Choquequirao & Machu Picchu 7 days

Day 1: Cusco – Cachora – Chiquisca - Playa Rosalina

We will leave Cusco at 5.30am and take the road towards the village of Cachora, where we will arrive after 4h30 of driving. On site we will meet the team of cooks and muleteers, as well as their animals, who will accompany us throughout this trek. After loading the mules that will carry all our equipment, we will begin our walk towards the Capuliyoc pass (2800m). Throughout the day, we will observe the evolution of the landscape and vegetation from the depths of the Apurimac Canyon below to the snowy peaks of the mountains that dominate us. We will descend inside the Apurimac canyon to the site of Chiquisca (1930m). We will continue to the middle of the Canyon at Playa Rosalina (1550 m) - where we will set up our camp near the river.

Time of walking: 6 hours
Climate: hot
Elevation : Cusco (3400 m) - Cachora (2850 m) - Chuiquisca (1830 m) - Playa Rosalina (1550 m)

Day 2: Playa Rosalina – Marampata – Choquequirao

After a full breakfast, we will take the road back to the Choquequirao site. En route we can make stops to meet the locals, and try a typical element of the region: sugar cane. We will go up to Marampata (2850m) where we hang our lunch. From here we will enjoy a superb view of the archaeological complex of Choquequirao (3033m), where we will head. Arrival on the site of Choquequirao, we will have a half-day to enjoy a first visit and we can enjoy the sunset, maybe even we will have the chance to watch the theft of condors. Our camp is located 20 minutes from the Inca city.

Time of walking: 7 hours
Climate: hot and cold
Climate : Playa Rosalina (1550 m) - Marampata (2850 m) - Choquequirao (3030 m)

Day 3: Choquequirao – Choquequirao pass – Río Blanco

It is at sunrise that we will visit the archaeological site of Choquequirao, "the Cradle of Gold" (3033m). We will explore this archaeological site, 30% of which has been restored and can be visited, the archaeological site still holds many secrets! We will visit the palace section, the fountains, the Inca religious in the sacred temples, the lamas section and the Usnu. Then, our tour will continue to Choquequirao Pass (3270m) and we will pass the archaeological site of Pinchaunuyoc (2450m). Finally, we will descend to the deepest point of the Río Blanco Lagoon (1900m) or Río Silvestre, where we will spend the night.

Time of walking: 6 hours
Climate: hot with mosquitos
Elevation : Choquequirao (3030 m) - Choquequirao pass (3270 m) - Rio Blanco (1900 m)

Day 4: Río Blanco – Maizal – San Juan pass – Yanama

It is both the most arduous and spectacular day with its multiple ecosystems. In Maizal (3000m) we will take a break to enjoy this wonderful landscape. The Inca Trail is a little damaged by the erosion of periods of rain. In San Juan (4170m), we will enjoy the beautiful views of the landscape (valleys, mountains and glaciers). Our campsite is located in the small village of Yanama (3530m).

Time of walking: 5 hours
Climate: Hot and cold with mosquitos
Elevation : Rio Blanco (1900 m) - Maizal (3000 m) - San Juan pass (4170 m) - Yanama (3530 m)

Day 5: Yanama – Yanama pass – Totorapampa

We will drive in the morning to the highest pass of this expedition "Yanama" (4670m). If we are lucky we will be able to see the theft of a condor. During the day we enjoy the views of the snow-capped mountains like Salkantay (6264m) and Pintuyu (5450m). Our camping place is located in the valley of Totora pampas (3500m).

Time of walking: 8 hours
Climate: hot with mosquitos
Elevation : Yanama (4670 m) – Yanama pass (4670 m) - Totorapampa (3500 m)

Day 6: Totora pampa – Collpapampa – Lucmabamaba – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes

At Totora Pampa we will get in touch with the Andean people, speaking Quechua. Agriculture and livestock are the main activities, which explains the wide variety of quality products: tubers, fruit trees, coffee, etc. From Collpapampa (3000m), we will take a vehicle that will take us to Lumacbamba (1950m) where we can enjoy some time for lunch, and discover a little more about local activities and Andean flora and fauna. The vegetation is more and more luxuriant and we will be able to identify some species of Bromeliace, orquid, etc ... We will also see plantations of coffee, papaya, passion fruit and avocado. We will continue by bus to Hidroeléctrica where our walk will resume to arrive at the village of Aguas Calientes (2050m). We will spend the night in a hotel.

Time of walking: 7 hours
Climate: hot with mosquitos
Elevation : Totorapamapa (3500 m) - Collpapampa (2900 m) - Lucmabamba (2000 m) - Hidroeléctrica (1950 m) - Aguas Calientes ( 2050 m)

Day 7: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

We will leave the hotel after breakfast at 5.30 am and drive to Machu Picchu (2400m). We will arrive at the Inca city at 06:00. After a guided tour of the archaeological site (including information about daily life, culture, customs and traditions of the Incas), you will have time to explore Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu by yourself. We will leave Aguas Calientes by train at 14h55 or 18h20. Until the departure, you will have time to have lunch in one of the beautiful restaurants of the city. You can also enjoy the thermal baths of Aguas Calientes, to relax. The train will take you to the town of Ollantaytambo where a bus will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Cusco.

Time of walking: 2 hours
Time of transport : 4h30
Elevation : Aguas Calientes (2050 m) - Machu Picchu (2400 m) - Cusco (3400 m)