from 2 reviews
4Days / 3Nights
Daily Tour
10 people
English, Espanol, Português
Choquequirao is in Sacred Valley of the Incas of Peru. Choquequirao Complex is very interesting and one of the most popular treks in Cusco area. Choquequiraw is situated in the spur of the mountain range of Salkantay, over 3030m surroundedby the Apus of Yamana, Ampay, Chokecarpu, Pumasiyo and Panta, on the left bankof Apurimac river.
Hike to Choquequirao 4Days/3Nights
The Choquequirao Trek is perfect for those looking to get away from the crowds or who are looking for something other than Machu Picchu during their trip. The trek takes you to the sister city of Machu Picchu, Choquequirao (The Cradle of Gold) which sits high above the Apurimac Valley.
Begin from: Cusco / Cachora
End in: Cusco
Duration: 04 Days/ 03 Night
Physical Rating: Moderate
Accommodation: Tourist Class
Itinerary: Choquequirao Trail 4Days/3Nights hike.
Day 1: Cusco – Cachora – Playa Rosalina.
Day 2: Playa Rosalinas, Marampata, Choquequirao.
Day 3: Choquequirao Archaeological Complex.
Day 4: Chiquiska, Cachora, Cusco
We’ll meet you at your hotel lobby in Cusco the night before the “Hike Choquequirao Trail 4Day/3Night” to go over the itinerary and you’ll able to take this opportunity to ask final questions and make any final preparations. The meeting will be at 5:00 pm the evening before the trek begins. In case you can´t at this time “please let us know” to coordinate another time.
Our first day starts out from the village of Cachora, a 4 hour drive from Cusco. Leaving Cachora the path works it's way down in to the Apurimac Valley and we will have fantastic views of snow-capped peaks in the distance and the Apurimac Valley spread out before us throughout the day, also after a few hours walking we'll get to have our first views of Choquequirao sat on the far side of the valley. The area around Choquequirao is rich in life and we will see a wide variety of flora and fauna as we make our way down in to the valley.
Our campsite for the night is at Santa Rosa (2200m / 7215ft.) which is on the other side of the Apurimac River. As the campsite is a little further along the trail than most groups go it is one of the quietest places to camp on the whole trek so we can enjoy the beautiful scenery around us without distraction.
Today is probably the hardest day of the trek. To get to Choquequirao we need to make our way back up the opposite side of the Apurimac Valley which involves ascending about 800m / 2624ft. over a distance of 14km / 8.7 miles through hot and humid conditions. It's quite tough going but the views we get today mixed with the wide variety of flora and fauna you find on this side of the valley make it worth it.
Throughout the day we will see a wide variety of bromeliads, orchids and stands of bamboo; we'll also hopefully see birds such as Quetzals, Toucans and a variety of hummingbirds. After about a 5 hour walk we'll arrive to our campsite close to Choquequirao (3050m / 10,005ft.) and settle in for the night - if the weather is clear the views of the sunsetting from here are amazing and we may be lucky enough to spot Condors soaring over the valley below.
Today's focus is on exploring Choquequirao. Waking up early you'll head off on a guided tour of the site during which you'll be shown the most important and interesting sections of the city and get to learn about the Inca culture and the close relation between Choquequirao and Machu Picchu.
Compared to Machu Picchu little is known about Choquequirao even though it has been known about for much longer. Originally discovered in the 17th century by the Spanish it lay abandoned and forgotten until recent years when tourism raised the profile of the city and exploration began. Even with this increased interest only 25% of the city has been explored and many of its secrets still wait to be discovered.
After your tour you'll begin the trek back to Cachora along the route we came. Our campsite for tonight is Chiquiska (1800m / 5905ft.) in the base of the valley by the Apurimac River.
Today is the final stretch of the trek as we make our way back to Cachora. Winding our way back up the side of the valley we'll have our final views of Choquequirao in the distance before arriving to Cachora in the late afternoon and travelling by bus back to Cusco.
Change of clothes for the whole period of the trek & a daypack.
We provides a duffle bag to transport your belongings ( 6 Kg each)
Original passport and (ISIC student card if applicable)
A daypack to carry your belongings (camera, water, snacks)
Warm sleeping bag Minus 2ºC
Lighter style trekking boots with good ankle support
Trekking poles
Warm clothes,layers for variable temperature especially at night
T-shirts and trekking pants that zipoff to short pants for comfort
Flash light, head torch and extra batteries
Camera and extra batteries, - Binoculars
Wear a hat with a broad visor to keep the sun off your face
Sunscreen, and sunglasses
Personal medical kit, insect repellent
Rain Gear: a good rain jacket, rain poncho
Toiletries, toilet paper, small towel
2 litre water bottle, disposable plastic bottles are forbidden in Machupicchu site
Bathing suits for hot springs
Extra money for drinks, tips in soles (porters, cooks, guides.
Emergency money at least 200-350 extra soles.(USD$ 100)
While we expect the tour will run as the itinerary describes. Participants should accept that there is the possibility of changes, being necessary liable to local conditions, e.g, strikes, natural disasters, these changes might be at the discretion of your travel company.