Choquequirao is situated above the stormy, glacier-fed Apurimac river, encircled by frost-topped summits, sitting on a tall ridge Choquequirao is a distant and hardly visited "Lost City of the Incas". The meaning of the name
in Quechua is "cradle of Gold" and is considered as the place where the last Inca rulers went to after losing the city of Cusco during the Spanish conquest. The ruins were first visited and accounted to the western world during the 18th century. Hiram Bingham also visited the site in 1910 before his rediscovery of Machu Picchu in 1911. The site is relatively detached, though recently there was a footpath built over the Apurimac river to make it more accessible to the ruins. However the ruins of Choquequirao are still not visited much, although with new regulations on the Inca Trail, Choquequirao is fated to substitute the conventional trek as the heavyweight hikers alternate.
Choquequirao Trek involves 5 day with a professional guide, chef, muleteer and horses. Book Now! and Discover the second lost city of the Incas!
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Tour Details - Choquequirao Trek 5 Days
Overview:
The Choquequirao Trek (also spelled Choquekiraw) ruins are larger than Machu Picchu, but are currently a hidden gem, and not easily accessible to visitors. Soon, a tram will be built and this will become as popular as Machu Picchu.
- Tour Location: All Choquequirao Trekking tours begin in Cusco, Peru
- Tour Type: Hiking, camping, adventure, history, culture
- Good For: Those who enjoy hiking and are in moderate shape
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Considerations: This trek does not visit Machu Picchu
ITINERARY
Day 1: Cusco - Capuliyoc - La Playa
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 4 a.m to start your trekking Choquequirao experience. You will ride our private van with your tour guide and drive about three hours until you get to the trailhead, called Capuliyoc (3,200 m). You will meet your horses and horsemen. Your Choquequirao trekking chef will provide the first breakfast, and your trekking guide will introduce the team. The views of the snow-capped mountains are beautiful. After a group photo, you will start the expedition to Choquekiraw Ruins. It will be a three hour, downhill hike with a few stops, as needed until you arrive at your first lunch spot. The trail can be dusty and slippery, but with good trekking shoes and trekking poles, you won’t have a problem. There will be spectacular views of the Apurimac river, landscapes, and beautiful flora and fauna. After lunch, you will hike another three hours until you reach your campsite, which is at the bottom of a valley, called La Playa (1,800 m).
- Meals: Breakfast -Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
- Accommodation: Camping facilities
- Distance: 9 km/5.6 Miles
- Time: 5 hrs approximately
- Difficulty: Moderate
Day 2: La Playa - Marampata - Choquequirao
After an early breakfast, you will get ready for the day. You will begin the day by crossing the breach, and then it will be four hours uphill, with zigzags. Along the way, you will pass by some sugar cane farms, more great views of the valley from the opposite hill, possibly some condors above and beautiful flora and fauna. This climb is one of the most challenging parts of the Choquekiraw Trek, so we will have an emergency horse in case you get tired and want a ride.
Once you arrive at Marampata, you will be done with the uphill portion. You will have time to enjoy your lunch at 3,350 m high. After lunch, you can take a nap, and then we will continue on the last two-hour section until Choquekiraw. This will be the most impressive section of your entire trek because you will have amazing views from the summit to the canyon of Apurimac.
You will also be able to see Choquekiraw, where you will see the whole Inca site, orchids, among other flowers and black bears. Upon your arrival at the campsite, our porters will set you up in your tents. This campsite is amazing because it will be right at the foot of the Inca site. If you still have some energy left, you will be able to take a 30-minute walk to enjoy the sunset from the Choquekiraw Inca site.
- Meals: Breakfast -Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
- Accommodation: Camping facilities
- Distance: 16 km/9.16 Miles
- Time: 5 hrs approximately
- Difficulty: Challenging
Trek Day 3: Guiding tour of Choquequirao
After an early breakfast, you will prepare for the most spectacular day exploring Choquequirao. It will take about 30 minutes to get there. Once you arrive, you´ll then begin your history lesson and tour of this impressive Inca site. Choquequirao is considered to be bigger than Machu Picchu, although it´s almost all hidden by the forest. This Inca site is extremely spread out because the Incas had to study which areas of the mountain to build various buildings, terraces, and houses. The most impressive sections of this site are the temples, astronomical observatories, and water channels.
After touring around for about four hours, you will head back to camp for lunch and a rest. You will have more time afterward to continue exploring the site with our expert tour guides. You will get to explore areas of the site like the llama area, which is a steep downhill 30-minute walk where you will see narrow farming terraces. All of the llama depictions on the terrace walls are from white stones. These were probably built by the Incas to represent the llama constellation in the Milky Way. You will also get to visit the Usno area, where you will enjoy the sunset over the mountains. Following, you will walk back to your campsite for the second night at Choquequirao.
- Meals: Breakfast -Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
- Accommodation: Camping facilities
- Distance: 4 km/2.5 Miles
- Time: 5 hrs approximately
- Difficulty: Easy
Day 4: Choquequirao - Marampata - La Playa - Chikiska
After another early breakfast, we will prepare for our journey back to Cusco. It will be two hours back to Marampata, and you will see views of the canyon of Apurimac along the way. The tour guide will point out the beautiful flora and fauna you might have missed on your way to the Inca site. You will see impressive waterfalls in the distance, as well as the clouds lifting from the bottom of the canyon. Also, if the weather is pleasant, you will get to enjoy the spectacular landscapes of the Andes. From Marampata, you will begin the 4 hour steep downhill hike to La Playa. This section requires trekking poles. Halfway down, you will have a break to enjoy some fruit farmed in the area. Cactus fruit is the main attraction. Finally, you will reach La Playa for lunch. Following, it will be another two hours, uphill to Chikiska Camp, which is in the backyard of a family’s home. You may also see some Spectacled Bears, Condors, Humming Birds, and more.
- Meals: Breakfast -Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
- Accommodation: Camping facilities
- Distance: 18 km/11 Miles
- Time: 8 hrs approximately
- Difficulty: Moderate
Day 5: Chikiska – Capuliyoc - Cusco
After an early breakfast, you will get ready to return to Cusco. It will be a four-hour uphill hike until you arrive at the end of the trek, where you will enjoy your last lunch with your tour guide, porters and horsemen. You will say goodbye to your team and then continue with your tour guide to Cusco for about three more hours by car. You will drive through Curawasi, where the famous local tea Anis is farmed. You will arrive in Cusco at around 6 p.m. We will drop you off at your hotel.
- Meals: Breakfast -Lunch
- Accommodation: None
- Distance: 8 km/4.17 Miles
- Time: 4 hrs approximately
- Difficulty: Moderate
INCLUSION
What Is Included
What Is Not Included
Added Values For Free
PRICES
Price & Availability
“This trek is available to depart any day of the week as long as we have two people.”
Prices:
Group Service
- US$ 575 PER PERSON (AMERICAN DOLLARS)
Private Service
- US$ 675 PER PERSON (AMERICAN DOLLARS)
***We require a minimum of 2 hikers in order to start the trek. For solo travellers- please inquire on the dates you are looking to trek.
TRIP NOTES
Essentials
- Passport
- Valid, STUDENT CARD (if you booked as a student)
- Immigration Card (given on the plane as you enter Peru)
- Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
- Water storage: Water reservoir like Camelbaks are encouraged – but enough for at least 2-3 liters.
- Comfortable hiking boots (lightweight with good soles)
For Your Duffel
Porters will carry up to 7 kg of your personal items. This must include your sleeping bag and air matt (if you bring/rent one). From us these two items weigh 3.5 kg.
- 2-3 wicking t-shirts
- 2-3 hiking pants
- 4 sets of undergarments.
- 4 sets of hiking socks
- 1 Fleece
- 1 Warm, down jacket: gets very cold at night
- 1 Rain jacket and pants
- 1 sun hat
- 1 wool hat
- Headlamp: essential
- Waterproof gloves (even if they are ski gloves, take them)
- Comfortable shoes for camp
- Walking boots
- Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
- Quickdry towel. We provide small ones, you might enjoy something a little larger.
- Small bottle of soap: we provide warm water each day to clean – might make you feel fresh if you had a little soap.
- Battery Charger: There is no place to plug in while trekking!
- Large plastic bags: to help organize and keep clean from dirty.
- Sleeping bag: Recommend down bags for -10C at least
Toiletries
- Sunscreen
- Face moisturizer
- Bug spray
- Handsanitizer
- Wet wipes
- Toothbrush and paste
- Toiletpaper
- Personal medication
- First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc
Inside Your Daypacks
Daypacks can be any size for hiking, but we always recommend the smaller, the better. Inside Machu Picchu, no bag larger than 25L will be allowed in. If larger, you will need to store outside citadel gates.
- Water: we supply clean water at each meal. You are responsible for your first morning of water only as we won’t have time to filter water until your first lunch.
- Sunhat
- Rain gear
- Fleece
- Camera
- Music (IPhone)
- Handsanitizer
- Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
- Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
- Earplugs
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