Day 1: Cusco – Cachora – Santa Rosa

We leave the city of Cusco at 05:30 am in our private bus, 4 hours away is the town of San Pedro de Cachora, on the way we will stop to visit the famus site Saywite  regarded as a center of religious worship for Inca people, focusing on water. surrounded by the impressive mountain Apu Padreyoc, protector of the people half an hour more we will be arriving at the beginning of the hike Capuliyoq. It will be a moment to do the registration of Entrance to the Regional Conservation Area of Choquequirao, then we will begin our expedition, descending to the Apurimac canyon with a privileged view of the mountains on the opposite side. After 3 hours of descending, we will arrive to Chiquiska, place of our lunch, after lunch we will continue the descent to the Apurimac River for 1 more hour, the lowest point of our journey.

At the level of the river, we will be, a few minutes to rest, then begin our ascent for 2 hours to our camp located in the hamlet of Santa Rosa.

• Hiking time: 8 hours average
• Distance: 15 km
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Maximum altitude: 3000
• Minimum altitude: 1500 m
• Temperature: 15° C
• Camp altitude: 2100 m

Day 2: Santa Rosa – Choquequirao.

Early in the morning after breakfast, we will begin the ascent for 3 hours average until Maranpata villages, a short rest  to continue to the archaeological park of Choquequirao we will take a relaxing time until lunch time, after having enjoyed the food we will begin our tour throughout the ancestral city, for the whole afternoon, in case we are accompanied with the blessing of mother earth we will have the option to observe the flight of the majestic Andean Condor, also the view of the sunset is magical and spectacular.

• Hiking time: 7 hours average
• Distance: 14 km
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Maximum altitude: 3100
• Minimum altitude: 2100 m
• Camp altitude: 2900
• Night temperature: 10° C
• Accommodation: Camping

Day 3: Choquekirao – Maizal.

We will wake up very early to start the day with a totally Peruvian and homemade coffee, we will begin the day with a brief tour of the archaeological park of Choquequirao for an average of 1 hour for the places that we could not visit on the previous day, after the visit we will begin the day with a moderate ascent of 1 hour, and then begin the descent to the next archaeological park of Pinchaunuyoq, time to explore and take and a rest, then continue with the walk down the last stretch that is steep; Here we will have a mandatory time to cool off, because the heat is suffocating due to the narrow valley of the area.

After having enjoyed lunch, we will begin the march up the mountain for an average of 3 ½ hours, until we arrive at the Maizal camp with a unique and spectacular view.

This day will be very challenging, as we will have 1500 meters of descent and 1100 meters of ascent in one day.

• Hiking time: 10 hours average
• Distance: 19 km
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Maximum altitude: 3280
• Minimum altitude: 1850 m
• Camp altitude: 3000 m
• Night temperature: 5° C
• Accommodation: Camping

Day 4: Maizal – Yanama

Day of great challenge because in this opportunity we will continue in permanent ascent all morning towards the pass with the best panoramic view, we will go through the Andean rainforest observing the variety of flora and fauna recommended for travelers who like bird watching, on the way we will come across the tunnels that were the silver and lead mines of Minas Victoria.

After having walked for 5 hours up the mountain we will finally arrive at the incomparable viewpoint of San Juan de Victoria, once reached the highest part of the mountain from this point we will visualize the spectacular panorama, cliffs of an immense fall at our feet, part of the canyon of Apurimac where we have been days before and of course the mountain chain of Vilcabamba. Time to take pictures and if we are lucky, we will be visualizing the flight of Condors lunch, then we will continue our descent towards the town of Yanama.

• Hiking time: 8 hours average
• Distance: 13 km
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Minimum altitude: 3050
• Maximum altitude: 4150 m
• Camp altitude: 3650 m
• Night temperature: -5° C
• Accommodation: Camping

Day 5: Yanama – Qelqamachay.

For today geography is almost easy, but remember that this in the Andes there are no flat terrains, in the first hours we will descend to the junctions of the rivers of Pacchayoq and Yanama, then we will have an ascent to the area of Chungana, from this area, the walk will be bordering the mountains, always looking down the deep valleys and above us the snowy peaks of the mountain range of Vilcabamba. Hours later we will finally arrive to the Qelqamachay valley where we will start with a gentle ascent observing with admiration the rock formations with different shapes until we arrive to our campsite.

• Hiking time: 8 hours average
• Distance: 18 km
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Minimum altitude: 3050
• Maximum altitude: 4000 m
• Camp altitude: 4000 m
• Night temperature: – 7° C
• Accommodation: Camping

Day 6: Qquelccamachay – Incamachay

Day we will ascend to the highest part of our journey, walking in the Andes is not only to observe the dazzling nature, it is also to meet with the living culture archaeological remains left by ancient civilizations and on this special day we will be crossing the mountain following the Inca trail that connected the city of Choquequiraw with the region of Vilcabamba, From the point of view the most impressive trail left by the people of the past, both the ascent and descent we will be following the ancestral path, until we arrive at our camp.

• Hiking time: 8 hours average
• Distance: 18 km
• Difficulty: Easy
• Minimum altitude: 3050
• Maximum altitude: 4600 m
• Camp altitude: 4000 m
• Night temperature: – 6 C
• Accommodation: Camping

Day 7: Incamachay – Huancancalle.

In terms of physical difficulty today is easy because we will descend directly to the archaeological area of Vitkus following the Inca trail that is being recovered in this area, we will pass through the entire community of Chupana to reach the next community Pillaopata, from this small town we will make our entry to our destination the capital of the Inka resistance Vitkus, we will begin our journey with a visit to the main temple the well-remembered Yuracrumi. After having explored the park we will continue in direction to the ancestral city of Rosaspata, from where we will have a panoramic view of all the mountains and Inca cities with a lot of history after the arrival of the Spaniards, immediately after having visited we will be heading to our camp in the town of Huancancalle.

• Hiking time: 6 hours average
• Distance: 13 km
• Difficulty: Easy
• Minimum altitude: 2850 m
• Maximum altitude: 4000 m
• Camp altitude: 2850 m
• Night temperature: 6° C
• Accommodation: Camping

Day 8: Huancancalle – free day.

Early in the morning, we shall board the local  transport, journeying towards the hydroelectric train station. Our path stretches ahead, a five-hour. Along the way, we shall delight  the flavors of indigenous fruits, gifted by the earth. From mountain peaks to the lush embrace of the jungle below. On this point we will be waiting for train to take on the way to Machupicchu town.

• Driving Distance: 100 km
• Difficulty: dirt road
• Night Temperature: 15° C
• Accommodation: Hotel.

Day 9: Machupicchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco

Very early in the morning having your breakfast at you hotel, we will board the bus uphill towards the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, once entered to the archaeological park we will be heading towards the viewpoint to appreciate more widely, the charming panorama of our destination , after enjoying these unique landscape we will begin the tour always leaded by our tour guide who will be showing us through the most important areas of the sanctuary for an average of 3 ½ hours of guided, later we will be board the bus down to Machu Picchu town where you will have free time for lunch and wonder  around the city by yourself, late in the afternoon we will board the train back to Ollantaytambo, boarding our transportation will be driving us on the way your hotel in Cusco City.

Practical Information Including

• Briefing at your hotel before the trip.
• Pick up from the hotel in the morning.
• Private transport Cusco to San Pedro de Cachora, and local bus from Vilcabamba to Hidroelecetric train station.
• Professional guide leader: English, Spanish and Quechua.
• Entrance ticket to the archaeological parks of Choquequirao and others
• Double 4 seasons tents.
• Dining tent, with table and chairs, kitchen tent for the cook to prepare the food with care and hygiene.
• Bathroom tent
• Mattresses
• Cook and cooking equipment (assistant cook for large groups).
• Food as indicated in the itinerary, (we have the option of vegetarian food) Our professional cook incorporates international, national and typical food of the region, if you have any dietary restrictions let us know.
• Pack horses (for camping equipment, food, cooking utensils and passenger’s belongings).
• We will provide each of our passengers with an extra backpack for their personal belongings (maximum 10 kg), if you wish to carry more you can rent an extra horse for $20.00 USD per day.
• Emergency horse which can be used when you feel tired or sick only.
• Tents for the staff working with us and food during the trip.
• First aid kit and oxygen.
• Celebration dinner in Machupicchu.

Not included

• Breakfast in the morning before departure. Lunch on the last day
• Sleeping bag (you can rent at the office $ 4 per day) that if you don’t want to transport from your home to Peru.
• Tips for the guide, cook and porters and/or muleteers.
• An additional horse if you have too much stuff. The cost is $20 US per day.

Itinerary Notes:

You should bring:

• Travel insurance
• A light day pack, clothes for all the different periods of the trek. Be prepared for all weather changes.
• Waterproof jacket and an extra rain poncho. Plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco
• Good shoes for the trek we recommend that you bring waterproof shoes.
• Sandals to take a shower in the hot springs and rest your feet after each day.
• Warm clothes including jackets, gloves, shawls, shawls, chullo, we recommend that you bring thermal clothes, especially for sleeping.
• Sleeping bag (rented from the office).
• Torch, binoculars and walking sticks for the hike.
• Camera (along the route especially in Yanama you can recharge the batteries).
• Hat to protect you from the heat, sunblock and a moisturizing cream for your skin.
• Insect repellent. There is no malaria risk report.
• Paper for the SS. HH.
• Snacks: such as chocolates, biscuits, dried fruit, sultanas etc. as well as filters
• Your own emergency kit if you have special medication.
• Clothing for swimming in streams and hot springs, bikini, towel etc….
• Enough cash for lunch in hot springs, tips and to buy some drinks on the way.
• Original passport. Valid student card.

What fitness/training do you recommend?

Our most basic advice for any trek in the Andes is: the fitter you are, the easier you will find it!