The Choquequirao Trek is a challenging and rewarding trek in Peru that takes hikers on a journey through stunning Andean landscapes and ancient Inca ruins. The trek is named after the Choquequirao archaeological site, which is sometimes referred to as the “sister city” of Machu Picchu.
The trek covers approximately 64 kilometers (40 miles) over a period of 9 days and 8 nights, passing through diverse terrain and offering breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains, deep valleys, and Andean wildlife. Along the way, hikers will visit the Choquequirao ruins, which are believed to have been a religious and administrative center for the Inca Empire.
The Choquequirao Trek is considered a challenging trek due to its steep ascents and descents, high-altitude terrain, and the long distances covered each day. However, the trek is well worth the effort, offering a unique and authentic experience of the Andean culture and history. The trek provides the opportunity to explore one of the lesser-known archaeological sites of Peru and witness stunning views of the region’s natural beauty.
Cusco Hotel Transfer
06:00 AM.
The Choquequirao Trek is a challenging 9-day trek in Peru that takes you through stunning Andean landscapes and ancient Inca ruins. Expect steep ascents and descents, high-altitude terrain, and the need to be in good physical condition.
You’ll visit the Choquequirao ruins, explore the cloud forest, and pass through small communities before reaching the ancient city of Machu Picchu. The trek offers breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains, deep valleys, and Andean wildlife.
You’ll camp in tents along the route and enjoy delicious meals prepared by a cook. The Choquequirao Trek is a unique and authentic experience that offers a deeper understanding of Andean culture and history.
On the first day of the Choquequirao Trek, we will depart from our hotel in Cusco early in the morning, around 6:00 am. We will meet our trekking team and board a bus that will take us from Cusco to the town of Cachora, which is the starting point of the trek. The journey from Cusco to Cachora takes approximately 4-5 hours, covering a distance of around 140 kilometers (87 miles).
As we make our way from Cusco to Cachora, we’ll pass through the beautiful Andean landscapes, including small villages, scenic valleys, and snow-capped mountains. We’ll have several rest stops along the way to stretch our legs and take in the breathtaking scenery. Upon arrival in Cachora, we’ll have some time to prepare for the trek, including packing our gear and meeting our mules and porters.
Once we’re ready to start the trek, we’ll hike from Cachora to Capuliyoc, which is approximately 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) and takes around 4-5 hours to complete. The trail passes through the Apurimac River canyon, offering stunning views of the valley below. We’ll camp for the night at Capuliyoc and enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by our cook before getting some rest for the next day’s trek.
On the second day of the Choquequirao Trek, we will depart from the Capuliyoc campsite and continue our journey along the Apurimac River towards the Chiquisca campsite. The day’s trek covers a distance of approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) and takes around 6-7 hours to complete.
As we leave Capuliyoc, we’ll begin a steep descent down to the Apurimac River. The trail is well-maintained, and we’ll have stunning views of the valley and the river below. We’ll then cross the river on a suspension bridge and continue along the other side of the valley.
The trail becomes flatter as we approach the Chiquisca campsite, and we’ll pass through the beautiful cloud forest, where we’ll see a variety of flora and fauna. We’ll reach the Chiquisca campsite in the early afternoon, where we’ll set up camp and have time to rest and enjoy the stunning scenery. Overall, the second day of the Choquequirao Trek is a challenging but rewarding trek that offers beautiful views of the Andean landscape and is an essential part of the journey to reach the ancient Inca city of Choquequirao.
On the third day of the Choquequirao Trek, we will have an early breakfast and set off on a challenging trek from Chiquisca to the ancient Inca city of Choquequirao. The trek will take approximately 7-8 hours, covering a distance of around 14 kilometers (8.7 miles).
The first part of the trek will involve descending steep terrain to reach the Apurimac River. We will then ascend a steep trail, passing through beautiful landscapes and Andean wildlife along the way. After several hours of trekking, we will arrive at the impressive archaeological site of Choquequirao.
Upon arrival at Choquequirao, we will have a guided tour of the site, which is believed to have been a significant religious and administrative center for the Inca Empire. We’ll explore the temples, terraces, and other structures that make up this remarkable site before setting up camp for the night. This will be a challenging but rewarding day of the trek, with stunning views and fascinating history to discover.
On day 4 of the Choquequirao Trek, we will leave the Choquequirao ruins and continue our journey towards the Pinchiunuyoc ruins. We’ll have an early breakfast before setting off on the trail, which will take us through a combination of flat and hilly terrain.
As we hike, we’ll enjoy stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. We’ll pass through several small communities, where we may have the opportunity to interact with the locals and learn more about their way of life. We’ll also see Andean wildlife such as llamas and alpacas along the way.
After a few hours of hiking, we’ll arrive at the Pinchiunuyoc ruins, which are located at an altitude of approximately 2,700 meters (8,858 feet) above sea level. We’ll have a guided tour of the site and learn about its historical significance before setting up camp for the night. The day’s hike will take approximately 7-8 hours, and we’ll cover a distance of around 14 kilometers (8.7 miles).
Overall, day 4 of the Choquequirao Trek is a challenging but rewarding day of hiking, with stunning views of the Andean landscape and an opportunity to learn about the region’s rich history and culture.
After breakfast, we will continue our Choquequirao Trek by trekking from Pinchiunuyoc to Maizal. The trek will take us through beautiful landscapes and challenging terrain, including steep ascents and descents.
Along the way, we’ll enjoy stunning views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers, with the opportunity to spot Andean wildlife such as llamas and alpacas. We’ll cover a distance of approximately 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) and reach an altitude of 3,500 meters (11,483 feet) at our highest point.
The trek will take us around 7-8 hours to complete, with several stops for rest and to take in the views. We’ll set up camp for the night at the Maizal campsite, where we’ll enjoy a well-deserved dinner and have the opportunity to rest and prepare for the next day’s trek. Overall, the fifth day of the Choquequirao Trek is a challenging yet rewarding day, with beautiful scenery and plenty of opportunities for adventure.
As we continue our Choquequirao Trek, we will wake up early at our campsite in Maizal. After breakfast, we will begin our hike towards Yanama, our destination for the day.
The route will take us through beautiful landscapes, including high-altitude meadows and cloud forests. We will also ascend to the Yanama Pass, which has an altitude of 4,800 meters (15,748 feet) above sea level, and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers.
As we descend from the pass, we will make our way to the Yanama campsite, where we will spend the night. The hike from Maizal to Yanama takes approximately 7-8 hours and covers a distance of around 17 kilometers (10.5 miles). Along the way, we will see Andean wildlife and enjoy stunning views of the region’s natural beauty. Overall, day 6 of the Choquequirao Trek is a challenging yet rewarding experience, with beautiful landscapes and opportunities for reflection on our journey so far.
As we wake up on the morning of day 7, we prepare ourselves for another day of challenging trekking on the Choquequirao Trail. We start the day with breakfast at the Yanama campsite, where we will pack up our camping gear and set off towards the Totora campsite.
Our trek today takes us through the stunning Andean landscape as we hike up to the Yanama Pass, which reaches an altitude of 4,800 meters (15,748 feet) above sea level. As we reach the top of the pass, we will have breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers. We’ll take some time to rest and take photos before beginning the descent towards Totora.
The descent is steep and challenging, but the stunning scenery makes it all worth it. We’ll pass through different altitudes and landscapes, including high-altitude meadows and cloud forests. Finally, after several hours of trekking, we will arrive at the Totora campsite, where we’ll set up camp for the night. The total trekking time for the day is approximately 8-9 hours, so we’ll have time to rest and recover before continuing the trek on the following day.
As we wake up on day 8 of the Choquequirao Trek, we’ll start packing up our camping gear at the Totora campsite. After breakfast, we’ll begin our descent through the cloud forest towards the small town of La Playa. This part of the trek is known for its lush vegetation, which provides a stark contrast to the high-altitude meadows we encountered on the previous day.
We’ll trek for approximately 6-7 hours, covering a distance of around 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Totora to La Playa. Along the way, we’ll pass by small communities, coffee and fruit plantations, and several waterfalls. We’ll also have the opportunity to spot Andean wildlife, such as parrots, toucans, and monkeys.
Once we arrive at the La Playa campsite, we’ll set up camp and relax after a long day of trekking. The campsite is located in a beautiful spot by the river, and we’ll have time to explore the area, take a refreshing swim, or simply enjoy the stunning scenery. This is a great time to reflect on the journey so far and prepare for the final stretch of the trek to Machu Picchu.
As we wake up on the ninth day of our Choquequirao Trek, we’ll have an early breakfast at the hotel in Aguas Calientes. Then, we’ll take a short bus ride to the entrance of Machu Picchu, where we’ll have a guided tour of the ancient Inca city. We’ll learn about the history and significance of Machu Picchu, which was built in the 15th century and abandoned during the Spanish conquest.
After the tour, we’ll have some free time to explore Machu Picchu on our own and take photos of the stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Later in the afternoon, we’ll take a train from Aguas Calientes to the town of Ollantaytambo, where we’ll board a bus for the final leg of our journey back to Cusco. The bus ride will take approximately 2 hours, and we’ll arrive in Cusco in the evening.
Once we arrive in Cusco, we’ll have some time to rest and reflect on our incredible trekking adventure. We may choose to have a farewell dinner with our trekking team or explore the city’s vibrant nightlife. The ninth day marks the end of our challenging yet unforgettable Choquequirao Trek, and we’ll have memories and experiences that will last a lifetime.
I recently had the opportunity to join a guided tour and it exceeded all my expectations! Our tour guide, was an absolute gem. He not only provided insightful commentary throughout the trip but also made sure everyone felt engaged and included.
