Choquequirao Trekking Tour

Visit CHOQUEQUIRAO! Our 5-day Choquequirao Tour is one of the most beautiful and incredible experiences that you cannot miss. This archaeological center is a very extensive archaeological park with different areas to explore.

We have urban areas, religious sites, food storage, irrigation systems, aqueducts, priest's house, Usnu (ceremonial and offering area on the mountain crest), priest's house, the sector of white stone llamas, agricultural terraces with cascading waterfalls.

In other words, arriving at Choquequirao after a two-day hike is much more rewarding to explore this complex for a whole day. That's why we designed CHOQUEQUIRAO EXPLORER, where visitors can feel one hundred percent satisfied with the visit and enjoy nature at its fullest.

INCLUDES:

• Pre-departure briefing.
• Morning pick-up from the hotel in Cusco and transportation to Cachora, starting point of the trek.
• Entrance ticket to Choquequirao for visitors and our team.
• Tents.
• Professional guide (Spanish and English).
• Cook and kitchen staff.
• Horsemen and horses (to carry equipment, tents, food, and the kitchen).
• Meals (04D, 05A, 04C).
• First aid kit.
• Private transportation from Cusco to Cachora.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Breakfast on the first day.
• Dinner on the last day.
• Other services not mentioned in the program.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Carry your passport or ID.
• Bring cash in Peruvian soles.
• Carry a small backpack with a camera, sun hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and a water bottle.
• Wear suitable, non-slippery shoes for climbing stairs in CHOQUEQUIRAO.
• For altitude sickness, you can try a good coca leaf tea.
• Bring some extra snacks and a water bottle, as prices may be higher during the trek.
• Enjoy the magical moment during our guided tour in CHOQUEQUIRAO; open your arms and recharge your energy.
• Regarding your luggage, you can carry up to 7 kilograms.

DAY 1: Cusco - Capuliyoc - Chiquisca

Our Choquequirao Trek begins very early. We depart from Cusco between 4:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. approximately in our tourist transport and head towards Cachora, an Andean community located 4 to 5 hours from Cusco at 2800 m.a.s.l./9184 ft. Here is the starting point of our hike, surrounded by Andean mountains and snow-capped peaks (we will be accompanied by the impressive view of Nevado Padreyoc, which in Spanish means "the place of the Father").

We'll have a short 25-minute walk to Capuliyoc, where we meet our muleteers and mules. We begin our ascent for two and a half hours to the Capuliyoc pass, near the Apurímac River at an altitude of approximately 2,915 m.a.s.l./ 9,563 ft. From Capuliyoc, travelers can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Apurímac River canyon and the mountainous landscapes that characterize the area.

Then, we descend for an additional two hours until we reach Chiquisca. On the way, we can spot local birds and, if we are observant, foxes, vizcachas, and pumas. This place serves as one of the initial camps for travelers making the trek to Choquequirao. Here is where we'll set up our camp and spend the night.

Walking Time on the Day: Approximately 7 hours.
Weather: Warm with mosquitoes.

Night of camping in Chiquisca.

DAY 2: Chiquisca - Playa Rosalina - Choquequirao

In the morning, after recharging and having breakfast, we leave Chiquisca at around 6:00 a.m. heading to Playa Rosalina (1500 m.a.s.l / 4921 ft.), which will take approximately 30 minutes. Next, we cross the Apurímac River and begin the ascent to Santa Rosa, zigzagging up a steep slope. This ascent takes around 2 hours, and it's crucial to start early to avoid the heat making the trek more challenging than it needs to be.

In Santa Rosa, we'll take a break of about thirty minutes. Afterward, we'll resume our hike, ascending slowly for two and a half hours until we reach our lunch spot in Marampata (2850 m.a.s.l / 9350 ft.). From here, we'll have an incredible view of Choquequirao (Machu Picchu's sister), situated at 3103 m/10178 ft above sea level. We'll camp here, just 20 minutes from the Choquequirao Archaeological Center.

Walking Time on the Day: Approximately 7 hours.
Weather: Warm during the day and cold at night.

Night of camping.

DAY 3: Full Day Choquequirao

This day, we wake up at 6 am, have our breakfast, and begin the exploration and visit of the site.

We will visit the lower part of Choquequirao, where we can observe agricultural terraces in a challenging terrain full of cliffs and water channels that irrigated the entire area. We'll visit the priest's house, the waterfalls, and stay taking pictures and soaking in the beauty until lunchtime.

In the afternoon, after our lunch and a short rest, we head to the upper part of Choquequirao, where we will explore the noble part of this site with its impressive architectural structures, food storehouses called (colcas), the USNU religious and offering center, the priest's house, and the white stone llamas with astronomical functions, etc.

We'll wait for the magical sunset over the Apurímac River before returning to our camp, concluding a day full of exploration and admiration.

Night of camping.

DAY 4: Choquequirao - Marampata - Playa Rosalina - Chiquisca.

In the morning, we have an unforgettable experience with a guided tour of the Choquequirao Archaeological Center, recognized as the "Sister Citadel of Machu Picchu." Built in the 15th century in the canyon of the Apurímac River, Choquequirao goes beyond its administrative and religious function, representing Inca wisdom.

Our professional guide will immerse us in the stories and secrets of Choquequirao, where currently only 30% of the ruins are discovered and restored. It is expected that in the coming years, this place will be revealed as an attraction comparable to Machu Picchu.

We will discover the advanced hydraulic systems, tour the Great Complex, the Main Plaza, religious and elite areas, and extensive agricultural terraces that sustained the population of Choquequirao.

After this cultural immersion, we'll start our walk back to Marampata and beyond, into the depths of the Apurímac canyon, where we will continue our ascent through the forest until we reach our camp in Chiquisca at 1930 meters / 6332 ft.

Walking Time on the Day: Approximately 6 hours.
Weather: Warm.

Night of camping in Chiquisca.

DAY 5: Chiquisca - Capuliyoq - Cusco

Finally, we reach our last day of adventure. We leave the camp after a delicious breakfast to start the ascent to the Capuliyoc pass, where we will enjoy a well-deserved lunch. In the afternoon, we continue our two-hour journey back to Cachora, where comfortable transportation awaits to take us back to Cusco. Thus, we conclude our Choquequirao tour. We sincerely thank you for choosing us as your option to explore, and we hope to have provided you with an unforgettable experience, full of charming moments and precious memories.

End of Service with CuscoPeru.com.

INCLUDES:

• Pre-departure briefing.
• Morning pick-up from the hotel in Cusco and transportation to Cachora, starting point of the trek.
• Entrance ticket to Choquequirao for visitors and our team.
• Tents.
• Professional guide (Spanish and English).
• Cook and kitchen staff.
• Horsemen and horses (to carry equipment, tents, food, and the kitchen).
• Meals (04D, 05A, 04C).
• First aid kit.
• Private transportation from Cusco to Cachora.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Breakfast on the first day.
• Dinner on the last day.
• Other services not mentioned in the program.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Carry your passport or ID.
• Bring cash in Peruvian soles.
• Carry a small backpack with a camera, sun hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and a water bottle.
• Wear suitable, non-slippery shoes for climbing stairs in CHOQUEQUIRAO.
• For altitude sickness, you can try a good coca leaf tea.
• Bring some extra snacks and a water bottle, as prices may be higher during the trek.
• Enjoy the magical moment during our guided tour in CHOQUEQUIRAO; open your arms and recharge your energy.
• Regarding your luggage, you can carry up to 7 kilograms.

To start your reservation process please send us the following information:

• Name and surname:
• Passport No.:
• Nationality:
• Date of birth:
• Sex:
• Phone:
• It is very important your information about your hotel in the city of Cusco, so we can pick you up there at the beginning of the tour..

1. Payment by credit card VISA or MASTERCARD through our system www.cuscoperu.com/payment the system charges an additional 5% (SSL secure system and foreign bank transfer fees).
2. Sending the advance via Western Union coordinating with our sales representative and sending the request to info@cuscoperu.com, then you must send us the MTCN code of your deposit.
3. Payment via deposit to our company's account at BBVA Banco Continental Cuenta Corriente: Account Code. Interbank: (CCI) 011 201 000100028495 18 - CUSCOPERU.COM Tour Operator SRL - SWIFT CODE: BCONPEPL - you must add U$89.00 which is the charge that our bank makes to our account for international transfer and administrative expenses, you should also consult your bank about the additional amount that you will be charged.
4. Payment by credit card VISA - MASTERCARD with the PAYPAL system generating the payment order that we would send you from CuscoPeru.com e-commerce If you accept this option you will have a 7% surcharge.