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A challenging yet rewarding trek for the history enthusiast and adventurer! This unique Choquequirao tour takes you from Choquequirao to Salkantay and then meets up with the Classic Inca Trail to finish at Machu Picchu, the unparalleled Inca Citadel.
This 12 days Choquequirao and Inca Trail tour is an amazing long distance trek that combines the best of everything, from fascinating history found in the lesser-known ancient Incan archaeological sites to gorgeous and high Andean breathtaking views! Make sure to be physically prepared for this level of adventure and amazingness!
Mark three of the most treasured and favored bucket list desires in our unique tour that takes you to Choquequirao, Machu Picchu’s sister city, the Salkantay Pass and the famous steps of the Inca Trail. What more to wish for?
Only a special few actually get to hike the Inca Trail every year. Peru’s permit system means that just 500 people are allowed on the trail every day – approximately 200 visitors and 300 trekking staff. Permits are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and are in very high demand: they can sell out as much as 6 months in advance. Once spaces have been booked, NO OPERATOR CAN OFFER YOU A SPACE. All spaces are personal and non-transferable, and there is no waiting list, so if someone cancels, their spot cannot be taken by someone new. Also note that the Inca Trail is closed in February for maintenance.
The Inca Trail is notorious for the mistreatment of porters and other trail staff who are asked to carry more than government regulation allow. At Apus Peru, we do things differently, going above and beyond these minimums. Read more about how we take care of all our staff, including porters and horsemen.
Please Note: These prices are subject to a new Peruvian law governing the employment of porters on the Inca Trail. These changes are expected to substantially increase the cost of operating the Inca Trail for all licensed agencies. Contact us to learn more.
High quality personalized experience
Unique, off-the-beaten track routes
Experienced staff
Verified sustainability practices
$20 of every trek donated to Threads of Peru
We offer you the opportunity to personalize your trek and make your experience more comfortable through our Optional Extras and Upgrades. All options are available during the reservation process; please ask your sales consultant for more information.
We recommend that you bring the following items with you:
For our full packing list for treks in the Andes, see What to Bring.
Our blog How to Prepare for a Trek in Peru will also give you some great tips for how to get ready for your trek, before you even leave home.
Our whole trekking team know the Inca Trail and Choquequirao regions like the back of their hand! They are some of the warmest, endearing and wonderful people you are ever likely to meet.
Our guides are all licensed and receive regular training. They share their experience, professionalism, knowledge and enthusiasm with our passengers on every trek.
Get to know our team!
Want to join a trek? Ready to confirm a departure date of your own, but interested in having others join you? Then Trekkers Wanted is for you! Our innovative Trekkers Wanted system matches people up who are interested in hiking the same trek, bringing costs down and multiplying the fun for everyone!
Read More about Trekkers Wanted, post your trek or search for confirmed departures!
General Information about the 12D Long Distance Choquequirao Tour
Information about the Inca Trail
Information about Visiting Machu Picchu
To begin our 12D Long Distance Choquequirao Tour, we leave early from Cusco and travel 4.5 hours in a private vehicle towards the Apurimac Canyon, surrounded by impressive snow-capped peaks. After about an hour and a half of driving, we will have a short stop at Tarawasi (2675m / 8776 ft).
Tarawasi gets its name from two Quechua words: tara, a type tree native to the Andes (latin name: caesalpina espinosa), and wasi, which means “house”. So Tarawasi is “the house of the Tara tree”. Tara is a multipurpose tree that produces large bean pods that turn orange when ripe. The seeds inside are used as a natural dye, and also have medicinal purposes.
Tarawasi is a ceremonial centre that dates to Incan times. One of the most striking features of this archaeological site is the presence of an usnu, a ceremonial structure where ritual offerings would be prepared.
We then continue on another 3h to Capuliyoc (2915m / 9561 ft) where we will glimpse our first beautiful views of the Apurimac Valley below, as well as neighboring Padrayoc and Wayna Cachora mountains. In Capuliyoc our Choquequirao tour begins! Hiking first to Chiquisca, we then continue on to Santa Rosa, where we will spend the night.
This day is flexible and so the route you trek might not correspond exactly to the route described here. Walking times depend on the time of departure and on the nature of the group. The guide may change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group.
Please take note that there might be biting insects on the trail, thus repellent will be needed! It can get very hot on the trail (not just in the canyon!), going up to 30-35ºC (86ºF – 95ºF). It can get as hot as 40ºC (104ºF) in the canyon.
Departing early, we continue our ascent out of the magnificent Apurimac Canyon (1550 m / 5084 ft) towards Maranpata where we will have lunch. The climb from the Santa Rosa campsite takes about 3 hours and is tough. From our lunch spot, we will have our first view of the Choquequirao ruins (3110 m / 10,120 ft)! Then it’s just another two hours to reach the ruins. We will spend the late evening at Choquequirao, where we will watch the sunset and have the chance to see condors.
This morning we can rest and spend more time exploring the ruins. In the afternoon we will climb over a ridge to the ruins of Pinchinuyoc (3000m / 9842 ft), where we will spend the night. This is definitely the easiest day of the trip!
After 2 hours of walking, we will arrive at the canyon of the Rio Blanco (1990 m / 6527 ft) where we can rest before starting a difficult 3-4 hour climb to our campsite at Maizal.
We depart at 7am and walk uphill for about 3 hours through semi-jungle to the Victoria Mines. We visit the ancient mines and some Inca ruins before climbing an hour more to the Victoria Pass (4130 m / 13,546 ft). There are spectacular views from the pass as we descend for about 2h to the charming village of Yanama.
Between Maizal and Yanama are the recently discovered Coryhuayrachina ruins. We won’t have time to stop and explore them, but we encourage you to read more about this fascinating and little-known Inca history.
Today is a day of mountain peaks! It will be a long day so we will get an early start. We lightly ascend to the second pass which is the highest of our trek at 4850 m / 15,908 ft. After the pass we descend for three hours to the Valley of Totora, where will spend the night.
Today’s hike is mostly up, as we will climb from Totora or Colpapampa to the Salkantay Pass (4600m / 13,451 ft), the second highest point on our trek. The hike is a fascinating botanical journey as we watch the landscape change while we ascend through the ceja de selva or “eyebrows of the jungle,” observing many varieties of high jungle plants.
Expect to meet lots of other trekkers on the trail today as this section is a popular route – though we will be hiking against the flow. From Salkantay Pass we will descend for about 2 hours to Salkantaypampa (4100m / 13,451 ft), where we will likely camp for the night. Depending on how the group is feeling, we may continue to Ichupata and then spend the night there.
After a cold night, we start the 3-4 hour steep climb towards the Incachiriasca Pass (4850m / 15,908ft), the highest point on our route. From here we will have incredible views of Salkantay’s snowy peak. After a well-deserved, celebratory rest on the pass we will then descend towards our lunch spot at Sisaypampa, a flat area from which one can observe Salkantay’s neighboring valleys. If we’re lucky we may even be able to see condors soaring through the air here! After lunch we continue towards Pampacahuana community, located next to an original Inca canal, where we will spend the night.
In the morning you will see that the valley begins to narrow and the river becomes a canal. The Incas frequently cut canals through valleys to increase the available agricultural land. From Pampacahuana it’s a 3 hour hike down the narrow, steep valley to the Inca fortress of Inkaracay (also known as Paucarcancha). This is a site well worth exploring and little known to the vast majority of visitors to Peru.
After this, we walk for about another hour to the small village of Huayllabamba, where we will join up with the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. As mules are not allowed on the Classic Inca Trail, we will say goodbye to our mules and muleteers and welcome our porters who will accompany us for the next few days.
In the afternoon, we leave Huayllabamba behind and start our way up to the Warmihuañusca Pass, also known as Dead Woman’s Pass. This is an abrupt and steep ascent that stretches for 9 km, but we will only climb part-way, stopping today at Ayapata (also known as Yuncachimpa), where we will spend the night.
Today we continue our trek for about 2 hours up to the Inca Trail’s highest point (though much lower than what we’ve already reached!), Warmihuañusca Pass (4200m / 13,776 ft). Immediately after the pass, we descend into the Pacaymayo Valley (3600m / 11,808 ft). From here, we continue on to the second pass, Runkurakay Pass (3970m / 13,022 ft), stopping halfway to visit the very impressive archaeological complex of Runkurakay (3800m / 12, 464 ft) which is believed to have been a watchtower. After going over this pass, we descend towards Yanacocha (Black Lake) and enter the cloud forest to finally arrive at Sayacmarca (3624m / 11,887 ft). This is a beautiful, semi-circular complex. Just 20 minutes away is Chaquicocha (dry lake in Quechua), where we will camp for the night (3400m / 11,155 ft).
After breakfast we have an easy climb, to arrive at the third pass, Phuyupatamarca Pass (3700m / 12,136ft). Phuyupatamarca is one of the most complete and best-preserved archaeological complexes along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and is located on the highest point of a mountain. Curiously, Phuyupatamarca means “town above the clouds”. From here we also have impressive views of the Urubamba River Valley.
We then descend by stone steps to Wiñaywayna (2650m / 8692 ft). At this campsite we will find a lodge with a restaurant, bar and bathrooms. The campsite has the same name as the complex located only five minutes away from the lodge. Wiñaywayna is an impressive complex made up of an agricultural center with numerous terraces, a religious sector and an urban sector – even if you are tired and enjoying the relative luxury of this campsite, don’t miss the chance to explore this archaeological complex!
Almost there! We wake up very early this morning in order to be sure we are on our way by 5am in order to climb to the famous Inti Punku, or Sun Gate. We will walk for about an hour along a trail of flat stones on the edges of cliffs, through highland jungle. From this fabulous spot, we will hopefully watch the sun rise over Machu Picchu! After taking in this incredible view, we will walk 40 minutes down into the incomparable Inca Citadel.
We first head to the control point where we will register and leave our backpacks. Your guide will give you a 2-3h walking tour of the historic citadel.
If you’re feeling adventurous you may wish to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, but take note: this requires an extra permit, and they can sell out well in advance! Be sure to tell us at booking if you would like to add one of these hikes. For more tips on what to see, check out our Visiting Machu Picchu page.
Want more time to explore? Consider our Extra Day Upgrades!
In the afternoon, we travel on the Expedition (tourist service) train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, where our driver will meet us and will transfer you directly back to your hotel in Cusco. You will arrive in Cusco approximately 4 hours after your train’s departure from Aguas Calientes.