Trekking a Choquequirao: Ultimate Adventure Tour in Cusco, Peru

Day 1 Cusco - Cachora - Rosalina - Santa Rosa

You will be picked up from your hotel located in the city of Cusco to go towards the starting point in the village of San Pedro de Cachora, 4 hours away from Cusco at 2,800 meters above sea level.

The trekking to Choquequirao starts at Capuliyoq and here you will enjoy great views of snow-capped peaks in the distance. We will hike for 4 hours with amazing landscapes and different weathers, and unique flora and fauna.

We will admire the Apurimac River that pass through the depths of the Apurimac canyon, and you will get the first views of Choquequirao ruins. Going downhill we are going to reach Chiquisca to enjoy lunch and take a short rest. Later, we will begin the last path downhill of the day for 2 hours until reach Playa Rosalina located at 1,800 meters above sea level.

The hike continues to the campsite located in Santa Rosa at 1,950 meters above sea level. Distance traveled: 10.56 miles – Approximate time of walk: 7 hours.

Day 2 Rosalina - Santa Rosa - Marampata – Choquequirao

After breakfast, the hike starts uphill for 3 hours and a half through the opposite side of the Apurimac Valley until reach Marampata, a nice place to rest and admire lovely views to the valley.

The hike to Choquequirao continues towards the campsite located near the archaeological site Choquequirao with a high altitude of 2,800 meters above sea level. You can enjoy lunch, make a tour to the ruins and be amazed with the sunset view from the religious area of Choquequirao. Spend an amazing time with a guided tour around this place and learn about the connection with the Inca site of Machu Picchu.

The complex has different areas like squares, temples and platforms. It has a rich biodiversity in fauna like condors, foxes, vizcachas, bears, pumas, among others. The Andean flora is wonderful such as ichu and orchids. Explore Choquequirao, a jewel in the middle of the Andes with amazing Inca architecture.

In the evening, you can see the Milky way together with your guide. Distance traveled: 5.59 miles – Approximate time of walk: 8 hours, reaching the highest point at 3,400 meters.

Day 3 Choquequirao - Marampata - Chiquisca

After a good breakfast, we are going to start a trek of 5 hours downhill until reach Playa Rosalina, located at 1,500 meters above sea level. We will leave behind the Inca ruin of Choquequirao, also known as Cradle of Gold.

Along the way we are going to pass through different places such as Marampata (2,870 meters), a small village with campsite areas and stores to buy food. Then, we will reach Santa Rosa with a high altitude of 1,914 meters.

Once upon arrive to Playa Rosalina we are going to take a short rest and continue uphill, for one hour and a half, until we reach Chiquisca. In this place you will have a lovely lunch and spend the night.

In the afternoon you can enjoy a well-deserved rest. It is better to stay here because of the warm and dry weather and tomorrow we are going to wake up before sunrise. You can walk around this place to admire local fauna and flora.

Distance traveled: 11.18 miles – Approximate time of walk: 6 hours.

Day 4 Chiquisca - Capuliyoc - Cachora - Cusco

Very early in the morning we will leave Chiquisca while you are having the last views of the canyon. Going uphill in a hike of 4 hours, we will reach Capuliyoc to have the last lunch here at 2,885 meters (optional).

Capuliyoc has an amazing viewpoint that shows wonderful views of the trek to Choquequirao, as well as snowcapped peaks and the magnificent canyon. Choquequirao was built in 1536 during the Inca Empire. It was declared as a National Cultural Heritage.

Then, our transport will take you to Cusco, passing through the Andean town of Cachora first. It is going to be a 3-hour journey until reach the city of Cusco, to drop you off at the hotel.