Choquequirao Classic Trek 5 Days / 04 Nights

Choquequirao Classic Trek

5 Days / 04 Nights

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The Choquequirao hike is an epic multi-day hike perfect for those looking to get off the beaten track. It’s definitely one of the least known-about, and therefore least-hiked treks in and around Cusco, compared to the most popular ones around these here parts (like the Inca Trail or the Salkantay Trek) the Choquequirao trek has way fewer visitors.

In addition, if you also want to spot some amazing, hidden Inca ruins away from the crowds then this might also be the hike for you. The lesser known ruins of Choquequirao features similar architecture and layout to the more famous ruins of Machu Picchu but is far less excavated and restored. The Choquequirao trek will show you an ancient city larger than Machu Picchu, but one that remains far from most tourists’ attention.

The trek also offers the opportunity to see a wide variety of animal species and birds such as the iconic Andean condor, foxes, pumas, vizcachas, hummingbirds, spectacled bears and the cock of the rocks. As for its most important flora, there is a great variety of orchids and ferns.

After days of exhausting hiking, brave trekkers can find the absolute silence of these mysterious ruins. That is why you should visit Choquequirao now, before the crowds rob you of the opportunity of an authentic encounter with the past. Here, visitors do not arrive on comfortable trains. Those who visit are true adventurers.

Itinerary

Included

Not included

Recommendations

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Quilla Rumiyoc – Cachora – Capuliyoc – Chiquisca

We pick you up at around 7:00 am from your hotel in Cusco (3,400 m / 11,154 ft) and drive one hour to stop at the Archaeological Site of Quilla Rumiyoc (3,330 m / 10,925 ft), which has terraces and water channels that were designed to honor the moon goddess. Then you’ll continue your bus journey being amazed by the mountain valleys along the way.

Turning off the main highway onto a dirt road, you’ll arrive at the beautiful village of Cachora (2,900 m / 9,514 ft). From here you’ll continue by bus, high above the Apurimac Canyon to get to the trailhead at Capuliyoc (2,950 m / 9,678 ft) to meet the rest of our crew and start the trek there. This is where you’ll begin one of the most incredible treks in Peru, but firstly you’ll have a fresh made lunch. From the Capuliyoc viewpoint, you’ll make a steep descent into Apurimac canyon to our first campsite at Chiquisca (1,900 m / 6,233 ft), via a long series of switchbacks and incredible dropp-offs. As you walk, you’ll get views of Padreyoc and the river below.

Day 2: Chiquisca – Playa Rosalina – Santa Rosa – Marampata – Choquequirao

Another early start and after a delightful breakfast, you’ll begin the descent to the bottom of the valley to Playa Rosalina (1,500 m / 4,921 ft), after one hour hiking you’ll get to the roaring Apurimac river. After crossing the bridge the trek gets more challenging to Marampata, our lunch place. The route itself is a constant, ascending zigzag under intense heat. After approximately an hour and a half you’ll arrive to the small campsite Santa Rosa (2,100 m / 6,890 ft), a little farm in the middle of the mountain, and after taking a short break there you’ll hike for two and a half hours more to reach Marampata (2,940 m / 9,646 ft), a small community with only 15 families. It is really admirable to see how they manage to survive in such an isolated area. There you’ll have an impressing view of the valley and the first glimpses of Choquequirao. After having a buffet lunch, resting and contemplating these marvels you’ll continue on to the campgrounds located just beneath the ruins to set up camp there. From Marampata, it’s a gradual incline towards the Choquequirao campsite (2,900 m / 9,514 ft).

Meals included: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Maximum altitude: 2,940 m / 9,646 ft
Minimum altitude: 1,500 m / 4,921 ft
Campsite altitude: 2,900 m / 9,514 ft
Distance hiked: 13.00 km / 8.07 ml
Approximate walking time: 7 – 8 hours

Day 3: Full day visit and exploration of the Choquequirao ruins

After a nourishing breakfast in our camp, you’ll head out to the fabulous Inca site of Choquequirao (3,050 m / 10,006 ft), where a private guided tour awaits you all day, it will be exclusively to explore its amazing sectors, you’ll visit the Main Plaza, this is where you’ll likely arrive and mostly hang out among the ruined buildings and shady tres, the Inca Palaces featuring their beautiful layout and fine architecture, the amazingly designed steep Terraces of the Llamas, decorated with white stones, the Storehouses, located in the upper part of the site, and the Ceremonial platform where you can take the classic postcard pictures and spend time gazing at the splendid morning in the heart of the Andes. With a bit of luck you might spot a Condor gliding over the ruins before returning to our campsite to have another hearty lunch.

After a three course meal, it is time to visit another important sector on the east part of Choquequirao, aka Pacchayoc (2,600 m / 8,530 ft) you’ll visit an enchanting waterfall and a set of terraces designed almost vertically, after a short 30 minute hike you’ll reach this place and have a full explanation of your expert Guide complemented with dazzling photos. After enjoying the site, you’ll return to our campsite. As customary you’ll relish with our classic afternoon tea before our gourmet dinner.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Maximum altitude: 3,100 m / 10,170 ft
Minimum altitude: 2,600 m / 8,530 ft
Campsite altitude: 2,900 m / 9,514 ft
Distance hiked: 9.00 km / 5.59 ml
Approximate walking time: 7 – 8 hours

DAY 4: Choquequirao – Santa Rosa – Playa Rosalina – Chiquisca – Cocamasana

You wake up with a beautiful morning view to the valley from your tent, enjoying the firts sunbeams, and after a tasty breakfast you’ll head out back to Marampata and then start the descent to Santa Rosa and Playa Rosalina to have lunch there, the walk down to our lunch spot is easy enough to navigate; you’ll just return back the same way you came two days before. The switchbacks and steep downhill towards the Apurimac river make the descent almost as physically challenging as the way up.

After a filling buffet lunch prepared by our Chef you`ll be ready for the slope upwards to Chiquisca and finally you’ll walk up a zigzagging hill for two hours more to our campsite at Cocamasana (2,330 m / 7,644 ft).

Meals included: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Maximum altitude: 2,940 m / 9,646 ft
Minimum altitude: 1,500 m / 4,921 ft
Campsite altitude: 2,330 m / 7,644 ft
Distance hiked: 16.00 km / 9.94 ml
Approximate walking time: 7 – 8 hours

Day 5: Cocamasana – Capuliyoc – Cachora – Cusco

Your last breakfast of the trek will be served this morning, after which you’ll start the 3 hour ascent to the Capuliyoc viewpoint, while much of the hike to Capuliyoc (2,950 m / 9,678 ft) is an easy climb along the side of the canyon, it finishes with the same series of sharp switchbacks that you started with. Once you’ve finally reached the Capuliyoc viewpoint, you’ll be rewarded again with a spectacular view of the snowy mountains and the Apurimac canyon, while resting you can enjoy a well deserved cold drink and bid our horsemen farewell.

After saying bye bye to our horsemen our private bus will take you to the Inca site of Sayhuite (3,500 m /11,482 ft), this place is on the way back to Cusco, where you’ll see several carved rocks, with the Sayhuite monolith as the most famous. The rock is highly regarded by the people as a glimpse into the sacred minds that only the Inca’s understood. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch in the surroundings, and finally your trip goes on all the way back to Cusco passing by other beautiful villages alongside the road, and finally drop you off in your hotel in a 4 hour ride.

Included

Not included

Recommendations

Comments about this tour

 5/5

I recommend it to you, the best trip of my life

$ 649 Per Person

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