Choquequirao to Machu Picchu 8 days: the complete guide
This is an expedition, not a holiday hike — and that is the point. Over eight days you walk from the lost citadel of Choquequirao all the way to Machu Picchu, crossing high passes and cloud forest that almost no other travelers ever see. It is the most complete trek we offer.
Two lost cities, one trek
Few journeys link two of the Inca world’s greatest sites on foot. You begin at remote Choquequirao, cross the wild country between the Apurímac and Vilcanota watersheds, then arrive at Machu Picchu — earning both in a way almost no one does.
The shape of the route
The eight-day version crosses high passes around 4,400 m, descends through Yanama and the cloud forest of La Playa, climbs to Llactapata for its famous distant view of Machu Picchu, and finishes with the guided tour of the citadel itself.
See the full itinerary
Read the complete day-by-day plan, inclusions and dates.
Who it is for
This trek suits experienced, fit trekkers who want wilderness and solitude over comfort. You will camp in remote spots, walk long days, and be rewarded with scenery and ruins the crowds never reach. Acclimatize well and read our altitude guide.
The great traverse: two lost cities on foot
This is one of the most ambitious treks in Peru — a point-to-point journey that links the two great Inca citadels, Choquequirao and Machu Picchu, across remote ridges that almost no day-tripper ever sees. You begin in the Apurímac Canyon, climb to Choquequirao, then continue west through high passes, cloud forest and tiny hamlets until Machu Picchu appears at the end of a week on the trail.
| Phase | Days | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Into the canyon | 1–2 | Descend and climb to Choquequirao |
| Choquequirao | 3 | Explore the ruins |
| The high traverse | 4–6 | Remote passes, cloud forest, villages |
| Arrival | 7–8 | Llactapata viewpoint and Machu Picchu |
The Llactapata moment
One of the trek's unforgettable rewards comes near the end at Llactapata, a little-visited Inca site that frames a rare distant view of Machu Picchu across the valley — the same sightline the Incas engineered between the two complexes. Reaching Machu Picchu on foot, after a week in the wilderness, is a profoundly different experience from arriving by train: you understand the landscape that holds it.
How tough is it, and how to prepare
Make no mistake: eight days of remote, high, steep trekking demands genuine endurance and solid acclimatization. There is no technical climbing, but there are long days, big altitude swings and basic camping far from any road. Train your legs for sustained descents and ascents, acclimatize in Cusco for several days first, and travel in the dry season (May–September). If you want the same journey at a slightly gentler pace, the 9-day version adds a day; for the ruins alone, see the 4-day Choquequirao trek. Read our altitude guide before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Very demanding — eight days of long walking days and high passes through remote terrain. It is best suited to experienced, fit trekkers.
No Inca Trail permit is required for this route. You need Choquequirao and Machu Picchu entrances, which we arrange.
Very. Large stretches see almost no other trekkers, and you camp in wild, beautiful places — part of why it is so rewarding.
