Choquequirao Trek: An Unexplored Retreat in Lush Cloud Forests and Snowcapped Andean Mountains
4.8
20 Ratings

Embark on the Ultimate Choquequirao Trek and explore the untouched beauty of lush cloud forests and snowcapped Andean mountains. Discover the ‘Twin Sister of Machu Picchu’ and enjoy a serene retreat in this hidden gem of Peru.

Duration: 5 days
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

CUSCO – CACHORA – CAPULIYOC – LA PLAYA

Capuliyoc - Pick up from your hotel in Cusco between 4:30 am, to drive you across the Andes towards Capuliyoc, arriving at approximately 8:30 am. After breakfast, start a 4-hour trek downhill from Capuliyoc (9550 ft / 2911 m) to our lunch spot at Chiquiska (1893m / 6210 ft). Along the way, you can enjoy some absolutely stunning views of the Apurimac canyon - one of the deepest in Peru, and spectacular panoramas of the different landscapes: from the highlands of Peru to the dense vegetation of the cloud forest. After lunch we continue our journey for another 2 hours down to Playa Rosalina (1478m / 4849ft), your tents and a hot drink will be waiting for you. Here we will have dinner and camp for the night.
Distance: 10.8 km / 6.7 miles
Approximate Hiking Time: 6 hours
Highest Elevation Crossed: 2,911 m / 9,550 ft
Camp Elevation: 1,478m / 4,849 ft
Meals: Breakfast, snack, lunch & dinner
Accommodations: Camping
Difficulty: Moderate

LA PLAYA – MARAMPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAO

EXPLORE CHOQUEQUIRAO RUINS

Choquequirao Inca Citadel - We will wake you up bright and early with a nice cup of hot coca tea or coffee to witness the amazing sunrise over the mountains. After breakfast we have the entire day to explore this magnificent Inca city. Your guide will take you on a comprehensive tour - taking you to the most beautiful spots and teaching you about the history of Choquequirao and of the Incas. Choquequirao (cradle of gold) is nicknamed the twin sister of Machu Picchu, but is almost twice the size. For this reason it is expected that this largely unknown location will very soon become one of the most popular tourist destinations in South America. After you have taken all the time you need to discover Choquequirao, we will return to the same campsite for dinner and to spend the night.
Distance: 8 km/ 4.9 miles
Approximate Hiking Time: 4 hours
Highest Elevation Crossed: 3,066 m / 10,059 ft
Camp elevation:2,073 m / 6801 ft
Meals: Breakfast, snack, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Difficulty: Easy

CHOQUEQUIRAO – MARAMPATA – LA PLAYA – CHIKISKA

Choquequirao Inca Citadel - We will wake up for a second time is this magical place. After breakfast, it is a 3 hours downhill trek to our lunch spot at Santa Rosa (2230 m / 7300 ft). We will then continue downhill for a further 2 hours, before trekking uphill for another 2 hours, until we arrive to our campsite at Chiquiska (1800m / 5905ft). This a perfect day to enjoy the surrounding landscape and nature. We will pass a wide range of different flowers and birds along the way and the sound of waterfalls can be heard in the distance.
Distance: 8 km /11.32 miles
Approximate Hiking Time: 8 hours
Highest Elevation Crossed: 3,100m/9,300 ft
Camp Elevation: 1,450m/4,350 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Meals: Breakfast, snack, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Camping

CHIKISKA – CAPULIYOC – CUSCO

Saywite - On our final day we will get up, have breakfast and prepare for our last 4 hour trek uphill to Capuliyoc. Here we will have lunch and say good bye to our team of chefs and porters that have accompanied un on this expeditions. We will then take our private transportation to the archeological site of Saywite; a beautiful carved rock that remains a mystery to archaeologists. You will have plenty of time to explore before we return to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel around 5pm.
Distance: 8 km / 11.32 miles
Approximate Hiking Time: 8 hours
Highest Elevation Crossed: 2,850m / 9,407ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Meals: Breakfast, snack, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Difficulty: Moderate

What's Included
  • Professional English-speaking tour guides
  • Expert chef for all meal preparations
  • Convenient airport-hotel transfers
  • Hotel pick-up service included
  • Meals provided: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Informative pre-departure briefing at 6:30 PM
  • Personal porter service for luggage up to 7kg
  • Comprehensive transportation throughout the tour
What's Not Included
  • Sleeping Bag (Can be rent from us)
  • Inflatable mattress (can be rent from us)
  • Trekking poles (can be rent from us)
  • Tips for our staff: please note that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip as you wish.
Additional Information

For adventurers seeking untouched landscapes, we present the Ultimate Choquequirao Trek. This expedition traverses the vibrant cloud forests and snowcapped peaks of the Andes in the Choquekiraw region. Whereas Machu Picchu hosts approximately 5000 tourists each day, Choquequirao often welcomes less than twelve, offering an unparalleled peaceful retreat. Dubbed the ‘Second Machu Picchu’, Choquekiraw is home to another stunning Incan city, carved entirely from stone and nestled in an unfathomable location overlooking one of Peru’s deepest gorges. Experience the tranquil majesty of this location before the secret gets out: Choquequirao is predicted to be one of Peru’s upcoming top tourist spots.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS
Free Airport pick-up and return
PACHAMANCA demonstration
Relax with our warm showers after an intense day of trekking
Engage and learn from our indigenous tour guides
2% of your payment contributes to our philanthropic projects

  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
  • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
  • Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
  • A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(20 Ratings)
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Noahthora
May 16, 2024
Choquequirao, the beauty of a challenging trek - The trip was amazing! We where so lucky with weather and staff. Our tour guide filio started with a coca ceremony asking the “apus” (mountain gods) to take care of us and they sure did! No doubt It is a challenging trip but our chef and helper filled our souls with fresh and local food that took us directly to our next campsite. What a beautiful experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Inspire61662483162
May 16, 2024
Tough trip but increadible at the same time - We had a great guide, Filio, who took good care of us, asked the spirits of the mountains for blessings which reflected in a superb trip in all respect ; weather,food and our health throughout and until the end. Special note on the food which was an experience in itself ! Very challenging route,steep and coarse tracks but the cook deserves a special note, Balbino did magic. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
465dariaz
Nov 14, 2023
Complete delight - Absolutely amazing trekking experience! Luxurious, with an individual approach to everyone. We had a mixed group, everyone walked at their own speed and everyone was comfortable. Guide Rodger immediately put us in the mood to enjoy nature, and not to be interested in sports. The guide was very caring and attentive, he told us a lot of things. The porters are amazing; in the morning they brought warm water for washing and coconut tea to the tent. I was on a diet at the time of the hike, and the chef prepared meals for me separately according to the diet. In general, chef Walter and his assistant Felix prepared a variety of traditional food, and they gave us a huge barbecue and even baked a cake in honor of the fact that we reached the final point of the route. In general, the whole experience of the trip with Trexpirience exceeded all my expectations, and it’s worth it. I am delighted!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Scvi
Nov 10, 2023
Choquequi-OW! to Choquequi-WOW! From pain to amazement - The trek was well organized and planned. Everything was as explained except we were pleasantly surprised to find better amenities than expected AND cold beer at every site! Our guide, Roger, was excellent and provided us with expert knowledge and pleasant company. The rest of the crew and chefs were also very friendly and the food was surprisingly good. Although parts of the trek were grueling, they always made it enjoyable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bobi528
Nov 8, 2023
One of Peru's finest trekking company - I highly recommend Trexperience. I went on the Karis Trek 4 years ago and the experience was great then, and standards have remained high. The whole process from initial contact, booking, payment and ongoing communication is excellent. Once on the trek all logistics are excellent from initial briefing, hotel pickup, baggage storage and equipment rental if needed. The guides, cooks, and support staff know their jobs well, making for a superb experience. Our guide Roger Calsin is friendly, knowledgeable and can handle needs on the fly as when one of our party needed to hire a horse due to health problems. I will go on future treks with this company.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Phillipho6803kc
Nov 6, 2023
Choquequirao is a lifetime experience you never forgot. - 10/10 on a recommendation Scale. Going to Choquequirao is a lifetime experience and our guide Roger as well as the cooking team of Walter, Felix and Jilber’s team made the hike an adventure. With all their kowledge and the amazing cooking skills they made us feel being part of the stunning peruvian culture. Thanks again for this!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michaelas309df
Oct 9, 2023
Trip of a lifetime - Absolutely amazing experience - more than a backpacking trip. Filio and his team of Jorge, Andre, & Jilver were phenomenal from the level to the attentiveness & care around the trail they showed to the jokes and laughs. Can’t recommend this team enough. Trail itself is a great test of physically and mental will over a few days. Great time to disconnect and reflect while also enjoying some killer views and a 10/10 culutural immersion.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brandie
Nov 14, 2022
Delicious food and fun company for a long but rewarding trek! - Amazing experience! My mother and I did the 5day/4night trek to Choquequirao. Our guide, Filio, was incredibly patient with my slow pace and had the perfect balance of using breaks to catch our breath, drink water, and observe our surroundings. He would also take opportunities to share more about his background or provide information about the plants/land around us. He always had good humor, remained flexible to our needs/requests, and was happy to chat and answer questions. When we arrived at Choquequirao, Filio had a plethora of knowledge to share about the site and Inca history in general. The remainder of the Trexperience staff that joined us were amazing as well. We were joined by Daniel (chef), Elizabeth (support chef), and Erbert (porter). We were incredibly impressed with all the food provided and the quality of its presentation and taste. Every single meal was delightful. On our final morning we had jokingly requested chocolate cake and sure enough Daniel and Elizabeth had it prepared, even decorated with strawberries! Erbert managed all of our supplies with care and even with the repetition of setting up and tearing down at each site everyone remained positive, more often than not laughing and joking. It was a really fun time to be able to travel with this group and I would highly recommend this option for anyone interested in a trek to Choquequirao.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tenztj
Aug 19, 2022
Beyond expectation - This hiking adventure was above and beyond the expectation. Me and my wife reserved this trip with no idea about how it is going to turn out. We were greeted by our awesome guide JJ and he was very informative and supportive throughout the whole 5 day hike. The porters and the chef balbino and chef assistants (pablo and javier) were the most humble and hard working people ive ever met. They would carry almost 50lbs of baggage through the hills faster than us hikers to make sure our meals and tents were ready by the time we get at the spot. And then food that we got served three meals a day for 4 days were just so delicious and beyond expectation. Overall this trip was one of the best decision we took as a couple with lots of unforgettable memories. You will not regret it…
Review provided by Tripadvisor
D9349unjoes
Aug 21, 2023
Amazing food and good organisation, but overall overpriced - This review is for the 5D/4N Choquequirao trek. Many positives about this experience. The chefs Alejandro and Beto were real stars. We were astonished by their work ethic and at what they were able to prepare in spartan conditions. The guide Filio varied the plan according to our ability, which was appreciated. General organisation was good. The trek is hard work and almost entirely consists of steep uphills and downhills. However, for us (two early 30s males in decent physical condition), we ultimately felt like that we could have done this self-guided at a fraction of the cost, with very little loss. The route is very clear and there are good facilities on the way offering cheap accommodation (not just camping) and food. I would advise anyone looking at this trek to really consider whether a guided experience is right for you. Sadly our overall conclusion was that it was not right for us and that we had overpaid for the experience ($690 per person at time of writing, before equipment hire and tips).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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September 2024
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