Andean Route team will pick you up from your hotel at 4 a.m. for the four hour drive to the trail head, where you’ll have breakfast with your trekking staff. Here you’ll meet with your horsemen and horses as well as have the opportunity to give them your duffel bags. After breakfast you’ll jump right into the activity of the Choquequirao Peru Tour(also written as Choquekiraw in Quechuan). The first four hours are downhill until you reach your lunch stop at Chikiska-Chikiska. This is a small village with lush fruit plantations. Along the way, you’ll have great views of the Apurimac River, the valley, and the snow-capped peaks. After lunch, the weather gets much warmer since you have already descended quite a bit. It will be another two hours until we arrive at the bottom of the valley and see the famous Apurimac River. Soon after that you’ll pass a bridge and have a two-hour uphill hike to the choquequirao tour campsite at La Playa.

After an early breakfast, cooked by your local Alpaca Expeditions’ chef, you’ll get ready for the day. You’ll begin the day by crossing the breach and then it’ll be four hours uphill with zigzags. Along the way you’ll pass by some sugarcane farms and see more great views of the valley from the opposite hill. There’s a good possibility of seeing some condors above as well as beautiful flora and fauna. This climb is one of the most challenging parts of the Choquequirao tour so we’ll have an emergency horse in case you get tired and need a ride. Once you arrive at Marampata you’ll be done with the uphill portion and you’ll have time to enjoy your lunch at 3,350 m high. After lunch, you can take a nap or just relax until we continue on the last two-hour section to the Choquequirao ruins.

This will be the most impressive section of your entire trek because you’ll have absolutely amazing views from the summit to the canyon of Apurimac. You’ll also be able to see Choquequirao where you’ll have a view of the whole Inca site with all of its plants and wildlife including stunning orchids and black bears. Upon your arrival at the campsite Alpaca Expeditions’ porters will set up your tents and prepare the campsite. This campsite is fascinating because it’s right at the foot of the Inca site. If you still have some energy left, you’ll be able to take a 30-minute walk to enjoy the sunset from the Choquequirao Inca site.

After an early breakfast, you’ll prepare for the most spectacular day of this adventure, which is entirely focused on exploring Choquequirao. It’ll take about 30 minutes to get there but once you arrive, you’ll then begin your history lesson and tour of this impressive Inca site. Choquequirao Peru is considered to be bigger than Machu Picchu, although it’s almost all hidden by the forest. This Inca site is extremely spread out because the Incas had to study which areas of the mountain to build various buildings including terraces and houses. The most impressive sections of this site are the temples, astronomical observatories, and water channels.

After touring around for about four hours, you’ll head back to camp for lunch and a rest. You’ll have more time afterward to continue exploring the site with our expert tour guides. You’ll get to explore areas of the site like the llama area, which is a steep downhill 30-minute walk where you’ll see narrow farming terraces. All of the llama depictions on the terrace walls are from white stones. These depictions are assumed to be built by the Incas to represent the llama constellation in the Milky Way. You’ll also get to visit the Usno area where you’ll enjoy the sunset over the mountains. Soon after you’ll walk back to your campsite for the second night at Choquequirao.

After an early breakfast we’ll prepare for our journey back to Cusco. It’ll be two hours back to Marmpata and you’ll see views of the canyon of Apurimac along the way. Your Alpaca Expeditions guide will point out the beautiful flora and fauna you might have missed on your way into the Inca site. You’ll see impressive waterfalls in the distance as well as the clouds lifting from the bottom of the canyon. Also, if the weather is pleasant, you’ll get to enjoy the spectacular landscapes of the Andes.

From Marampata you’ll begin the 4 hour steep downhill hike to La Playa, this section requires trekking poles. Halfway down you’ll have a break to enjoy some fresh fruit that was farmed in the area, where cactus fruit is the main attraction. Finally, you’ll reach La Playa for lunch. Soon after it’ll be another two hours uphill to Chikiska Camp, which is in the backyard of a family’s home. You may also see some spectacled bears, condors, hummingbirds and more.

After an early breakfast you’ll get ready to return to Cusco. It’ll be a four-hour uphill hike until you arrive at the end of the trek where you’ll enjoy your last lunch with your tour guide, porters and horsemen. You’ll say goodbye to your Alpaca Expeditions team and then continue with your tour guide towards Ollantaytambo to take the 3:36 pm train to Aguas Calientes.

Once in Aguas Calientes town you’ll be taken to your hotel and then to a restaurant to enjoy a nice dinner.

Today will be the most important day of your Choquequirao expedition. To get the most out of the day Alpaca Expeditions encourages every group to have an early breakfast before catching one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu (starting at 5:30 a.m.). The hotel will hold your bags for you while in Machu Picchu. This way you’ll only be required to take your backpack with all essentials up to Machu Picchu. The bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu will take approximately 30 minutes.

Once in Machu Picchu your local guide will take you directly to a well sought out location where you’ll get the best sunrise views and be able to take pictures. Your guide will then show you around the main parts of the citadel, for a complete guided walking tour that will last 2.5 hours. During this guided tour, you will learn more about the history and culture of the Inca Empire.

At the end of the tour, you’ll have some time to wonder yourself or, if you arranged to hike Huayna Picchu* (must be booked in advance, as it sells out and costs $75 per person), your guide will show you where to begin this hike, which will take no more than 2 hours round-trip.

For your return from Machu Picchu Alpaca Expeditions always recommends heading back to Aguas Calientes no later than 2 hours before your train departure. The train return trip from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo will take approximately 2 hours. In Ollantaytambo, our Alpaca Staff will be waiting for you right by the station’s exit door ready to bring you back to Cusco by car. The car ride will be approximately 2 hours and will have you dropped off at your hotel in Cusco.