PRESENTATION
Summary Short Description: Peru’s most complete trek in 6 days. Begins in Vilcabamba, the last refuge of the Incas. Crosses the Choquetacarpo pass at 4,600 meters with views of glaciers. Reaches Choquequirao via the least-traveled route. Ends at Machu Picchu. Three sacred sites connected by original Inca trails.
Duration | 6 days / 5 nights |
Distance | 45 km of trekking |
Minimum altitude | 1,500 m (Santa Teresa) |
Maximum altitude | 4,600 m (Choquetacarpo Pass) |
Difficulty | High |
Starting point | Cusco |
Ending point | Cusco (train from Machu Picchu) |
Group size | 2 to 8 people |
Departures | Tuesdays and Fridays (minimum 2 people) |
This expedition connects the three most important sites of Inca resistance and splendor: Vilcabamba, where the empire survived 36 years after the conquest; Choquequirao, the sister citadel of Machu Picchu; and Machu Picchu itself, the wonder of the world.
Unlike the traditional routes that reach Choquequirao from Cachora, this traverse enters from the north, crossing the Choquetacarpo pass at 4,600 meters. This is the route the Incas used to connect their cities in the Vilcabamba mountain range.
On the first day you travel from Cusco, crossing the Abra Málaga pass into the La Convención valley. On the second day you visit Vitcos-Rosaspata, the palace where Manco Inca established his resistance government. On days three and four you cross mountain passes with views of glaciers and snow-capped peaks. On the fifth day you arrive at Choquequirao from above — a perspective almost no one knows — and continue to Santa Teresa. On the sixth day you take the train to Machu Picchu, visit the citadel, and return to Cusco by train.
Six intense days combining history, adventure, and the most dramatic landscapes in the Peruvian Andes.
Transport: 6 hours by private vehicle
Altitude: 3,400 m → 1,050 m → 1,200 m
Pick-up at the airport or your hotel in Cusco at 7:00 in the morning. The private vehicle takes the route toward the Sacred Valley, passing through Ollantaytambo and ascending to the Abra Málaga pass (4,200 m), the highest point of the day.
From the pass, the descent begins into the La Convención Valley, one of the most dramatic landscape changes in Peru. In just a few hours you go from the Andean highland puna to cloud forest and then to the subtropical climate of Quillabamba.
Arrival in Quillabamba in the early afternoon. Brief stop to stretch your legs and pick up any last-minute supplies. A further 45-minute drive to Ecoterra Inka Lodge, set amid coffee and cacao plantations.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge. Time to rest and prepare for the trekking days ahead.
Accommodation: Ecoterra Inka Lodge | Meals: Dinner
Transport: 3 hours by 4×4
Hike: 2 hours
Altitude: up to 3,940 m
Very early departure at 5:00 in the morning. 4×4 trucks pick us up for the drive into the Vilcabamba valley, the region where Manco Inca established the Neo-Inca state after the fall of Cusco.
The road climbs along a dirt track through Quechua communities that maintain ancestral traditions. Arrival at the trailhead mid-morning.
A 40-minute hike to the archaeological remains of Vitcos, also known as Rosaspata. This was the administrative center where Manco Inca governed the resistance between 1537 and 1544. The ruins include the royal palace, ceremonial plazas, and an ushnu with views over the valley.
Time to explore the site with the guide’s explanation of the history of the Inca resistance. Walk back to the vehicle meeting point.
Continuation by truck to Camp Casa Copesco (3,940 m), where we will spend the night. This point is the base for crossing the pass the following day.
Camp setup, hot dinner, and overnight in tents.
Accommodation: Camping at Casa Copesco | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 18 km
Elevation change: +660 m / -1,050 m
Time: 8–9 hours
The longest and most spectacular day of the trek. Breakfast at 5:30 and departure at 6:00 in the morning. The trail follows a section of original Inca Trail, perfectly preserved, ascending from 3,940 meters to the Choquetacarpo pass at 4,600 meters. Approximately 3 hours of steady climbing. At the pass, the landscape opens up with views of glaciers, snow-capped peaks, and deep valleys in every direction. Stop for rest, photos, and the guide’s explanation of the Vilcabamba mountain range’s geography. The descent begins into the Quelcamachay valley. The trail drops for 5 hours through different ecological zones: from high-altitude puna to mountain forest. Arrival at Llutupampa (2,900 m) for a late lunch. After lunch, continue downhill to the river. Cross the bridge and begin the final 2-hour climb to Yanama (3,550 m). Approximate arrival at 4:30 in the afternoon. Camp setup at a local family homestead. Dinner and overnight in tents. Accommodation: Camping in Yanama | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 14 km
Elevation change: +570 m / -900 m
Time: 7 hours
Early breakfast and departure at 6:30 in the morning from Yanama. The trail climbs gradually toward the Abra San Juan (4,120 m). The path is well-marked and signposted with designated viewpoints offering spectacular views of the local flora and fauna. This is a transition zone between the Andean highlands and the Cusco cloud forest. Arrival at the pass after 2–3 hours of walking. Stop for rest and photos with snow-capped peaks in the background. Descent along the mountainside into the Río Blanco valley. The trail drops over rocky terrain with views of the canyon leading toward Choquequirao. Approximately 4–5 hours of downhill hiking to the campsite. Arrival at Alto Río Blanco in the mid-afternoon. Camp setup on a flat area with valley views. Dinner and overnight in tents. Accommodation: Camping at Alto Río Blanco | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance: 8 km of trekking
Time: 4 hours trekking + 3 hours by vehicle
Early breakfast and departure at 5:30 in the morning for the final ascent to Choquequirao. The trail climbs for 2 hours until reaching the archaeological complex from the north sector — an entrance almost no visitor knows. Most people arrive from Cachora in the south. You arrive from the mountain range, by the original Inca route. A 2-hour guided tour of Choquequirao. The site is the same size as Machu Picchu but only 30% has been excavated. The tour covers the main plaza, the main temple, the ceremonial terraces, and the famous llama sector with its 24 terraces decorated with white stone llama carvings. Free time to explore independently and take photographs. Unlike Machu Picchu, there are no time limits and no crowds.
After the visit, descent along the trail to Yanama where vehicles await to transfer us to Santa Teresa (1,500 m). The drive takes approximately 3 hours along mountain roads. Arrival in Santa Teresa in the late afternoon. Hotel check-in. Free time to visit the Cocalmayo hot springs (optional, entrance not included) — among the best in Peru, with natural hot-water pools beside the river.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel in Santa Teresa | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transport: Train + bus
Time at Machu Picchu: 2–3 hours
Departure from the hotel at 6:00 in the morning. 30-minute transfer to the Hidroeléctrica train station. 7:24 train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo). Arrival at 8:40 in the morning. Immediate bus transfer to the entrance of Machu Picchu. Guided tour begins at 9:00 in the morning. 2-hour tour of the main sectors of the citadel: the main plaza, the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Three Windows, the water mirrors, and the agricultural terraces. The guide explains the history, architecture, and significance of each sector.
Free time until 12:00 to explore independently, take photographs, and soak in the atmosphere of the place. Bus descent to Aguas Calientes. Time for a light lunch at your own expense (not included).
Return train at 14:55 to Ollantaytambo. Approximate arrival at 16:30. Private vehicle transfer to Cusco. Approximate arrival in the city at 18:00.
End of services.
Meals: Breakfast
From $1,450 USD per person Price based on a group of 4 or more people.
Group size | Price per person |
2 people | $1,750 USD |
3 people | $1,550 USD |
4+ people | $1,450 USD |
Private group | Contact us |
High This trek requires good physical fitness. It includes two mountain passes above 4,000 meters (Choquetacarpo at 4,600 m and San Juan at 4,120 m) and daily walking stages of up to 9 hours.
Recommended for people with prior multi-day trekking experience or who train regularly.
Not recommended for people with cardiac or respiratory conditions, or those who have not had sufficient time to acclimatize to altitude.
Tuesdays and Fridays with a minimum of 2 people. Recommended season: April to November Not operated: December to March (rainy season — risk of landslides)
ADDRESS: Cusco – PE
PHONE: +51 999 999 999
EMAIL: info@choquequirao-treks.com
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