The Classic Choquequirao Trek 5 days is an awesome option for true adventurers, history lovers, and nature enthusiasts. You’ll head off-the-beaten-path and away from other tourists as you venture through the incredible scenery along a rarely traveled trail to a real archaeological gem.
Choquequirao trek 5 days is an exciting alternative trek to the Inca Trail. The lesser-known ruins of Choquequirao feature similar architecture and layout to the more famous complex of Machu Picchu. The fact that you can only get there on foot, however, means that far fewer people visit this incredible site.
On this adventurous trek, you’ll hike into an ancient world, walk on Incan highways, trek through high Andean landscapes with majestic glaciers, descend into deep canyons where the condors fly, and pass through biologically diverse cloud forest ecosystems. You’ll also see native animals, such as Andean Condors, other smaller local birds, and native flora and fauna, including orchids, and so much more!
This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that’ll imprint itself in your mind and provide an unforgettable memory. Do you want to escape the crowds and visit a rarely trekked site? The Classic Choquequirao Trek 5 days is for you.
We will start our exciting adventure very early in the morning. We will pick you up from your hotel at 4:30 am. and we will travel in our private transportation to the beginning of the trail, called Capuliyoc (2900 m/9512ft). On the way we will contemplate in the distance the impressive glacial mountains of Salkantay and Humantay.
Upon reaching the trailhead, we meet the rest of our trekking team: cooks and muleteers, who will carry our belongings all the way. After having breakfast and reviewing the last details, we will take a walk through the Apurimac Canyon. We will zigzag down for approximately three hours to Chiquisca (1,900 m / 6,234 ft), a beautiful village full of fruit orchards.
During the tour we will be able to contemplate the impressive landscape offered by the Apurimac Valley, as well as have the opportunity to appreciate the majestic flight of the condor and the impressive views of two giant glacial mountains called Padreyoc (5,571 m/18,387ft) and Qoriwayrachina. As we go deeper into the valley, the heat, the abundant vegetation and the rhythmic sounds of the mighty Apurimac River become more and more noticeable.
Once we arrive at the place called Chiquisca, it will be the place for our lunch.
After lunch, we continue for another to 2 hours approximate until we reach the first night’s camp called La Playa Rosalina located at (1500 m/4920 ft). Once in the camp, you will have time to settle in your tent, which is already set up, in the late afternoon we will have tea time, later dinner.
Very early in the morning, we will wake up with a good coca tea, and a nutritious breakfast will prepare us for the hard day, just after breakfast, we will ascend for about 5 hours along a zigzag path passing through the Santa Rosa (1,970 m / 6,463 ft) area, at this point We take a half-hour break, where those who wish can try Cambray, a local sugar cane extract.
We continue our trip until we reach the town called Maranpata (2,900 m / 9,514 ft), where we will have our lunch. Upon our arrival at this place we will have the first views of Choquequirao in another direction.
This section of the Choquequirao trek 5 days will be the most impressive of our entire trek because we will have incredible views from the summit to the Apurimac canyon. We will also see orchids, among other flowers and black bears if we are lucky. If you still have energy left, that afternoon you can take a 30-minute walk to enjoy the beautiful sunset from the Choquequirao ruins.
When it starts to get dark, we will see the beautiful sunset accompanied by a sky full of thousands of stars that cover the surrounding landscape and vegetation. Then it will be time to have dinner before going to bed to rest.
We will start the day with a delicious breakfast that will give you an energy boost. Then, we will take the day to explore every detail of this incredible Inca site located in the mountains and very close to the deepest canyon in the entire South American continent. You can already imagine the incredible landscapes that surround this colossal Inca construction. We will visit the most impressive corners of this place and our guide will share with you the fascinating stories of the past and the reason why it was built and will explain the highlights of Choquequirao trek 5 days to get to know the entire site with its 8 sectors, such as granaries, temple houses and we will also observe the three levels of the excavated ruins of this late Inca town, such as the ruin in the progress of the excavation and finally the unexplored areas that can tell us about this last refuge of the oppressed platforms of the Inca Empire.
Do not miss the famous white stone llamas that adorn the platforms built on the hillside and are located in the direction of the mountain that protects this sector known as the Apu Qoriwayrachina. According to experts, only an average of 40% of the entire site is seen, and in many ways Choquequirao remains a mystery. We are sure that in the years to come we will learn even more about this amazing complex.
After our exhaustive explorations of this impressive Inca site, we will return to our same camp to enjoy our lunch. In the afternoon, we will have time to relax and take a nap. Enjoy your last night next to these magical ruins, under an incredible sky of southern stars.
After another delicious breakfast, we will return from Choquequirao. It’s goodbye for now to this unique site, so be sure to take one last look before you go. First, we will have another opportunity to take pictures of the Marampata Grand Canyon; then, we will descend for two hours until we reach Santa Rosa (2,970 m / 6,463 ft), lunch point. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to observe the enormous variety of vegetation on this part of the trail.
After lunch, we will continue to Playa Rosalinas and dip our feet and refresh ourselves in the cold waters of the Apurimac River in the middle of the canyon. Then, we will go up to the Chiquisca camp (1,900 m / 6,234 ft), located in the backyard of a local family’s house. Take advantage of this time to make new friends and learn about the Andean way of life, such as its customs and traditions. You will be able to closely observe the deep relationship that the Andean communities have with the Pachamama or, as you know her, Mother Nature.
After a delicious dinner, you can rest easy at night in our cozy camp and reflect on your journey to this point.
Today we will enjoy the last breakfast of our epic adventure while listening to the powerful roar of the river. Afterwards we will leave as early as possible to avoid the sun hindering our walk, since at altitude it can make things very difficult. Breathe deeply and focus on Mother Nature’s energy as you hike for 4 hours to Capuliyoc.
Once there, we will say goodbye to the trekking team and board the private transportation, we will continue to the Conoc hot springs to relax and rest in the warm waters. Our lunch will be ready after enjoying these refreshing pools, and then we will begin our trip back to the city of Cusco.
Take advantage of this last opportunity to observe the immense glacial mountains that have embraced you with pure affection during the journey and that have allowed you to arrive safely at each destination on the route. Your body will probably be very tired, but the joy and satisfaction you will feel in your soul will be incomparable. We will arrive in the city of Cusco at approximately 6:00 p.m. and we will leave you at the door of your accommodation so you can finally relax.
My wife and I had an unforgettable experience with Peru Trek Travel Agency! By the way, the city is very beautiful, we enjoyed the sunny day in the main square of Cusco, we took the route to Choquequirao for 5 days and 4 nights where everything was wonderful. Our guide was very attentive and friendly, Samuel made us feel like family, the food was excellent at the right time, our coca leaf tea and something special for us, the local drink was wonderful, the attention was very good. Choquequirao an entire city that is wonderful to know and to be standing meditating for a long time.
This is one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had. The trip can be physically and mentally challenging, especially on the second day.
My brothers and I have been impressed with the service that Peru Trek has provided, from the office staff to the guides.
But also fun and made sure each and every one of us was comfortable and had a good time.
which I have definitely experienced with other trekking companies. I would highly recommend it!
Never before in my life have I written a review on anyone for anything. But after my 5-day trip in the Cusco region with PERU TREK. There was nothing the organizer or guides would not do to accommodate us. I did the Choquequirao Trek because I wanted to challenge myself. I am an experienced trekker, but the Choquequirao trek is no joke, and you have to prepare yourself physically and mentally before doing it. I joined a group of 6 people in total all with some experience in long hikes. Fortunately we went with the Peru Trek team, since they have very good people who are committed to their work and their professionalism was noticeable.
