day walk between MAIZAL and YANAMA and from YANAMA to LUCMABAMBA. We go in any local vehicle to shorten part of the stretch by walking due to a new dirt track reaching the YANAMA community.

At 05:30, start the trek to conquer the Yanama Pass. Yanama Pass is one of the highest inter-mountain passes before Rainbow Mountain (LAST DAY WE HAVE THE HIGHEST HIKE); now, we have one of our most elevated experiences.

In the Yanama Pass, we have one of the best panoramic views since we observe three inter-Andean valleys in their fullness with their snowy peaks of the Salkantay mountain range. We go down the mountain to one side of the Victoria Mines. We arrive at Yanama for lunch. In the afternoon, from YANAMA, we start the vehicular trip to the cloud forest until we reach LUCMABAMBA. Lucmabamba is our base camp. Most families are dedicated to harvesting and processing organic coffee until it comes to the family table in Peru. It is incredible to observe the coffee plantations.

DATA: Hiking 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)
• PM Local car: From Yanama to Lucmabamba (approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes of trip)
• Camp Area: Lucmabamba
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Lucmabamba to Hydro and Aguas Calientes.

The walking activities start at 05:30 to avoid the sweltering heat of the humid lowland jungle. We ascend to the top of the ruins of Patallacta. From Patallacta, we observe the enigmatic Inca citadel of MACHU PICCHU, the AOBAMBA valley, and the PYRAMIDAL mountain of HUAYNA in the distance from MACHUPICCHU.

We continue walking with the descent of the mountain until we reach the hydroelectric train station and Aguas Calientes.

DATA: Description of the hike from Lucmabamba to Machu Picchu Pueblo

• Start time of the walk: 06:00
• Walking distance: 22 km (13.6 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).

Today, we start hiking at 05:30 along a section of the railway for approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. We headed towards controlling the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu in the sector of kilometer 104 of the railway.

NOTE: For the hiker’s safety, it forbids using headphones or listening to music during the entire Choquequirao Trek (9 days).

At KM 104 of the railway is the official entrance to the SACRED INCA TRAIL to explore the Inca ruins from CHACHABAMBA to INTI PUNKU (05 hours hiking), then descend to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. We have other spectacular panoramic views of Machu Picchu from the other side of the mountain. The day before, we were in LUCMABAMBA, “at the other end of Machu Picchu,” so we had unique views; TODAY, WE COMPLETE THEM with the other VISTAS of Machu Picchu through the Andes of Peru.

DATA: Description of the INCA TRAIL 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 (Machu Picchu Ruins to Machupicchu Pueblo)
• Meals: box lunch.

Today, we explore the wonder of Machu Picchu with the ease of traveling by bus to reach the main gate of Machu Picchu. We will leave the hotel when the entire group of hikers agrees to go on our guided tour of the Inca citadel.

We have a guided tour of Machu Picchu for an average of two hours to cover visits to the most important sites.

1. In the afternoon, we will board our train service to CUSCO.
2. We arrive at the Ollantaytambo train station after approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes of travel.
3. From POROY, we only have a 25-minute drive to the visitor’s hotel.

DATA of Machu Picchu Guided Tour 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 9 Days

The hike ends with the colorful jewel of Vinikunca.

To close our adventure of Choquequirao Trek 9 Days to Machu Picchu with unique hiking circuits through the Peruvian Andes is to culminate our walk with the beautiful promenade of Rainbow Mountain.

At 05:30, we leave the city of Cusco, heading to the colorful mountains of Ausangate to walk through the circuit of tourists and the famous hike of Vinicunca. Today, we culminate our expedition with a lovely multicolor view of the rainbow mountain.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO WALK THROUGH CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK FOR 9 DAYS TO Machu Picchu. We are very grateful for your visits to Cusco, Peru. You are taking one of the best combinations and elaborations of spectacular itineraries for all lovers of outdoor hiking.

DATA: Hiking through the colorful mountains of Cusco-Ausangate

• 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