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: 16 km
• Total Walking Time: 6h
• Minimum Altitude: 1550m (5084 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 2915m (9561 ft)
• Altitude of camp:
• Approx. night temperature:

We have an early start this morning as we pick you up from your hotel and head out of Cusco at about 5:30am. We will drive about 4 hours to the quaint community of Cachora where we will have the chance to buy some last-minute snacks and supplies before continuing on to Capuliyoc (2915m / 9561 ft). Arriving at Capuliyoc, we will have our first views of the gorgeous Apurimac Valley stretching below us, as well as the surrounding snow-capped peaks of Padrayoc and Wayna Cachora.

Here we meet our arrieros (muleteers) and will take just a short 15 minute walk to where we will have our boxed lunch at the Capuliyoc lookout. After lunch, we start our hike, a steep 3.5-4 hour descent into the Canyon to Chiquisca (1836m / 6023 ft) where we are flanked by breathtaking drop-offs. Another hour of walking from this point and we reach the raging Apurimac River (1550m / 5084 ft).

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.

• Total Walking Distance: 13 km
• Total Walking Time: 4-5h
• Minimum Altitude: 2095m (6873 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 3110 m (10,120 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 3050 m (10,000 ft)
• Approx. night temperature:

Another early morning awaits us in order to get the most of the day! We begin our climb back up the canyon to Santa Rosa Campsite (2095 m / 6873 ft). This is a tough 2 hour climb but you will be thankful tomorrow to have already gotten this stretch out of the way! This campsite is a little further along than the most popular campsite so you can expect a more relaxed, quiet evening under the stars.

We head out at 6am, starting our 3h climb to Marampata (3110 m / 10,120ft). This is a tough, steep uphill hike and we will be happy to take a break! A short distance away from our break site, we’ll be treated to our first views of the stunning Choquequirao. From here, it’s another 2 hours over gentle, undulating terrain to reach our destination – a welcome relief after the previous two days of strenuous uphill hiking!

We’ll have lunch at Choquequirao campiste (3050m / 10,000 ft), and then have the afternoon to explore the ruins. 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.

• Total Walking Distance: 0 km
• Total Walking Time: 0h
• Minimum Altitude: 3050 m (10,000 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 3110 m (10,120 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 3050 m (10,000 ft)
• Approx. night temperature:

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, with only about 30% of the site excavated to-date. 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: km
• Total Walking Time: 5h
• Minimum Altitude: 2095 m (6873 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 3050 m (10,000 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 2095 m (6873 ft)
• Approx. night temperature:

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:  km
• Total Walking Time: 7h
• Minimum Altitude: 1550m (5084 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 2915 m (9561 ft)

Starting early this morning to avoid the worst heat of the Apurimac Canyon, we head down to the river below and then begin the arduous climb back up the other side of the canyon. We climb for about 4 hours until we reach Capuliyoc (2915m / 9561 ft) where we are rewarded with spectacular views. After lunch, we hike another 2 hours to Cachora through refreshingly flat pastoral landscapes. Our private car will be waiting for us there for the 4-hour return trip to Cusco, which we expect to reach around 7 or 8pm.