PRESENTATION
Summary Short Description: The complete version of our flagship traverse. Seven days connecting the three sacred sites of the Inca empire: Vilcabamba, Choquequirao and Machu Picchu. Includes one night at a jungle lodge, three nights of mountain camping, one night in Santa Teresa with access to hot springs, and one night in Aguas Calientes before visiting Machu Picchu at a relaxed pace.
Duration | 7 days / 6 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 | Mondays and Thursdays (minimum 2 people) |
This is the most complete version of our expedition to the lost citadels. Seven days that take you from the high jungle of Quillabamba to the snow-capped peaks of the Vilcabamba mountain range, passing through three of the most important archaeological sites in Peru.
The journey begins with a night at Ecoterra Lodge, surrounded by coffee and cacao plantations in the La Convención valley. On the second day you visit Vilcabamba, where Manco Inca resisted the Spanish for 36 years. On days three and four you cross mountain passes above 4,000 meters along original Inca trails. On the fifth day you arrive at Choquequirao and continue to Santa Teresa, where you can recover at the Cocalmayo hot springs.
On the sixth day you travel to Aguas Calientes to rest and prepare. On the seventh day you visit Machu Picchu in the morning and return to Cusco by train in the afternoon.
This itinerary gives you time to absorb each place without rushing.
Transport: 6 hours by private vehicle
Altitude: 3,400 m → 1,200 m
Pick-up at the airport or your hotel in Cusco in the morning. The private vehicle takes the route toward the Sacred Valley, passing through Ollantaytambo and ascending to the Abra Málaga at 4,200 meters. From the pass, the descent into the La Convención Valley begins. The landscape change is dramatic: in just a few hours you go from the Andean highland puna to cloud forest and then to the subtropical climate of Quillabamba, the coffee capital of Cusco. Arrival in Quillabamba in the early afternoon. Brief stop to stretch your legs. A further 45-minute drive to Ecoterra Inka Lodge, set amid coffee and cacao plantations on the riverbank. Rest of the afternoon free to explore the lodge’s trails, birdwatch, or simply rest before the trekking days ahead.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation: Ecoterra Inka Lodge | Meals: Dinner
Transport: 3 hours by 4×4
Hike: 2 hours
Altitude: up to 3,940 m
Early departure at 5:00 in the morning. 4×4 trucks pick us up for the drive into the Vilcabamba valley, the region where the Inca empire survived its final years. The road climbs along a dirt track through traditional Quechua communities. Arrival at the trailhead mid-morning.
A 40-minute hike to Vitcos, also known as Rosaspata. This was the palace where Manco Inca established his government after leaving Cusco. The ruins include residential structures, ceremonial plazas, and an ushnu with panoramic views over the valley. Guided tour of the site with explanation of the history of the Inca resistance. Time to explore and photograph. Walk back to the vehicle meeting point. Continuation by truck to Camp Casa Copesco at 3,940 meters, the starting point for crossing the pass the following day.
Camp setup. 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.
The trail follows a section of original Inca Trail, perfectly preserved. It ascends from 3,940 meters to the Choquetacarpo pass at 4,600 meters in approximately 3 hours of steady climbing. At the pass an extraordinary panorama of glacial mountains and snow-capped peaks opens up. Stop for rest, photos, and the guide’s explanation of the Vilcabamba mountain range’s geography. Descent into the Quelcamachay valley. The trail drops for 5 hours through different ecological zones. Arrival at Llutupampa at 2,900 meters for lunch. After lunch, continue downhill to the river. Cross the bridge and begin the 2-hour climb to Yanama at 3,550 meters. Approximate arrival at 4:30 in the afternoon.
Camp setup at a local muleteer 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 from Yanama. The trail climbs gradually toward the Abra San Juan at 4,120 meters. The path is well-laid and signposted with three designated viewpoints offering views of the local flora and fauna. This is a transition zone between the Andean highlands and the cloud forest. Arrival at the pass after 2–3 hours. Stop for rest and photos with snow-capped peaks in view. Descent along the mountainside into the Río Blanco valley. The trail drops over rocky terrain for 4–5 hours to the campsite.
Arrival at Alto Río Blanco in the mid-afternoon. Camp setup. 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 for the final ascent to Choquequirao. The trail climbs for 2 hours to the archaeological complex, entering through the north sector. This is the original Inca route, not the tourist route from Cachora. You arrive from the mountain range, as the ancient inhabitants did. A 2-hour guided tour of Choquequirao. Tour of the main Haucaypata plaza, the main temple, the ceremonial terraces, and the llama sector with its 24 terraces decorated with figures carved in white stone. This art does not exist at any other Inca site.
Free time to explore and photograph. There are no time limits and no crowds. After the visit, descent toward Yanama where vehicles await. 3-hour transfer along mountain roads to Santa Teresa. Arrival in the late afternoon. Hotel check-in. Free time to visit the Cocalmayo hot springs, among the best in Peru, with natural hot-water pools beside the Urubamba River.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel in Santa Teresa | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transport: 30 min by vehicle + 1.5 hours by train
Altitude: 1,500 m → 2,050 m
Free morning to rest or return to the hot springs. After so many days of walking, this transition day allows you to recover your energy before Machu Picchu. Departure from the hotel at midday. 30-minute transfer to the Hidroeléctrica train station.
Afternoon train to Aguas Calientes. The hour-and-a-half journey follows the course of the Urubamba River between mountains covered in vegetation. Arrival in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) in the late afternoon.
Hotel check-in. Rest of the afternoon free to explore the town, visit the artisan market, or simply rest.
Dinner and overnight in Aguas Calientes.
Accommodation: Hotel in Aguas Calientes | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Time at Machu Picchu: 3–4 hours
Transport: Bus + train
Early breakfast at the hotel. Departure at 5:30 to catch one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu. The bus ascent takes 25 minutes along a winding road. Entry to Machu Picchu at 6:00 in the morning — the best time to see the citadel with few people and the possibility of mist rising between the mountains. 2-hour guided tour of the main sectors: the central plaza, the Intihuatana (solar clock), the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Three Windows, the agricultural sector, and the ceremonial fountains.
Additional free time until 10:00 to explore independently, take photographs from different angles, and soak in the atmosphere of the place. Bus descent to Aguas Calientes. Time for lunch at your own expense (not included).
14:55 train to Ollantaytambo. Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes following the Sacred Valley. Arrival in Ollantaytambo at 16:30.
Private vehicle transfer to Cusco. Approximate arrival at 18:00.
End of services.
Meals: Breakfast
From $1,650 USD per person Price based on a group of 4 or more people.
Group size | Price per person |
2 people | $1,950 USD |
3 people | $1,750 USD |
4+ people | $1,650 USD |
Private group | Contact us |
Aspect | 6 Days | 7 Days |
Night in Aguas Calientes | No | Yes |
Machu Picchu entry time | 9:00 am | 6:00 am |
Time at Machu Picchu | 2–3 hours | 3–4 hours |
Rest day | No | Yes (Day 6) |
Overall pace | Intense | More relaxed |
High The trek includes two mountain passes above 4,000 meters and daily stages of up to 9 hours of walking. It requires good physical fitness and prior experience in multi-day trekking.
Day 6 serves as a recovery day before Machu Picchu.
Mondays and Thursdays with a minimum of 2 people. Recommended season: April to November Not operated: December to March (rainy season)
ADDRESS: Cusco – PE
PHONE: +51 999 999 999
EMAIL: info@choquequirao-treks.com
Choquequirao Expeditions – Part of My Peru Destinations Group © 2026 All rights reserved
