Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Express — Self-Launched
6 days · Peru
G Adventures charges £770
No-markup version: ~£360 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic 6-day Choquequirao trek, finishing at Machu Picchu. You'll hike the remote Choquequirao ruins — far quieter than Machu Picchu — using local collectivos, a hired arriero (muleteer) or independent trekking arrangements, then ride the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and visit Machu Picchu with a self-booked entrance ticket and entry circuit. Costs are approximate and based on backpacker/budget traveller rates in GBP; the Choquequirao trek does not require a permit, so you can book everything yourself and hike independently or with a locally hired guide and mule support in Cusco.
Day-by-day
Arrive Cusco & acclimatise
Cusco
Fly into Cusco (Alejandro Velasco Astete, ~£40-90 from Lima) and take a taxi or airport bus to your hostel in the historic centre (~£4). Day 1 is a rest and acclimatisation day — Cusco sits at 3,400m, so drink coca tea, walk slowly and eat light. In the afternoon, visit San Pedro market for supplies and call into one of the trekking agencies around Calle Plateros or Avenida Pardo to arrange mule support/arriero and a cook if you want one for the Choquequirao trail (or simply buy a topographic map and go fully independent). Pick up a Machu Picchu entrance ticket and train timetable while you're here.
🚌Airport taxi (~£4), walking in town
🛏Hostel in Cusco historic centre (dorm ~£10-14/night)
- →Acclimatisation walk around Plaza de Armas and San Blas
- →San Pedro market supply run
- →Arrange trek logistics / mule support in Cusco
- →Optional: Cusco city tour (~£10)
Cusco to Capuliyoc — trek begins
Capuliyoc to Santa Rosa (Choquequirao trail)
Leave Cusco around 4am on a shared collectivo or minibus to San Pedro de Cachora (~4 hours, ~£8-10 per person; book through your hostel or the bus office the day before). Grab breakfast in Cachora, then take a local taxi or shared ride 30 minutes to Capuliyoc (~£3), the trailhead at 2,900m. From here it's a spectacular descending hike into the Apurimac canyon — around 4-5 hours down to Santa Rosa camp (1,900m). The trail is well marked and busy enough in season to follow. Camp at Santa Rosa or stay in a basic trailside hospedaje.
🚌Shared minibus Cusco–Cachora (~£9), local taxi Cachora–Capuliyoc (~£3)
🛏Camping at Santa Rosa (bring tent or hire ~£8/night with mule support); basic hospedaje ~£6
- →Sunrise transfer through the Andes
- →Descend into the Apurimac canyon
- →Camp at Santa Rosa
Climb to Marampata & explore Choquequirao
Marampata & Choquequirao ruins
Breakfast at camp, then hike 2 hours up to Marampata (2,900m) — a small village with a couple of simple hospedajes and a campsite. Drop your bags, then continue 2 hours through cloud forest and condor country to the Choquequirao archaeological site. Entrance to Choquequirao costs around £5-6 (25 soles) and is paid at the trailhead or the site. Wander the terraces, the famous llama carvings and the upper plaza — you'll likely have large sections almost to yourself. Return to Marampata for the night. Self-guided is entirely feasible with a guidebook or an app; a local guide in Marampata can be hired for ~£15-20 if you want the history.
🚌Hiking
🛏Campsite or hospedaje at Marampata (~£6-8)
- →Hike Marampata
- →Explore Choquequirao ruins (entrance ~£5)
- →Condor spotting over the canyon
Descend to Chiquisca
Marampata to Chiquisca
Early breakfast in Marampata, then a long descent back down into the canyon to Chiquisca (~4-5 hours). It's hot and dusty — start early, carry plenty of water and refill at the small tiendas along the way. Settle into a basic campsite or hospedaje at Chiquisca (1,900m) and spend the afternoon resting your knees by the river.
🚌Hiking
🛏Campsite or hospedaje at Chiquisca (~£5-7)
- →Canyon descent
- →River swim / rest afternoon
Back to Cachora, bus to Ollantaytambo, train to Aguas Calientes
Chiquisca – Cachora – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
Early start for the final climb back up to San Pedro de Cachora (~3 hours). Have lunch in Cachora, then take a shared minibus/collectivo to Ollantaytambo (~2.5-3 hours, ~£7-9). From Ollantaytambo catch the PeruRail or Inca Rail train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) — book ahead online, roughly £55-75 one way for the standard service. Check into a hostel in Aguas Calientes and buy your bus ticket up to Machu Picchu for the morning (~£10 each way) or plan to walk up.
🚌Shared minibus Cachora–Ollantaytambo (~£8), train Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes (~£60)
🛏Hostel in Aguas Calientes (dorm ~£12-18/night)
- →Final canyon climb
- →Scenic train ride along the Urubamba river
- →Evening soak in Aguas Calientes hot springs (~£3)
Machu Picchu & return to Cusco
Machu Picchu & Cusco
Wake early, take the first buses up (~5:30am) or walk the steps from town. Your Machu Picchu entrance ticket must be booked online in advance (around £40-45 including a circuit; Circuit 2 is the popular classic view). Enter with the timed slot and explore the citadel — hire a guide at the gate (~£10-15 shared) or use an audio guide. Allow 3-4 hours, then bus back down and catch the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy (~£60-75), followed by a shared van or bus to Cusco (~£4-6). Trip ends on arrival in Cusco — book onward flights no earlier than 20:30.
🚌Bus up/down Machu Picchu (~£20 return), train to Ollantaytambo (~£65), shared van to Cusco (~£5)
🛏Own arrangements (not included)
- →Sunrise entry to Machu Picchu
- →Self-guided or locally hired guide tour of the citadel
- →Optional: Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain climb (pre-booked)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£360 | £770 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £410 per person (53%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£360
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Express — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £360 per person for 6 days in Peru. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £770 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £360 — a saving of roughly £410 (53%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Peru.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, backpacker trip through Peru, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.