There is something incredibly spiritual about trekking from Choquequirao to Machu Picchu. It is hard to explain until you are actually on the hiking trail. It genuinely feels like entering the Andes mountains in the way the Incas once did, all those centuries ago. Respecting the land and completely on the mountains’ terms.
Choquequirao sits quietly,high above the Apurimac canyon. It is somewhere that has a powerful, almost protective energy about it. As you wander through its terraces and temples, hearing nothing but wind and the river way below. Over the next 9 days, you will literally be tracing an ancient corridor that once connected communities, farmers, astronomers, and chaskis. The Inca messengers.
What makes this Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek feel so different from other trekking routes are the tough climbs, huge silences, farmers who still plant by the moon, and landscapes that shift from dry canyon walls to a thick, breathing cloud forest. The trek has a way of grounding you. It reminds you how the Andean worldview isn’t an abstract philosophy but a living thing you can see with your own eyes. Such as, in the way people greet the mountains, work the soil, raise their animals, and share their food. By the time you reach the base of Machu Picchu, you will have a feeling that you’ve arrived as someone who genuinely earned the right to stand between these two sacred Inca cities. This best Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek is a trekking route that means something completely profound and beyond words.
Bright and early, we will depart Cusco and travel through Andean farming valleys where the day begins with local people greeting the Pachamama before tending to their fields. At Capuliyoc, our trailhead, we meet our muleteers , who are from the local area and know this sacred route like the back of their hands. Your Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek starts with a steady descent down the Apurímac Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in Peru. As you are trekking, your guide shares stories and tales about the Apus that will protect you along the trail. We will camp in the warm zone of Chikiska, where Andean village life is still beautifully simple.
Hiking Distance: 8 km
Hiking Time: 4–5 hours
Altitude Range: 2,900 m – 1,900 m
Todat begins wiht another descent until we reach the base on the canyon and the Apurimac river. We will then begin the long climb toward Marampata. This section of the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu route is called by our guides “the teacher,” because it slows you right down and teaches you patience. A truly traditional Andean concept. By the time we reach Marampata, the views open in the most dramatic of ways and you begin to feel Choquequirao across the canyon. Evenings are quiet at this campsite which is perfect for stargazing and learning how Inca astronomers discovered the dark constellations of the night sky.
Hiking Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 6–7 hours
Altitude Range : 1,900 m – 2,900 m
This is one of the most special days of the entire Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek. We will spend the full day inside Choquequirao, exploring its plazas, irrigation systems, temples and buildings. Probably the most stunning sight are the llama terraces, with etched white llamas within the stones. A wonderful example of symbolic Andean architecture in Inca constructions.
Your guide will explain how Choquequirao was a ceremonial bridge between worlds. Plus, how it was a place where people connected with nature, the earth, the cosmos, and ancestral spirits. This is a very special moment, as the only way to get to Choquequirao is along the same pathway that you have just trekked, and why the site feels alive and intimate.
Hiking Distance: 5–6 km inside the site
Hiking Time: 5–6 hours
Altitude: around 3,050 m
Today, we will trek towards the Rio Blanco. The trek is through humid cloud forests where orchids thrive and butterflies line the trail. We will then hike a long but beautiful climb to Maizal. This section of the Choquequrao trek is rich in Andean farming traditions and your guide will explain how locals use the lunar cycles to plant their maize and other crops. Maizal is one of the most magical camp spots, with mist drifting through the mountains and the complete silence that accompanies you.
Hiking Distance: 15 km
Hiking Time: 7–8 hours
Altitude Range: 3,050 m – 1,900 m – 3,000 m
Today’s hike takes us along ancient mining paths once used by ancient Andean communities long before the Spanish arrived. At the old Victoria mines your guide shares stories of pre-Columbian metallurgy and how the people mined.He will tell you about the deep spiritual meaning of taking minerals from the earth, in a way that always respects the Pachamama. This is a real reminder about how sophisticated Andean engineering was, back then. We continue our hike to Yanama, which is a remote community surrounded by pristine glaciers. You will see families tending their fields and herds, giving you a glimpse of daily Andean life far away from the tourist circuits and crowds.
Hiking Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 6–7 hours
Altitude Range: 3,000 m – 4,100 m – 3,500 m
Day 6 of the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu route, will take us on a challenging Trail to cross the Yanama Pass. This is one of the highest points of the trek, where the surrounding glaciers feel close enough to touch. Reaching the pass is an emotional experience for many hikers. There are very few who trek this region now, and you are likely to be the only people there in this remote Andean region. Andean philosophy teaches us that mountains are protectors, and having the privilege to stand among them in utter peace, naturally inspires gratitude and awe. After a moment to rest and take everything in, we will descend into the Totora valley, moving from high elevation glacial scenery back into lush green cloud forests, characterized by this astounding region..
Hiking Distance: 14 km
Hiking Time: 7–8 hours
Altitude: 3,500 m – 4,650 m – 3,200 m
This day is a transition day in every sense of the word, ecological, cultural, and emotional. You will leave Yanama after a morning ritual of thanks -a short coca offering is common here , and begin a long, steady descent that moves from windswept high terrain into the breathing green of the cloud forest. The path drops through stone-lined channels and old mule tracks, sometimes steep, sometimes level. We will hike into quiet terraces where families tend potatoes and quinoa. Halfway down you’ll notice the plantlife change. Ichu grass gives way to ferns and orchids; the air becomes warmer and heavier. Local farmers often work these slopes, and women pause their weaving to greet you, or children who run out to show you alpacas. These brief encounters offer real connection to the local way of life. Small conversations about planting, about weather, about hopes for the harvest are an authentic living lesson. This is one of the things that makes the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek feel so cultural and human.
Hiking distance: 12–15 km
Hiking time: 5–7 hours (comfortable, steady pace)
Altitude: Yanama at 3,500 m – 2,100 m in La Playa
Today, we continue to Lucmabamba, a small coffee-growing community where families still roast coffee by hand, using the traditional methods. It is here that Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek becomes deeply cultural and you can learn about the locals and their products. Try your hand in a small tasting session, and see how agriculture shapes community identity in this remote high jungle region.
We will then hike part of an original Inca trail toward Llactapata, a stunning viewpoint where Machu Picchu can be seen for the first time. It is still distant, half hidden by clouds, but you will really feel the worth of this expedition. The Incas built Llactapata to observe Machu Picchu and the surrounding mountains, from a safe distance. After a gentle descent to Hidroeléctrica, we will walk the final stretch to Aguas Calientes, where after days of trekking, a hot shower, a bed and the anticipation await you.
Hiking Distance: 16 km
Hiking Time: 6–7 hours
Altitude: 3,200 m – 2,000 m
Today, is what many trekkers are waiting for, the Machu Picchu visit on the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek. We will enter Machu Picchu at th time of your choice. Sunrise over the mountains is around 8am and this is the perfect time to enter Machu Picchu, tickets allowing! Your guide will help you understand Machu Picchu not just as an ancient city but as a living spiritual place, built into the natural contours of the mountains. After exploring Machu Picchu, we will take the train back to Cusco. The perfect finale to an expedition that few trek, yet tired, joyful, and completely transformed.
Hiking Distance: Light walking inside the site
Time Inside Machu Picchu: 2–3 hours formal tour



Real experiences from fellow travelers who hiked, explored, and shared moments with us. Honest voices to inspire and prepare your own journey.
Have questions about your tour? You’re not alone. Here we cover the most common topics — from packing tips and safety to transportation and accommodations. Whether you’re heading to Machu Picchu, the Amazon, or beyond, this section will help you feel prepared and confident.
Daily hiking times vary between 6–10 hours, on average. This depends on the trekking conditions that day, the altitude we are at, and the pace of the group.
The Choquequrao trek to Machu Picchu connects two of the biggest Inca cities in the Andes through a canyon. It passes through authentic communities, where living Andean traditions remain untouched , and a variety of scenery and elevations that are rarely seen by other travelers and trekkers.
English speaking guide, meals, land transport, camping equipment, entrance tickets, mules, hotel night in Aguas Calientes, and train tickets.
Yes! All meals on the trekking route and all transport (bus, train, private vehicle) are included for the 9 days.
Camping in remote Andean settings plus one hotel night in Aguas Calientes before you visit Machu Picchu.
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