Choquequirao Trek 5D/4N

DAY 1: CUSCO – CAPULIYOC – PLAYA

This incredible adventure begins at 4:30am, when your guide will pick you up at your hotel and drive for the next 4 hours in our private van to Capuliyoc (2,850m/9,407ft). Along the way, there are picturesque views of villages, spectacular valleys and snow-capped mountains. Once at Capuliyoc, we meet our horsemen and pack all of our equipment onto the horses. You will only carry a small daypack with the essentials you will need on the trail.

From here, we can enjoy the spectacular view of Choquequirao Inca ruins, the Apurimac canyon and the stunning snow-capped mountains like Padreyoc (5,571m/18,387ft). Then we hike down for 3 hours to Chikisca for lunch. After lunch we continue on for 2 more hours downhill to our first camp at Playa Rosalinas (2061m/6762ft). Hot drinks and appetizers will be waiting for you and you’ll have time to settle into your tents, which are already set up, before dinner.

Meals included: Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner.
Accommodation: Camping facilities
Minimum altitude: 2061m/6762ft
Maximum altitude: 3100m/9300ft
Distance: 9kms/5.6 miles
Time: 5hrs approximately
Difficulty: Easy

DAY 2: PLAYA – MARANPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAO
After an early breakfast, we cross the bridge and hike for the next 4 hours all the way up to Marampata where we will have lunch enjoying the view of Choquequirao Inca ruins. After lunch we walk to our second evening’s campsite, just 20 minutes from the ruins. Being so close to the archeological site, we can enjoy our view of the ruins into the late evening and watch for condors soaring on the winds from the canyon.

Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner.
Accommodation: Camping facilities
Minimum altitude: 2061m/6762ft
Maximum altitude: 3100m/10170ft
Distance: 12kms/7.5 miles
Time: 5hrs approximately
Difficulty: Easy

DAY 3: CHOQUEQUIRAO
After breakfast, we will visit the magnificent archeological site of Choquequirao for the entire day. There is so much to see! These ruins are three times the size of Machu Picchu and new sections, hidden under the dense jungle, are constantly being discovered. Enjoy the private guided tour and explore all of the beautiful sections of the temples, terraces, palaces, the llamas’ section, and much more.

Choquequirao means “Cradle of Gold” in Quechua Inca’s language although this is probably not its original name. It is another “Lost City of the Incas” rediscovered officially late in the 20th century. It is located high on a ridge spur almost 1750 metres above the raging glacier-fed Apurimac River and is surrounded by the towering Salkantay and Humantay snow-capped peaks. Excavations and restoration of the 1810 hectares site began in the 1990s, and it is estimated that only 30% of the site has been restored to date. Every day archeologists are finding new things.

After our thorough explorations, we will return to our same campsite. Drinks and appetizers will be waiting for us and we can relax before dinner. Enjoy your last night next to these magical ruins, under an incredible sky of the southern stars.

Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
Accommodation: Camping facilities
Altitude: 3100m/10170ft

DAY 4: CHOQUEQUIRAO – SAN IGNACIO – VILLA DE LOROS
Today is one of the easier days of our trek. We will walk downhill for two hours to the magnificent Apurimac River (1,450m/4,787ft). We then cross the bridge to walk uphill for one hour to San Ignacio for lunch where we can enjoy the beautiful scenery and a great waterfall! After lunch we walk a moderate uphill trek through a beautiful valley towards Villa de Loros (2,600m/8,580ft) where we set up camp for the last evening.

Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner.
Accommodation: Camping facilities
Minimum altitude: 2600m/8530ft
Maximum altitude: 3100m/10170ft
Distance: 6kms/4 miles
Time: 2hrs approximately
Difficulty: Moderate

DAY 5: VILLA DE LOROS – SAYWITE – CONOC – CUSCO
Today is the relaxing day of our trek, with a bonus of the Saywaite Inca Ruins. After enjoying a delicious breakfast we take our private transport to the archeological site of Saywite, where we can explore and see an Inca monolith, several water fountains, and ritual platforms. After spending time enjoying the site we drive to the hot spring of Conoc to relax after several days of walking. After lunch we head back to Cusco dropping you off at your hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch

• Pick up at your hotel in the morning of the trek departure
• Private transport from Cusco to Capuliyoc (starting point of the trek) and from Villa de Loros to Cusco
• Entry fee to Choquequirao and other Inca sites
• English speaking, experienced professional guide
• Private Guided tour in each archeological complex
• Comfortable tents for two people in a four-person tent
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary (optional vegetarian food with prior request)
• 1 emergency horse which can be ridden if you’re feeling exhausted or unwell
• All camping equipment such as: dining tent, table, chairs, kitchen tent and toilet tent
• Tent for our staff to sleep in
• First Aid kit, including emergency oxygen bottle
• Horses (for equipment and personal items) and horsemen to care for them
• 7 kgs of your personal items such as extra clothes and sleeping bag will be carried by our mules
• Boiled water for drinking and washing purposes
• Entry fee to the hot springs
• Rain poncho