Enjoy a vehicular trip from Cusco to Capuliyoc: From CAPILIYOC to CHIQUISCA, enjoy a spectacular hike to the APURIMAC canyon.

We start the trip from Cusco, leaving at 5:00 a.m. to have enough time to complete the walk that day. We travel through the plains of Anta; we will descend through the Limatambo Valley and cross the Apurímac region by the Cunyac bridge. We continue the trip, passing through the town of Curahuasi at the height of the Sayhuite stone branch; we take the road to Cachora and Capulilloc. In Capulilloc, our horses and muleteers await us to start the adventure of hiking.

We prepare to start walking on the bridle path; the canyon views are unique for taking photos and videos. It does recommend bringing professional poles to this walk. This helps support our knees on descents and ascents. The route is remote hiking, and you must get a pair of poles!

We will pass through the properties of Capulilloc and Cocamasana until we reach our camp in Chiquisca. “Santa Rosa is in the middle of the mountain in front of our expedition.”

Informative note: Maybe we camped in the Chiquisca area. Our adventure guide will make these decisions according to the evolution and experience of the group of walkers.

Hiking data

Descent into the Apurimac Canyon, we stopped by the small settlement of Chiquisca and set up camp for the night.

• Vehicle trip start time: 05:00 “04 hours and 10 minutes approximately”
  • In the course of the journey, visit the Saywite monolith.
• Private transfer to the beginning of the trail “from Cusco to Capuliyoc.”
• Adventure distance: 08 km/4.9 miles.
• 03 hours and a half of walking “all descent” recommended walking sticks
• Campsite: Chiquisca
• Hiking difficulty: challenging.

Hike up the Apurimac Canyon near the ruins of Choquequirao. Choquequirao Guided Tour

When we start the walk early, we will have a fantastic walk covered by the nature of the jungle. Some streams on the route with a mini waterfall provide natural water to walkers; “if they will collect natural water, it is important to filter or purify it.”

Well, dear adventurers, we started going up the zigzagged bridle path until we reached the small community of Marampata. “In Marampata, there are several local stores to supply us with drinks or snacks for the following days.”

From Marampata, we will have incredible views of the Apurimac Canyon and the current Andes. We continue the walk until we reach the foothills of the archaeological group of Choquequirao to have our camp.

During the afternoon, we will have a guided visit to Choquequirao. We will explore the area of the Inca platforms, the main square below and above, the Inca agricultural platforms, the condor temple, the twin funeral system, ceremonial altars, etc.

Important data:

• The start of the walk is at 05:00
• Gap: 14 kilometers (8.7 miles)
• The walking time is 8 hours, with additional time to visit the ruins of Choquequirao for approximately 2 hours.
• Hiking difficulty level: Challenging
• Choquequirao I.N.C. “We set up a base camp just before Choquequirao.”

We head towards the Río-Blanco ravine through the Choquequirao Pass, a remote and spectacular area with stunning scenic views.

On one of the fascinating days, we ventured to the valley and ravine of the White River. From Río Blanco, we hike, ascending in a zigzag, until we get to the base camp of Maizal.

The walking activities start at 06:00 hours towards the Choquequirao pass (approximately 2 hours of walking). We continue descending for an average of 1 hour until we reach the Pinchaunuyuc ruins.

RUINS OF PINCHAUNUYUC
Pinchaunuyu – the Incas ruins are behind the archaeological group of Choquequirao. There are platforms in perfect condition used to plant agricultural products in the time of the Incas. Pinchaunuyoc did build in a remote and precise elevation area for visual and auditory communication with Maizal, Choquequirao, and other still unknown archaeological groups. The archaeological complex of Pinchaunuyoc has an Inca source of spring water. Those who camp in this area can stock up on fresh water, and hikers can fill their canteen with water to hydrate themselves since it is the only area with water until they reach the white river (RIO BLANCO).

After visiting the Pinchaunuyoc ruins, we continue our descent down the mountain until we reach the fresh waters of the Blanco River. Hikers can take a refreshing cold swim as the entire trek is hot, and splashing around in the river is satisfying. The last section of the walk is from the Río Blanco to Maizal, “03 hours of ascent through the mountain until reaching the base camp”.

Hiking behind the ruins of Choquequirao

• Walking Distance: 18 km (11.2 miles)
• Approximate walking time: 8 hours
• Camp location: Maizal
• Expedition Difficulty: Challenging

Conquer the highest point of the entire expedition, “YANAMA PASS.” HIKING BETWEEN MAIZAL AND YANAMA, AND FROM YANAMA, WE GO BY LOCAL TRANSPORTATION TO LUCMABAMBA

We walk along the Inca Trail of Maizal, which takes us to the Yanama Pass or Victoria mines. “05 hours of ascent into the jungle and the frozen zone of the Andes, where the condor flies in its natural habitat between the valley and the Apurimac canyon.”

From San Juan Pass, we descend to the Yanama Andean community. At Yanama, we use a local transportation ride to Lucmabamba-Santa-Tereza. We will enjoy the gorgeous views of snow-capped mountains and the high Andes jungle along the way.

Description of the Andes and Jungle Trek (Maizal to Lucmabamba)

• Start time of the walk: 06 in the morning to save time and reach the finish line.
• Trek distance: 13 km/9.68 miles “Maizal-Yanama”
• Hours of walking between Maizal and Yanama: 4 hours.
• Highest point: San Juan Pass, 4,200 meters (12,779 feet).
• Local car: Yanama, Collpapampa, and Lucmabamba (approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes of trip). The local vehicle can be a truck, a local combi, or any vehicle we find in the community; we will all adapt to Yanama transport.
• Lucmabamba camp height: 3,522 meters/11,555 ft. A beautiful camp within the cloud forest and near the coffee plantations
• Hiking difficulty: Challenging – Moderate

Enjoy a gradual ascent along the Lucmabamba Inca Trail towards the ruins of Llactapata and Machu Picchu Pueblo.

Hike at the other end of the Inca trail from Lucmabamba to Llactapata and Hidroeléctrica. From the Llactapata ruins, we will have an impressive view of Machu Picchu and its surrounding mountains. It is essential to detail that you will have the other photo of Machupicchu from the other end of the mountain the next day.

TRAIL INFORMATION: Hiking through the greenish zone of the buffer zone of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu

• The start time of the walk is at 06:00
• Hike along the Inca Trail from Lucmabamba to the Llactapata Pass (approximately 2 hours)
  • Highest point: Llactapata Pass, 3000 meters (9,842 feet).
• Explore and walk through the Inca ruins of Llactapata with an impressive view of the ruins of Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu, and the mountain ranges of the Vilcabamba batholith.
• Observe Machu Picchu in its first panoramic view from Llactapata, which is “really one of the best panoramic views.”
• Trail distance: 16.2 km/9.3 miles
• Trekking time: 6 hours of walking through the circuit; there is a pedestrian path.”
• Difficulty: Challenging/Moderate to Easy

Adventure along the Sacred Inca Trail to Inti Punku with a view of Machu Picchu from the east

We walk from Aguas Calientes following the rail train, saying, “Be careful with the trains.” Upon reaching kilometer 104 of the railroad, “two hours of walking,” we will officially enter the network of the Inca Trail through the Sacred Trail.

We ascend until we reach the archaeological groups of Wiñaywayna and Intipunku. In the afternoon, we will observe the last Inca citadel preserved during the previous centuries. Having several alternatives for the panoramic views of Machu Picchu is one of the best adventure options starting in Choquequirao. This site is considered the sister citadel of this majestic Inca citadel.

Hiking data

• Start time of the walk: 05:30
• Inca Ruins to explore: Choquesuysuy, Chachabamba, Wiñaywayna, Intipunku (Sun Gate)
• Height at the start of the walk: 2,100 meters (6,900 feet).
• Gap: 16 kilometers (9.9 miles)
  • Aguas Calientes to KM 104: 2 hours of walking
  • KM 104, Inti Punko, Machu Picchu: 5 hours of hiking
• Hike Max Elevation: 2,730 m/8,792 ft. (Intipunku)
• Hiking Difficulty: Moderate.

Guided tour of the Inca architectural wonder of Peru, “Machupicchu.”

The Incas trekked the Andes for centuries to reach remote parts of South America. Today, we have the most significant exploration of the trip and vacation. We start the bus trip to the spectacular Machu Picchu, seen from the Inca viewpoint house in all its splendor.

The guided tour will lead us to understand the motives and reasons why the Incas chose to live in this rugged area of the jungle. The majestic Inca citadel was built entirely with granite stone.

After the guided tour with our adventure guide, we returned by bus to Aguas Calientes to start the return trip by train to Cusco.

• 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.