Upon arrival at Lima International Airport you’ll be met by an Atelier representative who will assist you. Before hotel check-in, get a snapshot of life in Lima and enjoy dramatic coastal views from upmarket San Isidro and Miraflores Districts. Note: If you prefer, we can either extend your stay in Lima, the Gastronomical Capital of South America, or arrange a brief stay at Lima’s Airport hotels for quick rest before your connection to Cusco.

Your first full day of this exciting tour takes you to Cusco. You’ll fly to Cusco from Lima and, after checking into your Cusco hotel. The rest of the day is left at leisure to get acclimatized and to explore the Cusco Downtown and its magnificent streets and Inca walls. At the fixed time, you’ll be briefed in your hotel about your adventure to Choquequirao, where you will receive final recommendations for this unforgettable trek to one of the last Inca refugees.

Today begins with a 4-hour drive from Cusco to your trailhead on the outskirts of the high-Andean village of Cachora, in the Apurimac Valley. It’s a magnificent introduction to this trek, as you wind your way through the wilderness and enjoy endless panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, gushing rivers and thick forest. Having made a descent into the Apurimac Canyon, your ultimate destination will be Chikiska, a small settlement complete with valley views to spend the night.

As you continue to hike this morning, the ruins of Choquequirao become gradually visible in the distance – a stirring sight. First, you’ll trek alongside the Apurimac River and to the isolated communities of Santa Rosa and Maranpata to get a feel for life in the valley. There will be inclines and rough terrain to navigate on this section of the trek, though all effort to conquer these ancient pathways is rewarded with beautiful surrounding plant life like bromeliads, orchids and bamboo, plus plenty of birds and those inspiring valley views to admire, too. After a strenuous though exhilarating day on your feet, rest comes at a camp beside the stunning ruins of Choquequirao itself.

Discovering Choquequirao is a special experience for many reasons, one of which being the relative lack of tourists who visit this remarkable archeological site. The site itself remained hidden from Spanish conquistadors and the centuries since, until Hiram Bingham uncovered the ruins before reaching Machu Picchu in the early 20th Century. This morning, having camped nearby last night, you can explore Choquequirao’s main plaza, ritual baths, terraces and carved llama inlays on the ancient walls at your own pace. The ruins are located on a hillside 1,600m above the Apurimac River below, making for spellbinding valley views from this vantage point. After a day of discovery, overnight beside the ruins – under the stars.

This day of your Choquequirao and Machu Picchu Tour is a tough – though scenic – day of hiking, beginning with 1,400m descent to the newly uncovered ruins of Picha Unuyoc. Having explored the site, you’ll then follow the path of the Rio Blanco before a 1,200m ascent to Maizal, your elevated campsite for this evening.

Fully rested, yesterday’s efforts are rewarded with yet more incredible views today, as you reach the highest point of the trek, the the Abra San Juan mountain pass, and look out across the Cordillera Vilcabamba mountaintops filling the horizon and dramatic drops to the valley floor below. Along the way, hike past old silver mines and mixed terrain until reaching the village of Yanama. Here, an awaiting vehicle will take you over the Totora pass to the small village of Lucmabamba for the night.

Your final day of hiking is as memorable as the rest, walking through verdant cloud forests along a section of the original Inca Trail – eventually leading to the fantastically well-preserved Inca ruins of Llactapata, one of the most iconic ancient sites in Peru. Arriving at Llactapata, you can explore this archeological site in all its splendor, complexity and preservation, a superb example of Inca construction and agricultural techniques. After a guided tour of the ruins and time spent enjoying the valley views, you’ll continue through lush vegetation and finally catch a rare glimpse of Machu Picchu itself in the distance, unforgettable. Later, walk through forested trails, past coffee plantations and on to board a scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes, where a unique property is your home for the evening.

The climax of your trip is to visit Machu Picchu itself, the ancient Lost City of the Inca. Having taken an early morning transfer to the Citadel gates, you can then look forward to a private guided tour and an afternoon at leisure around the Lost City. Having explored and digested this legendary place, hop to the town of Aguas Calientes and a panoramic train towards Cusco, through the Sacred Valley on one of the most scenic train journeys in South America. Assistance and transfer to your hotel upon arrival.

As your trip draws to a close, you may have time for one final walk around the area before your onward flight to Lima from Cusco and home, full of priceless memories of Peru.