Choquequirao Trek 5 Days

Our Choquequirao Trek 5 days is one of our signature treks. Trek to Choquequirao from Cusco is an off the beaten track experience. Choquequirao, which in Quechua means “Cradle of Gold”, is often referred to as the “The Sacred Sister of Machu Picchu”.

The Choquequirao could be hiked in four days. However, we have added an extra day to ensure that you don’t see this awe-inspiring site in a rush and get the most from your trek.

Choquequirao Trek 5 Days highlights:

• Choquequirao trek 5 days finishes at a different point from the start, while the classic route of 4 days starts and finishes at the same point.
• Trek to the hidden incan site that not many people go.
• Like Machu Picchu, Choquequirao has structures that mark solar events such as solstices and equinoxes.
• You will be practically alone with an archeological site very spectacular like Machu Picchu.
• The few tourists who visited Choquequirao agree that it was worth it.
• Learn a lot about the Inca culture.
• Discover the second lost city of the Incas.
• The Choquequirao ruins receive less than a dozen visitors a day.
• Explore Choquequirao more deeply
• Chance to see local flora and flora, including the Andean condor.
• You will savor the Peruvian cuisine which our master chef will prepare.

Please Note:
This tour will be operated normally in the dry season; however, we will change the itinerary to the classic route but still in 5 days in the rainy season. The campsite may vary due to the climate or health status of the trekkers.

Acclimatization:
We recommend you be in Cusco at least 2 days before your trek to be acclimatized to Cusco’s altitude so that you won’t have a problem during the tour.

About us:
Peru Tripper is a direct local tour operator in Cusco – Peru; we never share our tours with other companies as most of them do to minimize operating costs. We don’t work with intermediaries or have hidden prices; we have the best local guides and professionals. We guarantee that your travel expenditures will support the local economy, and improve the lives of local Peruvians, due to the simple reason we are a local business!

This incredible adventure begins at 4:30 am when your guide will pick you up at your hotel and drive for the next 4 hours in our private van to Capuliyoc (2,850m/9,407ft). Along the way, there are picturesque views of villages, spectacular valleys and snow-capped mountains. Once at Capuliyoc, we meet our horse riders and pack all our equipment onto the horses. 

You will only carry a small daypack with the essentials you need on the trail. From here, we can enjoy the spectacular view of Choquequirao Inca ruins, the Apurimac canyon and the stunning snow-capped mountains like Padreyoc (5,571m/18,387ft). 

Then we hike down for 3 hours to Chikisca for lunch. After lunch, we continued downhill for two more hours to our first camp at Playa Rosalinas (2061m/6762ft). Hot drinks and appetizers will be waiting for you, and you’ll have time to settle into your tents, which are already set up, before dinner.

Accommodation: Tent (4 season tent, 4 person made tent for 2 people which allows greater comfort).
Meals: Lunch, Tea and Dinner.
Hiking time: 4 – 5 hours aprox.
Hiking distance: 8.5 km / 5.28 miles.
Highest elevation: 2,760 m / 9.055 ft.

After an early breakfast, we cross the bridge and hike for the next 4 hours up to Marampata, where we will have lunch enjoying the view of Choquequirao Inca ruins. After lunch, we walk to our second evening’s campsite, just 20 minutes from the ruins. 

Being so close to the archaeological site, we can enjoy our view of the ruins into the late evening and watch for condors soaring on the winds from the canyon.

Accommodation: Tent (4 season tent, 4 person made tent for 2 people which allows greater comfort).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tea and Dinner.
Hiking time:  6 – 7 hours aprox.
Hiking distance: 14 km / 8.7 miles.
Highest elevation: 2,950 m / 9,676 ft.

After breakfast, we will visit the magnificent archaeological site of Choquequirao for the entire day. There is so much to see! These ruins are three times the size of Machu Picchu, and new sections, hidden under the dense jungle, are constantly being discovered. Enjoy the private guided tour and explore the beautiful temples, terraces, palaces, the llamas’ area, and much more.

Choquequirao means “Cradle of Gold” in Quechua Inca’s language, although this is probably not its original name. Another “Lost City of the Incas” was rediscovered officially late in the 20th century. It is located high on a ridge spur almost 1750 metres above the raging glacier-fed Apurimac River and is surrounded by the towering Salkantay and Humantay snow-capped peaks.

Every day archaeologists are finding new things.
After our thorough explorations, we will return to the same campsite. Drinks and appetizers will be waiting for us, and we can relax before dinner.

Enjoy your last night next to these magical ruins, under an incredible sky of the southern stars.

Accommodation: Tent (4 season tent, 4 person made tent for 2 people which allows greater comfort).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tea and Dinner.
Hiking time:  2 – 3 hours aprox.
Hiking distance: 4 km / 2.4 miles.
Highest elevation: 3,050 m / 10,006 ft.

After having a very early breakfast, we head to the Hacienda de San Ignacio, for this we will descend by the new road until we reach the shore of the Apurimac River, which winds through amidst vegetation and an increasingly hot climate. We walk down for 3 until Playa San Ignacio, located on the left side of the Apurimac river. A water pipe that descends from the nearby snow-capped mountains, the cold and clear water of this pipe, is like a blessing from the apus to refresh and relieve the soul in the middle of the rugged mountains of Choquequirao.

We will then hike up to Hacienda de San Ignacio, it takes 1 hour to reach it, we will have great views of the Apurimac Canyon, we will take as many breaks we want to finaly get to Hacienda San Ignacio, at this cozy place, our cook and horseman will be waiting for us with lunch. After lunch we’ll have a great time to relax, and late in the afternoon we will hike for 20 min to the Waterfall of San Ignacio.

Afterward we will back to our base camp to enjoy our happy hour and end the day with a good dinner.

Accommodation: Tent (4 season tent, 4 person made tent for 2 people which allows greater comfort).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tea and Dinner.
Hiking time:  5 – 6 hours aprox.
Hiking distance: 9 km / 5.59 miles.
Highest elevation: 2,950 m / 9,676 ft.

This is the last day of our beautiful hike, wake you up early in the morning with a tea to then have breakfast, later we hike from Hacienda San Ignacio to Villa de Loros, a hike of 3 hours by a gently uphill. At Villa de Loros we will say goodbye to our horseman, since we will take our transport to Sayhuite, that has an incan site to explore it, while our cook prepares our last lunch.

Sayhuite is a rock monolith that contains more than two hundred phytomorphic, zoomorphic, geographical and human constructions figures, carved in an apparent disorder and taking advantage of the natural reliefs and depressions of the stone, considering that many figures represent human constructions, canals, stairways, ponds, they propose that the stone of Sayhuite was a kind of plan or stone sketch made by Inca architects to take control of the hydraulic works they performed.

After exploring this beautiful incan site, we will enjoy our last lunch with the team to then back to the city of Cusco, we will drive for about 4 hours to reach Cusco, and we will drop you off at the main gate of your hotel in Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.
Hiking time:  3 hours aprox.
Hiking distance: 9 km / 5.59 miles.
Highest elevation: 2,350 m / 7,709 ft.

• Pre trek Briefing (briefing at the Hotel/Office).
• Pick up from your hotel in Cusco.
• Transportation from Cusco to the trailhead at the beginning of the hike by private car.
• English / Quechua / Spanish professional guide speak.
• Second Tour Guide for groups over 12 people.
• Tents – 2 people.
• 4 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks
• Thermarest air-inflate Comfortable sleeping Mattress.
• Cook and assistance of the Cook.
• Cooking equipment.
• Daily tea service.
• Dining equipment including chairs and tables.
• Portable environmental Biodegradable toilet.
• Food service in the campsites (4 breakfast, 5 lunches, 4 dinners, 5 snacks) – nutritionally balanced menu.
• You will savor the Peruvian cuisine which our master chef will prepare.
• Vegetarian and free gluten food for no extra cost.
• Horseman and Horses. (To carry our camping equipment, food and 8 kilos of your stuff like sleeping bag and mat as well as clothes) We Never overload our Horses (well Animal Welfare).
• Choquequirao entrance fees.
• Camping spots fees.
• First-aid kit.
• Emergency oxygen bottle.
• Private transportation (Tambobamba – Cusco).

• Extra expenses.
• Breakfast – on 1th Day.
• Dinner – on 5th Day.
• Not detailed meals.
• Travel and health insurance (bring copies with you).
• Sleeping bags (it can be rented from us for US$ 30 for the entire trip).
• Walking sticks (it can be rented from us for US$ 20 for the entire trip).
• Tips (optional).

• Original Passport.
• Original Student Card (if you book as a student).
• A travel insurance card is essential.
• Sleeping bag.
• Walking sticks.
• Rain gear (jacket and pants) or poncho. Plastic ponchos can be purchased for about $ 2 in Cusco.
• Strong footwear waterproof trekking boots are recommended. Extra socks are a must.
• Sandals or plastic slip thongs are also good to give your feet a chance to breathe at night if you want to take them.
• Flashlight and extra batteries.
• Camera, films, and batteries.
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun.
• Sunblock.
• Insect repellent – minimum recommended 40% DEET – although no malaria risk has been reported.
• Toilet paper.
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
• Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning.
• Your own special medicines you may need, paracetamol, second skin blisters, etc.
• Small towel.
• Cash – sufficient for snacks, tips, and souvenirs.
• Eager and adventurous spirit to enjoy your hike.

We also offer a special service only for you or your group, you have the power to choose the size of your group and the date of departure, we will never add other people since it will be organized only for you.

Our Choquequirao Trek 5 Days private service, includes additional items such as:

• Extra Horse to ride and horse Controller.
• North Face 4 season tents.
• Sleeping bag / Silk Liner included.
• 02 Waking Poles per person.
• 1 Duffel Bag to carry all your sleeping bags, self-inflating pad, as well as your clothes.
• Private round trip transportation.
• Tour Guide to explore Choquequirao all day. And of course, we pay a little more to our Staff and Guide.

We offer 3 kinds of service, each with different price ranges and you can book in any of these services according to your convenience, we just need you to be a minimum of 02 people to organize your trip on the date that suits you, all our services are 100 % guaranteed.

We are a direct TOUR OPERATOR that never passes clients to other agencies as most agencies do it here in Cusco to save operating costs with poor quality.

We will make the trip even if there are only 02 people in your group.

Can I be picked up from the Sacred Valley?
Yes, let us know in advance to organize your pick-up time (there is an extra cost).

Is there a cable car in Choquequirao?
The project to make a cable car that connected the town of Cachora to Marampata was not completed due to the frequent presence of landslides, and this plan was gradually lost.

What is Choquequirao?
Choquequirao is named after Quechua Chuqi K’iraw, the cradle of gold. Located just over 3,000 meters high, they are Inca terraces and buildings, very similar to the citadel of Machu Picchu in terms of its architecture. Some call it the “Sacred Sister of Machu Picchu” or “Second Machu Picchu.” The site is not as large as Machu Picchu, but it is much less crowded by travelers; since it can only be accessed on foot, with a tour operator, it is the longest and most complete road in Peru.