We’ll have an early breakfast on Day 2 before setting off in the cool air of the morning. First we’ll descend for one hour to Playa Rosalina, where we’ll cross the Apurimac River. Next is a steep climb of about two hours. It's quite tough going, for sure, but you’ll be constantly rewarded with the spectacular views from the trail, as well as the wide variety of flora and fauna you’ll find on this side of the valley. We’ll make our way passed beautif...

All our tough trekking will be rewarded on Day 3 when we wake up early to explore the archaeological site of Choquequirao. Your guide will take you around the site, showing you all the most important sections and explaining the history of Choquequirao. You’ll learn about the Inca Empire, its traditions and culture, as well as the close relationship between Choquequirao and Machu Picchu. 

Choquequirao has not been explored or studied as comprehensively as Machu Picch...

Day 4 begins with a hearty breakfast, after which we will begin the ascent from our campsite up to the Choquequirao pass, at 3,250 m (10,660 ft). As we walk, we’ll enter the cloud forest, where polylepis trees, epiphytes and bromeliads grow. On the other side of the pass, we’ll descend towards the Yuracmayo River, passing some Inca agricultural terraces that once supplied Choquequirao. After a few hours of trekking, we’ll reach the river, which we’ll cross. Hea...

After breakfast, we’ll set off on a steeply-climbing trail up towards Mina Victoria, an old silver and copper mine used by the Incas and later the Spanish colonials. From here we’ll hike along a hill called Qoriwayrachina, an Inca site that was discovered relatively recently, and which few people have visited. Probably connected to the nearby mines, the hills around Qoriwayrachina are covered with stones from more than 200 structures built at this Inca outpost.

Aft...

Today will be a solid day of trekking as we make our way the Yanama Valley, passing through fields where farmers grow groups and tend their livestock. We then have a challenging trek up to the Quiswar pass, which sits at around 4,700 m. As we cross over the pass, we’ll have sublime views of the Salkantay and Humantay mountains, especially if it’s a clear day. From here we’ll take a winding trail down to the Totora Valley below, where we’ll camp near a tradition...

After the high-altitude trekking of the previous day, Day 7 will feel like a fairly breezy trek as we hike along the path of the Salkamayo River. As we go, we’ll pass through an area of increasingly lush vegetation, where we’ll find a paradise of crystalline waterfalls, plentiful passion fruit and coffee plantations. In the afternoon we’ll reach our campsite at the village of La Playa, where you’ll have plenty of free time to relax and take a swim in the river ...

Today will be our final day of trekking, taking us within easy reach of Machu Picchu. After breakfast, we’ll the cross the river and start climbing up through coffee and fruit plantations until we reach El Mirador, a wonderful spot at 2,860 m (9,381 ft) with exceptional views of Machu Picchu. 

We’ll then continue on towards the Inca site of Llaqtapata, which was discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1912, but only extensively explored and mapped in 2003. Llaqtapata&r...

To best appreciated Machu Picchu, we’ll wake up early in the morning so we can get to the citadel in good time. You’ll have time for breakfast first, and then your guide will pick you up from the hotel at around 5:40 a.m. We’ll then walk to the bus departure point for the short but zigzagging ascent up the road to Machu Picchu. 

We’ll then pass through the gates into the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Here you’ll begin your guided walking ...