Tour Availability

Every Day
Arrival City

Cusco
Minimum Age

8
Maximum Age

60
Group Size

2 - 14
Difficulty

Extreme

OVERVIEW

The Classic 5 Days Choquequirao Trek is a great trek for true adventurers and trekking lovers. You will visit a place that is just as incredible as Machu Picchu, but with fewer tourists. Sounds interesting? Then this might be the perfect trek for you. Escape the crowds and explore spectacular sceneries of the impressive Choquequirao ruins!

The archaeological site of Choquequirao is surrounded by towering glacier peaks and means “the Cradle of Gold” in the native Quechua language. The Inca citadel is not as well-known as Machu Picchu, but it is three times bigger! Are you ready for your next trekking adventure?

Why not book the 5 Days Choquequirao Trek Peru only for you? We offer this trekking experience as a private session (from 2 participants), which means that you decide how many people will be in your group, and no other travelers join your group.

Choquequirao Trek

Day 1 :

CUSCO – CAPULILLOC – CHIQUISCA – PLAYA ROSALINA

Early in the morning we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and drive for approximately 3 hours to the village of Curahuasi, where we have a large breakfast. Our transportation will take us to the Capulilloc pass and on the way you will observe beautiful views of Apu Salkantay and Apu Veronica. The trek begins with a 4-hour descent, which brings us closer to the roaring Apurimic river. In Chiquisca, we will have time to rest and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our chef. We will then continue our hike until we reach our campsite at Playa Rosalina, where we will spend the night, have a delicious dinner and hot tea.

Day 2 :

ROSALINA BEACH – SANTA ROSA – MARAMPATA

Early in the morning, our team will wake you up with a hot cup of coca tea. We start our hike with a tough 3-hour climb, where we will be able to cach out first glimpses of the Choquequirao ruins. Passing by the rural villages of Santa Rosa and Marampata, we will arrive at our campsite close to the ruins. We enjoy the beautiful of the Inca citadel of Choquequirao and rest at our camp.

Day 3 :

CHOQUEQUIRAO – MARAMPATA

After a nutritious breakfast, we will finally visit the archeological site of Choquequirao, which literally means “Cradle of Gold” and used to be the control gate between the Amazon and the city of Cusco. The sacred Inca site is filled with ruins, its buildings and terraces tuck in below a flattened hilltop, leveled several hundred years ago, and circumferenced with stones to create a platform. Our guide will explain more about the history and importante of the Inca citadel, and you will have enough time to explore this incredible place by yourself. Later, we will go back to our campsite.

Day 4 :

MARANPATA – CHIQUISCA

After an early breakfast, we will leave our beautiful Marampata campsite and start the descent towards the Apurimac River and the Rosalina Beach (1520 m/4986 ft). From there we will continue hiking upwards until we reach our campsite of Chiquisca (1950 m / 6397 ft), where we will spend the night.

Day 5 :

CHIQUISQA – CAPULIYOC – CUSCO

On our final day, we will follow the trail up the walls of the canyon and toward the pass of Capuliyoc, enjoying spectacular mountain views. Arriving in Capuliyoc, we will have a delicious lunch and take our transportation back to Cusco.

Please let us know in case you would like to add an extension to Machu Picchu!

FAQ

Expand all

How difficult is the Choquequirao Trek?

Hard! This trek is not for the average hiker because you need to cross the Apurimac canyon on foot. It includes a steep ascent from the valley floor to the crest of the mountains and high cloud forests that hide the archeological site of Choquequirao. There are plenty of zigzag-turns to deal with the steep incline, but the final part towards the Choquequirao is luckily flat. Even though the Choquequirao trek is very challenging, it is definitely worth it! Besides, it is very likely that no other person will be around, and you will have the Choquequirao ruins just for yourself!

When is the best time to trek to Choquequirao?

We have two main seasons in the Andes Mountains, the rainy season (November-March) and the dry season (April-October).

During the rainy, warmer season temperatures average around 15°C / 60°F during the day and 5°C / 40°F at night. However, these temperatures may feel a lot colder to you.

During the dry season the weather is sunny and clear, and on average 20°C / 70°F during the day but much colder at night, around -3°C / 26°F.

What should I pack for the Choquequirao Trek?

One personal daypack (a 30 to 50 L backpack is sufficient). Before your trek we will give you one extra duffle bag from our office to carry your extra clothes and personal items (max. 5kg).
Reusable water bottle
Small coins in Peruvian Soles (Keep small change on hand too for water bottles, snacks, and toilet paper.)
Rain jacket or rain poncho
Strong footwear (Waterproof trekking boots recommended.)
Sleeping bag (also available for rent)
Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
Enough clothes for the whole period of the trek (long-sleeve trekking shirts, short-sleeve shirts, leggings or trekking pants, shorts, pairs of underwear, sweatpants for the night, pairs of hiking socks, a rain poncho, an insulated jacket, gloves, beanie, a hat with a brim, hiking boots, and sandals to rest your feet at the campsites.)
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Additional snacks (remember that we supply you with plenty of food already.)
Original passport

How can I prepare for the hike and prevent altitude sickness?

The best way to prepare yourself for this trekking experience is easy: spend at least 2 to 3 days at a high-altitude place like Cusco, so your body gets used to the high altitude. If you have already been to a high altitude destination before arriving to Cusco, we still recommend you spend at least one full day in Cusco to rest, recuperate from your trip, and enjoy the beautiful views of the city before your trek.

Additionally, taking good care of your body helps deal with the extra pressures that altitude creates. We recommend you to eat healthy food, drink lots of water and stay away from alcohol. Chewing coca leaves and drinking coca tea helps to alleviate any discomfort associated with the altitude.

I’ve made my reservation, now what?

Congratulations, adventure awaits you! We sent you a confirmation e-mail with more details about your trekking adventure. The day before your departure at 17:00, 18:00 or 19:00, please stop by our office located in Portal Espinar Nro 163 to receive the informative briefing. Our professional guide will tell you everything about your trek and clarify any last questions you may have.

What type food is served on the trek?

We serve a variety of local superfoods and traditional Peruvian dishes with rice, chicken, beef, salad, potatoes, vegetables, delicious soups and fruits. Everything will be freshly prepared by our local chef.

We have a lot of vegetarian travellers and our cooks have some great options for them to enjoy their meals. We can cater for all other types of dietary requests with adequate preparation and clear communication.

Can I leave extra luggage in your office?

Yes, you can leave extra luggage in our office free of charge.

What are the minimum and maximum group sizes?

The minimum group size for private tours is 2 people and the maximum group size is 15 people. There will be an assistant guide for groups over 12.

What are your cancellation and refund policies?

Please feel free to review our Terms & Conditions and let us know if you have any questions or requests regarding our cancellation policy, which is available on our website.