Our big adventure starts early, around 4 a.m., when we pick you up from your hotel. We’ll take a private van with your guide for about three hours to the start of the trail at a place called Capuliyoc, which is at 3,200 meters. The sun won’t even be up yet, so it’ll be a nice, quiet ride.

At the trailhead, we’ll all meet the rest of our team, including the muleteers and their horses. We’ll have our first breakfast together, and your guide will introduce everyone. This is a great time to take a quick group photo before we start this incredible expedition to Choquequirao. We have about a three-hour hike downhill to our lunch spot. The trail can be a bit tricky in places, so you really want to make sure you have good walking shoes.

During the descent, you’ll be treated to some magnificent views of the Apurimac River, along with all the beautiful landscapes, flora, and fauna. After we finish lunch, we’ll continue hiking for another three hours until we reach our first camp. It’s located at the bottom of a valley at 1,800 meters and is called “La Playa,” which means “The Beach.” It’s a long but amazing first day!

Day 2: The Climb to Choquequirao

We’re going to start the day with a four-hour climb. On our way up, we’ll pass by some local sugar cane farms and get some truly amazing views of the canyon. If we’re lucky, condors will be flying above us, and we’ll see a variety of beautiful plants and animals. If you feel like you need it, you can also use one of our available horses.

After a long climb, we’ll get to Marampata, which is at an altitude of 3,350 meters. We’ll have lunch there, and then you can take a little siesta to rest up. From there, it’s just a two-hour hike to our destination for the night, Choquequirao. During this final part of the walk, the views of the Apurimac Canyon are breathtaking, and you can already start to see the amazing Inca site in the distance.

Once we get to camp, our porters will have the tents all set up for us. The best part is that our camp is right at the foot of the Inca site, so we get to be super close. If you still have some energy after the hike, you can take an optional 30-minute walk to start exploring the area.

• Walking Distance: 16 km / 9.16 miles
• Weather: Hot
• Meals Included: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, happy hour, and dinner

Day 3: Exploring Choquequirao

After a short 30-minute walk from our camp, we’ll arrive at the amazing Inca site of Choquequirao. Our private guide will give us a talk about the history and meaning of this incredible place, and then we’ll start our tour. It’s really cool to think that some people believe Choquequirao is even more important than Machu Picchu, even though most of it is still hidden in the jungle, just waiting to be discovered.

During our tour, we’ll get to see the astronomical observatories and the water channels that the Incas built, which is just mind-blowing. We’ll spend a total of about four hours exploring the ruins before we head back to camp for lunch and a well-deserved rest. It’s a great day to soak it all in.

• Climate: Hot with mosquitoes
• Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, happy hour, and dinner

Day 4: Starting the Return

Today, we’re going to start our journey back toward Cusco. We’ll begin with a walk through Marampata, where we’ll get to enjoy some seriously impressive views of the canyon and waterfalls. Then, we have a four-hour descent to a place called “La Playa.” It’s a long way down, but the scenery is incredible the whole way.

On our way down, we’ll take a break to enjoy some fresh fruits that are grown right there in the area, which is really nice. We’ll eventually get to “La Playa” for lunch. After we finish eating, we have another two-hour uphill hike to get to our camp for the night. This camp, called Chikiska, is a bit different because it’s located right in the backyard of a local family’s home.

This area is really special. We might get lucky and see some spectacled bears, hummingbirds, and even condors, which is just amazing. It’s a tough day with a lot of hiking, but it’s full of beautiful views and unique wildlife, which makes it totally worth it.

• Walking Distance: 18 km / 11.32 miles
• Climate: Hot with mosquitoes
• Meals Included: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, happy hour, and dinner

This morning, we have one final push—a four-hour uphill hike to reach the end of the trail. After all that hard work, we’ll get to enjoy our last lunch together as a group. It’s a bittersweet moment, as we’ll be having our meal with our tour guide, the porters, and the horsemen who have helped us so much.

It’s going to be a little sad to say goodbye to everyone after our meal, but then you’ll continue with your tour guide back to Cusco in a vehicle. The drive is about three hours, and we’ll even get to pass through Curawasi, a place famous for growing Anís, a local tea. We should get to Cusco around 6 p.m., and you’ll be dropped off right at your hotel.