Day 1: CUSCO – CACHORA – CAPULIYOC – CHIKISKA – PLAYA ROSALINA

We depart from Cusco at 5 am in a 4-hour minivan ride, passing through the provinces of Anta, Limatambo, Cachora, and finally reaching the Capuliyoc pass, situated on the edge of the Apurimac Canyon, where we’ll have our breakfast. Afterward, we’ll meet the rest of the team (muleteers, horses, etc.). We then begin the 2.5-hour hike to Chiquisca (1,800 meters above sea level), where we’ll have our lunch. Continuing for another hour, we reach Playa Rosalina (1,500 meters above sea level), where we’ll spend our first night.

Time: Approximately 5 hours of descent.

Meals: Lunch, dinner

Minimum Altitude: 1500 meters above sea level at Playa Rosalina

Maximum Altitude: 2945 meters above sea level at Capuliyoc pass

Distance Covered: 12km from Cachora to Playa Rosalina

Weather: Temperate, Warm

Day 2: PLAYA ROSALINA – MARAMPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAO

In the morning, we wake up to the sound of the Apurimac River. After a hearty breakfast, we start by crossing the bridge over the Apurimac River, marking the border between the departments of Cusco and Apurimac. The first part of our journey involves a 5-hour ascent on a winding and narrow path. Midway, we stop at the small villages of Santa Rosa Baja and Santa Rosa Alta for a brief rest, before continuing to Marampata (2,900 meters above sea level), where we’ll have our lunch and catch our first glimpse of the Choquequirao complex. We then hike for another 2 hours to Choquequirao, where we’ll camp nearby and enjoy the sunset and the sight of condors soaring.

Time: Approximately 7 hours of ascent.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Campsite: Choquequirao 3100 meters above sea level

Minimum Altitude: 1500 meters above sea level at Playa Rosalina

Maximum Altitude: 3100 meters above sea level around Choquequirao

Distance Covered: 14km from Playa Rosalina to Choquequirao

Weather: Temperate, Warm

Day 3: CHOQUEQUIRAO – PINCHINUYOC

Today starts with a fresh morning and a hot breakfast, followed by a guided tour of the main sites of Choquequirao. In the morning, we visit Paqchayoc, the priest’s house, and the agricultural terraces. At midday, our chef brings lunch to the main sector, after which we continue our exploration of the llama sector, the Inca house, and the temples. We then begin the ascent to the Choquequirao pass, where you’ll have a privileged view. Afterward, we descend to the terraces of Pinchinuyoc (2487 meters above sea level), where we’ll spend the night under a clear, star-filled sky.

Time: 3 hours of visiting Choquequirao and 2 hours of descent to Pinchinuyoc.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Campsite: Pinchinuyoc 2487 meters above sea level

Minimum Altitude: 2487 meters above sea level at Pinchinuyoc

Maximum Altitude: 3150 meters above sea level at Choquequirao pass

Distance Covered: 6 km from Choquequirao pass to Pinchinuyoc

Weather: Temperate, Warm

Day 4: PINCHINUYOC – RIO BLANCO – MAIZAL

After a delicious and restorative breakfast, we continue descending through the valley until we reach Rio Blanco (1990 meters above sea level), where we’ll take a refreshing dip in the river to soothe our tired muscles. After our bath, we cross to the opposite side of the valley and begin ascending toward our campsite in Maizal (2891 meters above sea level), where we’ll spend the night.

Time: 2 hours of descent and 3 hours of ascent

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Campsite: Maizal 2891 meters above sea level

Minimum Altitude: 1990 meters above sea level at Rio Blanco

Maximum Altitude: 2891 meters above sea level at Maizal

Distance Covered: 16 km from Pinchinuyoc to Maizal

Weather: Temperate, Warm

Day 5: MAIZAL – YANAMA – TOTORA – LUCMABAMBA

After breakfast, we start uphill through the humid forest, passing by the Victoria mines before ascending for another hour to the Victoria pass. From here, we’ll have spectacular views of the Vilcabamba mountain range with its glaciers over 5000 meters high. Then, we descend to the charming village of Yanama, where we’ll have lunch and bid farewell to our muleteers. From Yanama, we take local transport to ascend to 4643 meters above sea level, where we’ll have a view of the Salkantay, the second-highest glacier in Cusco. We then descend to Lucmabamba in approximately 3 hours, enjoying beautiful views of snowy mountains and waterfalls along the way.

Time: 3 hours of ascent and 2 hours of descent.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Campsite: Lucmabamba 1900 meters above sea level

Minimum Altitude: 2891 meters above sea level at Maizal

Maximum Altitude: 3130 meters above sea level at Yanama

Distance Covered: 20 km from Maizal to Lucm

mabamba

Weather: Temperate, Cold

Day 6: SANTA TERESA – LLACTAPATA – AGUAS CALIENTES

Today marks the final stretch of our journey before reaching Aguas Calientes (1900 meters above sea level). Our main objective is to visit the archaeological site of Llactapata, nestled atop a mountain. Following an original and new Inca Trail, we’ll arrive early at Llactapata and spend about half an hour exploring the site, where we can enjoy fantastic views of the archaeological site and glimpse Machu Picchu from afar. We then begin a 2-hour descent to the Hydroelectric station, where we’ll have lunch. Here, you have two options:

1. If you’re feeling tired, you can take the train to Aguas Calientes ($31.00 “not included”).
2. If you still have energy, we can walk from Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes for approximately 3 hours along the railway. This is the same path used by the American professor Hiram Bingham who rediscovered Machu Picchu!

Once in Aguas Calientes, you can rest or take a stroll around this charming town. Since there are no buses in Aguas Calientes, it’s a peaceful place. At 7:00 pm, we’ll have dinner at a local restaurant, where our guide will provide more detailed information about the visit to Machu Picchu. In your room, you’ll have a private bathroom, hot shower, WiFi, breakfast in the morning, and luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu.

Time: 6 hours of walking – half-hour train ride.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Hotel: Aguas Calientes 1900 meters above sea level.

Maximum Altitude: 2700 meters above sea level at Llactapata.

Minimum Altitude: 2050 meters above sea level in Aguas Calientes.

Distance Covered: 9 km from Lucmabamba to Llactapata / 10 km from Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes.

Weather: Temperate, Cold

Day 7: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU

This day is likely the most anticipated for everyone, as we visit Machu Picchu (2850 meters above sea level). We have several entrance times: it could be at 6-7-8- or 9 in the morning, depending on the date of the pre-paid tour payment; we can reserve the earliest entry possible.

Depending on the entry time to Machu Picchu, we’ll wake up to have breakfast. To reach Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes, we have two options:

1. Take the bus ($24.00 round trip, $15.00 for nationals not included).
2. Walk, which takes approximately 2 hours.

At the entrance to Machu Picchu, our guide will begin the tour of the archaeological site, where we can visit various places such as the Temple of the Sun, the sundial, the Inca’s house, etc. If you have a ticket to visit one of the available mountains, “Huaynapicchu or MachuPicchu,” depending on the start time (first schedule 7 AM – 8 AM and second schedule 10 AM – 11 AM), our guide will organize everything; you just have to relax and enjoy the tour.

Once the tour is finished, you can return either by walking or by bus. However, please note that sometimes the line to board the bus can be so long that it may take an hour or more, especially between 12 pm and 1 pm.

Back in Aguas Calientes, we’ll board the return train to Ollantaytambo, where our transportation will be waiting to take us back to the city of Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast

Walking distance from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu: Approximately 5 km

Maximum Altitude: 2850 meters above sea level at Machu Picchu.

Minimum Altitude: 2050 meters above sea level in Aguas Calientes

Weather: Warm or cold depending on the climate season.

Pre-departure briefing the day before the start of the trek.