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Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Express

6 Days
From CAD $996 Was CAD $1,329

Best Rate
Guarantee

Trip Type
Small Group

Activity Level
Challenging

Rating

(17 reviews)

Experience Overview

This shorter trek is perfect if you’re looking for an adventure that’s as challenging as it is rewarding. Explore the ruins of Choquequirao, the lost city that’s even more remote than nearby Machu Picchu, but you'll see that too. Because of its difficult-to-reach location, the site sees relatively few visitors. This means you'll get to experience Incan history in near-solitude, surrounded by nothing but ancient architecture and spanning forests. Spectacular views of the Andes are all along the trek to Choquequirao, a journey filled with lush wilderness, breathtaking vistas, and a visit to Machu Picchu.

Highlights

Explore Choquequirao away from the crowds
Witness the mountain beauty of the Andes
Marvel at Machu Picchu.

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Trip Details

Product Code: 2862

Tour Type: Small Group

Accommodation: Budget

Transport: Private van, train, and hiking.

Guide Language: English

Travel Styles: Active

Supplier Code: SPCQ

Starts: Cusco, Peru

Finishes: Cusco, Peru

Duration: 6 days

Departures: Guaranteed

Physical rating: Challenging

Includes

Activities

Your G for Good Moment: Handmade Biodegradable Soap Products
Trek to Choquequirao with local guide, cooks, and porters (4 days)
2 guided tours of Choquequirao archaeological site
Guided tour of Machu Picchu
All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodation

Hotels (2 nts), camping (3 nts).

5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners

Transport

Private van, train, and hiking.

Group Leader

G Adventures Representative in Cusco, specialist Choquequirao CEO (Chief Experience Officer) on hike.

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $996 (CAD $166 /day)

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco

Arrive at any time.
Arrive early and spend some time exploring the city before meet the group at the welcome meeting.

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - The adventure begins today. Feel free to explore, but make sure you're back in time to meet the group. Your G Representative will pick you up from your hotel at 15:30h and take you to the local G Adventures office to review the details of your tour.Accommodation - Cusco Plaza Nazarenas

Day 2: Cusco/Choquequirao Trek

Transfer from Cusco at 4am to San Pedro de Cachora where the group will eat breakfast. Travel 30 more minutes by car to the beginning of the trek in Capuliyoc. Walk as a group surrounded by breathtaking views of sweeping mountain scenery at every turn. Finish today's part of the trek at the Santa Rosa Campsite.
The lost city of Choquequirao was discovered hundreds of years ago, but it still feels as though you may be the first to discover it. Encroaching jungle still covers some of the stonework as only roughly 40 percent of these ruins have been excavated. The trek to this remote Incan city although challenging, is well worth the effort. Winding trails take you through the Apurimac River canyon with circling condors up above and views of the snow-capped Salkantay mountains making a breathtaking backdrop.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Enjoy G Adventures-supported handmade biodegradable soap products, for use on our treks. This G Adventures for Good project empowered local Cusqueña women to start their own business in order to reduce the environmental impact of treks in the region. Planeterra provided $10,000 of seed funding for two young entrepreneurs to register their biodegradable products in order to sell them to the tourism industry. "Esencia Andina" is now a successful business that produces biodegradable soaps, detergents, and natural products for travellers, guides, porters, and cooks on our treks.Activity - Embark on the first part of the hike, a scenic route with an incredible view of the Apurimac River. Camp for the night at Santa Rosa (1,900m - 2,850m/ 5,700 - 9.400 ft). The trek today is 18 km long and will take around 7 hours.

Day 3: Choquequirao Trek

Eat breakfast as a group at the Santa Rosa Camp and then walk 2 hours to Marampata where the group will later camp for the night. From there continue trekking through the Apurimac River canyon on the way to Choquequirao. Spot condors as you make your way up into the cloud forest. In the afternoon, take a guided tour of the ruins and marvel at your historical surroundings. Return to Marampata Camp in the early evening.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Depart Santa Rosa and follow the switch back trail up to Marampata. After 2 hours the group will stop for lunch before continuing upwards to the stunning ruins of Choquequirao (3,000m/9,842 ft). When the sun swings around onto the mountain face, it can get warm during the climb. Today has a very early start to hike while it's cool. Make sure to dress in layers and prepare for a strenuous trekking day. Minimum altitude: 1,550 m / 5,117 ft Maximum altitude: 3,150m / 10,397ft Distance: 14kms / 9 miles Difficulty: moderate / difficult. This day is 8 hours of walking.Activity - Enjoy a fully guided tour of the main square of Choquequirao and the surrounding terraces. The ‘other Machu Picchu,’ Choquequirao is built at the top of an almost untouched mountain in the province of La Convención. Ancient stone walls adorned with white stone llamas protect its two-leveled palaces and temples, systems of fountains, canals and aqueducts that fed the fantastic terraces farmed by the Inca during the Pachacutec government (XV century). Visit the colcas, used for agricultural storage and learn about the cultivation practices during the Incan Empire.

Day 4: Choquequirao Trek

Enjoy an early breakfast in Marampata. Then, the group will begin the return walk to Chiquisca. Once here, have some lunch together and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Leave Marampata behind and head down to Chiquisca (1,800m/5,900 ft), the camp for the night. Minimum Altitude: 1,550m / 5,117ft Maximum Altitude: 1,990m / 6,270ft Distance: 9 kms / 5.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate / Hard. This day is 7 hours of walking.

Day 5: Choquequirao Trek/Aguas Calientes

The group will have an early departure from Chiquisca. Walk back to San Pedro de Cachora and enjoy lunch together before taking the bus to Ollantaytambo and then catch the train to Aguas Calientes.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Walk back to San Pedro de Cachora today and have lunch before transferring to Aguas Calientes. Distance: 7kms / 4 miles Difficulty: Moderate / Hard. This day is 3 hours of walking.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Transport - Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.Accommodation - Selva Terra Inn Hotel

Day 6: Machu Picchu/Cusco

Wake up early to visit the breathtaking Machu Picchu. Enjoy a guided tour of the site before taking the train back to Cusco in the afternoon where the trip will end upon arrival.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Set off with the local guide to explore Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. Learn about the history and gain insights into this massive mountaintop citadel while wandering through ancient dwellings, stone temples and along sculpted terraces. Feel the energy of this 15th-century site, now both a UNESCO World Heritage site and voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide internet poll.Transport - Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

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Tour Operator

G Adventures

G Adventures, founded in 1990 by Bruce Poon Tip, is a global adventure travel company specializing in small-group tours that emphasize authentic, sustainable, and culturally immersive experiences. Originally launched as GAP Adventures (“Great Adventure People”), the company pioneered the concept of community-driven travel by offering affordable trips that connect travelers with local communities while minimizing environmental impact. Today, G Adventures operates in more than 100 countries, offering a wide range of itineraries across themes such as active adventures, wildlife, wellness, family, and National Geographic–partnered tours, while maintaining a strong commitment to responsible tourism and social enterprise through its Planeterra Foundation.

In Business Since 1990

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Reviews

Brianna Z. - Traveled, June 2024

Had a great and challenging time on the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu express trek. Walter and Joseph did a great job catering to the different fitness levels on the trek and were always upbeat and optimistic. The views were incredible and it was so rewar...

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/30/2024

Mary C. - Traveled, June 2024

This trip topped all adventures I have been on so far in my life! A true "bucket list" check off. The adventure begin just stepping off the plane and I to a beautiful city full of excitement and energy. Never a dull moment, non stop adventure at every...

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/24/2024

Hailey F. - Traveled, May 2024

I had a great time on this trip but added one extra day would provide so much to this experience and would have made it so much better.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/03/2024

Roderick G. - Traveled, May 2024

I would do a repeat of Choquequirao, camps and stay longer .

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/27/2024

Andelle P. - Traveled, May 2024

I thought I knew what I was signing up for when I booked the Choquequirao trip, but what I got was better than I ever could have imagined. We had an ideal group of five that would never have crossed paths in our regular lives, but that all got along perf...

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/27/2024

Lisa M. - Traveled, May 2024

Once in a lifetime experience! 11 out of 10!

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/27/2027

Adam D. - Traveled, April 2024

And adventure that few can say they have done! A true test of your determination and mental and physical attitudes! The crew with there amazing knowledge and skill of the terrain will help you and make you laugh as well and ponder.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/03/2024

Paige M. - Traveled, October 2024

Above & beyond! As always!

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/08/2024

Jacob S. - Traveled, September 2023

It was the hardest physical challenge I’ve ever attempted, and it was so worth the effort. Getting to Choquequirao was a life changing moment for me, partly because so few people will ever get there. The effort required made the reward so much sweeter. I...

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/04/2023

Jan H. - Traveled, July 2024

It was a lovely experience in a beautiful setting with professionals of the highest level to assist us. Many thanks to our guide Joseph, the cook Roman and the waiter Hanibal.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/16/2024

Kathryn B. - Traveled, August 2024

The trek to Choquequirao, while difficult, was very rewarding. Being able to wander around the site with so few other visitors was incredible! The food on the hike was fantastic, and the visit to Machu Picchu was the perfect end to the tour.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/31/2024

Miya D. - Traveled, July 2024

I really loved it. One thing you did not ask about (or at least not yet? are there more questions on this survey? :)) was the rest of the team. Our chef and waiter were great, the horsemen were great; I felt so supported (as the only woman and weakest ...

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/01/2024

Chun H. - Traveled, May 2024

Booking is a headache, outdated itinerary is a surprised, actual trip was fantastic yet beyond expectation when it comes to physically requirement.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/25/2024

Joel H. - Traveled, May 2024

This trip was a challenging and humbling trek. The staff of G adventures are very nice and hard working, tip them as much as possible at the end, they deserve a high payment! The food was good every meal. The “happy hour” was a good time to chat with the...

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/25/2024

Shauna G. - Traveled, May 2024

Trip of a lifetime !!! Excellent from start to end.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/25/2024

Anthony K. - Traveled, April 2024

It was an awesome experience

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/24/2024

Denise P. - Traveled, April 2024

Great tour!

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/24/2024

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