Choquequirao Trek takes you off the beaten track, away from crowded places. This trip does not take you to Machu Picchu. Instead, you’ll walk to another lost Inca Citadel. This spectacular archaeological site was hidden in the mountain for centuries and was recently discovered. During the hike to Choquequirao, you may see less than a dozen travelers, making this place a truly unique and tranquil retreat.
Choquequirao Hike Highlights
- Book with confidence and flexibility
- Get off the beaten track to explore the citadel of Choquequirao.
- Learn about the history of the last days of the Inca Empire.
- Enjoy an underground barbecue of Pachamanca local food.
- Marvel at the fantastic views of the Apurimac Canyon.
- Support our social projects by booking with us.
Price per person
To reserve the Choquequirao Trek, you must make an initial payment of 50 USD per person, the remaining balance can be paid online, in installments or in Cusco with any credit card without any reservation fee.
Summary day by day of the Choquequirao Trek
Day 1: Cusco – Capuliyoc – The Beach. After being picked up from your hotel in Cusco at 4:30am, drive for 4 hours to Capuliyoc (2,911m/9,550ft), the start of the Choquequirao trek. The first day is 6 hours, mostly downhill towards the Aprumimac canyon. We camp at Playa Rosalina (1478 m / 4849 ft).
Day 2: Rosalina Beach – Choquequirao.- Wake up in your tent with fresh coffee, enjoy breakfast, and begin the 8-hour ascent to the Inca site of Choquequirao (3,057m/10,029ft). We spend the night just 20 minutes from the citadel with spectacular views.
Day 3: Explore the ruins of Choquequirao.- After breakfast, you will explore the great Choquequirao all day, visiting with your tour guide the most remarkable places and learning so much history of the Incas. We camped in the same area.
Day 4: Choquequirao – Marampata – Chikiska.- After enjoying the fantastic views of the mountains, we begin the return to Cusco. First is a 4 hour descent back to the Translated from Spanish to English – Apurimac Canyon, then another 2 hours uphill to our camp at Chiquiska (1875m/6151ft).
Day 5: Chikiska – Capuliyoc – Cusco.- On the last day, start with a 4-hour climb to the Capuliyoc Pass for lunch. Today you will enjoy a traditional Pachamanca barbecue with hot stones. After lunch, you will say goodbye to your trekking team and return to Cusco. Arrival time at your hotel is around 6:00 pm.
DAY 1: CUSCO – CACHORA – CAPULIYOC – THE BEACH
The Sacred Expeditions Peru team will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco between 4:30 am and 5:00 am and take you across the Andes to Capuliyoc, arriving at approximately 8:30 am. We will enjoy a delicious breakfast together before starting your TreXperience to Choquequirao: one of the legendary lost cities of the Incas. It’s a 4 hour hike downhill from Capuliyoc (9550 ft/2911m) to our lunch spot in Chiquiska (1893m/6210ft). Along the way, you can enjoy stunning views of the Apurimac Canyon, one of the deepest in Peru, and spectacular panoramic views of the different landscapes: from the mountains of Peru to the dense vegetation of the cloud forest. We continue our journey for another 2 hours to Playa Rosalina (1478m/4849ft) after lunch. Your tents and a hot drink will be waiting for you. Here we will have dinner and camp in the evening.
- Distance:10.8 km / 6.7 miles
- Approximate walking time:6 hours.
- Cross Highest Lift:2,911m / 9,550ft
- camp elevation:1,478m / 4,849ft
- Foods:Breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner.
- Accommodation:Camp
- Difficulty:moderate
DAY 2: THE BEACH – MARAMPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAO
After breakfast, we will prepare for one of the most challenging and rewarding days of your Sacred Expeditions Peru! We start by crossing a suspension bridge over the canyon before walking uphill for about 4 hours until we reach Marampata (2911 m / 9550 ft). The route takes us through beautiful sugar cane farms, where locals produce “Cañazo”, a traditional alcoholic beverage brewed over centuries in the Peruvian Andes. We will stop for lunch in a picturesque place with stunning views of the mountains and the river. After lunch, it is another 2-hour ascent to Choquequirao (3030 m / 9940 ft). The lost city of Choquequirao is located in a spectacular place: perched in the Peruvian Andes overlooking the deep canyon. This is an important city of the Inca empire, built towards the end of its rule. Choquequirao was probably one of the entry control points of Vilcabamba, the last capital of the Incas, and was recently rediscovered in the early nineteenth century. Our camp is located right next to the archaeological site, so you have the freedom to visit this mysterious place at any time you want and as many times as you want, whether to enjoy the sunset, sunrise or just to enjoy some tranquility. personal time.
- Distance:10.6 km / 6.5 miles
- Approximate walking time:8 hours.
- Cross Highest Lift:2911m / 9550ft
- camp elevation:2866m / 9401ft
- Foods:Breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner.
- Accommodation:Camping
- Difficulty:moderate
DAY 3: EXPLORE THE RUINS OF CHOQUEQUIRAO
We will wake you up early and early with a cup of hot coca tea or coffee to witness the fantastic sunrise of the mountains. After breakfast, we have all day to explore this magnificent Inca city. Your guide will take you on a full tour, take you to the most beautiful places, and teach you about the history of Choquequirao and the Incas. Choquequirao (cradle of gold) is nicknamed the twin sister of Machu Picchu, but is almost twice the size. For this reason, it is expected that this place, mostly unknown, will soon become one of the most popular tourist destinations in South America. After taking as much time as you need to discover Choquequirao, we will return to the same camp for dinner and overnight.
- Distance:8 km / 4.9 miles
- Approximate walking time:4 hours.
- Cross Highest Lift:3,066m / 10,059ft
- camp elevation:2073m / 6801ft
- Foods:Breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner.
- Accommodation:Camping
- Difficulty:Easy
DAY 4: CHOQUEQUIRAO – MARAMPATA – THE BEACH – CHIKISKA
We will wake up for the second time in this magical place. It’s a 3 hour downhill hike to our place for lunch in Santa Rosa (2230m/7300ft) after breakfast. We will then continue downhill for 2 more hours before walking uphill for another 2 hours until we reach our campsite in Chiquiska (1800m/5905ft). This is a perfect day to enjoy the surrounding scenery and nature. We will pass a wide range of different flowers and birds along the way, and the sound of waterfalls can be heard in the distance.
- Distance:8 km / 11.32 miles
- Approximate walking time:8 hours.
- Cross Highest Lift:3,100m / 9,300ft
- camp elevation:1,450m / 4,350ft
- Difficulty:moderate
- Foods:Breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner.
- Accommodation:Camp
DAY 5: CHIKISKA – CAPULIYOC – CUSCO
On our last day, we will wake up, have breakfast and prepare for our final 4 hour trek uphill to Capuliyoc. We will have lunch and say goodbye to our team of chefs and porters accompanied on this expedition. We will then take our private transportation to the archaeological site of Saywite, a beautifully carved rock that remains a mystery to
archaeologists. You will have plenty of time to explore before returning to Cusco and being dropped off at your hotel around 5pm.
- Distance:8 km / 11.32 miles
- Approximate walking time:8 hours.
- Cross Highest Lift:2,850m / 9,407ft
- Difficulty:moderate
- Foods:Breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner.
- Accommodation:Camp
- Difficulty:moderate
Included in Choquequirao Trek
- Transfer to the airport on request in Cusco
- Professional native tour guide
- Second tour guide for groups of 9+
- Trekking Chef to prepare fresh meals
- Porters, horsemen
- Horses to carry food and equipment.
- Sports bag where you can put your things up to 7 kilos
- Pick up and drop off at your hotel.
- All transportation included during the five days of the tour.
- boiled water to drink
- All meals included during the tour.
- Special dietary options available
- Comfortable camping equipment (dining tents, tables, chairs)
- Eureka tents for four people for every two people
- Sleeping foam mattress
- Hot water bags to keep warm.
- First aid kit with oxygen bottle, satellite phones
- Entrance fee to the Choquequirao site.
- All taxes and booking fees included.
Not included in the Hike to Choquequirao
- Sleeping bag, air mattress, trekking poles (can be hired with us)
- Dinner on day 5 (when you return to Cusco)
- Tips (Optional)
