Self-Launched Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek
12 days · Peru
Much Better Adventures charges £2,195
No-markup version: ~£890 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 12-day version of the classic Choquequirao-to-Machu-Picchu route: acclimatise in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, then tackle the remote, permit-free trail to the 'sacred sister' of Machu Picchu before finishing at the citadel itself. You arrange your own guide locally in Cachora, hire mules and an arriero for the trek, camp along the way, then finish with the train from Hidroelectrica/Santa Teresa to Aguas Calientes. Costs are approximate backpacker/independent-traveller estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Cusco & acclimatise
Cusco
Fly into Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) and take a taxi or the airport shuttle into the historic centre. Check into a budget hostel or guesthouse a few minutes' walk from the Plaza de Armas. Cusco sits at ~3,400m, so take it easy: stroll the cobbled streets, eat light (try a bowl of quinoa soup or a lomo saltado), and drink plenty of coca tea. Spend the evening organising your trek — visit a local trekking agency in the centre to confirm a guide and mules for the Choquequirao route, or arrange it in Cachora directly.
🚌Airport taxi ~£6; local buses around town ~£0.30/ride
🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse in Cusco centro (dorm ~£9 or private ~£22)
- →Plaza de Armas wander
- →Coca tea & altitude acclimatisation
- →Book local trek guide/mules
Sacred Valley acclimatisation day
Pisac & Ollantaytambo
Take a colectivo or shared minibus from Cusco to Pisac (~1h, ~£2), then explore the Pisac ruins and market. Continue by colectivo to Ollantaytambo (~1.5h, ~£3) to see its fortress and cobbled Inca streets. Optional add-on: a llama/alpaca farm visit near Cusco. Return to Cusco by evening bus. The walking around the sites doubles as gentle altitude training. Note: to visit both Pisac and Ollantaytambo ruins you can buy the Boleto Turistico del Valle Sagrado (~£25) or pay per-site (~£10-12 each) — check current rates at the Cusco tourist office.
🚌Colectivos Cusco-Pisac-Ollantaytambo-Cusco ~£7 total
🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse in Cusco
- →Pisac ruins & market
- →Ollantaytambo fortress
- →Optional llama/alpaca farm
Cusco to Cachora & trek to Chiquisca
Cachora / Chiquisca
Travelling public: take an early bus from Cusco to Abancay and get off at Cachora (~3.5-4h, ~£5-7), the gateway village to Choquequirao. Meet your local guide and mule team here (arriero + mule roughly £20-25/day, shared between 2-4 trekkers). Hike down to Capuliyoc (2,915m) for the first views of the Apurimac canyon, then descend ~5-6 hours to the Chiquisca campsite (1,900m).
🚌Public bus Cusco-Cachora ~£5-7
🛏Wild camp at Chiquisca (own tent / rented camping gear)
- →Cachora trailhead
- →Capuliyoc viewpoint
- →Descent to Chiquisca camp
Chiquisca to Choquequirao
Choquequirao
A big day: drop to the bottom of the Apurimac canyon (Playa Rosalina, ~1,550m), cross the river on the bridge, then climb steeply for several hours. Stop for lunch at Maranpata (2,850m) for your first views of the Choquequirao terraces, then continue up to camp just below the ruins at ~3,150m. Around 8-9 hours of walking.
🚌On foot
🛏Wild camp near Choquequirao ruins
- →Apurimac canyon crossing
- →Maranpata viewpoint
- →Camp below the ruins
Explore Choquequirao
Choquequirao
Spend the morning exploring the vast, rarely-visited citadel — the llama-adorned terraces, plazas and temples receive a tiny fraction of Machu Picchu's visitors. Little-known fact: arrival is normally free, but check locally as a paid ticket (a few pounds) has been proposed/introduced. After exploring, cross the Abra Choquequirao pass (~3,300m) with views to the Vilcabamba range and Choquetacarpo glacier, then descend to camp at Pinchuyniyoc.
🚌On foot
🛏Wild camp at Pinchuyniyoc
- →Full tour of Choquequirao citadel
- →Abra Choquequirao pass
- →Vilcabamba range views
Pinchuyniyoc to Maizal
Maizal
Long steep descent to the Rio Blanco (~2,000m) — a great spot for a swim while lunch is prepared — then a tough zig-zag climb up to the Maizal clearing (~2,950m). Around 6-7 hours. Note: some sections may require use of fixed cables/ropes; check trail conditions locally.
🚌On foot
🛏Wild camp at Maizal
- →Rio Blanco swim stop
- →Climb through cloud forest to Maizal
Maizal to Yanama
Yanama
Climb through cloud forest to the old Victoria Mines (~4,000m), then on to the Abra San Juan pass (~4,130m) — a good spot to watch for Andean condors. Descend to the village of Yanama (~3,600m) where you can camp (often in a local family's grounds) or find a basic village hospedaje. Around 8-9 hours.
🚌On foot
🛏Wild camp / basic village hospedaje at Yanama
- →Victoria Mines
- →Abra San Juan pass (condor spotting)
- →Yanama village camp
Yanama to Totora
Totora
Climb to the Yanama Pass (~4,670m) — the highest point of the trek — passing waterfalls and small homesteads, with a steep final section and views of Salkantay ('Savage Mountain'). Then a long descent to camp at Totora (~3,450m). Around 8-10 hours; start early.
🚌On foot
🛏Wild camp at Totora
- →Yanama Pass (highest point, ~4,670m)
- →Salkantay views
- →Long descent to Totora
Totora to Lucmabamba (coffee & hot springs)
Lucmabamba / Cocalmayo
Take a shared local van (colectivo) to Colpapampa, the trailhead for today's hike (~£2-3). Follow the Santa Teresa River through lush rainforest past a beautiful waterfall to camp at Lucmabamba. In the afternoon, tour a small coffee plantation (taste and buy fresh beans) and soak in the Cocalmayo thermal baths (~£2-3 entry). Around 5-6 hours walking.
🚌Colectivo Totora-Colpapampa ~£2-3
🛏Wild camp / basic guesthouse at Lucmabamba
- →Rainforest waterfall trail
- →Coffee plantation tour
- →Cocalmayo hot springs
Llactapata to Aguas Calientes
Llactapata / Aguas Calientes
Trek through the rainforest up to the Llactapata Inca complex (~2,700m) for your first distant glimpse of Machu Picchu. Descend for lunch at the hydroelectric station, then either walk ~2-3 hours along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes (free) or take the train (~30 min). Note: trains from Hidroelectrica can be expensive and sometimes only sold locally; the walk along the river is a popular budget option. Check in to a budget hotel in Aguas Calientes and celebrate.
🚌On foot; optional train Hidroelectrica-Aguas Calientes ~£20-30 or free riverside walk
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Aguas Calientes
- →Llactapata ruins & first Machu Picchu view
- →Riverside walk or scenic train
- →Aguas Calientes evening
Machu Picchu & return to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Cusco
Take the shuttle bus up to Machu Picchu (round trip ~£20). Entry tickets must be booked in advance online, around £35-45 depending on circuit (Circuit 2 or 3). A local guide on site costs roughly £25-35 per group — split between a few travellers. After the visit, take the bus back down. Return to Ollantaytambo by train (PeruRail/Inca Rail, ~£55-70) or via Hidroelectrica, then bus/colectivo on to Cusco (~£5). Back in Cusco by night.
🚌Machu Picchu shuttle bus ~£20; train to Ollantaytambo ~£55-70; bus to Cusco ~£5
🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse in Cusco
- →Machu Picchu entry & self-arranged guide
- →Bus up to the citadel
- →Return train to Ollantaytambo & bus to Cusco
Depart Cusco
Cusco
Enjoy a final breakfast, do any last-minute shopping in the San Pedro Market, then take a taxi to the airport for your onward flight. If time allows, an extra acclimatisation night or two in Lima's Miraflores district is a nice way to break up the journey.
🚌Airport taxi ~£6
🛏None (departure day)
- →San Pedro Market souvenir shopping
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Much Better Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Much Better Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£890 | £2,195 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,305 per person (59%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Much Better Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£890
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £890 per person for 12 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 Much Better Adventures?+
Yes — Much Better Adventures charges around £2,195 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £890 — a saving of roughly £1,305 (59%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 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, culture 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?
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