Starting with the unparalleled Choquequirao ruins, hike from Vilcabamba to Machu Picchu to retrace the steps of the ancient Inca. Visit the Cradle of Gold (Choquequirao), the Last Refuge of the Incas (Vilcabamba) and finally, end up at Choquequirao’s Sister City, Machu Picchu!
If 9 days seems like a lot, check out our 7-day, 4-day and 5-day Choquequirao to Machu Picchu options!
Wondering about the Choquequirao trek difficulty? Read our blog
>> See more photos and information about Choquequirao and Vilcabamba
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.
See What to Bring for our comprehensive recommendations on what to pack for your trek.
While the weather in the Andes is always changing, you need to be doubly prepared on the Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu!
You will cross two deep river canyons (the Apurimac and the Rio Blanco), where it is hot and humid and the sun scorches. Then, you will trek through some high mountain passes and sleep at campsites around 4000m (13,123 ft) for a few nights, where temperatures are likely to be below freezing.
Layering will be vital! Make sure you have thermals, a winter hat (toque or beanie), mitts and scarves for the cold nights, but much lighter clothes for down in the canyon. We like zip-off trekking pants which are very versatile. Layer them with thermals on the cold sections of the trek, then convert them to shorts when down in the hot canyons. Additionally, they are quick to dry so you can do a quick wash and they will dry on your back the next day. Very practical!
Please take note that there might be biting insects on the trail, thus repellent will be needed.
There are cold showers at some of the campsites along this route so you may also want to bring a flip flops and a towel!
When it comes to footwear, water-resistant trekking boots with a high top to support your ankle are the best hiking boots to take on the Choquequirao trek. If you’re not ready to invest in specialist hiking boots, at a minimum hiking shoes will suffice.
What is the difference between hiking shoes and hiking boots? Hiking shoes are durable, trekking shoes that are generally water resistant. They don’t have ankle support though. Hiking boots are tough footwear that last a long time due to their strong construction. They have ankle support and often are very waterproof.
For more help with what to pack, check out our blog How to Prepare for a Trek in Peru.
As the Choquequirao region that you will be trekking through is very remote and the terrain very steep, it is beneficial to have a trek guide with you who is experienced, knowledgeable and quick-thinking.
At Apus Peru we have a rigorous assessment and trial process before bringing our guides on board, and they receive ongoing training in topics such as mountain rescue. All guides are chosen for their knowledge and interpretation of Incan sites, their ability to handle groups and also their personality.
Get to know our team!
At Apus Peru safety is paramount and one of the ways we have melded the backgrounds of the Peruvian and Australian owners is having risk assessment policies. We cover evacuation, illness on the trail, right through to vehicle maintenance.
Additionally, we will not operate in dangerous conditions. We will not offer the Choquequirao to Vilcabamba trek (with Machu Picchu), among others, in the wet season under any circumstances due to the risk of landslides.
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 Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek, bringing costs down and multiplying the fun for everyone!
Read More about Trekkers Wanted, post your trek or search for confirmed departures!
We rate the 9 day Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trek as very difficult. (See how we rate all of our treks in the Cusco region!)
Without a doubt this is amongst the very toughest in the region due to the high altitude, intense elevation gains and losses, length of the trek and remoteness. The physical and mental stamina to do difficult day after difficult day requires resilience and fortitude.
The trail is characterized by a large number of ascents and descents:
The highest point of the trek is on Day 6 when you climb to 4600m (15,091 ft) at the Choquetacarpo Pass. The climb up isn’t as intense (a mere 600m / 1969 ft!), though, being at higher altitude, it can be hard to breathe.
In addition to being physically challenging, the Choquequirao Machu Picchu trek takes you through some remote areas which can be a mental challenge. You will see no one except your own trekking group for many days!
You should be extremely fit and healthy to do the Choquequirao Vilcabamba trek to Machu Picchu. Under no circumstances should you attempt this trek without having done some training.
We have had some older people complete this trek but they are extremely fit and well prepared. Without a doubt, anyone who is not fit should train in consultation with a medical and fitness professional before considering this trek. What this training and preparation will involve depends on each person and their own abilities.
Remember: the challenge of the 9 day Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu is the steepness of the trail, the remoteness and the sustained difficulty of the terrain and hiking conditions.
See Tip #3 of our Trekking Tips for how to get ready for your trek.
The Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trail is a remote, long distance trek for those who are looking for a challenge. You should be well acclimatised prior to heading off on this trek quite simply because you are going far into the mountains.
For this trek we recommend a minimum of 3 days at high altitude prior to beginning the trek. This may mean spending time in the Cusco area, Lake Titicaca or the Sacred Valley.
We would also recommend doing one short day hike while acclimatising in the Cusco area. This will make it easier for you when you start trekking “for real”.
In addition to allowing 3 days in Cusco for your body to acclimatise, you should also stay away from alcohol and rich foods, and rest as much as possible. In short, be kind to your body!
Read more about Altitude and How to Acclimatize before starting your trek.
Cusco’s cold, dry winter months (May to August) are the best time to do the Choquequirao Vilcabamba trek to Machu Picchu. During this time, there is little rain and the trail conditions throughout the Andes are optimal.
It can get quite cold, though, so be prepared! On this particular trek, you will hike at a variety of altitudes and experience a range of temperatures – from hot and sunny to cold and windy, even below freezing.
We will not operate the trek in the rainy season which typically runs from December through March. This is because the heavy rainfall can loosen the mountainsides and there is a high risk of landslides in both the Apurimac and Blanco canyons.
This instability and falling rocks have caused death and injury in tourist groups in the past. We put safety first, and we don’t consider this an acceptable risk!
The shoulder seasons for trekking Choquequirao – Machu Picchu are April, September, October and November. The suitability of the shoulder months depends on the year and the amount of rain at the time. For example, April can still be very slippery if it was an especially wet rainy season; by the same token November can be dangerous if torrential rains come early.
In general September and October should be ok, though we always reserve the right to change or cancel treks if the weather conditions will make trekking unsafe.
Read more about the best time to hike and take note of our wet season trekking policy.
Part of the challenge of this hike is that the average hours of trekking per day range dramatically, between 6 and 10 hours daily.
As the Choquequirao Vilcabamba area is such steep terrain, there are not a lot of suitable places to camp. This means that some days’ trekking is much longer than others as we have to go further to reach a flat campsite with good water for the animals.
In addition to the terrain and distance between campsites, the average hours of trekking will depend on group dynamics, fitness and more. Our guides are experts in planning around the personal needs of groups, and will tailor each day’s hike to suit the group.
Yes! Guides do take solar powered chargers with them so you can charge your devices along the way.
That said, you should take every battery you have fully charged when you leave Cusco. If you have your own power bank, we recommend bringing these as well as the solar charger must be shared amongst the whole group.
The Choquequirao Vilcabamba trek to Machu Picchu includes seven nights of camping and one night in a hotel.
For the nights spent camping, we use North Face tents. These all-weather tents ensure that our trekkers will be prepared for whatever weather conditions come their way!
At the end of each day’s hike, expect to arrive at the campsite with your tents already set up by our professional field team. They will have hot water ready for you to wash your hands and face, as well as boiled water for tea and a snack!
Want a little more comfort? We have a “glamping” option you can choose! Read more about Comfort Camping here.
Please note that some private transport on the road is lower quality than in Cusco
Many of our trekkers comment that they eat better on the trail than they do at home! For the duration of your trek, you will be accompanied by a trained chef and an assistant. They whip up a range of tasty meals on the trail that will leave you fully charged for each day’s hiking.
We have clients from all around the world with a wide range of dietary requirements. Our chefs do very well adapting to these requests. For any particular need – whether it’s vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free meals, or anything else – sufficient notice and clear are very appreciated.
Read more about What to Expect on the Trail, including more about meals and equipment.
There are no permits required to hike the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trail, but you do need an entry ticket to Choquequirao and Machu Picchu sites.
These tickets are included in the price of your trek; you will not be asked to pay anything extra at any point.
Should you wish to hike Huayna Picchu when you are at Machu Picchu you should pre-book this permit approximately 4 months before travel. There is an extra cost for this hike, not included in the price. Read more about Huayna Picchu.
We love the Choquequirao region, especially as it is possible to customise the treks in this area.
It looks like this long-anticipated project is finally going to go ahead. The regional authorities have been talking about a cable car to Choquequirao for years, but it seems like it is finally going to happen. The latest report indicates the Choquequirao cable car may finally be operational some time in 2022.
The government anticipates tourism to Choquequirao to increase exponentially with the cable car. So if you want to experience Choquequirao in the relative absence of other tourists, you better go now! For more, read our blog about why you should trek to Choquequirao now.
In order to answer whether this trek is right for you, ask yourself the following questions:
For more information about what this region has to offer, check out our Choquequirao and Vilcabamba homepages.
The 9 Day Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu begins and ends in Cusco. Travel to/from Cusco is not included in the price of your trek.
Travel Direct…
…or Take the Long Way
Our treks are designed so that you only have to carry a day pack with you. The rest of your belongings, along with the food and camping equipment, is carried by mules. At your briefing, we will provide you with a duffel bag where you can pack up to 10kg (22 lbs) of personal belongings. (If you think you will need more than that, you can hire a personal mule for an extra cost!)
You will reunite with your duffel bag of belongings each night at the campsite. Therefore, your day pack should contain everything you will need during the day’s hike: layers, water, a camera, extra batteries, sun protection, beanie, gloves and insect repellent. A scarf or sarong can also protect you from dust or keep you warm, as the Choquequirao treks can be quite dusty during the dry season.
Especially on the Choquequirao to Vilcabamba trek when you are trekking in hot, dusty canyons you should carry plenty of water, starting the day with either 2 or 3 litres depending on your personal hydration needs. Our meals are plentiful, but if you like to snack do bring some of your own for on the trail.
If you’re still not sure if this 9 day Choquequirao Vilcabamba trek to Machu Picchu is right for you, or want to read more about the area or other people’s trekking experiences, check out these helpful articles from our blog:
Arturo is an exceptional guide, full of knowledge and love for nature and national heritage. He is also well organised, tolerant and mild person. Excellent guide! Meals were much better than expected, really tasty and diverse.
It was everything I wanted – ruins, scenery & fun! Tough, but I enjoyed it. I thought it was perfect as the views and vistas were different every day.
Everything was great. I really felt like I was waited on. The entire team was always one step ahead making sure I had the best experience – I’m wowed by the attention to detail to make sure I’m having the best trip possible.
Office Staff: Claire did an amazing job answering any and every thought that popped into my head.
Guide: Urbano is awesome. Very knowledgeable about the ruins/area. Great at letting us trek at our own pace. A true pleasure to spend 9 days with!
Meals: Amazing food. The taste, variety, presentation & thought that went into each meal impressed me.
Our organized hike and tour with Apus Peru was magnificent. The organization of the hike, from contacting and receiving information, customizing aspects of the tour to the day to day carrying out of the 10-day trek was so efficiently, caringly and well done. The Apus team was always helpful the entire way and was what made our hike so enjoyable. I truly enjoyed the company of our amazing guide, the cooks and our horsemen. The food was perhaps the best I had the entire time spent in Peru, all cooked on the mountain sides! A wonderful, sustainable company that treats their employees and the local context with great reverence and respect. Superb!
My boyfriend and I went with Apus on their Choquequirao-Vilcabamba trek. We wanted to do something a bit more adventurous than the trampled Inca Trail. It’s a tough route but has lots of rewards: watching the sunset over the Choquequirao ruins, possible condor sightings and the Vitcos ruins. Best of all, we were able to explore both sites without any crowds at all.
There are a ton of tour operators in Cusco but I can tell you from experience that Apus is the best. They certainly aren’t the cheapest but they offer great value for your money and work hard to make sure you have a memorable trek. If you’ve ever been with a cheapie operator, you know you get what you pay for. You do pay more but Apus provides tailored tours not cookie cutter ones, has top notch North Face tents, knowledgeable guides and you certainly won’t be handed a bag with a bologna sandwich and a candy bar at lunch time.
Speaking of food you won’t believe how well you can eat while hiking with Apus. Our chef kept us fueled up with healthy and fresh dishes. We were amazed by the variety even on an 9 day hike. There was always too much food but the mule driver and his helper didn’t mind helping us finish.
All of your gear is carried by mules so all you need to bring is a water bottle, some layers, sunblock and a camera. Going light means you can really enjoy the views and don’t have to worry about lugging a heavy backpack. The mules, mule driver and cook go ahead of the group so when we arrived to camp our tents were already set up and tea and snacks were waiting for us.
The only things we didn’t like about this trek was the mosquitos. We went in September which is the worst month for them. Make sure to pack bug spray if you go on this trek.
Whenever our friends ask who to hike with in Cusco, we always send them to Apus. Don’t let the price put you off, you’re going to spend your holiday trekking in the mountains so you might as well pay a bit more to go on a top quality tour, be comfortable, eat well and get the most out of the experience!
