Choquequirao Tour 4D/3N
$690
per person
The famous four day Choquequirao Tour is one of the most beautiful and spectacular treks in the Cusco region. On this trek you will see the great Choquequirao ruins and have a real adventure enjoying the spectacular views of snow-capped mountains, great valleys, and amazing canyons. You will also see native animals such as Andean Condors, birds, and native flora and fauna such as orchids and so much more.
The ‘lost city’ Choquequirao (meaning ‘cradle of gold’) was discovered in the 18th century by a French explorer and it fascinated 19th century explorers. It was also visited by Hiram Bingham prior to his discovery of Machu Picchu.
Grandiose and mysterious, this abandoned city has lots of parallels with Machu Picchu and there are a variety of theories about its function. It is only relatively recently, however, that COPESCO (the official body responsible for tourism in Peru) has partially cleared the site and there remains a lot more to be discovered. It is twice as large and much more isolated than Machu Picchu.
Lying in a cloud forest, a dramatic 1,150 meters (3,772 feet) above the Apurimac River and surrounded by a fascinating landscape created by the Vilcabamba mountain range, Choquequirao has everything to offer a trekker.
It is a challenging but amazing experience to hike down to the depths of the Apurimac Canyon and then up to the site in the clouds
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- Day 1: Cusco – Capuliyoc – Chiquisca
- Day 2: Chiquisca – Maranpata – Choquequirao
- Day 3: Choquequirao – Chiquisca
- Day 4: Chiquisca – Cachora – Cusco
- Overall Hike Degree of Difficulty: Challenging
- You will have a thorough briefing with your guide 1 or 2 days before your Choquequirao Tour. Your guide will meet you at our office in Cusco and you can take this opportunity to ask questions and make any final preparations.
What is Included?
- Bilingual English speaking tour guide (additional tour guide for groups of nine people or more)
- Pre-Departure Briefing at your hotel 1 or 2 days before your Choquequirao Tour.
- Pick up from your hotel and transportation to Capuliyoc
- Four person tent for each 2 persons.
- Inflatable Mattress
- Pillow
- Kitchen tent
- Dining tent with tables and chairs
- Toilet tent.
- Chef
- Wranglers and horses to carry all the equipment (food, tents, chairs, table, etc)
- Horse to transport 8 kg of your personal gear
- Emergency horse in case we need it
- Three breakfasts, four lunches, and three dinners
- Daily hot water for washing.
- Daily morning boiled and cold water to fill the water bottles.
- Return transportation from Cachora to your hotel in Cusco on day 4
- Emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit.
What is not included?
- Sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
- Day 4 dinner
- Tips for the crew (muleteers, chef and guide)
We recommend that you bring?
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- Original passport (if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both)
- Down or synthetic sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
- Clothes (trekking boots, warm fleece jacket, a few t-shirts, socks, sun hat, warm underwear, light long pants, gloves, rain jacket)
- Toiletries (toilet paper, wet wipes, personal towel)
- Sunscreen SPF 35+ recommended
- Head lamp
- Sunglasses
- Camera with spare batteries (batteries run down faster at high altitudes)
- Binoculars
- Book to read (you will have some spare time at every camp to read your favorite book)
- Trekking poles (recommended especially for the steep descents, can be rented from us)
- Insect repellent
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Optional
Rentals
- Hiking poles – US$20.00 (pair)
- Sleeping bag – US$25.00
- Private Tent – US$30.00
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Reviews
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Departure/Return Location
Lima, Perú -
Included
Professional licensed guide fluent in English -
Not Included
private van to trailhead at km 82
From our gallery
Tour Plan
1
Day 1: Cusco – Capuliyoc – Chiquisca
We will pick you up early from your hotel and drive for 4 ½ hours in our private transport to Capuliyoc (2,915 meters/9,564 feet). Along the way there are spectacular views of villages, valleys and snow-capped mountains. Once at Capuliyoc, we will have brunch and then meet our horsemen and horses and pack all our equipment onto the horses.
After brunch, we descend for three to four hours to our first campsite at Chiquisca (1,900m/6,270ft), where we will spend the night.
- Meals: Brunch/Dinner
- Accommodations: Camping at Chiquisca
- Lowest Elevation: 1,900 m/ 6,270 ft
- Highest Elevation: 2,915 meters/9,564 feet
- Distance to walk: 8 km / 5 miles
- Approximate walking time: 3-4 hours
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate
- Sights: Apurimac canyon, Padreyoc mountain
2
Day 2: Chiquisca – Maranpata – Choquequirao
After an early breakfast we descend to the magnificent Apurimac River (1,550 m/5,117 ft) and then walk uphill to the rural village of Maranpata (2,850 m/9,350 ft) where we have lunch whilst enjoying the spectacular views of the archaeological site of Choquequirao (3,150 m/10,397 ft). Then we will walk through a myriad of flora and fauna to the brilliant archaeological site of Choquequirao where a private guided tour awaits us in the afternoon.
During the Choquequirao tour we will explore all the important sections, such as: palaces, temple, ritual water fountains, amazing Usno (ceremonial platform), agricultural terraces, llama´s section and much more. Finally we head back to our second evening’s campsite located just 20 minutes from the Choquequirao ruins, where we will have our dinner. At our campsite you will be able to relax surrounded by the beauty of the nearby canyons and snow-capped mountains (Soray 5,428m/17,808 ft and Tuncarway – 5,910m/19,389 ft) and hopefully have the opportunity to see the condors.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Accommodations: Camping
- Lowest Elevation: 1,550 m/ 5,117 ft
- Highest Elevation: 3,150 m/ 10,397 ft
- Distance to walk: 14 km / 8 ¾ miles
- Approximate walking time: 6 hours
- Level of Difficulty: Demanding
- Sights: Apurimac river, Soray and Tuncarway mountains
3
Day 3: Choquequirao – Chiquisca
After an early breakfast we will continue to explore some of the stunning sections of the Choquequirao ruins, and then we head back towards the Apurimac River (1,550m/5,117ft) for three hours. Finally we walk up a moderate hill for one hour to our third evening´s campsite at Chiquisca (1,990m/6,270ft).
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Accommodations: Camping
- Lowest Elevation: 1,550 m/ 5,117 ft
- Highest Elevation: 3,150 m/ 10,397 ft
- Distance to walk: 14 km / 8 ¾ miles
- Approximate walking time: 6 hours
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate
- Sights: Choquequirao ruins
4
Day 4: Chiquisca – Capuliyoc – Cusco
After a delicious breakfast, we walk up a moderate hill towards the Capuliyoc pass. Once there we may enjoy the spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and the Apurimac Canyon. At Capuliyoc, our private transport will be waiting for us. On the way home, we will visit the archaeological site of Saywite and have time to explore. Finally our private transport will bring us back to Cusco and we will drop you off at your hotel when we arrive in the evening.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
- Lowest elevation: 1,900 m / 6,270 ft
- Highest Elevation: 2,850 m/ 9,407 ft
- Distance to walk: 8 km / 5 miles
- Approximate walking time: 3 to 4 hours
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate
- Sights: Saywite ruins
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