Choquequirao Trek 5 Days

Choquequirao Trek 5 Days, Best Option! an off the beaten path by Tambobamba, this new route allows you to explore Choquequirao more deeply via Tambobamba, an off the beaten path to back from Choquequirao, this new route will enable you to explore Choquequirao more profoundly. You will return differently to the classic; on this trek, we finish our hike in Villa de Loros – Tambobamba (different point), while the classic trek of 4 days begins and ends in Capuliyoc (they go and come back by the same way).

Choquequirao is located in the district of Santa Teresa, province of La Convencion, in the department of Cusco, an Incan site that sits over 3050 m.a.s.l -considered as the sister of Machu Picchu due to its similarity of both Inca sites. With rich flora and fauna and protected by Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas por el Estado (SERNANP).
In Choquequirao, the mountain peaks are covered with snow, which extends from the highest peaks to areas where the topography is less steep; in the lower areas, the snow begins to thaw to form streams, and small lagoons keep it wet the area.

Choquequirao is undoubtedly one of the most critical vestiges that the Incas built during the Tahuantinsuyo Empire, whose space is a mystery because of the spectacular beauty of its stone walls, its platforms covered by green mantles, its peculiar workshops, beautiful Colcas (Granaries), and its sources and channels connected by long stairs that show the magnificence of those inhabitants who lived in it.

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:
Choquequirao Expeditions 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!

We will pick you up from your hotel very early, and we will leave for Capuliyoc (road-head in the district of Cachora). On the route, we will make some stops to observe the imposing Apurímac River and taste a delicious breakfast. In Capuliyoc, we will join the muleteers who will accompany us on the trip. Here, we will observe the majestic snow-capped mountains of the Vilcanota mountain range and the impressive Apurimac canyon.

After a refreshing rest and preparing our trekking implements, we will begin the trek to our camp in Playa Rosalinas. For this, we will first go down a zigzag path until we reach Cocamasana; and then, we will go to Chiquisca, where we will have lunch.

After enjoying the delicious lunch, we will continue down to Rosalinas beach for 2 hours, the lowest point and our campsite for today. You will have tea time and then dinner.

Accommodation: Tent (4 season tent).
Meals: Lunch, Tea and Dinner.
Hiking time: 4 – 5 hours approx.
Hiking distance: 8.5 km / 5.28 miles.
Highest elevation: 2,760 m / 9.055 ft.

After enjoying a delicious breakfast to recharge your batteries, we’ll continue our journey and begin our hike. A zigzagging ascent to Marampata (2,900 m / 9,514 ft) awaits us, where you can take impressive photos of the canyon and the snow-capped peaks that surround you.

We’ll start with a descent of one hour and fifteen minutes to reach the deepest part of the valley known as Playa Rosalinas (1,500 m / 4,921 ft). We will cross the pedestrian bridge to begin the toughest part of our trek.

On the way, we’ll make a brief stop at the hamlet of Santa Rosa (1,970 m / 6,463 ft), where you can enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our team to recover energy; we’ll continue ascending for approximately three hours until we reach the Marampata camp. In the afternoon, you will enjoy the impressive surroundings and feel the energy that this spectacular place has near the citadel of Choquequirao. In addition, you will take the time to stretch your muscles and enjoy a beautiful sunset that floods the endless valleys and white glacial mountains with its soft orange light.

When it starts to get dark, we will see the beautiful sunset accompanied by a sky full of thousands of stars covering the landscape and the vegetation around us. Then it will be time to have dinner before going to bed to rest.

Accommodation: Tent (4 season tent).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tea, and Dinner.
Hiking time:  5-6 hours approx.
Hiking distance: 11 km / 6.82 miles.
Highest elevation: 2,950 m / 9,676 ft.

We’ll start the day with a delicious breakfast that will give you a boost of energy. Then, we´ll take the day to explore every detail of this incredible Inca site located in the mountains and very close to the deepest canyon of the entire South American continent. You can already imagine the incredible landscapes that surround this colossal Inca construction. We’ll 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.

Choquequirao (3,050 m / 10,007 ft) is much larger than Machu Picchu, with plazas, temples, and impressive platforms that will make you constantly ponder the question: How could the Incas build this on top of the mountains? You´ll enjoy a picnic lunch at noon and have time to rest and recover your energy.

Don´t 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 visible and, in many ways, Choquequirao remains a mystery. We are sure that in the coming years we will learn even more about this amazing complex.

At the end of the day, we will return to our camp at Marampata (2,900 m / 9,514 ft) and enjoy a delicious dinner. Afterwards, you can go to bed to contemplate the incredible day you have just had and rest.

Accommodation: Tent (4 season tent).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tea, and Dinner.
Hiking time:  4 – 5 hours approx.
Hiking distance: 6 km / 3.73 miles.
Highest elevation: 3,050 m / 10,006 ft.

After breakfast and already knowing the route to Choquequirao, the return is made easier. After hiking 1 hour to Choquequirao is where our Huanipaca Choquequirao trek deviates from the classic route. We will take a different path back, walking down towards the Apurimac river below the ruins. As we walk along the Huanipaca detour, we’ll have a unique opportunity to spot the Andean cock-of-the-rock (rupicola peruviana), Peru’s national bird, which also goes by the local name tunqui.

We will hike downhill for about 3h, covering a distance of 6km, until we reach the river. At the river, we will walk across a suspension bridge at a place known as San Ignacio beach (1470m / 4822 ft).

Once on the other side of the river, we begin to climb again. We will walk uphill for about an hour and a half until we reach San Ignacio campsite where we will spend the night (1850m/6069 ft).

Accommodation: Tent (4 season tent).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tea, and Dinner.
Hiking time:  6 – 7 hours approx.
Hiking distance: 11 km / 6.83 miles.
Highest elevation: 2,950 m / 9,676 ft.

It’s our last hiking day, after enjoying a nutritious breakfast, we’ll continue trekking up the highland valley with some trees along the trail and amazing views, this final section of the trail is a gentle trail for 3 hours to reach Tambobamba 2,320 m / 7,610 ft, a place where we’ll end our adventure. Once we arrive at this place, we’ll have a farewell time to our muleteers, cook, and other members who were part of our team for 5 days. After that, we’ll take our private transport back to Cusco for about 5 hours with some stop-offs on the way, one of them is a stop at Saywite a unique place to see a great Incan monolith called the monolith of Saywite is a symbolic representation of our cosmos, where the Incas used a living granite rock to carve over 208 figures like geometric and zoomorphic figures, including reptiles, frogs, felines, irrigation channels, etc.

The site is regarded as a center of religious worship for the Incan people, focusing on water. It’s a big granite boulder whose circumference is about 11 m / 36.08 ft, 4 m / 13.12 ft in diameter, and about 2 m / 6.56 ft high. After learning about this site, we’ll take our picnic lunch close by to this site. We’ll then drive back to Cusco for about 3 hours.

All meals included, except dinner. End of the adventure.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.
Hiking time:  3 hours approx.
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.