Itinerary
- Day 1
Cusco to Cachora and Chiquiska
Your adventure starts with a pickup from your Cusco hotel. You'll drive about four hours to Cachora village, then begin hiking with equipment loaded onto horses. The route takes you up to Capuliyoc Pass at 2,750 meters/9,022 feet, then descends into the Apurimac Valley where you'll see snow-capped peaks. By evening you'll reach your first campsite in Chiquiska for dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike from Cachora to Capuliyoc Pass (approximately 2.5 hours)
- Descent into Apurimac Valley (approximately 2.5 hours)
- Horse transport of equipment to campsite
Landmarks Capuliyoc Pass Apurimac Valley - Day 2
Chiquiska to Choquequirao
After an early breakfast, you'll descend for an hour to Playa Rosalina and cross the Apurimac River. Next comes a steep two-hour climb with good views and chances to spot colorful birds like quetzals and hummingbirds. You'll stop at Santa Rosa village for shade, then continue ascending for 2.5 hours to Marampata for lunch. Two more easy hours of hiking gets you to Choquequirao campsite at 3,103 meters/10,180 feet. On clear evenings, you might spot condors from camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike from Chiquiska to Playa Rosalina (approximately 1 hour)
- Crossing of Apurimac River
- Steep ascent to Santa Rosa (approximately 2 hours)
- Continued ascent to Marampata (approximately 2.5 hours)
- Final ascent to Choquequirao campsite (approximately 2 hours)
Landmarks Playa Rosalina Apurimac River Santa Rosa Marampata - Day 3
Choquequirao
You'll get up early to explore the archaeological site of Choquequirao with your guide. Learn about the Inca Empire, its traditions, and how this site connects to Machu Picchu. Discovered in 1710 by explorer Juan Arias Díaz, only about 25 percent of this 12-sector site has been fully explored. You'll see Inca agricultural terraces and structures built for ceremonies, priest residences, and food storage. You'll have plenty of time to explore both with your guide and on your own before returning to camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Choquequirao archaeological site (approximately 4 hours walking)
- Self-guided exploration of Choquequirao
Landmarks Choquequirao 
- Day 4
Choquequirao to Rio Blanco and Maizal
After breakfast, you'll ascend from camp to Choquequirao Pass at 3,250 meters/10,663 feet, entering a cloud forest with polylepis trees and bromeliads. You'll descend past Inca agricultural terraces, crossing the Yuracmayo River after a few hours. Then it's uphill to Maizal, a natural viewpoint with views of the Yurahmayo and Yanama gorges merging into the Apurimac gorge. Your cook will prepare dinner while you watch the sunset.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike to Choquequirao Pass (approximately 1+ hour ascent)
- Descent through cloud forest to Yuracmayo River (several hours)
- Crossing of Yuracmayo River
- Ascent to Maizal (approximately 2+ hours)
Landmarks Choquequirao Pass Yuracmayo River Yurahmayo Gorge Yanama Gorge Apurimac Gorge - Day 5
Maizal to Minas Victoria and Yanama
After breakfast, you'll climb steeply to Mina Victoria, an old silver and copper mine used by both the Incas and Spanish colonial rulers. You'll hike along Qoriwayrachina hill, an Inca site recently discovered with stones from over 200 structures, likely related to the mines. After exploring, you'll cross a pass at approximately 4,200 meters/13,779 feet, the highest point so far. After lunch, you'll descend toward Yanama village with views of Pumasillo mountain above your campsite.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike to Mina Victoria
- Exploration of Qoriwayrachina Inca site
- Crossing of high pass at approximately 4,200 meters
- Descent to Yanama village
Landmarks Mina Victoria Qoriwayrachina Pumasillo - Day 6
Yanama to Totora
This solid trekking day takes you through Yanama Valley past fields where farmers grow vegetables and herd cattle. You'll face a challenging ascent to Quiswar Pass at around 4,700 meters/15,420 feet, where you'll enjoy views of Salkantay and Humantay mountains on clear days. From the pass, you'll descend along a winding trail into the Totora Valley, where you'll camp near a traditional village.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike through Yanama Valley
- Challenging ascent to Quiswar Pass (approximately 4,700 meters)
- Descent into Totora Valley
Landmarks Yanama Valley Quiswar Pass Salkantay Humantay Totora Valley - Day 7
Totora to La Playa
After the previous day's high-altitude hiking, this day feels like an easy trek along the Salkamayo River. You'll cross increasingly lush vegetation with crystal-clear waterfalls and numerous passion fruit and coffee plantations. In the afternoon you'll arrive at La Playa village campsite with plenty of time to relax and swim in the river while camp is set up and dinner is prepared.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike along Salkamayo River (approximately 7 hours)
- Passage through lush vegetation with waterfalls and plantations
Optional Activities
- Swimming in river
Landmarks Salkamayo River - Day 8
La Playa to Aguas Calientes
Your final trekking day starts with a river crossing and ascent through coffee and fruit plantations to El Mirador at 2,860 meters/9,383 feet, which offers views of Machu Picchu. You'll continue to Llaqtapata, an Inca site discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1912 and comprehensively mapped in 2003. This was likely an important resting place on the Inca Trail. After exploring and lunch, you'll hike downhill for about two hours to reach the Hidroelectrica power station. From there, you'll board the train for a short ride to Aguas Calientes town. After checking into your hotel, you can enjoy a hot shower and rest before tomorrow's visit to Machu Picchu.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike through coffee and fruit plantations
- Visit to El Mirador viewpoint
- Exploration of Llaqtapata Inca site
- Descent to Hidroelectrica
- Train ride to Aguas Calientes
Landmarks El Mirador Llaqtapata Hidroelectrica - Day 9
Aguas Calientes to Cusco - Machu Picchu
Get up early for breakfast, then your guide will pick you up around 5:40 am for the bus ride up the zigzagging road to Machu Picchu. Your guided tour (approximately 2 hours) covers the famous parts of the site, including the House of the Guardian, the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Sacred Plaza, with views of the agricultural terraces and surrounding mountains. After the tour, you have time to explore on your own, visiting less-frequented sites like the Inca Bridge. Then you'll return by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Finally, you'll board the train back to Poroy and Cusco, where you'll be transferred to your hotel to finish your trek.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Bus ride to Machu Picchu sanctuary
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu archaeological site (approximately 2 hours)
- Self-guided exploration of Machu Picchu
- Bus ride return from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
- Train ride from Aguas Calientes to Poroy station
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Aguas Calientes (not included)
Landmarks Machu Picchu House of the Guardian Intihuatana Temple of the Sun Sacred Plaza Inca Bridge
