Choquequirao Trek is a package designed for tourists who want to have more time to visit the ruins of Choquequirao and discover at a slower pace one of the last residences of the Incas. This wonder of history is not only famous for its Inca constructions but is also complemented by natural beauty in perfect harmony.
Also considered the Second Machu Picchu, it is an archaeological gem hidden in the high jungle of Peru. Like Machupicchu, the Spanish never discovered Choquequirao. You will find a different masonry of rock architecture used by the Incas that has managed to remain standing all these years.
Choquequirao Trek is a package designed for tourists who want to have more time to visit the ruins of Choquequirao and discover at a slower pace one of the last residences of the Incas. This wonder of history is not only famous for its Inca constructions but is also complemented by natural beauty in perfect harmony.
You will have a thorough briefing with your guide 1 or 2 days before your Choquequirao Trek. Your guide will meet you at our office in Cusco and you can take this opportunity to ask questions and make any final preparations.
We will pick up from hotel at 5:30 am to have 4-hour driving to Capuliyuc (2,900m/9,512 ft), the beginning of the trail. At this place we’ll meet up our muleteers, and horses, where we’ll get ready for the Choquequirao trek.
We’ll start with our adventure, hiking for about 2 hours on a downhill trail to get the lunch spot called Chiquisca located at (1,900 m/6,213 ft), with stunning views of the snowcapped mountains of the Vilcabamba mountain range, and the great Apurimac canyon. At Chiquisca, we’ll enjoy our just prepared the delicious lunch.
After having lunch, we’ll hike for 1 more hour to get the first camp site called La Playa Rosalina (1,500m / 4,920 ft), in which we’ll spend the first night. In the evening we have tea time, subsequently dinner.
After an early breakfast, we will begin our hike crossing the Apurimac River and then we will have 4 hours uphill with zigzags. On the way you will pass through some sugar cane plantations, it is also possible to see some condors and abundant flora and fauna. This climb is one of the most challenging parts of the hike to Choquequirao. Once we arrive at Marampata, where our lunch location will be, here we will have time to rest and enjoy our lunch.
After lunch, we continue the last stretch for 2 hours to the Choquequirao Camp. This section is one of the best because we will have incredible views from the summit to the Apurimac canyon, Choquequirao ruins and if we are lucky we can see the spectacled bear.
If you still have some energy left, you can walk 30 minutes to enjoy the sunset from the Inca site of Choquequirao.
After our breakfast, we will visit the magnificent archaeological site of Choquequirao throughout the day. These ruins are three times larger than Machu Picchu and new sections are constantly being discovered, hidden under the dense jungle. Enjoy the private guided tour and explore all the beautiful sections of the temples, terraces, palaces, the llama section and much more.
Choquequirao means “Cradle of Gold” in the Quechua Inca language, although this is probably not its original name. It is considered another “Lost City of the Incas” officially rediscovered at the end of the 20th century. It is located atop a ridge nearly (3,150 m/10,397 ft) above the raging, glacier-fed Apurimac River and is surrounded by the towering snow-capped peaks of Salkantay and Humantay. Excavations and restoration of the 1,810 hectare site began in the 1990s and it is estimated that only 40% of the site has been restored to date.
After our exhaustive explorations, we will return for 1 hour to our Marampata camp. Enjoy your last night next to these magical ruins, under an incredible sky of southern stars.
After an early breakfast, we will continue our return walk along the same way, we will make a steep descent to the Apurimac River (Playa Rosalina) for almost 2.5 hours, where we enjoy our lunch and after a break, in the afternoon we will have a 2 hours walk up approximately to arrive at the Chiquisca camp (1,900 m/6,213 ft).
There, we will have our last dinner prepare by our trekking cook of the Choquequirao trek and rest peacefully.
After breakfast, we’ll start our last day of hiking and leave as early as possible to avoid the midday sun hindering our walk. It’ll be 3 to 4-hour climb upwards to Capuliyoc (2,900m/9,512 ft), a place where we’ll end our adventure.
At Capuliyoc, we’re once again rewarded with spectacular views then enjoy our last lunch. Then, we’ll have a farewell time to our muleteers, cook and other members who were part of our team for 4 days, and then we’ll board our private transport that will take us back to Cusco for about 4.5-hour with some stop offs on the way (we will drive through Curawasi, where the famous local tea Anis is farmed), We will arrive in Cusco at around 6 pm and drop you off at your hotel.
Prices are valid from March 2024 through January 2025. All prices quoted are $USD.
Important: Price includes up to 7 kilos of your personal belongings to be carried by the mules (NO need of extra Porter hire!).
