Sacred Valley of the Incas and Choquequirao to Machu Picchu in 8 Days


DETAILS
Trip style: Archaeological, cultural, trekking, landscape, ecological and camping
Departures Dates: Every day, all year round (please check availability in our groups)
Visited Places: Lima, Cusco, Chikisca – Marampata – Choquequirao– Marampata – Choquequirao Pinchaunuyoc – Maizal - Yanama – Totora - Playa – Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo - Cusco
Physical Grade: 1 2 3 4 5

Enjoy our Sacred Valley 2 Days Tour and after we start our trek to Choquequirao and Machu Picchu

Availability for Choquequirao trek

Explore all charm and history of the area visiting all the highlights. You will enjoy interesting temples and Inca terraces and feel the warmth of its people – where time seems to have stood still, showing us the culture and customs of this fascinating and ancient people.

Detailed program of Sacred Valley of the Incas and Choquequiraw to Machupicchu


At 8:00AM be ready and in your hotel lobby. Your ITEP driver and your guide will come and pick you up and take you to your first destination, Sacsayhuaman. Sacsayhuaman is a beautiful ruin created by the Incasjust above the city of Cusco. Here you will see a great example of why Inca architecture remains so well in tact today. The way the Incas used tremendous stone blocks and intricately laid them out allowed the buildings to absorb all of nature's elements. At Sacsayhuaman you will see the largest stone monolith that remains in any Inca ruin.

From Sacsayhuaman we will head towards the Sacred Valley . Along the way we will visit Awanacancha, a weaving center and alpaca farm where you will see (and can feed if you'd like) live llamas, alpacas, vicunas and guanacos as well as different varieties of potatoes and corn that are special in the Sacred Valley. If you would like, this is a great place to purchase high quality alpaca clothing and gifts.

We will drive from here to Pisac Inca Ruins. These are another amazing ruins that are located on top of one of the mountains in the Sacred Valley. We will see hundreds of agricultural terraces where the Inca farmed corn, potatoes, and quinoa. We will also see the religious and astronomical side of the Inca Ciosmology at these ruins. This will be an amazing place to take photos as you will be on top of the Sacred Valley with endless vistas.

Next we drive down to Pisac market and town. This is a bustling handicraft market and another great place to purchase gifts if you choose. You can also experience some of the local delicacies – many of the local farmers bring their vegetables here to sell. This is where we will stop for our lunch break.

We will drive through the Sacred Valley after lunch to Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo was an Inca checkpoint where they protected Machu Picchu and the valley against any enemies ( Ollantay is the name of a military leader, tambo is a lodging place). You will explore the ruins here, have some free time to take photos and explore the town, which is the only in tact Inca town which still exists, with water channels running alongside the narrow streets. You will be spending the night in Ollantaytambo so your guide will set you up in your hotel where you can relax a bit before dinner.

Breakfast will be at 6:30 AM on Day 2. After breakfast, we will drive to Maras Salt Mines. This mine was extremely important to the Incas and was their supply for salt and still provides salt today. There are 3000 salt evaporation pools that are owned by local families which have become the main economic activity for all locals that live nearby. On top of being historical and useful, the Maras salt mines are just a beautiful sight to see.

After the mines, we will drive to Moray Inca Archeological Center. The Incas used Moray as a way to study farming. They built terraces and experimented with different vegetables to see what grew best and at which temperature. You will see the terraces of Moray – each terrace was best for certain growth and the Incas studied and practiced to see which worked best.

We will drive to Chincheros after Moray. In Chincheros we will see some Inca terracing that was used to farm potatoes. The Incas discovered that at this elevation of 3700 meter/11,500 feet, it was the perfect location to farm potatoes. They grew so many potatoes that they were able to supply the entire Inca civilization which this amazing vegetable. We will also see one unique colonial church that was built on the top of an Inca palace by the Spaniards. We will then visit your final textile center and you will have your last opportunity for purchasing gifts here.

We will complete the tour of the Sacred Valley here and head back to Cusco where you will be dropped back off at your hotel.

Passengers are picked up at their hotel and head to Cusco at 7:00 am in a private bus, with the first destination Saywite Archaeological Park. There he observed the mysterious monolith and the nearby archaeological remains, the staggered pacchas ushnu and must be remembered in order to contrast their correspondence with the ceremonial architecture of Choquequirao. After a good box-lunch, we continue down through the remote valley of Huanipaca, one of those spots in the Peruvian highlands reserved for travelers. At the bottom of the deep valley awaits Villa Los Loros Lodge. The rooms ready and after a necessary relaxation, a small meeting at which dispel the anxiety a trip like this has on every traveler. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we depart at 5:30 am, down a footpath entering the Hacienda San Ignacio Antigua then slopes downhill towards the raging Apurimac River (Playa San Ignacio). We cross the suspension bridge … here begins the serious, the rise from the level of the water (at 1,450 m) to Camp Choquequirao (2,870 masl) is nothing short of overwhelming. On one hand, the beauty of the landscape, rivers, waterfalls, flowers lilac, all is movement … On the other, the rugged surroundings, the steep slope and your heartbeat combine in a very personal connection with their surroundings traveler and himself . Back in the camp and after lunch, we expect Phaqchayoq (the system of terraces or "pantry" where you can see the cultivation of corn) and The House of the Waterfall (according to scholars, the home of Inca of Choquequirao). Returning to camp, tired, have dinner and spend the night. (Bathrooms and cold showers available).

This is the most beautiful day. We are struck by how the vast majority of visitors take 4 days' journey (two in back and two in back) and only a few hours or maybe minutes (!) To enjoy exploring the different sectors of Choquequirao. Understanding that the complex is an organized scattered on both sides of Apu spur spending the time Corihuayrachina know you deserve and need to understand the integrity of its context. We will have all day to visit the best parts of the Archaeological Park, the flames, the upper and lower parts, the Great Trail, the Wall Triumphal Sartiges. Our travelers enjoy lunch near the collection, not to disrupt the visit and see, with a little luck, the majestic flight of the condor over the deep canyon of the Apurimac River. We returned to camp, where we have dinner and spend the night. (Bathrooms and cold showers available).

After breakfast and already knowing the route, the return is made easier. We surprised the novelty of the landscape, we now have a different view because the spirits (and muscles recovered) are maximum. The voice of the river always there, the imposing Apurimac Canyon seems to swallow the traveler. Finally, the Playa San Ignacio. "Black Whip", "Machuco", "Cayguash" or some other lie ahead. The return on its back gives us the opportunity to look at one last great landscape which we are part. Riding allows a great way to photograph the friends that came and new friends that the trip gives us, the carriers are a kind of supermen and their way of life will sink deep into the memories of the traveler. Beside the ruined walls of the Hacienda San Ignacio, we rest and after lunch the horseback ride takes us to Villa Los Loros Lodge. When looking back we know how far we have come. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we boarded the bus to take us to Ollantaytambo, an estimated travel time of 5 hours. They consume lunch, then take the train to Machu Picchu town. After settling into the hotel, you may want to enjoy a swim in the famous Aguas Calientes. Dinner and overnight.

We left early to catch the first bus that will leave us in the same Inca Sanctuary, located on the Urubamba River canyon in the heart of the jungle mountain range of Salkantay, wonder of the world that visit, taking the opportunity to make visits optional to the imposing mountain of Wayna Picchu or the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). Returning to Machu Picchu town, consume a buffet lunch at a tourist restaurant and then we will take the train back to Cusco. Transfer to your hotel.


  • Briefing for trek one or two days beforehand
  • Transfers In / Out
  • Transportation from Cusco to Cachora where we start walking
  • Professional bilingual tour guide
  • Assistant tour guide (for groups of 9 or more people)
  • Entrance fee to Choquequirao
  • 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners during the trek
  • Professional cook. All dietary requirements from vegans, lacto-allergies and general dislikes can be catered for so long as prior warning is given when booking the trip.
  • Drinking water only during meals
  • Dining tent with tables and chairs
  • First aid kit
  • 1 oxygen tank
  • Horses (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment)
  • Duffle bag (in which you can put up to 5 kilos of your personal belongings - your sleeping bag included)
  • Quadruple and waterproof camping tent (cap. 4 fitting 2)
  • 1 sleeping mattress per person
  • Bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
  • Expedition Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (see note about train availability, changes in times, etc.)
  • Transportation from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
  • Breakfast on 1st day, lunch and dinner on last day
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner on 1st, 2nd and 3rd days
  • Hotels in 1st, 2nd days
  • • Air transportation. For a round trip domestic tickets (for example LIM/CUS/LIM) the cost is USD$ 320. For a one way domestic ticket (for example JUL/LIM) the cost is USD$ 160.00. Rates are subject to change without previous advise. Airport departure taxes: USD 6.82 in Lima for domestic flight and USD 4.28 for Cusco, Arequipa, Juliaca, Puerto Maldonado approx. USD 31 for international departure tax in Lima.
  • Water for your water bottles. You can buy water along the way or bring water purification tablets
  • Activities and items not included in the itinerary
  • Sleeping bag
  • Entrance fees for Thermal Baths in Aguas Calientes ($4)
  • Tips are not included but are optional
  • Walking sticks/trekking poles (rental: $30)
  • Extra horse ($160)
  • Sleeping bag ($40)
  • Personal tent (rental $50 for trek)
  • Extra money to buy snacks, water, tips, etc.
  • Upgrade in class from Expedition Train service to Vistadome (panoramic) Train service (upgrade $50)
  • Huayna Picchu entrance ticket ($35 per person). Make sure to book early since there are limited spaces available and they can sell out quickly!
  • Entrance fee for hot springs in Aguas Calientes ($4)
  • We can also provide great prices on hotels for all of Peru (Standard to Luxury)!
  • Itinerary and campsites may change according to the climate and health status of the trekkers.
  • Train times for the Expedition train to Ollantaytambo may change according to the train company's availability and will be confirmed close to the time of the trek. If someone books later than most of the group, we may not be able to provide the same train as the rest of the group.
  • Change to earlier/later train time at time of booking (price depending on train availability).
  • Tips/gratuities not included but are optional according to the services rendered.
  • Don't forget to bring your passport and ISIC (if applicable).
  • To qualify as a student, it is necessary to have a valid ISIC (International Student Identity Card) card. Scan the card and email us the copy at the time of your booking for a $20 discount per student!
  • For children younger than 17, we offer a $20 discount. Just scan and email a copy of the passports at the time of your booking.

  • Original passport (and International Student card (ISIC) if applicable)
  • Sleeping bag (not included but can be hired from us in our office)
  • Walking boots
  • Waterproof jacket/rain jacket
  • Warm jacket, hat and gloves
  • T-shirts
  • Comfortable trousers
  • Sun hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun block (factor 50 is recommended)
  • Re-usable plastic/metal water container or camel bags
  • Water for the first day, but on the other days it is possible to buy bottles of water from local families
  • Insect Repellent
  • Toiletries
  • Personal medication
  • Camera and films
  • Torch with spare batteries (headlamps are useful)
  • Shorts
  • Walking stick (with rubber tip)
  • Plasters and bandages
  • Sandals
  • Bathing suit for the hot springs
  • Extra money for personal expensive, tips and entrance fees for hot springs (entrance fee for the hot spring is: 4 US $ / 10 Soles), (recommended 300 Peruvian nuevos soles for extra money)

1st day: LIMA

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2nd Day: LIMA CITY TOUR

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3rd Day: LIMA / CUSCO

  • Meals:
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Day 4: Cusco – Cachora – Chikisca

  • Meals: B/L/D
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  • Distance travelled: 19 km
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Day 5: Chikisca – Marampata

  • Meals: B/L/D
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  • Distance travelled: 9KM
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Day 6: Marampata – Choquequirao – Marampata

  • Meals: B/L/D
  • Accomodation: Camp
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  • Distance travelled: 6KM
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Day 7: Marampata – Chikisca – Cocamasana

  • Meals: B/L/D
  • Accomodation: Camp
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  • Distance travelled: 12KM
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Day 8: Cocamasana – Cachora – Cusco

  • Meals: B/L/D
  • Accomodation: Camp
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  • Distance travelled: 17KM
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  • Due to the altitude we recommend a period of at least 2 days for acclimatization in Cusco at 3350m/9840ft.
  • We also recommend that you walk/trek at home before trying on the Inca Trail.(We advise you to practice walking longer distances)

With the explosion of the Internet, calling to our office is no longer necessary--in fact, it may cost you. No matter how you decide to reserve your Machupicchu ticket, we are tour Operator and we are the directly why to reserve your Inca Trail trek or Machupicchu tour.

Inca Trail Trek reservation Instructions

1.- Identify the specific tour you want. No matter which method you choose to reserve or book your tour, the process will go faster if you know the exact Tour information.

2.- Once you've found a Inca Trail or tour at the time and price you want, Enter your departure and personal information "simililar to the following information".

  • Tour
  • Departure date
  • Full name same as in your passport
  • Nationality
  • Age
  • Sex
  • Meals remarks
  • Medical conditions

3.- Try to provide the necessary information to make reservations and pay the indicated amount: DOWN PAYMENT/DEPOSIT OR TOTAL PAYMENT.


Payment Methods

Option 1:
You can make the deposit through our online payment system.

Visa

To pay by this option, just click the following link:

www.iteptravel.com/payments/visa.php

Option 2:
Paypal

paypal
Tour:

Number Pax and deposit:

Paypal

Option 3:
Money gram or Western Union money transfer.

western union

Destiny: Cusco - Perú
William Escalante Taype
ID: 42752119
Cellphone: +51-084-253617

Option 4:
Bank transfer.

bcp

Bank name: BANCO DEL CREDITO DEL PERU
Bank code: BCPLPEPL
Swift code: BCPLPEPL
Name: Inka Trail Expeditions Peru
Trade number:: 20528015752
Account number: (13 digits) US$: 285-2164353-1-47
Interbank code: BCPLPEPL
Adress: San Agustin Street 317
City: Cusco - Perú


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