CHOQUEQUIRAO – MACHUPICCHU 6 Days

The Rap Travel team will pick you up early, between 4 and 4:30 in the morning. The trip from Cusco to Capuliyoc takes between 4 and 5 hours. If you are awake during the ride, lean out the window to take in the spectacular views of the mountains. Once you arrive at the trailhead, you will meet the team that will help you along the way and then enjoy your first breakfast. Today’s hike will offer magnificent views of the valley and the Apurimac River. The hike begins with a 2 hour trek, mostly downhill, to the lunch spot at Coca Mansana. After lunch and a short siesta, you will be back on the trail for another 2 hour downhill hike to our first campsite, Chikiscca. Chikiscca is a small farming village, with good weather. You will have your first happy hour with tea and popcorn, dinner and then an early night.

• Time: 6 Hours Approx. hiking time.
• Distance:
• Climate: Temperate, Cold
• Maximum Altitude: between 2, 920 – 3, 800 masl.
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Overnight: Huacawasi
• Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Wake up this morning at 5 a.m., where a member of the Green Machine team will meet you at your tent and offer you a glass of hot tea. Once you are packed, dressed and ready, you will enjoy breakfast and depart for the morning hike. It will be approximately 1.5 hours downhill to La Playa, located next to the river. This will be the warmest weather you will have on the Trail (lower altitude), so be sure to dress for it. You will cross the Apurimac River and begin your 2 hour ascent to Santa Rose for lunch. This part of the hike is a bit challenging, but as you continue uphill, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the canyon. Lunch will be at a homestay, where you will sample a sugar cane-based drink prepared by the locals. After a short siesta, you will continue uphill for 2-3 hours. This last section is considered the most challenging, but with the help of your Alpaca Expeditions guide, you will enjoy it. You will finally reach Marampata, with its unique views of the Andes, the valleys and, with luck, some condors flying overhead. After dinner, be sure to look up at the sky: this is the best place for stargazing.

• Time: Approx. 8 Hrs. Hike
• Distance: 14 Km.
• Climate: Cold
• Maximum Altitude: 3, 800 masl.
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Overnight: Qelcanca
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

While today is another early breakfast, you have the luxury of not packing up at all because you will spend a second night at the same campsite. Today you will be able to explore the incredible ruins of Choquequirao. Before taking off, you will be given a packed lunch to enjoy at the citadel, which will be a 1.5 hour flat walk to the ruins where your guide will introduce you once you enter. This archaeological site is considered the last Inca city, sister of Machu Picchu. You will walk with your guide explaining some of the highlights of the area and then have plenty of free time to explore on your own. This is really special, as it is still relatively unknown and away from the crowds that visit Machu Picchu.

You will have some time to enjoy your packed lunch before heading to the lower part of Choquequirao, which is the most recently discovered section of agricultural terraces. You will be impressed by how they build these terraces for agriculture. Once you have explored as much of Choquequirao as you can, you will begin your 1.5 hour hike back to camp. You will have time for a happy hour and dinner before returning to your tents for a good night’s sleep.

• Time: Approx. 7 Hrs. Hike
• Distance: 14 Km.
• Climate: Cold – Temperate
• Maximum Altitude: 3, 800 masl. – 2040 masl
• Difficulty: Moderate – Low
• Overnight stay: Aguas Calientes Hotel
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hope you had a good night’s rest, because today will be your longest day of trekking. You will wake up at 6 AM with a good breakfast. When you start your hike, you will start with 2 hours downhill from Marampata to Santa Rosa and then another hour to La Playa. As it is all downhill, walking poles are especially useful in this area. You will finish the morning with a 1 hour hike up to Chikiscca for lunch. After your siesta, it is only 1 more hour to Coca Mazana camp, where you will finally have time for a well-deserved rest, happy hour and dinner. It will be a little warmer today, so make sure you have plenty of water to keep you hydrated.

After another early breakfast, you will start walking for 2 hours to reach the trailhead at Capuliyoc. This will be the last time you will see the beautiful views that the Apurimac River has to offer, so be sure to enjoy them. When you arrive at the trailhead, you will have your last lunch with all your gear, while the riders will say goodbye. After lunch, you will drive for 4 hours to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, where you will have your last dinner prepared by your trekking chef. Say goodbye to the rest of the team and coach to your hotel in Aguas Calientes, where you will finally have the opportunity for a hot shower and a night’s sleep in a bed.

After this, you will take a 2 to 3 hour tour of Machu Picchu with your guide, then, if you have booked the Huaynapicchu mountain hike, you will do it on your own. If not, you will have some free time to take more pictures and enjoy the magic of visiting one of the 7 wonders with us. Then, you will walk to the exit and take the bus to Aguas Calientes, where you will enjoy lunch on your own here. Then, be ready to take the train at 2:55 p.m. to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. Here you will be met by our AE drivers and take the 2-hour ride to Cusco, where you will be dropped off at your hotel. If you have any storage left with us, we will return it to you before you arrive at your hotel.