About this experience
If you are looking to hike to Machu Picchu away from the crowds, this truly spectacular trek is for you! Descend into the Apurimac canyon, climb back up to the fascinating ruins of Choquequirao and finish off at the magical site of Machu Picchu.
At a glance
- Duration: 216 hr
Plan your experience
Set aside 216 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Before you go
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- Suggested Packing List: Bring or Rent in Cusco: sleeping bag, hiking poles, rain pants, rain poncho, trekking boots, sandals, warm socks, sweater, thermals, hat, gloves, sun hat, sun block, sun glasses, flashlight/torch, camera, extra batteries and memory card, charger (limited to no electricity available during trek), waterproof bags for your camera, hand sanitizer, personal first aid kit, water bottle, water purification tablets or filter. Bring extra cash for snacks, water, gatorade which doubles or triples in price along the trail. Bathing suit for hot springs in Santa Teresa (this activity is available at an additional price).
- Don't forget the essentials: Original passport, visa (if applicable), insurance card, personal medications.
Local guides to help you plan
Choosing the Right Train to Machu Picchu
PeruRail or IncaRail, Vistadome or Expedition, Ollantaytambo or Poroy. The trade-offs nobody explains until you're already at the station.
Machu Picchu Day Trip From Cusco
A Machu Picchu day trip from Cusco is possible, but it requires advance entry tickets, carefully matched transport, and a very early start. Use this practical guide to choose a circuit, build a realistic schedule, compar
Machu Picchu Tickets and Circuits Guide
Choose the right Machu Picchu circuit, understand the 2026 ticket system, and avoid common booking mistakes with this practical guide to routes, identification, seasonal access, and last-minute entry.
What is included
- Pre-departure briefing
- Round Trip Tourist Bus Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu
- Lunch
- Bus Transfer Ollantaytambo to Cuzco
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- 1-night 3* Hotel Accommodation at Aguas Calientes
- Professional Bilingual Guide on trek & Machu Picchu tour
- Camping Accommodation during trek (including Basic Sleeping Pad & tent for 2 people)
- First Aid kit
- Horses to carry cooking and camping equipment plus a total of 5 kilos for each trekker. (This includes 2.5 kilos for your sleeping bag & mattress plus 2.5 kilos of personal items.
- Van Transfer Cuzco to Cachora (starting point of trek)
- Emergency oxygen bottle
- Cuzco Accommodation Pick-Up
- Meals: 7B/7L/7D & 7 snacks with typical menus (Vegetarian Option)
- Tourist Train Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
Not included
- Airport pick-up (please make your own way)
- Day 1 Breakfast, Day 8 Lunch
- Bottled water
- Sleeping Bag ($30 USD for the trek)
- Guide for bus and train transfers (these portions are on your own)
- Hot Springs Santa Teresa (20 soles)
- Optional Train transfer from Hydroelectric Station to Aguas Calientes (28 usd)
- Optional Huayna Picchu Trek (at an extra cost) must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance
- Optional Machu Picchu Mountain Hike (at an extra cost) must be booked at least 1 week in advance
- Tips (Please remember that tipping is 100% optional and depends entirely on the service you received. It is customary to give tips in Latin America, however it is NOT mandatory. If you do wish to give a tip, these are our recommended guidelines.) Guide: 80-100 soles per trekker Horsemen: 120-150 soles for each horseman from the whole group Cook: 300-350 soles for the cook from the whole group
- Note: Prices for optional activities are subject to change at any time without prior notice. Please confirm these prices before departing on the trek.
Itinerary and highlights
See the overview, available options and booking details for the experience schedule.
Meeting and pickup information
- *Please note that there is a mandatory pre-departure briefing at our Cuzco Headquarters one day prior to departure at 6 PM. You will receive detailed information on your excursion, a list of what to bring and confirm your departure details. Meeting time: 6 PM Bamba Experience is located at: Calle Matara 242, Second Floor. Cuzco, Peru Emergency Contact: Ruth: +51 984 008 440 Sekwanele: +51 961805117
Languages and tickets
- English — Guide
- Spanish — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- Bamba Travel
Meeting points and locations
Accessibility and practical details
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- Suggested Packing List: Bring or Rent in Cusco: sleeping bag, hiking poles, rain pants, rain poncho, trekking boots, sandals, warm socks, sweater, thermals, hat, gloves, sun hat, sun block, sun glasses, flashlight/torch, camera, extra batteries and memory card, charger (limited to no electricity available during trek), waterproof bags for your camera, hand sanitizer, personal first aid kit, water bottle, water purification tablets or filter. Bring extra cash for snacks, water, gatorade which doubles or triples in price along the trail. Bathing suit for hot springs in Santa Teresa (this activity is available at an additional price).
- Don't forget the essentials: Original passport, visa (if applicable), insurance card, personal medications.
- Typical Meals on the Trek: On all of our Treks to Machu Picchu we search for great cooks who provide you with the best tasting meals on the mountain, with specialty menus and the freshest local ingredients available. Here is an idea of what you will be eating during your trek. *Vegetarian Option Available Upon Request (please advise at least 2 days in advance). BREAKFASTS: Hot porridge, quinoa or oats, fried eggs, omelet or pancakes with fresh bread, fried bananas and boiled water for hot tea, coca tea, coffee, chocolate and milk. LUNCH & DINNER: First Course: Quinoa, corn, noodle, asparagus, mushroom or vegetable soup, stuffed avocado or potatoes. Second Course: Chicken breast, beef stew, quinoa, fried rice, hamburgers, fried chicken, spaghetti bolognese, typical dishes: aji de gallina (chilli pepper chicken), escabeche de pollo (marinated chicken) or ajiaco de olluco (spicy potato stew). Desserts: Fried plantains, chocolate pudding, chocolate or vanilla cake and boiled water for hot tea, coca tea, coffee, chocolate and milk. SNACKS: Boiled water for hot tea, coca tea, coffee, chocolate and milk with popcorn, cookies, crackers.
- PRE-DEPARTURE BRIEFING: There is a mandatory pre-departure briefing at our Cuzco Headquarters one day prior to departure at 5pm, 6pm or 7pm depending on your trek. You will receive detailed information on your excursion, a list of what to bring and confirm your departure details. PRE-DEPARTURE CHECK-IN: Please make sure to check-in with your passport before your pre-departure briefing. We encourage our travellers to check-in at our offices a couple of hours before or any day prior to the briefing , that way we can give everybody personal attention and information regarding booking extras, rental equipment or questions in general. Time schedule for meetings will be: - Inca Trail and Lares 6pm - Salkantay, Inca Quarry, Machu Picchu Jungle, Ausangate, Choquequirao 7pm - Inca Trail Express, Rainbow Mountain, Machu Picchu by Train, Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Full Day 5pm Bamba Experience is located at: Calle Matara 242, Second Floor. Cuzco, Peru Hours of Operation: 10:00-14:00 and 16:00-20:00 hrs Daily
- Physical Requirements: This hike is demanding, it’s important to be in very good physical condition. The elevation changes, the length of the trek, and the various high passes make the hike strenuous.
- Important: You must provide the following information upon booking: Full name (exactly as it appears on the passport), Date of Birth, Nationality, Passport Number, Date of Passport Expiry - Must be valid for at least 6 months past the date of travel. Without this information, the local tour operator will be unable to make the booking. Please be aware that your complete and correct passport information must be provided. Absolutely no modifications can be made once your booking has been confirmed. Any changes or discrepancies in the information provided will result in a complete loss of permits and entrance tickets, for which you will be held responsible and will need to pay for again
- Note: You will have a guide during the trek and on the Machu Picchu tour. However, during your bus and train transfers you will not be accompanied by a guide.
- SUGGESTED PACKING LIST: Bring or Rent in Cuzco: sleeping bag, hiking poles, rain pants, rain poncho, trekking boots, sandals, warm socks, sweater, thermals, hat, gloves, sun hat, sun block, sun glasses, flashlight/torch, camera, extra batteries and memory card, charger (limited to no electricity available during trek), waterproof bags for your camera, hand sanitizer, personal first aid kit, water bottle, water purification tablets or filter. Bring extra cash for snacks, water, gatorade which doubles or triples in price along the trail. Bathing suit for hot springs in Santa Teresa town (available at an additional price).
- DON'T FORGET THE ESSENTIALS: Original passport, visa (if applicable), insurance card, personal medications.
- As of June 11, 2022, all travelers over 18 years old must have three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. That means two regular doses plus a booster. Passengers from 12 to 17 years old must prove they are vaccinated with two doses. If they do not have a complete scheme, they must present the negative result of an RT-PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before boarding in their country of origin.
Cancellation policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Questions about this experience
How long is this experience?
What are the pickup arrangements?
Meeting time: 6 PM
Bamba Experience is located at: Calle Matara 242, Second Floor. Cuzco, Peru
Emergency Contact: Ruth: +51 984 008 440 Sekwanele: +51 961805117
Which guide languages are listed?
What ticket format is listed?
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