Overview
About Sliabh Hiking
Sliabh Hiking was founded by April Brophy in 2022. The Sliabh ethos is all about embracing the beauty of the mountains, getting closer to nature, meeting new people and learning new skills along the way.
The Sliabh Hiking Community has grown as a supportive and safe space that welcomes all levels to join along adventures in the hills.
Their mission is for people to enjoy the hills, push themselves a little further on adventures and be part of an outdoor community that brings nothing but smiles and joy.
Trekking Machu Picchu
We are the only company in the world who have an expedition leader and doctor on all Machu Picchu expeditions while keeping group sizes sustainably small. Established in 2007, we offer high-altitude trekking and mountaineering in some of the most breathtaking locations around the world.
Our 14-day itinerary includes 9 days of trekking through the Peruvian Andes. We want to give you the ultimate Inca experience, trekking to Machu Picchu and taking in its lesser-known sister city Choquequirao. Our adventure begins with a stunning trek around Cusco. From Cusco we drive deep into the Andes and begin our trek – our first port of call is Choquequirao.
Choquequirao is twice the size of Machu Picchu, however because of its remote location it is much less visited than Machu Picchu by trekkers. From Choquequirao, we trek along a stunning trail for several days to reach Machu Picchu. We trek over two high passes (4,150m & 4,668m) and follow the meandering trails through lush jungle. At several natural viewing points along the trek, we are treated to inspiring views of the snow-capped peaks of Humantay (5,700 m) and Salkantay (6,271 m). We frequently come across traditional villages, where we get to interact with the wonderful locals.
We take time to visit a coffee farm, where we pick coffee cherries and learn about traditional coffee growing traditions. The coffee is roasted over an open fire before we sit back to enjoy the natural hot spring under the stars. We rise early to get the first bus to Machu Picchu to begin our guided tour of the ancient site. After the two-hour hike around the site we take the steep trail up Machu Picchu Mountain. After this, we trek for a further two hours to reach the summit. The beautiful views makes the added effort more than worthwhile.
Our Itinerary
This itinerary is perfect for anyone looking for a challenging trek. You will be immersed in ancient Inca and modern Peruvian culture. At the end of the trek we have a free day which you can spend relaxing in Cusco. Alternatively, you can opt for an incredible day trip to Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) which is a very special experience. Our itinerary goes a lot further off the beaten track than most standard Inca trail tours. See the trip itinerary below, or read our blog post about the new route.
Itinerary
Day 2
Arrive in Cusco (3,400m)
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Arrive in Cusco. Relax or explore the city. Full expedition brief in the afternoon.
Day 3
Acclimatisation hike in Cusco (3,700m), 5 hrs trekking. Transfer to Wajaqui Ecolodge (3,330m).
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Guided hike around Cusco to take in the sights. Transfer to Wajaqui Ecolodge (3,330m) for a traditional lunch and relax for the afternoon.
Day 4
Wajaqui Ecolodge to Cachora to Playa Rosalina (1,640m), 6 hrs trekking.
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We depart Wajaqui Ecolodge in the early morning and drive to reach our trailhead at Cachora (2850m). We trek to our campsite at Playa Rosalina, sitting on the banks of the roaring Apurimac River.
Day 5
Playa Rosalina to Choquequirao (3,000m), 10 hrs trekking.
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In the morning we have a tough climb from the Apurimac River to reach Marampata, which offers stunning views of Choquequirao. From there we follow an undulating trail cut into the mountain side to reach our campsite below Choquequirao.
Day 6
Choquequirao to Pinchiunuyocc (2,400m), 4 hrs trekking.
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We climb for less than an hour to reach Choquequirao, taking in Hauqaypata (main plaza), Urin (upper square), the priest's house, Ushno (ceremonial platform) and the vast network of irrigation channels. In the afternoon we continue our trek to Pinchiunuyocc.
Day 7
Pinchiunuyocc to Maizal (3,000m), 7 hrs trekking.
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We first descend to the Rio Blanco and then have another tough climb through cloud forest to reach Maizal.
Day 8
Maizal to Yanama (3,850m), 9 hrs trekking.
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Today’s trail takes us over Victoria Pass (4,150m) which offers stunning views of the snow-capped peaks of Humantay (5,700m) and Salkantay (6,271m).
Day 9
Yanama to Totora (3,500m), 10 hrs trekking.
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Another stunning day as we reach the highest point on our journey, the Yanama Pass (4,668m) where we might be lucky enough to spot some condor.
Day 10
Totora to Santa Teresa (1,550m), 7 hrs trekking.
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Today is a special day on our adventure as we visit a coffee farm and bathe in hot springs in the evening!
Day 11
Santa Teresa to Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes (2,040m), 4 hrs trekking.
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After driving to Hydroelectric station we enjoy a beautiful walk alongside the train tracks through the thick forest.
Day 12
Machu Picchu Day, 5-7 hrs trekking.
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Visit Machu Picchu very early in the morning and enjoy a guided tour of the ruins followed by a hike up the steep steps of Machu Picchu Mountain. Take some time to explore by yourself before we head back to Aguas Calientes.
Day 13
Aguas Calientes to Cusco.
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Take the train back to Cusco in the morning. Time to do some last minute shopping in the Cusco markets before a celebratory dinner in the evening.
Day 14
Free day in Cusco or Rainbow Mountain day tour.
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Enjoy a free day in Cusco to explore at your leisure or take a day trip to Rainbow Mountain.
Facts
Machu Picchu Expedition Costs, Inclusions and Payment Schedule
- Secure your place with a €399 deposit
- A part payment of €1,000 is due six months before departure
- The remaining balance is payable by instalments or in full
- All fees are due three months prior to departure
- Total expedition cost is detailed above
Your Expedition Fees Include The Following:
- Experienced expedition leader
- Dedicated expedition doctor
- Pre-departure training weekend
- Earth's Edge team of guides, cooks and support team
- All accommodation is based on twin sharing in Wajaqui Ecolodge, in hotels in Cusco, and Aguas Calientes, and camping elsewhere
- Use of state-of-the-art tents and Thermarests
- All meals and water, except in Cusco and Aguas Calientes where accommodation is based on B&B
- A celebratory dinner at the end of the expedition
- Transport throughout the expedition
- Entry ticket to the Machu Picchu site with a fully guided tour of the ruins
- Entry ticket for Machu Picchu Mountain
- All group gear consisting of a fully stocked med kit including an oxygen tank
- Earth's Edge buff
Flights
Please consult us before booking your flights to ensure you arrive in time for the expedition briefing on the first day. It’s essential you do not miss this meeting.
Want more information on our Machu Picchu trek?
Contact us on support@earths-edge.com to request your free:
- Machu Picchu Information Pack (including detailed itinerary)
- Machu Picchu Fitness & Training Guide
- Machu Picchu Equipment List
Are you looking for even more information on this expedition? We have lots of extra insight into our Machu Picchu trips on the blog.
