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The Choquequirao Trek is a great alternative to the Inca Trail. Escape the crowds and enjoy 4 days and 3 nights of adventure, ancient ruins and spectacular scenery. You’ll plunge deep into the Apurimac valley and then climb back up again to reach the impressive Choquequirao ruins, making this 4 day Choquequirao tour one of the best treks in Peru.
The Choquequirao trek is the perfect option for someone who wants to do a difficult hike in Peru and who is looking for an alternative to Machu Picchu. Perched atop a ledge, high above the Apurimac river, Choquequirao – which means “Cradle of Gold” in Quechua – offers a fascinating glimpse into Inca history.
Known as Machu Picchu’s “sister city”, the Choquequirao ruins are even more intriguing given their remoteness. These Inca ruins are just as – or even more – impressive than Machu Picchu, and they are still only partially uncovered. And the best way to experience this magnificent site is by joining a Choquequirao trekking tour.
See why we think Choquequirao is the Best Hike in Peru!
The route is a wonderful challenge for hardy hikers. Our Choquequirao trek (4 days) starts in Capuliyoc and then descends steeply toward the Apurimac River. We camp at alternative campsites so you can enjoy the hike in relative solitude, in the company of fewer fellow trekkers.
On Day 2, you climb back out of the Apurimac valley until you reach the Choquequirao ruins. You will have a full afternoon and part of the next morning to explore these incredible ruins. Day 3 sees you start the journey back. This Choquequirao trek is a circuit and you will return the same way you came.
It’s an early start on the first day of the classic 4 day Choquequirao trek: after picking you up from your hotel early in the morning, we head for Capuliyoc, leaving the hustle and bustle of Cusco behind. After about an hour and a half of driving, we will have a short stop at Tarawasi (2675m / 8776 ft).
Tarawasi gets its name from two Quechua words: tara, a type of tree native to the Andes (latin name: caesalpina espinosa), and wasi, which means “house”. So Tarawasi is “the house of the Tara tree”. Tara is a multipurpose tree that produces large bean pods that turn orange when ripe. The seeds inside are used as a natural dye, and also have medicinal purposes.
Tarawasi is a ceremonial centre that dates to Incan times. One of the most striking features of this archaeological site is the presence of an usnu, a ceremonial structure where ritual offerings would be prepared.
From here, we continue another 3 hours until we arrive at Capuliyoc (2970m / 9744ft) where we’ll have our first breathtaking views of the Apurimac Valley below, as well as the impressive Padreyoc and Huayna Cachora peaks.
We’ll meet our arrieros (muleteers) here and after a short 15 minute walk, we’ll stop to have our lunch at the Capuliyoc lookout point. Refueled and refreshed, we’re ready to start the steep 4 hour descent into the Apurimac Canyon until we reach Chiquisca (1950m / 6397ft), with incredible drop-offs at our sides.
After another hour of hiking, we reach the roaring Apurimac River (1520m / 4986ft) where we’ll begin the climb to the Santa Rosa campsite (2095m / 6873ft). This is a tough, 2-hour climb but you’ll be thankful for it the next day! This campsite on day one of our Choquequirao tour is further along the trail than the most popular camp, making for a more restful evening where you can soak up the stars.
This day is flexible and so the route you trek might not correspond exactly to the route described here. Walking times depend on the time of departure and on the nature of the group. The guide may change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group.
Please take note that there might be biting insects on the trail, thus repellent will be needed! It can get very hot on the trail (not just in the canyon!), going up to 30-35ºC (86ºF – 95ºF). It can get as hot as 40ºC (104ºF) in the canyon.
We offer you the opportunity to personalize your Choquequirao 4 day trek and make your experience more comfortable through our Optional Extras and Upgrades. All options are available during the reservation process; please ask your sales consultant for more information.
See What to Bring for our comprehensive recommendations on what to pack for your trek.
Weather in the Andes is highly changeable, but then you throw in the complications of a steep canyon and changing 1500m altitude every day, and you need to be very well prepared.
Unlike many of the other treks in the Cusco region, it can get really quite hot and humid down in the Apurimac canyon. But – conditions can be freezing at the Choquequirao Ruins! Therefore, it is very important to be prepared for vastly changing temperatures throughout your Choquequirao trek. Nights 1 & 3 can be quite warm, but night 2 can fall below freezing.
Being flexible and layering is vital. (Let’s say doing an outfit change behind a bush on a mountainside is memorable, but not easy!)
Make sure you have thermals, a winter hat (toque or beanie), mitts and scarves for the night at Choquequirao, but much lighter clothes for while down in the canyon.
We recommend convertible trekking pants made of quick-dry fabric for the hike. These usually zip off at the knee – great for those really hot parts deep in the canyon. Their special design also allow for a great range of motion, and the many pockets can be quite handy!
When it comes to footwear, water-resistant trekking boots with a high top are the best hiking boots to take on this 4 day Choquequirao trek. If you’re not ready to invest in specialist hiking boots, at a minimum hiking shoes will suffice.
Bug spray is also a must! The warm weather makes it ripe for insects, especially at the campsites near the river.
There are cold showers at some of the campsites along this route so you may also want to bring a flip flops and a towel!
For more help with what to pack, check out our blog How to Prepare for a Trek in Peru.
As the leading Choquequirao trek operator, our guides are all chosen for their detailed knowledge of the route, and of Inca culture, as well as for their personality. In addition to being professional guides, they receive frequent training from Apus Peru such as handling group dynamics and mountain rescue.
As the Choquequirao region is inaccessible by car, and the terrain very steep, it’s of benefit to have a trek guide with you who is experienced, knowledgeable and quick-thinking, able to alter routes at a moment’s notice if necessary.
Get to know our team!
At Apus Peru, we put people before profit. Safety is paramount and we have a comprehensive risk assessment policy that covers a wide range of details, from vehicle maintenance to illness and evacuation on the trail.
There are many treks, including our Choquequirao tours, that have special safety considerations during the rainy season. As heavy rains can make the trail unsafe, Choquequirao is one of the treks which we will not operate in the wet season under any circumstances.
Want to join the Choquequirao 4 day trek? Ready to confirm a departure date of your own, but interested in having others join you? Then Trekkers Wanted is for you! Our innovative Trekkers Wanted system matches people up who are interested in hiking the same trek, bringing costs down and multiplying the fun for everyone!
Read more about Trekkers Wanted, post your trek or search for confirmed departures!
It’s an early start on the first day of the classic 4 day Choquequirao trek: after picking you up from your hotel early in the morning, we head for Capuliyoc, leaving the hustle and bustle of Cusco behind. After about an hour and a half of driving, we will have a short stop at Tarawasi (2675m / 8776 ft).
Tarawasi gets its name from two Quechua words: tara, a type of tree native to the Andes (latin name: caesalpina espinosa), and wasi, which means “house”. So Tarawasi is “the house of the Tara tree”. Tara is a multipurpose tree that produces large bean pods that turn orange when ripe. The seeds inside are used as a natural dye, and also have medicinal purposes.
Tarawasi is a ceremonial centre that dates to Incan times. One of the most striking features of this archaeological site is the presence of an usnu, a ceremonial structure where ritual offerings would be prepared.
From here, we continue another 3 hours until we arrive at Capuliyoc (2970m / 9744ft) where we’ll have our first breathtaking views of the Apurimac Valley below, as well as the impressive Padreyoc and Huayna Cachora peaks.
We’ll meet our arrieros (muleteers) here and after a short 15 minute walk, we’ll stop to have our lunch at the Capuliyoc lookout point. Refueled and refreshed, we’re ready to start the steep 4 hour descent into the Apurimac Canyon until we reach Chiquisca (1950m / 6397ft), with incredible drop-offs at our sides.
After another hour of hiking, we reach the roaring Apurimac River (1520m / 4986ft) where we’ll begin the climb to the Santa Rosa campsite (2095m / 6873ft). This is a tough, 2-hour climb but you’ll be thankful for it the next day! This campsite on day one of our Choquequirao tour is further along the trail than the most popular camp, making for a more restful evening where you can soak up the stars.
This day is flexible and so the route you trek might not correspond exactly to the route described here. Walking times depend on the time of departure and on the nature of the group. The guide may change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group.
Please take note that there might be biting insects on the trail, thus repellent will be needed! It can get very hot on the trail (not just in the canyon!), going up to 30-35ºC (86ºF – 95ºF). It can get as hot as 40ºC (104ºF) in the canyon.
It’s another early start today as we aim to get the best out of day 2 of our Choquequirao tour. After an early breakfast at around 5:30am, we head out at 6am and continue steeply upwards for 3 hours until we reach Marampata.
Once we get going again after our well-deserved break at Marampata (2940m / 9646 ft), we will have our first glimpses of spectacular Choquequirao. From this point, it’s another 2 hours of hiking up gentle, undulating terrain until we reach the ruins, a welcome respite compared to what we’ve just accomplished!
Arriving at the ruins, we can enjoy a picnic lunch on the grounds and have a well-deserved break. After lunch we will start to explore the ruins (3050m / 10,007 ft). Only about 30% of the Inca remains at Choquequirao have yet been excavated, the rest remains shrouded in mystery. As we explore, we keep our fingers crossed for the chance to see some condors!
After about 3 hours touring the site – including the religious sector and central part of the ruins – we start our two-hour hike back to the campsite of Marampata. This is a very long but rewarding day as we aim to maximise our time in Choquequirao.
Today we will leave the beautiful Marampata campsite and start our descent towards the Apurimac River and the so-called Rosalina Beach (1520 m/4986 ft). From there we will continue hiking upwards until we reach our campsite of Chiquisca (1950 m / 6397 ft).
If you have a good pace or if you have added the Machu Picchu Trek Extension, we may camp instead at Cocamasana (2450m / 8038ft).
This morning, we finish our Choquequirao trek with a 3 to 4-hour climb upwards to Capuliyoc. When we reach our destination, we’re once again rewarded with spectacular views. Our car will be waiting here to pick us up to start the 4.5-hour drive back to Cusco.
On the way we have the option of visiting Saywite (3500m / 11,483 ft) which is a pretty archaeological site located in the district of Curahuasi. It’s an Incan complex that probably was built in the 16th century. Saywite occupies an area of around 2 hectares which houses important examples of Inca stone art, as well as religious-ritualistic spaces.
On the other hand, if all we want to do is relax, we can instead visit the Cconoc hot springs (1780m / 5840 ft). Its waters reach temperatures of 26°C and 35°C with a pH of 6.9, and are surrounded by carob trees, reed beds and cactus. It’s a wonderful place to relax. The medicinal properties of the thermal baths and their pleasant temperatures offer the perfect place to rest our muscles and feet after this amazing 4-day Choquequirao hike. After a quick dip, we can enjoy lunch surrounded by the beautiful views of the Apurimac River valley.
Finally, we hop in our private car to continue the journey back to the City of Cusco, where we will be arrive around 6pm.
We rate the Classic 4 day Choquequirao trek as difficult.
(See how we rate all of our treks in the Cusco region!)
We often get asked about the Choquequirao trek difficulty and it’s important to be realistic about what to expect. In comparison with other treks in the Cusco region, the Choquequirao tour is not what we’d describe as a high altitude trek. The highest point of the whole route is the Choquequirao ruins themselves, at 3050m (10,007 ft).
That said, this is by far one of the most challenging treks in the region as you descend 1500m the first day, climb over 1500m on the second day, and then after reaching the ruins, turn around and do it all over again on days 3 and 4!
It should also be remembered that while this is not “high” by Cusco Standards, the starting point at Cachora and the ruins of Choquequirao are still high altitude (nearly twice the altitude of Denver, Colorado!)
If you are trying to assess whether the Choquequirao trek is right for you, take a look at this review, or check out our blog on Choquequirao trek difficulty.
Remember all treks in the Cusco region are difficult for most people due to the high altitude and extremely steep mountains.
Even the fittest person will find the hike to Choquequirao a test! Everyone who plans to tour Choquequirao should embark on a training plan. We do have a many older people who successfully complete this trek, but they are extremely fit and well prepared.
Without doubt, anyone who is not fit should train in consultation with a medical and fitness professional. What this will entail depends on each person and their own abilities. Remember the difficulty of the Choquequirao trek is the steepness of the trail.
In short, the better your fitness, the easier and more rewarding the trek will be.
See our Trekking Tip #3 for how to get ready for your trek.
There is one simple and easy way to prepare yourself for the high altitude around the Cusco area: Spend at least 3 nights at high altitude, like Cusco city, Lake Titicaca or the Sacred Valley.
As Choquequirao is not super high altitude, most people can get away with just 2 nights’ acclimatisation prior to heading out on the trek.
Not only is there so much to do and see around Cusco, but especially if you are able to get out and do several hours’ hiking, it will get your body prepared for the challenge facing it!
Also, be kind to your body! Get lots of rest upon arrival at Cusco, stay away from alcohol, and eat healthily. This will help your body to be as prepared as it can be for the difficulty of the Choquequirao trek.
Read more about Altitude and How to Acclimatize before starting your trek.
The Choquequirao trekking tour is best done in the dry winter months in the Andes, from May to August. During this time, there is little rain but temperatures are low. Cold nighttime temperatures are not as much of a problem on this trek as they are on other, higher altitude treks, but you should be prepared for a cold night at the ruins.
December through March is the rainy season in Peru and we do not operate any of our Choquequirao tours during this time.
Given the steep sides of the Apurimac canyon, the heavy rainfall can loosen the mountainsides and there is a high risk of landslides. This has resulted in death and injury of tourist groups in the past and for this reason we won’t trek in the wet season.
The shoulder seasons for trekking Choquequirao are the months of April, September, October and November. Trekking during these months is weather-dependent. For example, April can still be very slippery and wet if it was a particularly wet rainy season; by the same token November can be hazardous if heavy rains come early.
In general September and October should be ok, though with some rain encountered.
Read more about the best time to hike and take note of our wet season trekking policy.
The average daily hiking time is about 6-7 hours per day, for an average person. In reality, the daily number of hours trekking depends on your fitness, the other members of your group, and also the habits of those in your group (for example, avid photographers can take longer).
Our Choquequirao trekking guides are also experts in planning around the personal needs of groups and so for fitter groups many do about 8 plus hours on day 3, but then just a couple of hours on day 4.
The Classic Choquequirao trek (4 days) includes 3 nights of camping. You are accompanied by a trained field team who set up our North Face tents, lay out the beds and boil water for you to wash your hands and face. Having good quality, well maintained equipment that keeps out the rain and mosquitos is important to having an enjoyable trek experience!
Go luxe! You can also choose our Comfort Camping option for a full-on luxury camping experience.
Also on your Choquequirao tour will be a chef and at least one assistant. It’s quite fascinating to see how our chefs whip up nutritious quality meals on the trail! Our chefs receive annual training in order to offer you some really impressive meals. This is not basic trail food, but fully catered for trekking.
We can cater for all types of dietary requests with adequate preparation and clear communication. We receive a lot of vegetarian guests and our cooks have become quite adept at preparing vegetarian and vegan options!
Read more about What to Expect on the Trail, including more about meals and equipment.
Without doubt, the Choquequirao route is amongst our favourites, and as our founder loves the area, we already offer a number of unique Choquequirao tour routes available!
Indeed it is! They’ve been talking about it for years, but it seems like it is finally going to happen. The latest information from the government is to expect the cable car to Choquequirao to be operational sometime in 2022.
So, if you want to experience Choquequirao in the relative absence of other tourists, you better go now! For more, read our blog about why you should trek to Choquequirao now.
Apus Peru treks are organised so that all you carry on the Choquequirao tour is a light day pack. In your day pack, you should carry things like your water bottle, some extra layers, camera, sun hat, beanie, sunscreen and insect repellent.
Water is very important on the trek. You should start the day with 2L; you will have a chance to refill at lunchtime, and again in the evening. If you are the type of person that gets thirsty, start the day with 3L! We also provide an ample range of snacks which will fill up the average person – if you have hollow legs, you might need to bring some of your own!
At your briefing, you will be supplied with a duffel bag that you can pack with up to 8kg (17 lbs). All of the camping equipment needed on the trek is also carried by mules.
In order to answer whether this trek is right for you, ask yourself the following questions:
For more information about what this region has to offer, check out our Choquequirao homepage.
The 4 day Choquequirao Trek begins and ends in Cusco. Travel to/from Cusco is not included in the price of your trek.
Travel Direct…
…or Take the Long Way
If you’re still not sure if Choquequirao is right for you, or want to read more about the area or other people’s trekking experiences, check out these helpful articles from our blog: