As soon as you arrive in Cusco, you’ll have a briefing with your guide at 6:00 PM, and you set into your hotel to rest after the journey. If you arrive earlier, enjoy a stroll through the city’s cobblestone streets, its mix of Inca and colonial architecture, and lively plazas. Have an early dinner and a good night’s sleep—your adventure begins the next morning.

You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Cusco at 4:00 a.m. and driven through the Andes to the Capuliyoc trailhead, where your Choquequirao adventure begins. After breakfast and meeting your trekking team, you’ll set off on a scenic descent with sweeping views of snow-capped peaks and the dramatic Apurímac River far below. The trail winds downhill through changing landscapes, with time to pause and take it all in. After lunch, the descent continues into the valley until you reach Chikiscca, your first campsite, tucked away at the bottom of the canyon. As evening settles in, you’ll enjoy hot drinks, dinner, and your first night immersed in the wilderness. Distance: 8 km (5.0 mi) | Elevation gain: +110 m (+361 ft) – 1,100 m (3,609 ft) | Time: 3–4 hours

You’ll wake up early to a warm drink and breakfast before starting one of the most demanding — and rewarding — days of the trek. The morning begins with a short descent to the river, followed by a steady uphill climb toward Santa Rosa, where lunch awaits at a local family home. Along the way, canyon views open up around every turn, offering constant motivation. After a short rest, you’ll continue the ascent toward Marampata, the highest campsite of the journey. As you arrive, you’ll be greeted by vast Andean panoramas and, if you’re lucky, condors soaring overhead. Tonight, the clear skies make this one of the best spots on the trek for stargazing. Distance: 16 km (9.9 mi) | Elevation gain: +1,570 m (+5,151 ft) – 630 m (2,067 ft) | Time: 6–8 hours

Today is dedicated entirely to exploring the magnificent Choquequirao archaeological complex. After breakfast, it’s a short walk to the site, where you’ll spend the day discovering temples, terraces, ceremonial spaces, and water channels spread across the mountainside. Often compared to Machu Picchu — and even larger in scale — Choquequirao feels remote, wild, and deeply atmospheric. After a morning of guided exploration, you’ll return to camp for lunch and a break before heading back out to explore lesser-visited areas, including the famous llama terraces and sunset viewpoints. As the light fades over the mountains, you’ll return to camp for dinner and another night beneath the stars.

After breakfast, you’ll begin the journey back through the Apurímac canyon. The trail climbs gently at first toward Marampata, offering fresh perspectives on landscapes you crossed earlier in the trek. From there, a long, steep descent leads back down to La Playa, passing waterfalls, lush vegetation, and fruit farms along the way. After lunch, you’ll tackle the final uphill stretch to Chikiscca, your campsite for the night. It’s a physically demanding day, but also one filled with dramatic scenery and a sense of accomplishment as you retrace your steps through this incredible landscape. Distance: 14 km (8.7 mi) | Elevation gain: +1,010 m (+3,314 ft) – 1,570 m (5,151 ft) | Time: 6–8 hours

After breakfast, you’ll begin the journey back through the Apurímac canyon. The trail climbs gently at first toward Marampata, offering fresh perspectives on landscapes you crossed earlier in the trek. From there, a long, steep descent leads back down to La Playa, passing waterfalls, lush vegetation, and fruit farms along the way. After lunch, you’ll tackle the final uphill stretch to Chikiscca, your campsite for the night. It’s a physically demanding day, but also one filled with dramatic scenery and a sense of accomplishment as you retrace your steps through this incredible landscape. Distance: 14 km (8.7 mi) | Elevation gain: +1,010 m (+3,314 ft) – 1,570 m (5,151 ft) | Time: 6–8 hours