Choquequirao Trek

**Day 1: CUSCO – CAPULIYOC – CHIKISCCA**
Embark on your Choquequirao trekking adventure with a 4 a.m. pick-up from your Cusco hotel. Travel in our private van accompanied by your tour guide for approximately three hours, reaching the Capuliyoc trailhead (3,200 m). Meet the horses, horsemen, and trekking chef who will provide the first breakfast. After a brief introduction by your trekking guide, commence the expedition to Choquekiraw Ruins. The three-hour downhill hike offers stunning views of the Apurimac River, landscapes, and diverse flora and fauna. Lunch is served on the trail, and after another three hours of hiking, you’ll reach the La Playa campsite (1,800 m).

**Day 2: CHIKISCCA – SANTA ROSA – MARAMPATA**
Start the day with an early breakfast before a challenging four-hour uphill hike with zigzags. Pass sugar cane farms and enjoy panoramic views of the valley. An emergency horse is available for the strenuous climb. Arrive at Marampata for lunch at 3,350 m. After a brief rest, embark on the last two-hour stretch to Choquekiraw, offering impressive views and revealing the Inca site. Witness the sunset from the Choquekiraw Inca site, with the campsite situated at the foot of the site.

– Walking Distance: 16 km / 9.16 m
– Weather: Hot
– Meals Included: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, happy hour, and dinner

**Day 3: CHOQUEQUIRAO VISIT FULL DAY**
After an early breakfast, explore Choquekirao, taking approximately 30 minutes to reach the site. Begin a comprehensive tour of this expansive Inca site, larger than Machu Picchu. The temples, astronomical observatories, and water channels are among the highlights. Return to camp for lunch and relaxation, with further exploration opportunities in the afternoon. Visit areas like the llama area and Usno area, offering sunset views over the mountains. Return to the campsite for the second night at Choquekirao.

– Weather: Hot with mosquitoes
– Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, happy hour, and dinner

**Day 4: CHOQUEQUIRAO – MARAMPATA – LA PLAYA – CHIKISCCA**
After an early breakfast, begin the journey back to Cusco. The two-hour trek to Marampata offers views of the Apurimac canyon, highlighting the flora and fauna. Enjoy waterfalls, landscapes, and, weather permitting, spectacular Andean views. From Marampata, embark on the four-hour steep downhill hike to La Playa, requiring trekking poles. Enjoy a break halfway down to savor locally farmed fruits. Lunch is served at La Playa, followed by a two-hour uphill trek to Chikiska Camp, situated in a family’s backyard, with possible sightings of wildlife like Spectacled Bears, Condors, and Hummingbirds.

– Trekking Distance: 18 km / 11.32 m
– Weather: Hot with mosquitoes
– Meals Included: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, happy hour, and dinner

**Day 5: CHIKISCCA – CAPULIYOC – CUSCO**
Following an early breakfast, embark on a four-hour uphill hike, concluding the trek. Enjoy your last lunch with the trekking team before bidding farewell. Continue with your tour guide to Cusco for approximately three hours by car, passing through Curawasi, known for the local tea Anis. Arrive in Cusco around 6 p.m., with drop-off at your hotel.

– Walking Distance: 8 km / 4.17 m
– Weather: Hot
– Meals Included: Breakfast, snacks, and lunch

**Included in the Choquequirao Trek:**
– A briefing at your hotel (6 p.m.) the night before you depart.
– Pick up from your hotel and private van transportation to the trailhead.
– Professional English speaking tour guide.
– Professional trekking chef.
– Porters, horsemen.
– Horses to carry the camping equipment, food, and your personal belongings (up to 8 kg).
– Meals, breakfast, snacks, happy hours, dinner.
– Camping equipment, including sleeping tents, foam mats, dining tents, kitchen tents, chairs, dishes, and more.
– Entrance fee to Choquekiraw.
– First-aid kit.
– Private, portable toilets.
– Drinking water three times a day.
– Emergency horse to ride in case you feel tired.
– Taxes included.
– Satellite Phones: Our top priority will always be the safety of our clients and our team. While all our guides are prepared and trained to deal with most issues clients have on the mountain. Being a phone call away from any doctor, hospital, or friend helps everyone feel assured that they are safe. Radios, which all our guides have, are limited in how far they can reach, so Alpaca Expeditions has added Satellite Phones to every trek. Every guide will have a fully charged phone that can be used anywhere on the mountain to connect us anywhere in the world. And they can be used by our clients for non-emergencies as well. While they are not cheap to use, they are available just in case you need to check in on the puppy you left at home with grandma.

**Not Included in the Choquequirao Trek:**
– Sleeping bag (rentals available from Alpaca Expeditions).
– Inflatable air mattress for extra comfort – 3 in /8 cm thick (rentals available from Alpaca Expeditions).
– Walking sticks (rentals available from Alpaca Expeditions).

**Tour Location:** All Choquequirao Trekking tours begin in Cusco, Peru.

**Tour Type:** Hiking, camping, adventure, history, culture.

**Good For:** Those who enjoy hiking and are in moderate shape.

**Difficulty:** Challenging.

**Considerations:** This trek does not visit Machu Picchu. If you want to include Machu Picchu on your trek, see the Choquequirao and Machu Picchu Trek!