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Choquequirao Trek in Peru – 5 days. Larger than Machu Picchu and far less known, Choquequirao still makes you feel as though you’re practically the first to arrive.
Dare yourself to hike this stunning trail to the mountaintop sacred city of Choquequirao, touching the bottom of one of the deepest canyons in the world, which is Apurimac Canyon, where you have a high chance to spot condors soaring above the valley.
Surrounded by dramatic vistas and endless roads on which to take it all in. Most of the mountains around Choquequirao are not accessible yet, so it still feels wild and remote, and it’s perfect for everyone who wants to experience a real adventure, visiting the twin city of Machu Picchu, being part of and witnessing the mountain beauty of the Andes range, and exploring Choquequirao away from the crowds.
The trek passes through the dramatic Vilcabamba mountains and the deep Apurimac Canyon, with nights spent camping in remote spots surrounded by some of the wildest scenery in the Peruvian Andes. Along the way, you will experience local Andean culture and small mountain communities rarely visited by most travelers.
Choquequirao Inca city was one of the last residences of the last Incan ruler and later became a stronghold against the Spaniards, where these ancient Peruvians built dwellings, palaces, temples, and terraces, and this amazing journey will get you to uncover the mysteries of this lost Incan city. Likewise, the Choquequirao Trek in Peru, 5 days, offers a variety of flora and fauna, and you’ll experience them along the trail and the different microclimates and ecosystems.
Join us for the adventure of a lifetime – give us a call at +51 984 464 391 or shoot us an email at [email protected] to learn more or book your spot today!
This trek is officially operated by Peru Summit Adventures, a 100% local tour operator based in Cusco.
Traveling with us you are making a big difference in favor of the environment, our trips are rated as eco-friendly trips to ensure that fragile ecosystems are protected and maintained for future human generations, also maintain ecosystem and environment integrity through considering a sustainable and ethical business model. Making genuine and sustainable itineraries often translates to real costs, with a host of responsible travel practices that underpin our prices.
Upgraded Comfort
UPGRADED COMFORT: Premium or Comfort trips are led by Peru Summit Adventures experts, an experienced crew at your side, or top trip leaders/guides, and tap into private local experts' resources to allow for in-depth exploration and special access to unique sites that only the local leaders/guides know. Itineraries are carefully crafted and fully planned, with plenty of free time to roam. Camping gears are high-end and accommodations are high-end or best available. Ground transportation and most meals (especially in hikes) and activities are included in the trip price.
STRENUOUS: Designed for experienced active travelers in excellent physical condition. Full-day hikes (6-9 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 ft) on many hikes. 4-day to 6-day trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 14,500 ft are in this category with some exposed sections.
Hiking, Camping, Archaeology & Cultural Adventures
While we expect the tour will run as the itinerary describes to Choquequirao Trek in Peru – 5 Days. Participants should accept that there is the possibility of changes, being necessary liable to local conditions, eg, strikes, natural disasters, these changes might be at the discretion of your travel company.
Pro 4-season tents in Black Diamond and North Face with Pro Sleeping pads in Therma-Rest and pillows, tents are roomy and cozy designed for 3 people but used only for 2 guests.
Min 2 ppl, Max 8 ppl
Minimum of 02 people is needed to depart. Family groups, couple travelers, friends, or even if you’re a SOLO traveler, you are welcome to our trips. Price is per person, which is based on two people who might share a room/tent. The itinerary is described and based on shared services as well as semi-private service; however, if you are looking for a private service, that would be upon request.
No, the number of people to visit this destination is not limited yet, the entrance ticket is purchased at the main checkpoint (the entrance ticket is included); thus you could book this hike even a month in advance.
Please allow a minimum of 1 day in Cusco city before your hike begins to Choquequirao Trek 5 Days.
Since 2014 and since the very first day of our operation, Peru Summit has been blazing new trails, new ways of experiencing in Choquequirao Trek 5 days. Our trailblazing is just one reason we are a uniquely qualified local company to ensure you have a trip of a lifetime.
Your Peru Summit Adventures trek leader will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 4:30 AM for the drive towards the Capuliyoc (2,900 m / 9,514 ft), the starting point of the Choquequirao Trek. The drive takes approximately 4 hours and passes through small Andean towns and villages and scenic mountainscape along the way.
Upon arrival at Capuliyoc (trailhead), we will meet our muleteers and horses, where we will prepare our gear and the duffel bags to provide them, as the gear is carried by the pack horses, and start our adventure towards Choquequirao.
The section of the trail from the trailhead to the campsite is downhill, following a scenic path with impressive views of the Vilcabamba mountain range and the deep Apurímac Canyon, one of the most dramatic canyon landscapes in Peru. Trekking poles are highly recommended for this downhill section to prevent any knee injuries.
After approximately 3 hours of hiking, we will arrive at Chikiska (1,900 m / 6,213 ft), where our trekking chef will prepare a fresh lunch, and we will enjoy it, surrounded by beautiful canyon views.
After lunch, we will continue hiking for about one more hour downhill to our first campsite called Playa Rosalina (1,500 m / 4,920 ft), located near the Apurímac River.
Once we arrive, we will settle into our tents, and there will be time to relax and enjoy afternoon tea before dinner. Lunch and dinner included.
Luncha and breakfast
Moderate
8 km/ 4.9 miles
5 - 6 hours
2,900m / 9,512 ft
1,500m / 4,920 ft
2,900m / 9,512 ft
May-Sept mostly sunny/ Oct-April Unpredictable
Early in the morning (at 5 AM), you will wake up with hot coca tea delivered to your tent by our staff, followed by a nutritious breakfast to prepare for one of the most challenging days of the trek.
After breakfast, we will begin the long ascent from the Apurímac Canyon toward the Maranpata Village. The trail climbs steadily along a series of switchbacks, offering increasingly wide views of the canyon and the surrounding mountains. With some luck, you can spot some condors far in the canyon.
After approximately 5 hours of trekking, we will arrive at the small village of Maranpata, where we will stop for lunch. From this place, we may already catch our first distant views of Choquequirao across the mountainside.
In the afternoon, we will continue hiking for approximately 2 more hours to reach our next campsite near the Choquequirao ancient constructions (2,950 m / 9,676 ft), as this campsite is actually located inside the park.
Once at camp, we will find our tents all set up and ready for a deserved rest and enjoy the peaceful mountain scenery as the sun sets over the Andes. Later in the evening, we will enjoy tea time followed by dinner prepared by our trekking crew. All meals included.
Note: If you feel comfortable with energy at the campsite, you can visit the main ruins of the Choquequirao, from where you can savor the sunset, which is such a unique experience. If so, plan this with your trek leader and bring your flashlights.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Very Demanding
14 km / 8.7 miles
7 - 8 hours
1,500m / 4,920 ft
1,500m / 4,920 ft
2,950 m / 9,676 ft
May-Sept mostly sunny/ Oct-April Unpredictable
Today is dedicated to exploring Choquequirao (3,100 m / 10,168 ft) in full, one of the largest and least visited Inca sites in Peru.
After breakfast, we will spend the morning visiting the main sectors of the archaeological park with your trek leader. During the exploration, you will learn about the history and importance of Choquequirao while walking through ceremonial areas, agricultural terraces, temples, warehouses, and the Usno (an important religious platform), which was used for the main ceremonies.
We will also visit the famous terraces decorated with llama figures. These figures were made using special types of stones, one of the most unique features found at Choquequirao.
Around 1 PM, we will return to the campsite for lunch, recharge our water canteens, and have some time to rest.
In the afternoon, we will continue exploring the lower sections of the park, where more farming terraces, water channels, fountains, and additional Inca structures are located. This part of Choquequirao was the main area for agriculture. Compared to Machu Picchu, Choquequirao receives very few visitors, which makes the experience feel much quieter, more remote, and wild.
Later in the day, we will return to the campsite to relax and enjoy tea time, followed by dinner. All meals included.
Breakfast, lunch, & dinner
Moderate
2,950 m / 9,676 ft
2,950 m / 9,676 ft
3,100 m / 10,168 ft
May-Sept mostly sunny/ Oct-April Unpredictable
After breakfast in the early morning, we will begin our return hike along the same trail that brought us to Choquequirao, retracing our steps through the mountains, forests, and the Apurímac canyon.
We will leave the campsite in the morning and trek back towards Maranpata for two hours. This section of the trail is a gentle walk to Maranpata village. From Maranpata, the descent starts on a switchback trail down to the Playa Rosalina for 4 hours. It is highly recommended to have trekking poles for this section.
Once at Playa Rosalina (the lowest part of the entire trek), we will take some rest and continue the ascent for 2 hours to reach Chikiska, where we will have lunch surrounded by canyon views and the warm mountain climate of the lower valley.
In the afternoon, we will continue hiking uphill for about 2 more hours to reach our fourth campsite at Cocamasana. This campsite offers wide views of the surrounding mountains, Apurímac Canyon, especially during sunset.
Upon arrival at the campsite, we will have time to rest and enjoy tea time, followed by a delicious dinner with the trekking crew. All meals included.
Breakfast, lunch, & dinner
Very Demanding
17 km / 10.5 miles
8 - 9 hours
2,950 m / 9,676 ft
1,500m / 4,920 ft
2,950 m / 9,676 ft
May-Sept mostly sunny/ Oct-April Unpredictable
We will wake up early in the morning to begin our final hiking day before the sun becomes stronger in the canyon. The trail is still uphill for three hours until reaching the viewpoint of Capuliyoc, where we will enjoy our last views of the Choquequirao area, Vilcabamba Range, and the impressive Apurímac Canyon stretching across the mountains.
After three hours of trekking and reaching Capuliyoc, we will have completed the Choquequirao Trek in 5 days, for sure a personal achievement. At Capuliyoc, we will have our final lunch (early lunch) together with the Peru Summit Adventures team before saying goodbye to our muleteers, cooks, and horses who accompanied us throughout the 5-day trek. This is the moment to thank them and give gratuities if you wish (optional).
After lunch, we will begin a long drive back to Cusco for four hours, arriving at your hotel in the evening (approximately 5 PM). All meals included except dinner.
Breakfast and lunch
Moderate
5 km / 3.1 miles
3 - 4 hours
2,500 m / 8,202 ft
2,500 m / 8,202 ft
2,900m / 9,512 ft
May-Sept mostly sunny/ Oct-April Unpredictable
Although we do our very best possible to adhere to the schedule above, this itinerary is subject to change for several reasons beyond our control, including strikes, weather, natural disasters, and terrain conditions. On some occasions, these conditions may demand us to deviate from our original schedule, in which case we will provide the best available alternative options. And we’ll make a great experience of it!
Availability:
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is available for new bookings. Please click Continue to proceed with your booking.
| Number of participants | Price per person | Total ($ USD) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Participant | We have special rates for SOLO travelers. Get started by filling out the inquiry form. | Enquire Now | |
| 2 Participants | $ 1,900.00 | $ 3,800.00 | Enquire Now |
| 3 Participants | $ 1,800.00 | $ 5,400.00 | Enquire Now |
| 4 Participants | $ 1,700.00 | $ 6,800.00 | Enquire Now |
| 5 Participants | $ 1,500.00 | $ 7,500.00 | Enquire Now |
| 6+ Participants | We have special rates for groups, which are over 6ppl. Get started by filling out the inquiry form. | Enquire Now | |
| # | |
|---|---|
| 1 person (We have special rates for SOLO travelers. Get started by filling out the inquiry form.) | Enquire Now |
| 2 people $ 1,900.00 | Enquire Now |
| 3 people $ 1,800.00 | Enquire Now |
| 4 people $ 1,700.00 | Enquire Now |
| 5 people $ 1,500.00 | Enquire Now |
| 6+ people (We have special rates for groups, which are over 6ppl. Get started by filling out the inquiry form.) | Enquire Now |
Prices are quoted in US Dollars and all payments must be made in US Dollars. Prices are per person based on SEMI-PRIVATE service; we depart with 2 ppl as a minimum, 8 ppl as maximum, and an average of 4 ppl in a group. This trek is also based on double occupancy for tents in the trail.
Making a choice of your right travel company/ tour operator is the most important decision you will make as you make your plans for a long-anticipated dreamed adventure. At first glance, some companies may seem cheaper. However, when you research a little deeper, you will see why traveling with Peru Summit Adventures assures that you will have the most memorable travel experience possible. In fact, we guarantee it, our TripAdvisor reviews say that.
Making genuine and sustainable itineraries often translate to real costs, with a host of responsible travel practices that underpin our prices, here are the reasons why you should go with us!
Besides, Machu Picchu offers one of the world’s most spellbinding travel experiences. But it’s also a world-renowned destination, and touring the site in a big group with multitudes of tourists shoving for photos, and competing to hear the guide, your once in a lifetime visit to this World Heritage Site may lose its magic. Our Machu Picchu Trips are scheduled with an average of just four travelers, allowing for a deeper exploration of the lost city of the Incas, with our Local Experts / Tour Leaders.
We are very confident the quality of our Choquequirao Trek 5 Days will get your expectations and that you will savor the best possible of cultural travel experience, nature travel experience, and adventure travel experience if you are dissatisfied, we’ll happily give you credit for an extra trip or for a future journey. It’s, to our knowledge, the best guarantee in the travel business.
Probably you will see that most of the tour operators mention it on their websites that are local tour companies, however, if you research a little deeper you will find out that’s not true, they might be although half of the operation is done from here and another half abroad, they even have NorthAmerican phone number or European phone numbers, which is a clue to find out, we are not against the foreigner companies or half foreign companies, what we are against is that they lie.
In Cusco exist just few truly local tour operators. If you did not know, foreign companies come to Peru to get rich without paying a General Sales Tax or Tax Contribution to our country. If you did not know that, according to the United Nations, for every US $100 spent on a tour in a developing country or foreign travel companies, only $5 stays in the local economy. Normally, almost all of the money flows back to large companies operating outside the destination countries. As we are a local family enterprise, we guarantee that your travel expenditures will support the local economy, and improve the lives of Peruvians through contributing to general sales tax.
Be a responsible traveller! Let’s make this world a better place for everyone and for everyone that lives in it! The natural environments that we travel to are fragile and abundant with beautiful culture and traditions that are often reliant on tourism. We have a responsibility as travelers to minimize the impact of our presence, protect what is delicate, and leave a positive influence everywhere we can.
As a locally owned and based Peruvian tour company, we integrate these practices into our in-country operations we are aiming for a style of travel that makes the world a better place for everyone, and for everyone that lives in it. Since our very first days as a tour operator, responsible business has been at the heart of what we do. Peru Summit Adventures is committed not just to treading lightly, but to making a real difference by helping and investing in local communities, education initiatives, environmental conservation projects. These values are not more than just words, they are ingrained in the culture and philosophy of our crew, daily operations of Peru Summit Adventures trips, and at our office too.
The perfect custom-made private tours, adventure tours, or expeditions don’t just happen. It takes a team of talented, knowledgeable, passionate, and experienced professionals to bring it all together and possible. Our team of Peru Summit Adventures Leaders is comprised of local trip veterans, seasoned tour veterans with rich backgrounds on history, archaeology, culture, cuisine, geology, biology, and more.
With the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the travel industry, our Trip Leaders safely deliver your trip-of-a-lifetime to maximize your Peru journeys and adventures every step of the way. Our Tour/Trek Leaders have worked extensively in the Peru isolated mountains, archaeological sites, hiking the Inca Trail (at least 150 times), Amazon jungle, and being at Machu Picchu for over 400 times at least, this guarantees your trip a unique and memorable experience.
Camping Equipment: Great gear is a key part of every great journey, so we’ve made our gear warehouse featuring top-performing brands like Black Diamond, Patagonia, North Face Summit Series, Therma Rest, Marmot, Leki, this is a fantastic collection of our outdoor gear, accessories, which are offered in all trekking adventures, expeditions, and Peru Summit Adventures Logo items.
In all hikes, you’ll enjoy Pro 4-season tents in Black Diamond and North Face with Pro Sleeping pads in Therma-Rest and pillows, tents are roomy and cozy designed for 3 people but used only for 2 guests.
Make the most of Choquequirao Trek’s natural beauty with succulent meals on each adventure tour, and Discover the delights of Peruvian cuisine in each tour destination and trek. So the food is awesome!
A new introduction to holistic food, which is Natural Food in all our tour adventures (Treks, Picnic Trips, Amazon Jungle Trips, and Expeditions Trips). In a holistic diet, you eat natural food, avoid highly processed foods, and eat in moderation foods high in fat and sugar. Natural foods that are included in our holistic diet include vegetables, whole grains, fish, fowl, meats, fresh juices, local fruits, herbal teas, and coffee substitutes.
Freshly prepared foods provide more energy and are better for your well-being than previously prepared foods. Our Peru Summit chefs are to Food what Leonardo da Vinci is to Art, so we rely on really experienced chefs who were trained and chosen to make this food in the mountains, and they are our stars.
In addition, making the right food choices can help prevent future health problems on your trip, so because of that we introduced this service in each of our Treks.
We have created a custom comprehensive listing of Choquequirao Trek in Peru – 5 Days, Machu Picchu and Peru, Machu Picchu, and Peru travel books for this trip. Our reading list Peru is custom-designed to complement specific Peru Summit destinations. We feature a handpicked selection of travel guides, maps, literature, books on art, cuisine, nature, and culture, designed to help you get more out of your travels to Machu Picchu & Peru.
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