Choquequirao Trek 5 Days

Accommodation

• Tent: 2 people in a 4-person tent, allowing for greater comfort and backpack storage!
• Camping pillows
• Basic foam mattress. If you require greater comfort during the trek we can rent you an inflatable mattress. See Optional Extras & Upgrades below.
• Toilet tent
• Dining tent with camp tables and chairs, and kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals

Meals

• Meals as indicated in the itinerary. Our professional cooks prepare a combination of traditional Peruvian and Western cuisine. Talk to your Travel Consultant during the booking process if you have certain preferences! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available. When served, salads are washed in boiled water.
• Cook and cooking equipment, plus assistants for larger groups.
• Lunch on the last day is included in this itinerary

Transport

• Collection from your hotel on the morning of trek departure
• Private transport from Cusco to the trailhead and return at the end of the trek

Trekking Team

• English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guide, plus an assistant guide for groups over 8
• Horses and horsemen, who carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 10kg/22lbs per person).
• Tents, sleeping bags and mattresses for our staff to sleep in, plus a budget for their meals

Safety

• 1 emergency horse which can be ridden if you are feeling ill or if you are a little slower
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle

Additional inclusions

• Pre-trek briefing
• Entry fee to Choquequirao ruins

Meals

• Breakfast on the first morning.
• Dinner on the last night.

Equipment

• Sleeping bags. Available for rent if you don’t have one with you.
• Additional horses for your personal luggage

Other

• Tips for the guide, cook and porters
• Flights to/from Cusco
• Travel Insurance

We offer you the opportunity to personalize your Choquequirao 5 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.

Equipment Available for Rent

• Extra horse to carry your own things, beyond the included 10kg (22 lbs)
• Extra horse for you to ride, and horseman to lead it
• Sleeping Bag suitable for -5˚C
• Deluxe Sleeping Bag suitable for -15˚C
• Light-weight aluminium walking stick. Two sticks are recommended for tough hikes like this one.
• Thermarest inflatable mattress

Service Upgrades

• Single-occupancy tent supplement
• Comfort Camping Upgrade

Optional Activities

• Visit the archaeological site of Tarawasi on your way to the 5 day Choquequirao trailhead
• Add a stop at the Conoq hot springs on your way back to Cusco

Important!

• When calculating the cost of renting equipment, calculate using the length of the entire Choquequirao tour, not just the number of trekking days.
• Please be careful with rented equipment! You are responsible for the cost of replacement if something is damaged or broken.
• Any upgrades or trip extensions must be requested at time of booking.

See What to Bring for our comprehensive recommendations on what to pack for your trek.

Note: it gets hot in the Apurimac Canyon! Although there will be some cold nights along the trail, you should also be prepared to de-layer when we climb down towards Apurimac river. Temperatures can reach as much 35°C in the canyon!

There are also biting insects. So make sure you bring a good insect repellent! You can expect mosquitoes, black flies and other biting insects just about every day along the trail.

For more help with what to pack on your Choquequirao 5 days trek, check out our blog How to Prepare for a Trek in Peru.

• Students: USD $30 off. A valid student card which clearly shows the expiry date must be presented upon booking.
• Youth 12-17: 5% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking.
• Children 4-11: 15% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking.
• Children 0-4: Free. A valid passport must be presented upon booking. Children under 4 will not count towards the total number of guests in a group. Car seats, cribs and other baby needs may not be included and must be discussed in advance. For more information about travelling with infants and toddlers, please see this blog as well as the Age Requirements section of our Booking Conditions.

Get to know our team!

Our guides are all chosen for their detailed knowledge of the trekking routes 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 wilderness first-aid.

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.

We are the leading Choquequirao trek operator – Choquequirao is our specialty!

Your Safety is our #1 Priority

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 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. 

Read more:

• Wet Season Trekking Policy
• How to Choose Your Trek
• Trekking Safety

Want to join the Choquequirao 5 days 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!

• Each guide has their own preferred route and so the route you trek might not correspond exactly to the route described here.
• The times cited in this 5 day Choquequirao itinerary are approximate. Walking times depend on the group, and the guide may change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group.
• Choquequirao is probably the toughest hike in the region. This trek should not be attempted by those who do not have some experience in trekking, plus a solid level of fitness! Read more in our blog: Choquequirao Trek Difficulty.

• Does the 5-day Choquequirao hike sound like just what you were looking for? If you’re ready to book or just want to find out a bit more information, fill out the Enquiry Form in the top right-hand corner of this page to get the ball rolling. You’ll be connected with one of our amazing sales people who will be able to turn your dream of hiking in the Andes into a reality.
• For more information on the entire booking process, please see our How To Book page.
• Travel insurance is a must! World Nomads Travel Insurance offers travel insurance for adventure activities.

• • Total Walking Distance: 12.2 km
  • Total Walking Time: 6-7h
  • Minimum Altitude: 1520m (4,986 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 2970m (9,744 ft)
  • Altitude of camp: 2095m (6,873 ft)
  • Approx. night temperature: 8°C (47°F)

We begin our Choquequirao Trek with a very early departure from Cusco (as early as 4:30 AM!) and head towards the Apurimac canyon, surrounded by impressive snow-capped peaks. 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 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 by car another 3h to Capuliyoc (2970m / 9744ft), stopping along the way for breakfast or just to stretch our legs. In Capuliyoc we have our first beautiful views of the Apurimac valley stretching below, as well as the snow-capped peaks of Padreyoc and Huayna Cachora.

We will meet our muleteers here and begin to descend steeply 3-4h into the Apurimac Canyon, taking in the spectacular views until we reach Chiquisca (1950m / 6397 ft), with breathtaking drops on either side. Here, we will stop for lunch.

An hour beyond Chiquisca, we arrive at the roaring Apurimac River (1520m / 4986 ft). From the river, we begin to climb to the Santa Rosa Campsite (2095m / 6873 ft). This is a tough 2h climb but makes the next day easier! As the campsite is further along than the most popular camp, it is often quiet and 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 30-35 ºC (86 ºF – 95 ºF). It can get as hot as 40ºC (104 ºF) in the canyon.

• Total Walking Distance: 16.2 km
• Total Walking Time: 5h
• Minimum Altitude: 2095m (6,873 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 3050m (10,000 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 2940m (9,646 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: 5°C (41°F)

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 the spectacular Choquequirao ruins. 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!

We will stop at the campsite next to the ruins where we will have lunch and enjoy a well-deserved break. Later, we will head over to the ruins themselves where we will have the rest of the afternoon to explore the ruins (3050m / 10,007 ft).

We’ll finish the day enjoying a gorgeous sunset over the ruins and keep our eyes peeled for a glimpse of majestic condors soaring through the valley. We camp tonight in the Choquequirao campsite, in the shadow of this impressive site.

• Total Walking Distance: 5-7 km (distance covered within the ruins)
• Total Walking Time: 5-6h (while touring the ruins) 
• Minimum Altitude: 3050m (10,000 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 3110m (10,120 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 3050m (10,000 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: 5°C (41°F)

Today we have a full day to really appreciate the amazing Inca mastery contained in these impressive ruins. Choquequirao has yet to be fully investigated. Only about 30% of the Inca remains have been excavated, the rest remains shrouded in mystery. 

Although often lost in Machu Picchu’s shadow, Choquequirao’s impressive building indicate a site of high status. The beauty of the location and the site’s relative isolation also evoke a sense of awe, and you’ll marvel at the Inca’s ingenuity.

• Total Walking Distance: 9km (not counting any distance covered visiting the ruins)
• Total Walking Time: 5h (not counting time spent visiting the ruins)
• Minimum Altitude: 2095m (6,873 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 3050m (10,000 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 2970m (9,744 ft)

We will have an easy morning this morning with time to relax or make one more visit to the Choquequirao ruins. In the afternoon, we start the walk back to Santa Rosa campsite, returning along the same path from whence we came circling the edge of the Apurimac Canyon.

• Total Walking Distance: 12.2km
• Total Walking Time: 6-7h 
• Minimum Altitude: 1520m (4,986 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 2970m (9,744 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: 8°C (47°F)

Starting early this morning to avoid the worst heat of the Apurimac Canyon, we head down 2h to the river below and then begin the arduous climb back up the other side of the canyon. We climb for about 4-5 hours, passing Chiquisca, until we reach Capuliyoc (2915m / 9561 ft) where we are rewarded with spectacular views. 

Here, our private car will be waiting for us there for the 4.5-hour return trip. Before reaching the city, we take a turn and head into the Sacred Valley. We’ll head all the way to Ollantaytambo, arriving around 6 or 7 pm.

Time-permitting, along 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.

Or, 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 have our lunch here surrounded by the beautiful views of the Apurimac River valley.

Finally, we hop back in our private car to continue the journey back to Cusco, arriving around 7 or 8PM.