Choquequirao Trek - 4 Days

After an early breakfast, we’ll set off on what is probably the hardest day of the trek to Choquequirao. To get to Choquequirao, we have to continue our ascent up the opposite side of the Apurimac Valley, which involves an uphill trek rising some 955 m (3,133 ft). over a distance of 16.2 km (10.07 miles). It will be hot and humid, so get ready to dig deep and take every step as it comes – but don’t worry, we’ll get there in the end! 

It's quite tough going, for sure, but you’ll be constantly rewarded with the spectacular views from the trail, as well as the wide variety of flora and fauna you’ll find on this side of the valley. We’ll make our way passed beautiful bromeliads, orchids and bamboo stalks, and hopefully see colorful birds such as quetzals, toucans, and a variety of hummingbirds.

After another five hours of trekking, we’ll arrive at our campsite at Marampata, close to Choquequirao, at a height of around 3,050 m (10,005 ft) above sea level. Tired but exhilarated, we’ll enjoy our lunch, before we head out to explore the impressive Choquequirao Archaeological Complex.  We will visit the lower sections of Choquequirao and the religious sector for approximately 3 hours. We will then return to Marampata for a well-earned dinner, prepared by our chef.  If the weather is clear, the sunset from the campsite is truly stunning, and we may even see some condors as they soar through the valley below. We will then head to our tents to rest for the evening.

Hiking Time: 7-8 hours 
Hiking Distance: 16.2 km / 10.07 miles. 
Highest Point: 3,050 m / 10,007 ft.
Lowest Point: 2,095 m / 6,873 ft.

All our tough trekking will be rewarded on Day 3 when we wake up early to explore the archaeological site of Choquequirao. Your guide will take you around the site, once more showing you all the most important sections and explaining the history of Choquequirao. You’ll learn about the Inca Empire, its traditions and culture, as well as the close relationship between Choquequirao and Machu Picchu. 

Choquequirao has not been explored or studied as comprehensively as Machu Picchu, despite having been discovered earlier than its more famous counterpart. The first non-Inca visitor to Choquequirao was the explorer Juan Arias Díaz in 1710, two centuries before Hiram Bingham’s rediscovery of Machu Picchu. But the site lay abandoned and forgotten until recent years, when archaeologists and tourists began to pay more attention to Choquequirao. Even with more attention turned towards it, only about 25% of the archaeological site has been explored, and many secrets remain to be discovered. 

As far as we currently know, Choquequirao is divided into 12 sectors, with Inca agricultural terraces common throughout the complex. Most of the buildings, meanwhile, appear to have been built for ceremonial purposes, as residences of the priests, or for the storage of food. The fact that we don’t know more about Choquequirao only adds to the wonder of the tour, as your imagination tries to piece together a picture of what life was like at this vast and isolated site atop a truncated hilltop. 

This second visit to the Choquequiro Archeological Complex is optional, as we have planned to reach the Cocamasana campsite in the evening. Alternatively, if we decide to spend more time at the ruins, we can spend the night at the Chiquisca campsite, which means more hiking on the final day. 

We will need to begin our hike back along the same route that we came on back to Capuliyoc. We will have lunch along the way in Chiquisca, and continue on our way. We’ll camp for the night at the Cocamasana campsite, at 2,650 m / 8,695 ft. above sea level, at the bottom of the Apurimac River Valley.

Hiking Time: 6-7 hours. 
Hiking Distance: 12.3 km / 7.65 miles. 
Highest Point: 2,940 m / 9, 646 ft.
Lowest Point: 2,650 m / 8,695 ft.

On our final day, we’ll wake early and have breakfast before completing the rest of the return trek to Capuliyoc. As we wind our way back up the side of the valley, we'll have our final views of Choquequirao in the distance, and a chance to say a final goodbye to this amazing Inca ruin. We’ll get to Capuliyoc in the late afternoon, from where we’ll board our transport for the drive back to Cusco, with visions and theories of the mysterious Choquequirao still swirling in our minds.

Hiking Time: 2-3 hours.
Hiking Distance: 3.6 km / 2.24 miles.
Highest Point: 2,970 m / 9, 744 ft.
Lowest Point: 1,950 m / 6,397 ft.