Overview
Itinerary
Arrive at any time. Arrive early and spend some time exploring the city before meet the group at the welcome meeting.
Please note that hot water shortages and power outages can be fairly common in Peru (even in upgraded hotels and private homes). We appreciate your patience and understanding that these occurrences are outside of our control. Pre nights are recommended in order to acclimatize to the altitude and take advantage of the optional activities on offer in Cusco.
- Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting with G Representative: 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.
- Inka Museum: Get ready to explore the artifacts from the Inca Empire, including mummies, jewelry, skulls, and ceramics at this museum of archaeology.
- Cusco Tourist Ticket: This ticket allows admission at 16 sights of the city of Cusco including many popular museums and cathedrals, the ticket also provides entrance to Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park, and sights in the South Valley of Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
- Cusco City Tour: Enjoy a half-day tour of Cusco's main sights. Walk around the Plaza de Armas (main square) and explore this city steeped in one of the world's most alluring and ancient cultures. Visit Qenqo, Koricancha, the Cathedral, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, and the archaeological site of Sacsaywaman.
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.
- Choquequirao Trek to Santa Rosa Campsite: 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.
- Handmade Biodegradable Soap Products: 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.
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.
- Choquequirao Trek to The Ruins: 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.
- Choquequirao Main Square Guided Tour: 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.
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.
- Choquequirao Trek - Day 3: 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.
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.
- Choquequirao Trek - Chiquisca to Cachora: 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.
- Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
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.
Please note, a hotel night is not included in Cusco we highly recommend booking a hotel night in order to take advantage of the city.
- Machu Picchu Guided Tour: 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.
- Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Trip Inclusions
- Explore Choquequirao away from the crowds.
- Witness the mountain beauty of the Andes.
- Marvel at Machu Picchu.
- 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
- Private van, train, and hiking
- G Adventures Representative in Cusco, specialist Choquequirao CEO (Chief Experience Officer) on hike
- Hotels (2 Nights), Camping (3 Nights)
- 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included.
Operator
On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
For travellers who prefer their adventures powered by motion - G's Active tours offer an immersive way to explore the world. Whether it’s hiking rugged trails, biking scenic routes, or kayaking along rivers and coastlines, all you'll need to bring is your energy, enthusiasm, and a love for active adventure. Our expert guides provide all the gear and logistical support needed so you can focus on the journey.
Dates & Pricing
AUD
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by G Adventures. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
