DAYS | 9
REG FEE | £490
MINIMUM SPONSORSHIP | £2,740
DIFFICULTY | Challenging
DATE | Aug 2025
THE TREK
Find yourself speechless as you reach the fabled ruins of Machu Picchu, nestled amongst lush forest, emerging from the mysterious mist that surrounds its peaks. Departing from the bustling colonial mountain-town of Cusco, you will hike through stunning mountain passes, jungle trails and past sacred mountains to reach your final stop, one of the most iconic New Seven Wonders of the World, camping under the stars and taking in the epic scenery along the way.
This is a multi-day trek through diverse ecosystems, led by experienced guides, climbing steep mountain passes with several hours of trekking each day as you follow the breathtaking Salkantay route to the Lost City. Tough, but truly rewarding, this challenge will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.
Our trips are inclusive of accommodation, meals, flights, transport and more, so all you need to do is focus on the challenge ahead!
DATES
2025
DERBY, EXETER, NOTTINGHAM, LINCOLN, BRISTOL, WARWICK, BATH, LOUGHBOROUGH
| DATE | REG FEE | MINIMUM SPONSORSHIP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Aug 2025 | £490 | £2,740 | BOOK NOW |
THE ITINERARY
DAY 1: DEPARTURE
You will depart from London on a long-haul flight to Cusco with at least one stop. *Please note that you may have more than one change en-route, including the possibility of an overnight stay in Lima.
DAY 2: ARRIVAL AND ORIENTATION
You will be met in Cusco by a Choose a Challenge representative and transferred to your hostel in the centre of Cusco. There will be a short briefing before your free afternoon in which you can explore Cusco and acclimatise to your new altitude of 3,400m. Hostel accommodation. Dinner included.
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DAY 3: FREE DAY IN CUSCO
Today, you are free to explore the beautiful town of Cusco. There are optional day trips available, so please ask your guides for more information (these may incur an extra cost). You will be given your
8kg duffel bags to pack in the evening, in preparation for your trek the following day. Hostel accommodation. Breakfast and dinner included.
DAY 4: TREK DAY 1
Depart for Marcojasa where you will start your trek, having lunch along the way, and following the path along the aqueduct to Soraypampa (3,760m). You will arrive into your campsite at Soraypampa in mid-to-late afternoon. Tented accommodation. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
DAY 5: TREK DAY 2
Today is an acclimatisation day, so you will ascend from your camp in Soraypampa to Laguna Humantay, one of the most beautiful lakes in the region at the base of the Humantay Glacier (4,200m). You will descend back to camp for lunch before a 2-hour trek to your next camp at Salktantaypampa. Tented accommodation. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
DAY 6: TREK DAY 3
After breakfast, you will depart on a long and tough ascent towards Abra Salkantay, the mountain pass at an altitude of 4,650m. The views will be spectacular with the looming hulk of the sacred mountain,
Nevado Salkantay, dominating the glaciated valley through which you pass. You will spend a short time at the top of the pass for snacks and rest, before descending to Wayracmachay where you will have lunch. In the afternoon, you will make a slow and steep descent to Collpapamapa (2,900m). Tented accommodation. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
DAY 7: TREK DAY 4
After breakfast, you will continue down the Santa Teresa Valley, taking small breaks as you walk very close to the river, completing the day with a 6km walk along the road to your campsite at Lucmabamba (2,100m). From here you will have fantastic views over Peru’s coffee plantations and fruit trees. At dinner your guides will show you how the local coffee is made - you’ll be able to taste freshly-made coffee from the bean! Tented accommodation. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
DAY 8: TREK DAY 5
On your penultimate trekking day, you will take a steep and humid climb through the jungle up to Llactapata. You will spend some time here, learning about the history of the Inca and the surrounding
mountains. If you look very closely you can spot part of Machu Picchu in the distance. You will then descend into the Aobamba Valley for lunch at the hydroelectric plant. After lunch, you will trek alongside the rail tracks, following this route for around 3 hours. You will arrive into Aguas Calientes (1,900m), the town at the base of Machu Picchu, in the late afternoon. Tented accommodation. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
DAY 9: TREK DAY 6
You will have a light breakfast before setting off to ascend up the steep steps to the ruins of Machu Picchu. You will have an optional guided tour of Machu Picchu before having time to explore the Lost City of the Incas yourself. Then, choose to walk back down to Aguas Calientes or hop on the bus (at an additional cost). On your return, you will have a late lunch and then free time to explore Aguas Calientes. You will catch an early evening train back to Ollantatytambo and arrive back to Cusco in the late evening. Hostel
accommodation. Breakfast and lunch included.
DAY 10/EXTENSION DAY - DEPENDING ON YOUR TRAVEL OPTION
If you’ve chosen to come home early you will depart for the UK, arriving the following day. Those on our ‘without flights’ travel option are free to continue on your own itinerary after breakfast. If you’ll be joining us on our extension trip you will depart on the extension trip today! Breakfast included.
“I had an absolutely unbelievable time on the Machu Picchu trek, everyone was really friendly, including all the guides, chefs and the Choose a Challenge team. It was a great way to meet new people and raise money for charity.”
WAYS TO PAY
To get started on your challenge, you’ll need to pay your registration fee and pick your fundraising plan. You can choose to pay an additional instalment toward your trip costs in exchange for a reduction in your fundraising target - we call this a ‘flexi payment’.
REG. FEE (£490): paid upon sign-up, or opt to split this into two instalments of £245. Splitting your reg. fee will incur a small admin fee of £25.
FLEXI PAYMENT: you pick how much - paid 10 weeks before departure. Your flexi payment will automatically customise your fundraising target. We’ve detailed your options below.
Prices including flights:
OPTION ONE
Reg fee
TBC
Flexi payment
£0
Fundraise
TBC
OPTION TWO
Reg fee
TBC
Flexi payment
£395
Fundraise
TBC
OPTION THREE
OPTION FOUR
Reg fee
TBC
Flexi payment
£595
Fundraise
TBC
Reg fee
TBC
Flexi payment
£795
Fundraise
TBC
Prices excluding flights:
OPTION ONE
Reg fee
TBC
Flexi payment
£0
Fundraise
TBC
OPTION TWO
Reg fee
TBC
Flexi pAyment
£195
Fundraise
TBC
OPTION THREE
Reg fee
TBC
Flexi payment
£395
Fundraise
TBC
When taking on a challenge with us, you can rest assured that all of the money you fundraise throughout the year will go directly to the charity you are supporting. Once you hit that all important fundraising target and your place on the challenge is confirmed, the charity will use this money to cover the remaining costs of your challenge as well as to further the vital services that they provide. All of our challenges operate on a minimum 50:50 cost to donation ratio and 100% of any Gift Aid or funds that you raise above your target will stay with your charity.
CHALLENGE EXTENSION: AMAZON EXPLORER
Days: 5 Registration Fee: £95 Cost: £555
Included: all accommodation and transfers, meals as per itinerary and English speaking guides.
Become an explorer on our Machu Picchu trip extension, discovering the truly spectacular Amazon rainforest, enjoying a twilight river cruise surrounded by incredible wildlife and making your way along the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway - just a few highlights of this unforgettable trip!
ITINERARY
DAY 1: MARAS & MORAY
You will be collected from your accommodation in Cusco early in the morning, and transferred through the Andean peaks to the stunning Inca archaeological site of Moray. The concentric terraces appear much like an amphitheatre, and their unique shape produces vast temperature differences between their terraces, thought to have been used by the Inca to determine the optimal conditions for growing crops. Then, it’s off to Maras, to explore the 3,000 salt pools carved into the mountainside at the mines there. Return to Cusco for your overnight stay in your hostel. Accommodation in multi-share rooms. Breakfast included.
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DAY 2: FREE DAY IN CUSCO, TRANSFER TO PEURTO MALDONADO
Today, you’ll have one final free day in Cusco to explore it’s varied and exciting sites. The capital city of the Inca Empire has so much to see - you’ll never want to leave! In the evening, you’ll transfer to the bus station for your comfortable overnight bus transfer to Puerto Maldonado. Breakfast included. Overnight bus.
DAY 3: AMAZON TRAIL WALK
On arrival in Puerto Maldonado, you’ll be picked up and transferred to your accommodation, in the heart of the rainforest. After you’ve settled, you’ll go on a trail walk in the Amazon surrounding your field camp accommodation, and a twilight river cruise along the Madre de Dios River and in search of the stunning wildlife that inhabits the area. Shared field camp accommodation. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
DAY 4: CANOPY WALK & CARACHAMA
The Inkaterra Canopy Walkway is a 1,129ft long system of walkways, bridges, and observation towers within the Amazon rainforest. You’ll spend half the day today exploring the canopy and in search of exotic birds and other wildlife. Then, it’s over to the Carachamayo natural water pool, where you’ll learn about the natural ecosystem where these waterholes are found, and learn about the traditional Peruvian fshing techniques. On your final night in the Amazon, you’ll also take in the rainforest by night you’ll tune up your senses to identify the sounds of the birds, mammals and insects that roam the forest at night. Shared field camp accommodation. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
DAY 5: RETURN TO THE UK
This morning, you’ll transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Please note that depending on your departure airport, your transfer may be either via bus or via domestic flight. Breakfast included, in-flight meals.
Take a look at our Machu Picchu Challenge Info Pack for further details or get in touch to add our trip extension to your challenge!
Not quite what you’re looking for?
or get in touch with the Choose a Challenge team.
