Choquequirao 6 days / 5 nights. Grade: Rigorous Highlight: Archaeological, Scenery. Distance Covered: 53 Km or 32.93 mi. Max. Altitude: 3,000m or 9,842.52 ft

This is a tough trek hiking down into the canyon of the Apurimac river and up again. Here you reach the Inca ruins of Choquequirao, as extensive as Machu Picchu, but one that only recently has become known. It is a tough, off the beaten path destination. An average of 6 hours trek per day with one day rest to visit the site.

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Day 1
Cuzco (3400m) – Cachora (2895m)

Early morning departure from Cusco on the main road to Ayacucho, for total 6 hour drive (total distance 165 km, 4 hours on a paved road 2 hours unpaved). You will take the detour after about 4 hours, to your destination which is San Pedro de Cachora, where you will be lodged for the night. On the way you will visit the remarkable Inca sites of Tarawasi and Saywite, where you will have a picnic lunch. Overnight camp/lodge in the village of San Pedro de Cachora. L,D.

Day 2
Cachora (2895m)- Santa Rosa (2013m)

After a healthy breakfast, the baggage will be packed on mules and you will start your walk across flat agricultural fields to the “pass” of Capuliyoc at 2800m approximately 2 hours later. From Capuliyoc, you will have your first glimpse of the Apurimac Canyon. From here you will walk on a steep downhill winding trail with spectacular views of the magnificent Canyon for about 4 hours (with a 1 hour stop for lunch) until you reach the Apurimac River. You will cross the bridge (only built in 1994, before crossings were on a harness along a cable) and hike straight uphill to your campsite for approximately two hours. Santa Rosa, your camp, is situated a narrow esplanade right on the cliffs (2013m). Total distance covered 21 km, total trek 8 hours. B,L,D.

Day 3
Santa Rosa (2013m)- Choquequirao (3055m)

Today, after breakfast you will head straight to Choquequirao. For the first 2-3 hours in the morning, until you reach the hamlet of Marampata, where you will take the first look at Choquequirao from afar, you can ride your mule or horse as the path allows it. From Marampata, the drops are steeper and the path is very narrow, so you will have to do the balance of the strenuous uphill trek on foot. You will reach Choquequirao at approximately 1.30pm. On arrival the campsite will be ready and lunch will be served. You will have the rest of the afternoon to explore this fabulous Inca site. Total distance covered 9 km, total trek 6 hours. B,L,D.

Located on a mountain spur, overlooking the Apurimac river on south, and the vertical slopes of the Vilcabamba range to the north and east, Inca Choquequirao (3000m) is an awesome site. It was considered for a century and a half to be “the Lost city of the Incas” a term applied now to Machu Picchu. In fact the likenesses to Machu Picchu are many: much like Machu Picchu it is located on a mountain outcrop overlooking a raging river, Machu Picchu the Urubamba, and Choquequirao the Apurimac. Machu Picchu was probably a sacred place or estate of Inca Pachacutec, and Choquequirao was certainly a place of worship....and each of them are located at opposite sides of Nevado Salcantay (6264m) one of the holiest mountains in the region. Choquequirao is located 40 kms south west of Machu Picchu as the condor flies: but the mighty peaks of Soray (5428m), Salcantay (6264m) and Yanama (5347m) lie between the two, making access an arduous task.

Only about 30% of the Inca remains of Choquequirao have been excavated. What can be seen today however, is most impressive and very much worth the challenging trek to get here. There are four main sectors to the compound: the curved terraces, the Hilltop Platform, with unbelievable 360 degree views of the majestic mountains surrounding the site, the Upper Plaza, whose highlights are the retaining walls and baths, and the Lower Plaza or main section of the site with its gabled buildings and “kallankas” (rectangular halls). The stonework in Choquequirao is not nearly as sophisticated as that found in Machu Picchu, because the stone found here is very difficult to carve, but the buildings are impressive and suggest a site of high status. The vegetation and scenery is varied and plentiful, with wonderful patches of salvia, gloxinia, lupines and irises in bloom in the spring. Condors can be seen frequently. B,L,D.

Day 4
Choquequirao (3055m)

Full day to explore this archaeological site in detail. Special “Pachamanca” traditional dinner (potatoes and meat buried in the earth with hot coals). B,L,D.

Day 5
Choquequirao (3055m) –Chiquisca (1825m)

Departure after breakfast on the same path you came in to, straight back down to the Apurimac, cross the river and ascend to Chiquisca (1825m) (location of your picnic lunch the on day 2 of your trek) where you will camp for the night. B,L,D.

Day 6
Chiquisca (3055m)-Cachora(2895m)-Cuzco (3400m)

Hike back to Cachora where you will have a picnic lunch and say goodbye to your crew. Your vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Cusco. Arrive in Cusco in the evening and transfer to your hotel. B,L.