The Choquequirao Trail & Machu Picchu

Move over Machu Picchu – this epic trek takes you to the real ‘lost city’ of the Incas, surrounded by dense cloud forest deep in the Andes.

Take your boots further, moving through high altitudes, over mega mountain passes and along a quiet trail leading to the well-preserved Inca city ruins of Choquequirao. The site is three times larger than Machu Picchu and you’ll have a full day to explore. Think secluded (and not for the faint-hearted).

At a glance

Number of ruins

6

Average duration

8 days

Peak time to trek

May to September

Our Choquequirao Trail trips

Highlights of the Choquequirao Trail

Map of the Choquequirao Trail with popular sites, bus lines and railway routes
Choquequirao ruins, Peru
Explore the vast Choquequirao ruins

Explore a seldom-seen side of the Inca civilisation – the sprawling ruins of Choquequirao. Quieter and far bigger than its glamorous counterpart Machu Picchu, this ‘Cradle of Gold’ is made up of ceremonial platforms, palaces, terraces, ritual baths and temples dedicated to the sun, moon and earth spirit, Pachamama.

Coffee fruit in farmer's hands
Camp at a beautiful terraced coffee plantation

Rest your head in a particularly special location – on Inca terraces in the middle of an Andean coffee plantation. There may even be time for a tour of the plantation for a small fee – a rare chance to get behind the scenes and see how this local operation plies its trade in these spectacular hills.

Llactapata ruins in Peru
Marvel at Llactapata

Before the triumphant home stretch of the Choquequirao Trail, take a detour to the impressive Llactapata ruins. It’s a chance to not only explore some beautiful lined terraces and 16th-century housing structures but also get a taste of what the Classic Inca Trail is all about.


Yanama Pass, Peru
Soak up next-level views from Yanama Pass

Traverse the breathtaking Yanama Pass, the highest point of the Choquequirao Trail. From 4660 metres above sea level, take in the splendour of southern Peru’s famous mountain scenery – namely, the snow-dusted Vilcabamba range.


Why choose Intrepid

Trek experts

All our guides are certified local tour guides and trained in-house on Intrepid Safety Policies. Each trekking guide also receives exclusive Intrepid training, provided by mountain rescue experts in the field.

You’re in good hands

We train our trekking team in-house to meet our rigorous safety standards. All our guides are certified and receive expert-led training in first aid, evacuation, survival skills and altitude sickness. We also carry oxygen cylinders on all treks for emergency use.

Local matters

When you trek with us, you support local people who live and work in the Andean highlands. We take our crew’s welfare seriously, pay a fair wage and provide a safe work environment – including strict luggage weight limits for porters. We also invest in community initiatives to promote the long-term sustainability of the Andes and its traditional cultures.   

Full inclusions

We take care of the details, so you can focus on enjoying the journey. We’ll provide tents and sleeping mats, our porters will set up camp and carry the bulk of your belongings, and our cooks will prepare three delicious meals and snacks each day. You can also hire extra gear like hiking poles and sleeping bags from us.

Rainforest Alliance tick of approval

We are proud to have the tick of approval from the Rainforest Alliance indicating that we meet and operate at the highest standards in environmental, social and economic sustainability.

Responsible travel

We travel with respect for the places we visit and the people we meet along the way. As a B Corp, we’re all about balancing profit and purpose and using business as a force for good. We also give back to the communities we visit with the help of The Intrepid Foundation. 

Meet our team

Woman standing in front of the ruins of Machu Pichu
Maritza, operations manager

"I am passionate about empowering local Indigenous communities, especially women, and am also a committed defender of Mother Earth, known in the Andes as Pachamama. I have also worked tirelessly with local communities and governments to help improve the sustainability of treks in the Cusco region".


Man standing in front of the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru
Paul, leader

“It will be a pleasure to share our traditions and beliefs, take you to the most amazing sites and, most importantly, interact with the locals! Get ready for a behind-the-scenes tour where we’ll visit hole-in-the-wall restaurants and find the best picarones (Andean doughnuts). I’ll be waiting for you here, in my beloved Peru."


Man smiling into the camera with camping gear in the background
Fernando, general manager

"I like working for Intrepid because their social and environmental philosophy isn’t just a slogan to sell more trips, they really do care about it. I have changed my life in so many aspects due to all the learning coming from Intrepid, from recycling to accepting myself, and being proud for who I am."


Local woman with a backpack on along the Inca Trail in Peru
Valentina, porter

"I come from Huilloc Community in Ollantaytambo town in the Sacred Valley (Cusco), and I started working as a porter on the Inca Trail in 2021. I love walking the Inca Trail and I'm very happy to be working for Intrepid as my income enables me to provide a better education for my 7 children". 


A smiling man standing in front of the Intrepid logo at an office in Peru
Teofilo, porter

"I'm from the Community of Kalla Rayan (Calca town) in the Sacred Valley, and I'm 53 years old. I've worked as a porter for Intrepid since 2009, mainly because I love it and we have very good working conditions. Thanks to my job, I've saved money to spend on my wife and better education for my children". 


Frequently asked questions

Life on the trail

While the Choquequirao Trek is a big undertaking, the views are what you would expect (and more) when you’re travelling through the Andes.

You’ll camp for seven nights with the support of your expert trek leader and team of horsemen, and our chef prepares wholesome meals to enjoy each night. On the last day, you’ll stay overnight in a hotel (where you can have a well-deserved rest and shower) in the gateway town of Aguas Calientes – before spending a day at Machu Picchu. You’ll return to Cusco in the late afternoon to relax and kick back after a mammoth journey. 

Check out the gallery below for a preview of what life on the trail looks like. 

Responsible trekking

Intrepid Travel is committed to ensuring the environmental sustainability of the amazing destinations we visit and we take our social responsibilities very seriously.

In Peru, we have committed to paying our porters and guides a fair wage and supplying them with the necessary equipment and resources to undertake their work safely.

We also support several community initiatives aimed at promoting the long-term sustainability of the region's environment and preserving the traditional cultures of its communities.

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