Choquequirao Trek – Trek to Choquequirao
- Program: 4d/3n
- Group: 2 – 4 -8 persons
- Category: Moderately difficult
- Season: March to December
- Frequency: Daily
- Transportation: Bus
- Accommodation: 3 nights of camping in tents
- Highlights: Beautiful landscapes, Andean snowy mountain area, 4 day trek
Introduction and Itinerary:
Choquequirao Trek is one of the most preferred treks among those wanting to experience something off the beaten track. Unlike other treks in Cusco, Trek to Choquequirao does not involve Machu Picchu. This is one of the most beautiful treks in South America.
Although the trek does not take you to Machu Picchu, this offers more or less a similar experience as Inca Trail.
The archaeological site of Choquequirao nestles at 3030 metres above sea level. It is often referred to as the sacred sister of Machu Picchu. The name Choquequirao in Quechua means Cradle of Gold.
Both Choquequirao and Machu Picchu were built in the same era by Inca emperor Pachacutec. To Incas, it was just as important as Machu Picchu, based on the equally intricate designs of the stones. The site was actually even united and in communication with Machu Picchu by means of a complex network of trails.
Choquequirao is thought to have been the “Last Refuge of the Inca Empire”. The evidence of the grandeur of the site can be found in the complex irrigation system, most likely for domestic, ceremonial and agricultural use.
Choquequirao’s locations is in reference to other complexes of the same period would tend to indicate that its function was that of an Inca enclave toward the valleys of the Apurímac River.
The government has approved a plan of installing cable cars from the nearby village to Choquequirao Ruins. This would see a rapid boon in tourism here.
Why Peruvian Highland Trek?
Peruvian Highland Trek is a fully locally owned tour operating company based in Cusco. We are licensed Choquequirao Trek operators. All our tour guides are locals. They have an extensive knowledge about trekking and local culture.
We operate the trek both in small groups and as a private tour.
Please take a moment to check out our reviews on Tripadvisor.
Please note that Choquequirao trek is a high altitude experience. The highest point of the trek is at 3106 metres above sea level. We highly recommend you to spend at least four days in Cusco before the trek to avoid altitude sickness.
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Cachora – Chiquisca
At 5am we pick up from your hotel and we leave from Cusco in our private van that will take us to the town of San Pedro de Cachora(2800m). There are available items to purchase for breakfast if you did not get any at your hotel. We will meet the rest of our team (cook, horses and horse handlers) in Cachora and that is also where we will begin the long trek which will take us between 7 to 8 hours.
Along the way we will be able to observe diverse landscapes that contain many different microclimates and a variety of flora and fauna that embellish our walking. Eventually we will arrive at the Capulichayoc Viewpoint. From here we will be able to observe the deepest canyon in the world, Apurimac, with the Apurimac River snaking through it.
It is here where we will have our first lunch and from where it is possible to see the first sights of Choquequirao far off in the distance on the other side of the canyon.
Will continue descending into the canyon until we arrive at Chiquisca (1800m) where we will set up the tents and spend the night surrounded by the majestic landscape.
Day 2: Chiquisca – Maranpata – Choquequirao
After enjoying a good, healthy breakfast, we will start a strenuous hike that will take us up hill, up the canyon wall, for about 5 hours to our resting point and lunch stop at Maranpata. We will not be far from the archaeological ruins of Choquequirao at that point.
Continuing on, we will soon make it to the site where we will have a detailed walked around guided tour of the immense lost city. We will see the three levels of the excavated ruins. Here we can appreciate the stone houses, terraces and other parts of this late Inca-town, and even the ruins which are still in the process of excavation.
For the night, we will be camping back at the place where we had lunch.
Day 3: Choquequirao – Chiquisca
Waking up extremely early, we will make our way back up to the ruins one more time to catch a magical, and memorable, sunrise there at the site. We will have to go back to the campsite to enjoy a nice breakfast before starting on the way back, going down the same route that we came in on. For lunch, we will be stopping at La Playa Rosalina. We will camp that night in Chiquisca once more.
Day 4: Chiquisca – Cachora – Cusco
Today we will wake up at 6am to have an early breakfast accompanied by a great view of the crimson sun rising over the Apurimac canyon. It will take about 5 to 7 hours to get to the final stop at Cachora, depending of your physical condition. Once there, we will meet up with our private van to take us back to Cusco.
Includes
Included:
- Official English speaking guide (two guides for groups over 8 persons)
- Transport from Cusco to Cachora
- Entrance to Choquequirao complex (one time)
- Horses to carry food and camping gear and backpacks
- Experienced cook
- Cooking equipment and eating utensils
- Teatime everyday (coffee, tea, popcorn, biscuit)
- 4 capacity tent (four season tent) – 2 persons per tent with plenty space for backpacks
- Camping mattress
- All meals on the trail (breakfast – lunches – dinners)
- Water supply (boiled) after every dinner and again at breakfast
- Return by private van from Cachora to Cusco
- Kitchen and dining tent with camp tables and chairs
- Tents and food for our camp staff
- Trekking price include government sales tax (19% as know IGV)
- First aid kit and oxygen tank for any participant and our camp staff
Not Include
Recommendations
Recommended Items to Bring:
- Sleeping bag
- Sun block
- Sun glasses
- Back pack
- Warm clothing and wool socks
- Flash lights with batteries
- Insect repellent
- Water purifying pills
- Toilet paper and toiletries
- Rain coat or ponchos
- Bottle of water (water to drink the first day)
- Extra money for tips
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