The 14-Day, 13-Night Choquequirao – Vilcabamba – Machu Picchu Tour is the most profound and complete adventure, trekking, and history expedition in Peru, operated under the demanding standards of excellence of Vilcabamba Tours. Designed especially for experienced mountaineers and travelers passionate about living history, this legendary long-distance route epically connects the last stronghold of the Inca resistance in Choquequirao with the mystical citadel of Machu Picchu, crossing the imposing Apurimac Canyon, challenging high Andean passes that reach nearly 5,000 meters in altitude, and the remote and historical region of Vilcabamba.
Throughout two weeks of travel, passing through spectacular microclimates ranging from snow-capped peaks to the lush tropical cloud forest, you will have the absolute support and impeccable logistics of Vilcabamba Tours. Our comprehensive service includes a professional staff of bilingual guides, horsemen, mountain chefs, comfortable high-quality campsites, and strategic overnight stays in local accommodations, ensuring a deeply moving, safe, and memorable adventure from beginning to end.
Itinerary Summary
- Day 1: Cusco – Cachora – Capuliyoq Viewpoint – Camping at Playa Rosalina (17 km hike).
- Day 2: Playa Rosalina – Choquequirao Archaeological Complex (Exploration of the 3 excavated levels).
- Day 3: Choquequirao – Choquequirao Pass – Pinchiunuyoq – Río Blanco – Maizal.
- Day 4: Maizal – Yanama Pass (4,500 masl) – Yanama Community.
- Day 5: Yanama – Choquetacarpo Pass (4,720 masl) – Incamachay (Highest point of the route).
- Day 6: Incamachay – Huancacalle (Descent through local agricultural valleys).
- Day 7: Huancacalle – Rosaspata – Vitkos – Ñusta Hisp’ana – Pampaconas – Camping at Otuto.
- Day 8: Otuto – Concevidayoq River – Vista Alegre (Trekking through the cloud forest).
- Day 9: Vista Alegre – Q’asa Cross – Tunkimayu – Concevidayoq.
- Day 10: Concevidayoq – Espíritu Pampa – Chontabamba (Visit to the last refuge of Manco Inca).
- Day 11: Chontabamba (Chuanquiry) – Kiteni – Alto Urubamba Valley – Quillabamba (Accommodation).
- Day 12: Quillabamba – Waterfalls (Illapani, Mandor, Siete Tinajas) – Santa Teresa (Cocalmayo Hot Springs).
- Day 13: Santa Teresa – Hydroelectric – Aguas Calientes (Tropical walk along the railway tracks).
- Day 14: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu Sanctuary – Ollantaytambo – Cusco.
Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1: Cusco (3,350 masl) – Cachora – Playa Rosalina
In the morning, you will be picked up directly from your hotel (or a meeting point in the city center that the Vilcabamba Tours team will indicate). We will depart from the city of Cusco early in the morning in our private transport, arriving at the traditional town of Cachora at approximately 08:00 a.m., where we will have breakfast. After enjoying our breakfast, we will officially begin the expedition trek. From this point, we will be able to observe the majestic Padreyoq snow-capped mountain located at 5,482 masl. Today we will walk about 17 kilometers in total. The first 3 hours of the journey from Cachora to the Capuliyoq Viewpoint are mostly flat, and then we continue walking for about 4 more hours downhill until we reach our campsite at Playa Rosalina, located at 1,580 masl.
DAY 2: Playa Rosalina – Choquequirao (3,033 masl)
Today we will start very early to enjoy a fresh breakfast and leave the campsite around 06:00 a.m. We will begin the ascent up the canyon slopes and reach the impressive archaeological site of Choquequirao after about 6 hours of steady marching. We will have enough free time to enjoy this majestic place with our Vilcabamba Tours guide, where we will observe in detail the three levels of the excavated ruins. We will be able to explore the stone houses, agricultural terraces, and other representative parts of this imposing Inca city. Depending on weather conditions, we might be lucky enough to spot the flight of the Condors. At the end of the afternoon, we will share dinner and spend the night in the area.
DAY 3: Choquequirao (3,033 masl) – Maizal
We will leave our campsite after breakfast, around 07:00 a.m., to continue the trek towards Maizal. We will follow an ascending trail to the Choquequirao Pass (3,300 masl), from where we will have breathtaking panoramic views of the Apurimac Canyon. Afterward, we will descend towards the small archaeological complex of Pinchiunuyoq and the Río Blanco sector, the place chosen to rest and have lunch prepared by our chef. In the afternoon, we will climb for about 3 hours along the mountain slopes until we reach Maizal, where we will have dinner and spend the night.
DAY 4: Maizal – Yanama
After breakfast, we will leave the Maizal campsite around 07:00 a.m. to begin the steep and demanding four-hour ascent to the Yanama Pass, located at 4,500 masl, a strategic point from which we will have stunning views of the Salkantay snow-capped mountain. After resting at the summit, we will gradually descend towards the Andean community of Yanama (3,400 masl), where the Vilcabamba Tours staff will set up our campsite for the night.
DAY 5: Yanama – Incamachay
After enjoying a nutritious breakfast, we will leave the campsite around 07:00 a.m. to begin the steep seven-hour climb towards the Choquetacarpo Pass, located at 4,720 masl, which is the highest pass of the entire journey. During our hike, we will be able to enjoy the variations of the cloud forest, walk along sections of the original Inca trail, and, with some luck, spot spectacled bears eating bamboo in their natural environment. From the pass, we will have impressive views of the Vilcabamba district and the surrounding mountains; finally, we will descend towards the Incamachay campsite, where we will have dinner and spend the night.
DAY 6: Incamachay – Huancacalle
We will depart from our campsite around 08:00 a.m. after enjoying our comforting breakfast. We will walk downhill towards Huancacalle, descending through different ecological levels where we will see locals actively working in the crop fields where potatoes, corn, and other traditional products of the mountain range grow. After arriving in Huancacalle, we will share dinner and settle into our campsite prepared by the agency.
DAY 7: Huancacalle – «Old Vilcabamba» (Otuto Campsite)
Early in the morning, after breakfast, we will visit the important archaeological complex of Rosaspata, Vitkos, and Ñusta Hisp’ana with our expert guide. After lunch, we will depart towards Pampaconas in a transfer provided by our transport, following an ascending trail that takes us through different vegetation levels. During this section of the route, we will observe the typical flora of the area, small wild birds, and spectacular views of the surrounding mountain peaks. Afterward, we will take a final 1-hour hike until we reach our assigned campsite in the Otuto sector.
DAY 8: Otuto – Vista Alegre
Today we will walk mostly downhill and will be able to enjoy the dense and lush vegetation typical of the cloud forest. During the day, we will enjoy the freshness of the Concevidayoq River while we have a restorative lunch served directly on the riverbank. After a well-deserved rest, we will continue walking along the jungle-brow trails until we reach the Vista Alegre community, where we will camp with the assistance of Vilcabamba Tours.
DAY 9: Vista Alegre – Concevidayoq
After breakfast, we will formally enter the Concevidayoq Valley, characterized by its warm and temperate climate. We will arrive at the Q’asa Cross sector, a beautiful natural setting where we will be able to appreciate the abundant flora and fauna of the high jungle, having the great opportunity to spot the Cock-of-the-Rock (the national bird of Peru). We will continue walking towards Tunkimayu in order to finally head towards the Concevidayoq sector, where we will set up our camp.
DAY 10: Concevidayoq – Espíritu Pampa – Chontabamba
Today we will wake up very early, at 05:00 a.m., to enjoy an early breakfast and begin our last day of official hiking, leaving Concevidayoq. About 2 hours later, we will arrive at Espíritu Pampa, located in the high Amazon jungle. We will be able to feel the marked change in climate, now being tropical and humid throughout this valley. We will visit the structures of Espíritu Pampa, historically recognized as the last refuge of Manco Inca (Manco II), observing a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna on the route. Finally, we will arrive at Chontabamba, the setting for our seventh campsite.
DAY 11: Chontabamba (Chuanquiry) – Kiteni – Quillabamba – Cusco
Today our journey will take us in our ground transport towards the city of Kiteni. We will travel comfortably upstream, crossing the beautiful Alto Urubamba Valley. After approximately 6 hours of vehicular travel, contemplating the jungle-brow landscapes, we will arrive at the warm city of Quillabamba, where we will check into a comfortable hotel selected by Vilcabamba Tours.
DAY 12: Quillabamba – Santa Teresa
After enjoying a delicious local breakfast, we will head in our transport towards the beautiful Illapani, Mandor, and Siete Tinajas waterfalls, unique natural attractions where we will have a typical lunch of the area. After lunch, we will head in our vehicle towards the Santa Teresa district, where you will check into a comfortable local hostel and have free time to visit and relax in the comforting external medicinal hot springs of Cocalmayo.
DAY 13: Santa Teresa – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes
After breakfast, we will head in our transport towards the Hydroelectric sector to begin the final approach hike towards Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town). This walking route takes approximately 4 hours on a flat path surrounded by sub-tropical vegetation and orchids, arriving in the town around 11:00 a.m. We will proceed to check into your hotel selected by the agency, and you will have the rest of the day free to rest.
DAY 14: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
We leave the town of Aguas Calientes early, taking a 1-hour hike (or optionally by bus) towards the checkpoint. After completing the unforgettable professional guided tour of the majestic Citadel of Machu Picchu, we will return to the town of Aguas Calientes. In the afternoon, you will board the train back to Ollantaytambo, where our private Vilcabamba Tours transport will be waiting for you at the station to transfer you safely and directly back to your hotel in Cusco, thus concluding our exclusive expedition services.
Includes
- Pickup from your hotel on the first day (or at a meeting point in the city center that the Vilcabamba Tours team will indicate) with private transport to Cachora, the official starting point of the trek.
- Comfortable bus (or equipped truck) for ground transfers from Chuanquiry / Chifuanquiri to Quillabamba.
- High-quality professional camping equipment: tents with a capacity for 3 people used only by 2 passengers (allowing greater comfort and plenty of free space for you and your travel backpack).
- One thermal insulation mat per person.
- Professional certified bilingual tourism guide service (Spanish and English languages) during the entire expedition.
- Official tourist train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
- Official entrance ticket for the Machu Picchu Archaeological Site.
- Comfortable accommodation in hostels and hotels selected by the agency in Quillabamba, Santa Teresa and Aguas Calientes.
- Professional mountain chef or cook and complete kitchen equipment.
- Horsemen and pack horses for the transport of tents, food, logistics, and kitchen equipment.
- 1 emergency riding horse for logistical support on the route.
- Accommodation and meals for our entire staff of guides, cooks, and route horsemen.
- Complete and fresh meals during the entire trekking (includes snacks, snacks, and tea time every day).
- Safety implements: Complete first aid kit equipped with an emergency oxygen bottle or tank.
Does Not Include
- Breakfast service on the first day on the route departing from Cusco.
- Personal high-mountain sleeping bag (available for rent with Vilcabamba Tours without deposit).
- Lunch on the last day in Aguas Calientes after finishing the archaeological circuit.
- Personal expenses, souvenirs, purchase of handicrafts, or voluntary tips.
