Accommodation

The trek will include 3 nights of camping and one night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu. We include a 3-star hotel, typically at Inti Punku (or similar), if available. Your booked hotel will be listed on your confirmed invoice. Upgrades are always possible. Tent: We use A-frame, Eureka Timberline, 4-man tents. we place only two people per tent to ensure there is plenty of room to sleep and store gear. A foam mat is included to insulate you from the ground. We also provide dining tents, tables, and chairs.

Transport

All your transportation is included in this trek. You will be picked up directly from your hotel around 4,20 a.m. (unless you are staying in Ollantaytambo, before the trek) and brought to the trailhead to begin your trek. Hiking will end on day three and you will head to Ollantaytambo, once your hike is over, and train to Aguas Calientes, where you will spend the evening in a hotel. This train, as well as your train back from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, is Expedition class. Your trip leaving Aguas Calientes can be upgraded on your way home to the Vistadome train, for $75 per person. Once you arrive at the train station, you will be brought back to your hotel in Cusco. Your round-trip bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu is also included.

Meals

Food: The Alpaca Expeditions chefs cook delicious meals that many previous trekkers have raved about. We honor all food restrictions. Be sure to remind your tour guide of any food restrictions at the beginning of your trek. Food is typically served family-style. You will enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day of the trek, along with a happy hour of tea and snacks. You will also be provided a snack each morning, for you to enjoy along the hike. Your last meal with your chef will be after breakfast on day four. You will enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day of the trek along with a happy hour of some tea and snacks. You will also be provided a snack each morning for you to bring with you and enjoy along the hike. Lunch the last day is not included.

Guide

Professional Guides, All of our guides studied English and tourism at Cusco National University. They all grew up in this region and have a true passion to teach others about their heritage. They are fun yet professional and will ensure you are safe and happy.

Others

INCLUDED Briefing: The night before your trek, you will come to our office for your briefing. You will receive your duffel bag that will stay with your porters, while you hike. This bag should not exceed 7 kg/14 lbs and does need to include your sleeping bag and air mattress. Professional Guides: All of our guides studied English and tourism at University. They all grew up in this region and have a true passion to teach others about their heritage. They are fun yet professional and will ensure you are safe and happy. Porters: We include a personal porter, who is responsible for carrying your duffel bag containing your personal items. There is no additional fee for this. We will give you your duffel bag at your briefing the night before, to be filled with the things you will need for the next night and day. You will not have access to your duffel bag until your arrive at your evening campsite. Transportation: All your transportation is included in this trek. You will be picked up directly from your hotel around 4,20am and brought to the trail head. Your guide will hand out your bus ticket to make your way down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, and you will be booked on the expedition train leaving that afternoon. If you prefer, you can upgrade your train leaving Aguas Calientes to the Vistadome train for $75 per person. Once you arrive to the train station, we will bring you back to your hotel in Cusco. Equipment: Alpaca Expeditions has the best equipment. We use four man, Eureka, Timberline tents that are shared by only two people. You will have a spacious dining tent to enjoy your meals in. Food: The Alpaca Expeditions chefs cook delicious meals that many previous trekkers have raved about. We honor all food restrictions. Be sure to remind your tour guide of any food restrictions at the beginning of your trek. Food is typically served family-style. You will enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of the trek, along with a happy hour of tea and snacks. You will also be provided a snack each morning, for you to enjoy along the hike. Your last meal with your chef will be after breakfast on day four. Lunch the last day is not included. Water: Beginning from your first lunch until your last breakfast, Alpaca Expeditions will supply all the water needed. This water will be boiled, filtered and then cooled, before distributing. You must supply your own water bottles or camel back. We recommend carrying about 3L worth. We will refill our waters at each meal. First Aid: Every Alpaca Expeditions guide has received training in first aid from a physician. We conduct mandatory training sessions every February, which every single Alpaca tour guide must attend. Your tour guide will always have a first-aid kit for basic medical problems (traveler’s diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) and oxygen. We will get you off the trail as quickly and comfortably as possible, if needed, and ensure you get directly to a clinic for treatment. Extras: We believe it’s the attention to small details that separates us from other tour companies. Every trekker receives a small pillow to sleep with, a foam mat for insulation, a day pack cover to protect their things while hiking and a rain poncho. We will work hard to create your best vacation. Satellite Phones: Our top priority will always be the safety of our clients and our team. While we are prepared and all our guides are trained for most of the issues clients have on the mountain, being a phone call away from any doctor, hospital or friend helps everyone feel assured that they are safe. Radios, which all our guides have, are limited in how far they can reach, so Alpaca Expeditions has added Satellite Phones to every trek. Every guide will have a fully charged phone that can be used anywhere on the mountain to connect us anywhere in the world. And they can be used by our clients for non-emergencies as well. While they are not cheap to use, they are available just in case you need to check in on the puppy you left at home with grandma. Private Toilet Tents: We offer private, clean, environmentally-friendly toilet tents at your camp and lunch sites.

Hygieneprotocol

Alpaca Expeditions’ Safety Protocols Alpaca Expeditions is ready to operate the allowed tours with all the needed safety protocols. To guarantee an amazing but safe experience to you and your loved ones. The protocols are as follows: All of our staff. Including guides, porters, cooks and drivers will go through a COVID19 molecular discard test before being able to work. Our doctor will check on our staff to go through a discard triage for any risk of infection before every service. Temperature control is mandatory to both staff and passengers. Hand-washing is mandatory for both our staff and clients. Alpaca guides always carry a personal first-aid kit including masks, gloves and thermometers, etc. The usage of masks is mandatory to both staff and passengers. The 1 and a half meters minimum-distance between each person will be respected and organized by our guides. Our vehicles will be disinfected following the biosecurity protocols given by the Health Ministry in Peru before and after every service. Inside our vehicles there will always be masks, hand sanitizer and a first-aid kit with oxygen masks, etc. in case any of our clients need them. We will only use 50% of the vehicle capacity in order to respect the social distancing requirements.

Not included:

Insurance

Travel Insurance To protect your travel investment, we highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance. Obtaining travel insurance before you leave home is strongly encouraged and very easy. In fact, we work with a great agency in the United States that has helped to make it easy and affordable. This is a great way to protect yourself while visiting Peru.

Flights

No include it.

Others

Not Included Rentals : Every trekker needs a sleeping bag when camping. Inflatable air mattresses and walking sticks (with rubber tips) are optional but encouraged. If you don’t want to bring any of the above, they are all available for rent: Sleeping Bag: $25 Inflatable Air Mattress: $20 Walking Sticks (Pair): $20 Huayna Picchu: Huayna Picchu is the mountain that stands next to Machu Picchu. It is a 45 minute hike to the top. Going back down is quite steep, if you are scared of heights. This is done after your tour of Machu Picchu. The cost is $75 per person. Arrangements need to be made at least one month in advance, due to popularity. Since you are hiking the Inca Trail, you will experience a similar view from the Sun Gate. Please understand that weather is out of our control. Day packs: Day packs are not provided by Alpaca Expeditions. You must bring your own. Be sure you don’t being anything too large, as you don’t want it to be too heavy while you’re trekking. Plus, Machu Picchu will not allow you to bring in a bag larger than 25L, so if you have a large backpack it will need to be stored before your tour. Only essentials are needed while trekking: water, snack, camera, sunhat, warm layer, rain layers, insect spray, sunscreen, and a first-aid kit. Headlamps: It is strongly encouraged to bring a headlamp for your night camping. There will be no lights at the camping sites and it is hard to get to your dining tent or you bathroom tent without one. Flashlights are acceptable, if you don’t have a headlamp, but make some tasks more difficult. Flights: Flying to Cusco can be tricky. Delays occur often and it is not uncommon for flights to be cancelled. Please be sure to arrive in the city at least two days before your trek start date. LAN Peru is the most reliable of the airlines. Avianca and Peruvian Airlines are acceptable companies, as well. You will not return from your trek until around 8 p.m. on the last day, so be sure your flight is not until the next day, when leaving Cusco. Gratuities: Tipping is always appreciated and should be based completely on your satisfaction. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. Travel Insurance: This is not required, but always recommended. For those of you who live at sea-level, landing in Cusco will take an adjustment period. Most people need one or two days to adjust. In case you have a hard time adjusting to the altitude, it is suggested to have protection for missed tours. Hotel: hotel in Cusco before and after the hike is not include.

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Day 1 Day 1: Cusco – Capuliyoc – La Playa
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Cusco – Capuliyoc – La Playa

Alpaca Expeditions’ team will pick you up from your hotel at 4:30 a.m. it will be about 4 hours driving to the trailhead- Capilyoc, where you will have the breakfast, after that you will start with this journey, The first four hours are downhill until you reach your lunch stop at Chikiska-Chikiska. This is a small village with lush fruit plantations. Along the way, you’ll have great views of the Apurimac River, the valley, and the snow-capped peaks. After lunch, the weather gets much warmer since you have already descended quite a bit. It will be another two hours until we arrive at the bottom of the valley and see the famous Apurimac River. Soon after that you’ll pass a bridge and have a two-hour uphill hike to the choquequirao tour campsite at La Playa.

Walking Distance: 18 km // Campsite Elevation: 1,800 m // Weather: Hot and Dry.
Day 2 Day 2: La Playa – Marampata – Choquequirao
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: La Playa – Marampata – Choquequirao

After an early breakfast, you will start walking, This will be the most impressive section of your entire trek because you’ll have absolutely amazing views from the summit to the canyon of Apurimac. You’ll also be able to see Choquequirao where you’ll have a view of the whole Inca site with all of its plants and wildlife including stunning orchids and black bears. Upon your arrival at the campsite Alpaca Expeditions’ porters will set up your tents and prepare the campsite. This campsite is fascinating because it’s right at the foot of the Inca site. If you still have some energy left, you’ll be able to take a 30-minute walk to enjoy the sunset from the Choquequirao Inca site.

Walking Distance: 16 km /9.16 m // Weather: Hot
Day 3 Day 3: Exploring Choquequirao
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Exploring Choquequirao

Unique day! finally, you will make it. After an early breakfast, you’ll prepare for the most spectacular day of this adventure, which is entirely focused on exploring Choquequirao. It’ll take about 30 minutes to get there but once you arrive, you’ll then begin your history lesson and tour of this impressive Inca site. Choquequirao Peru is considered to be bigger than Machu Picchu, although it’s almost all hidden by the forest. This Inca site is extremely spread out because the Incas had to study which areas of the mountain to build various buildings including terraces and houses. The most impressive sections of this site are the temples, astronomical observatories, and water channels. // Weather: Hot and Humid
Day 4 Day 4: Choquequirao – Marampata – La Playa – Chikiska
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Choquequirao – Marampata – La Playa – Chikiska

It’ll be two hours back to Marmpata and you’ll see views of the canyon of Apurimac along the way. Your Alpaca Expeditions guide will point out the beautiful flora and fauna you might have missed on your way into the Inca site. You’ll see impressive waterfalls in the distance as well as the clouds lifting from the bottom of the canyon. Also, if the weather is pleasant, you’ll get to enjoy the spectacular landscapes of the Andes.

From Marampata you’ll begin the 4 hour steep downhill hike to La Playa, this section requires trekking poles. Halfway down you’ll have a break to enjoy some fresh fruit that was farmed in the area, where cactus fruit is the main attraction. Finally, you’ll reach La Playa for lunch. Soon after it’ll be another two hours uphill to Chikiska Camp, which is in the backyard of a family’s home. You may also see some spectacled bears, condors, hummingbirds and more.

Trekking Distance: 18 km /11.32 m // Weather: Hot with Mosquitoes
Day 5 Day 5: Chikiska – Capuliyoc – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Chikiska – Capuliyoc – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

you will have an early breakfast. It’ll be a four-hour uphill hike until you arrive at the end of the trek where you’ll enjoy your last lunch with your tour guide, porters and horsemen. You’ll say goodbye to your Alpaca Expeditions team and then continue with your tour guide towards Ollantaytambo to take the afternoon 3,30pm or 4,30pm train to Aguas Calientes, depend on train availability.

Once in Aguas Calientes town you’ll be taken to your hotel and then to a restaurant to enjoy a nice dinner.

Walking Distance: 8 km /4.17 m // Weather: Hot and humid
Day 6 Day 6: Machu Picchu Visit – Cusco
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Machu Picchu Visit – Cusco

Today will be the most important day of your Choquequirao expedition. To get the most out of the day Alpaca Expeditions encourages every group to have an early breakfast before catching one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu (starting at 5:30 a.m.). The hotel will hold your bags for you while in Machu Picchu. This way you’ll only be required to take your backpack with all essentials up to Machu Picchu. The bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu will take approximately 30 minutes.

Once in Machu Picchu your local guide will take you directly to a well sought-out location where you’ll get the best sunrise views and be able to take pictures. Your guide will then show you around the main parts of the citadel, for a complete guided walking tour that will last 2.5 hours. During this guided tour, you will learn more about the history and culture of the Inca Empire.

At the end of the tour, you’ll have some time to wonder yourself or, if you arranged to hike Huayna Picchu* (must be booked in advance, as it sells out and costs $75 per person), your guide will show you where to begin this hike, which will take no more than 2 hours round-trip.

In the afternoon you will take train back to Ollantaytambo where our driver will be waiting for you and take you back to Cusco your hotel.

6 days tour

Choquequirao Trek To Machu Picchu 6 Days / 5 Nights

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Choquequirao Trek To Machu Picchu 6 Days / 5 Nights

Day 1: Cusco – Capuliyoc – La Playa

Day 2: La Playa – Marampata – Choquequirao

Day 3: Exploring Choquequirao

Day 4: Choquequirao – Marampata – La Playa – Chikiska

Day 5: Chikiska – Capuliyoc – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

Day 6: Machu Picchu Visit – Cusco

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