4-Day Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek: For Fit Hikers Only
4 Days / 3 Night
Challenging
4,100m / 13,451ft at Yanama Pass
8
The Last Inca City to the Lost City of the Incas
Choquequirao gets 20 trekkers per day. Machu Picchu gets 4,500.
Perched at 3,050m above the Apurimac Canyon at 1,450m, with no road, no crowds, only condors, temples and silence. Choquequirao is still 70% covered in jungle. Only 30% is excavated. This is the real last refuge of the Incas.
This 4-day Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek is the complete crossing: from the Andes into one of the deepest canyons in the Americas, a private guided exploration of Choquequirao, over Yanama Pass at 4,100m, through cloud forest to Aguas Calientes, and sunrise at Machu Picchu Citadel at 2,430m on Day 4.
This is harder than the Inca Trail. For fit hikers only.
Accommodation: Night 1 & 2 Camping in tents at Santa Rosa and Choquequirao, Night 3 Hotel in Aguas Calientes – Ferre Machu Picchu or El Mapi by Inkaterra
Return: Expedition Train to Ollantaytambo + Private transfer to Cusco – Arrival Day 4 at 7:30 PM
The Difference: Only 20 people per day at Choquequirao vs thousands at Machu Picchu, with private guide for 4 days, hotel on Night 3, and first bus for Machu Picchu sunrise
What You’ll Experience in 4 Days
A Living Site, Not a Crowded Park: Choquequirao Archaeological Complex at 3,050m – 30% excavated, temples, palaces, Usnu platform, water fountains and the famous Llama Terraces with white stones forming llamas. Private 2.5-hour tour and overnight at the site for sunset and condors.
One Trek, Four Ecosystems: Day 1 – Desert canyon at 30°C at Apurimac River 1,450m. Day 2 – Andean dry forest to Choquequirao 3,050m. Day 3 – High puna at Yanama Pass 4,100m to cloud forest with orchids, waterfalls and hummingbirds. Day 4 – Humid cloud forest at Machu Picchu 2,430m.
The Real Challenge: 1,465m descent Day 1 + 935m ascent Day 2 + 1,050m ascent to Yanama Pass Day 3 + 2,200m descent. 64 km total. This is about knees going down and lungs going up.
True Machu Picchu Finish: Not a rush. Hotel night in Aguas Calientes, first bus at 5:30 AM Day 4 for sunrise over Urubamba Valley, 2-hour private tour on Circuit 2, free time for photos, Sun Gate or Inca Bridge.
Day 1 | The Canyon: Cusco to Capuliyoc to Playa Rosalinas to Santa Rosa
From the Andes to the bottom of one of the deepest canyons in the Americas.
Private Transfer Cusco to Capuliyoc Viewpoint at 2,915m Hotel pick-up in Cusco at 5:00 AM. Private 5-hour drive through Anta and Curahuasi to Capuliyoc, the official trailhead. Time to get ready, restrooms, buy last snacks and water, and first condor view over Apurimac Canyon.
Descent to Apurimac River – Playa Rosalinas at 1,450m 3 to 3.5 hours down over 8 km on rocky, steep trail with loose stones. Through cactus forest and dry forest to the mighty Apurimac River. Rest in shade, dip your feet, lunch prepared by our trek cook. Heat is intense – this is 30°C desert at the bottom.
Ascent to Santa Rosa Camp at 2,115m After lunch, the uphill begins. 2.5 km, 3 hours to Santa Rosa. Slow walk, small kiosks with cold drinks, mules passing with gear. Tents ready, afternoon tea and dinner in the mountains after your toughest day.
Day 1 Stats: Distance 10.5 km / 6.5 miles | Hiking 6.5 hours | Max/Min altitude 2,915m to 1,450m to 2,115m | Descent 1,465m + Ascent 665m | Overnight Camping at Santa Rosa 2,115m
Day 2 | The Lost City: Santa Rosa to Maranpata to Choquequirao
The day you reach the last refuge of the Incas.
Sunrise Hike to Maranpata at 2,900m Wake-up with hot coca tea in your tent at 5:30 AM. After breakfast, 2 hours uphill to Maranpata, last village before Choquequirao. Changing landscapes, native plants, hummingbirds, waterfalls and first close views of Choquequirao ridge.
Arrival at Choquequirao Archaeological Park at 3,050m 2 more hours on undulating trail through cloud forest edge until you reach Choquequirao. Lunch near the site in silence with condors circling above. Jungle still holds most temples.
Private Guided Exploration of Choquequirao – 2.5 Hours Private tour of main plaza, temples, palaces, water channels and fountains, Usnu ceremonial platform, agricultural terraces and the famous Llama Terraces. Your guide explains why this was the last refuge under Manco Inca. Only 20 trekkers here, time to explore in silence. Sunset over Choquequirao, overnight at viewpoint.
Day 2 Stats: Distance 6 km + 2.5h tour / 4 hours hiking + tour | Max altitude 3,050m at Choquequirao | Ascent 935m | Overnight Camping at Choquequirao 3,050m
Day 3 | The Crossing: Choquequirao to Yanama Pass to Cloud Forest to Aguas Calientes
From high Andes to jungle in one day.
Climb to Yanama Pass at 4,100m Wake up with coffee above Choquequirao and start early at 5:00 AM. 3 to 4-hour climb leaving dry canyon, entering high Andean puna. Arrive at Yanama Pass at 4,100m / 13,451ft – prayer flags, snow peaks, wind at 0-5°C.
Descent into Cloud Forest and Transfer to Aguas Calientes Hot lunch in Yanama valley at 3,500m with views of snow peaks. Afternoon descent through cloud forest with orchids, bromeliads, waterfalls. Vehicle transfer from Collpapampa at 2,850m via Yanama village to near Hidroelectrica at 1,900m. 1-hour scenic train to Aguas Calientes at 2,040m. Check into Hotel Ferre Machu Picchu or El Mapi by Inkaterra – hot shower, bed, prepare for Machu Picchu tomorrow.
Day 3 Stats: Distance 14 km hiking + 2h transport + 1h train | Max altitude 4,100m at Yanama Pass | Ascent 1,050m + Descent 2,200m | Overnight Hotel in Aguas Calientes 2,040m
Day 4 | The Icon: Machu Picchu Sunrise to Cusco
The sunrise you trekked 64 km for.
First Bus to Machu Picchu Citadel at 2,430m for Sunrise Early breakfast at 5:30 AM. 30-minute bus up to Machu Picchu for sunrise over citadel and Urubamba Valley. Unforgettable light for photos – this is why we take the first bus.
Private 2-Hour Guided Tour on Circuit 2 Private guided tour of agricultural terraces, residential sector, Temple of the Sun, Room of Three Windows, Intihuatana and water fountains. Understand how Incas lived at 2,430m. Circuit 2 included – the classic postcard circuit.
Free Time and Expedition Train to Cusco Free time for photos, optional walk to Sun Gate or Inca Bridge. Bus down to Aguas Calientes, lunch on your own, free time for shopping, hot springs at 10 soles or museum. Afternoon Expedition Train at 4:22 PM to Ollantaytambo – 2-hour ride along Urubamba River. Private driver picks you up in Ollantaytambo for 2-hour drive back to Cusco hotel. Arrival around 7:30 PM.
Day 4 Stats: Distance 2 km on paved citadel paths | Time 2 hours tour + free time | Max altitude 2,430m at Machu Picchu | Difficulty Easy
Package Details
Included & Not Included
What’s Included for the 4-Day Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek?
Transportation & Logistics:
Private & Train Service: Private transport Cusco to Capuliyoc Day 1. Vehicle transfer Collpapampa to Hidroelectrica area Day 3. Train Hidroelectrica area to Aguas Calientes Day 3. Bus Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and back Day 4. Expedition Train Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo Day 4 + private transfer Ollantaytambo to Cusco.
Load Management: Mules/horses carry all camping equipment, food and cooking gear plus 7kg of your personal gear. You carry 30L daypack only.
Access & Expertise:
Official Permits & Entries: All entrance fees – Choquequirao Archaeological Complex and Machu Picchu Citadel Circuit 2.
Professional Leadership: Expert English-speaking mountain guide for 4 days – same guide for Choquequirao and Machu Picchu, certified in wilderness first aid.
Accommodations & Mountain Dining:
Camping + Hotel: Night 1 Tents at Santa Rosa 2,115m with sleeping mats, dining tent, toilet tent. Night 2 Tents at Choquequirao viewpoint 3,050m. Night 3 Hotel in Aguas Calientes – Ferre Machu Picchu or El Mapi by Inkaterra, private room with private bathroom and hot shower.
Gourmet Mountain Meals: Day 1 Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner. Day 2 Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner. Day 3 Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner. Day 4 Breakfast. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free on request. Chef-prepared with local ingredients.
Hydration: Boiled drinking water from Day 2 morning, plus daily snacks and Andean tea time.
Safety & Gear:
Safety Protocol: First aid kit, emergency oxygen bottle, pulse oximeter, satellite communication.
Not Included:
Personal Trekking Gear: Sleeping bag rental $25 for 2 nights if you don’t have -10°C bag. Trekking poles rental $15 for 4 days. Personal duffel.
Optional Extras: Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain or Circuit 4 – $65 extra if booked 2 months in advance. Emergency mule/horse evacuation – extra cost if needed.
Wellness & Urban Dining: Lunch and dinner Day 4 in Aguas Calientes and Cusco, personal snacks and drinks, hot springs 10 soles.
Tipping: Gratuities for guide, cook and horsemen at your discretion.
Travel Essentials
Important Information
This is about heat and elevation change, not just distance.
This is 64 km with 1,465m descent on Day 1 to Apurimac River at 1,450m where it is 30C, then 935m ascent on Day 2 to Choquequirao at 3,050m, then 1,050m ascent to Yanama Pass at 4,100m on Day 3. Your knees go down, your lungs go up, your legs feel both. This is harder than Inca Trail. Do not book this as your first activity. Come 2 days before to Cusco, drink 3 liters of water a day, no alcohol for 48 hours. If you have knee issues or have never hiked 6-8 hours with steep drops, do not book this trek. We will tell you honestly if you should choose another tour.
Your 4 days, from start to finish.
Day 1 pick-up is at 5:00 AM from your hotel in historic center. Private transport 5 hours to Capuliyoc at 2,915m. Hike down 3.5 hours to Playa Rosalinas at 1,450m for lunch, then up 3 hours to Santa Rosa at 2,115m. Camp.
Day 2 wake at 5:30 AM, hike 4 hours to Choquequirao at 3,050m, lunch, 2.5 hour private tour, camp at Choquequirao for sunset.
Day 3 wake at 5:00 AM, climb 4 hours to Yanama Pass at 4,100m, lunch at 3,500m, descend to Collpapampa at 2,850m, vehicle to Hidroelectrica area, train 1 hour to Aguas Calientes at 2,040m. Hotel.
Day 4 first bus 5:30 AM to Machu Picchu at 2,430m, 2 hour tour, free time, bus down, Expedition Train 4:22 PM to Ollantaytambo, private drive to Cusco, arrival 7:30 PM.
Money. Bring small soles and some dollars as backup.
You need cash for cold drinks on Day 1 and 3 at small shops, snacks, hot springs in Aguas Calientes 10 soles, tips for guide and cook. No ATMs after Capuliyoc for 3 days. Get 400 to 500 soles in small 20 and 50 bills in Cusco the night before. USD not accepted on trail.
What to wear. Desert, Andes and cloud forest in one trek.
Day 1 at river it is 30C. At Yanama Pass Day 3 it is 0 to 5C with wind. At Machu Picchu Day 4 it is humid 18C.
For top: 2 quick-dry trekking shirts, 1 long sleeve, fleece mid, waterproof wind jacket mandatory for pass.
For bottom: Trekking pants that zip to shorts for Day 1, waterproof pants in bag for Day 3.
For extremities: Sun hat for canyon, warm beanie for pass, buff for dust, gloves for pass, sunglasses mandatory.
For feet: Broken-in trekking boots with ankle support. No new boots. No sneakers. Your knees will thank you. Bring 3 pairs of hiking socks.
What to pack in your 30L daypack. Mules carry the rest.
2L water minimum Day 1, sunscreen SPF 50, insect repellent strong for canyon, lip balm, headlamp, power bank, original passport mandatory for Machu Picchu, personal medicine, knee support if you use it, small bills. Leave big suitcase at hotel in Cusco, we store it free. You carry only daypack, mules carry tents, food and cooking gear.
Photo truth.
Choquequirao is 70% still jungle, colors are stone and green, not Instagram neon white city. Best light for Llama Terraces is afternoon Day 2 after lunch. Condors fly 9 to 11 AM. Machu Picchu sunrise photos are before 8 AM, that is why we take first bus. If cloudy, we wait. Your guide knows exact spot for Machu Picchu without crowds behind you.
If you feel bad on the trail.
Tell your guide immediately. Do not hide heat exhaustion or knee pain. We have first aid, but no oxygen mules on Day 1 descent. You can stop, rest, but there is no horse rental for this canyon like Rainbow Mountain. If you cannot continue, evacuation is by mule to nearest road and costs extra. That is why we ask for fit hikers only. Your safety is more important than Choquequirao.
Questions & Answers
FAQs
This is a 4-day / 3-night adventure covering 64 km from Capuliyoc to Machu Picchu. You cross the Apurimac Canyon at 1,450m, explore Choquequirao at 3,050m, cross Yanama Pass at 4,100m, and finish with Machu Picchu Citadel at 2,430m at sunrise on Day 4.
We pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 5:00 AM on Day 1 and drive 5 hours in private transport to Capuliyoc viewpoint at 2,915m, the official trailhead. You return to Cusco on Day 4 around 7:30 PM by Expedition Train to Ollantaytambo plus private vehicle to your hotel.
Yes, fully included. You arrive Day 2 around noon, have lunch with views of the complex, then a private 2 to 2.5-hour guided tour of temples, palaces, Usnu platform, water fountains and the famous Llama Terraces. You camp at Choquequirao overnight with sunset and sunrise with almost no other visitors. Only 30% is excavated, so you see a living archaeological site.
Yes, Machu Picchu is included on Day 4. You take one of the first buses at 5:30 AM for sunrise, with 2-hour private guided tour on Circuit 2 – the classic circuit that includes the main terraces and postcard viewpoints. Bus tickets up and down, entrance fee and professional guide are included. Huayna Picchu and Circuit 4 available for $65 extra if booked 2 months in advance.
Night 1 camping in tents at Santa Rosa at 2,115m. Night 2 camping in tents at Choquequirao viewpoint at 3,050m – tents, sleeping mats, dining tent and toilet tent provided. Night 3 hotel in Aguas Calientes – Hotel Ferre Machu Picchu or El Mapi by Inkaterra, private room with private bathroom and hot shower.
Challenging and for fit hikers ONLY with previous trekking experience. Day 1 is 1,465m descent to Apurimac River at 1,450m then 665m ascent in heat. Day 2 is 935m continuous ascent to Choquequirao. Day 3 is 1,050m ascent to Yanama Pass at 4,100m then 2,200m descent. You must be able to hike 6 to 8 hours per day with steep ups and downs. Not recommended if you have knee problems or have not acclimatized 2 days in Cusco.
Day 1: Lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Day 2: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Day 3: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Day 4: Breakfast. All meals prepared by our trek cook with local products. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free available with prior request. Bring 2 liters water for Day 1, we provide boiled water from Day 2 morning.
Private transport Cusco to Capuliyoc Day 1. Vehicle transfer Collpapampa to near Hidroelectrica Day 3. Train from Hidroelectrica area to Aguas Calientes Day 3. Bus Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and back Day 4. Expedition Train Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo plus private transport Ollantaytambo to Cusco Day 4. All tickets included.
Professional English-speaking mountain guide for 4 days, same guide for Choquequirao and Machu Picchu. All entrance fees: Choquequirao Archaeological Complex and Machu Picchu Citadel Circuit 2. First aid kit and oxygen. Mules carry camping equipment and food, you carry only small daypack.
Trekking boots broken-in, 30L daypack, headlamp, 2L water bottle, sun hat, sunscreen SPF 50, insect repellent, rain poncho, warm jacket for Yanama Pass at 4,100m, 2 trekking shirts, 1 warm layer, trekking poles optional rental $15 for 4 days, personal medications, cash in soles for drinks and tips. Sleeping bag rental $25 for 2 nights if you do not have minus 10°C bag.
4-Day Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek: For Fit Hikers Only
Real experiences from travelers who slept under the Andean sky
James WhitfieldOctober 8, 2025London, UK
G
★★★★★
Sleeping Under the Stars at 4,600m
I never thought I could sleep in a luxury bed while staring at the Milky Way through a transparent dome. The Salkantay glacier right in front of you at sunrise — absolutely unreal. Worth every penny.
SkyDomeCamps - Sky Dome
Sofia MartínezOctober 7, 2025Buenos Aires, Argentina
G
★★★★★
The Dome Made the Trek Unforgettable
We did the full Salkantay Trek and stayed at the dome on night two. After a hard day of hiking, coming back to a real bed, hot shower and that view of the mountain? Nothing compares to that.
SkyDomeCamps - Salkantay Trek
Thomas BrauerOctober 7, 2025Munich, Germany
G
★★★★★
Best Night of My Life
I have camped across Patagonia and Nepal but nothing matched this. The dome is warm, beautifully designed and the silence at 4,600m is something else entirely. I woke up at 3am just to stare at the stars.
SkyDomeCamps - Sky Dome
SDC
@skydomecampsTransparent domes under the Andean sky. Tag us #SkyDomeCamps ✦
