- Availability: Available now
- Group size: 2-10
- Tour Type: trekking/hiking/historical
- Max. Elevation: 3300 meters above sea level
Choquequirao Trek 4D/3N
465 USD Per person
Choquequirao Trek 4D/3N
The Choquequirao trek is one of the 20 most famous and beautiful trails in the world according to the National Geographic magazine. This 4-day trail to the sacred sister of Machu Picchu, will make you enjoy incredible Andean landscapes, snowy mountains, the fascinating ruin of Choquequirao and delicious cuisine prepared by our expert chefs.
On day 1, the Choquequirao trek will surprise you with an amazing view of the Padreyoc mountain and the Apurimac canyon (considered the second deepest canyon in the world). During the 2nd day, you’ll have the privilege of being able to observe the spectacled bear, condors, an incredible view of the mountains from the village of Marampata and explore the ruins of Choquequirao from corner to corner.
On day 3, you will wake up to observe a beautiful sunrise observing the second deepest canyon in the world and the descent towards the Apurimac River. Finally on day 4, you will end this Choquequirao trek watching the sunrise over the snow-capped Padreyoc and relaxing your muscles in the crystal-clear hot springs of Conoc.
Highlights of our Choquequirao Trek
- We want to give you a great service, so we plan perfectly the distribution of our campsites. This will allow you to enjoy and acclimatized on a slow a steady pace.
- Our guides, cooks and porters are obsessed for what they do. We provide top quality service.
- Our camping equipment, is of the highest quality, resistance and very spacious.
- We provide a emergency horse, in case you need a little push.
- Be part of our social and environmental projects.
- Cooking classes led by your hiking chef where you will learn to cook the best of Peruvian food and hiking dishes.
- We will prepare a traditional andean underground barbecue; called Pachamanca.
- Our Classic Choquequirao Trek has a fair and cheap price compared to other operators.
- We are the only Choquequirao hike specialist; that prepares food for our hikers and staff, using 100 % organic vegetables purchased from local producers.
Trip Overview of our Choquequirao Trek
- Trek Type: trekking/hiking, scenery, cultural and informative
- Good for: those in moderate shape or better
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Considerations:In order to give you the best itinerary and experience on this trek our program it is completely different from the other companies
- Season: From March 1st to December 31th
Day 1: Cusco – Capuliyoc – Playa Rosalina- Santa Rosa.
- Hiking distance: 7.5 miles/12 km (6-7 hours)
- Campsite altitude: 2200 meters above sea level
- Considered: moderate
- Meals: Breakfast,snacks, lunch, tea time, dinner! All served as buffet
- Weather: warm and humid
Our fantastic adventure in the Choquequirao trek will start at 4.30 in the morning. Your tour guide will pick you up at 4:30 in the morning from your hotel to then drive you for 4 hours to the Choquequirao trek trailhead. Upon arrival to Capuliyoc, our expert hiking cook will prepare a delicious breakfast. Afterwards you will hike downhill for 4 hours and 30 minutes to Playa Rosalinas. Along the way, you will glimpse one of the 3 deepest canyons on the planet, the Apurimac canyon allows you also to spot the great Andean condor flying around its dominions. This first section in the of the Choquequirao trek has like a stunning background, the imposing Padreyoc snow-capped mountain.
Upon arrival to Playa Rosalinas, your cook will be waiting with a fresh orange juice and a varied buffet lunch. After digesting for 30 minutes our meals, you will hike up for 2 hours to the hamlet of Santa Rosa. Upon arrival, your staff of porters will have the tents already pitched, they’ll also provide you lukewarm water in buckets, so you can wash up a little bit and rest. We’ll close this first day in the Choquequirao trek with a tea time, where there will be hot chocolate, crackers and popcorn, your guide will take advantage of this time to share some interesting Andean tales with you. Then you’ll have a delicious buffet dinner.
** Choquequirao is opening its dominion and beauty to you have an unforgettable experience with your loved ones.
Day 2: Santa Rosa-Marampata– Choquequirao Ruins
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- Hiking distance: 6 miles/10 km (6-7 hours)
- Campsite altitude: 3030 meters above sea level
- Considered: challenging
- Meals: Breakfast,snacks, lunch, tea time, dinner! All served as buffet
- Weather: hot with mosquitoes
The beautiful songs of the endemic birds that live in this part of the Choquequirao trek will make you wake up in a good mood. After a nutritious breakfast, you will start climbing up for 2 hours to Marampata hamlet. This uphill will be very steep and challenging, however once you arrive up there, the incredible views will be rewarding. Then you will hike for 2 hours through a trail surrounded by beautiful wild flowers, medicinal bushes and birds from the cloud forest of Choquequirao. Upon arrival to Choquequirao ruins you will start exploring it from corner to corner. Choquequirao is composed of 8 sectors, to explore all of them without rush you need from 3 to 5 hours.
These sectors are: upper main plaza, annex buildings and fountains, warehouses and deposits (Qolqas) and «Giant Stairs» of Bingham. Main square (Haucaypata) and annex buildings (Houses of the rulers and kallankas). Temple of the triumphal wall and sacred corrals. Ceremonial Ushnu. Temple of the Priests. Monumental platforms or sacred platforms and the platforms of the Llamas of the Sun. In half of the Choquequirao exploration, you will have a delicious prepared by our expert cook. After and amazing sunset in Choquequirao you will come back for 2 hours to the town of Marampata. Let’s celebrate this amazing day in Choquequirao with a tea time with hot chocolate, crackers, popcorn and a yummy buffet dinner.
** The day you will explore Choquequirao ruins from corner to corner.
Day 3: Choquequirao Ruins- Playa Rosalina- Chiquisca
- Hiking distance: 11.3 miles/18 km (8 hours)
- Campsite altitude: 2100 meters above sea level
- Considered: moderate
- Meals: Breakfast,snacks, lunch, tea time, dinner! All served as buffet
- Weather: hot with mosquitoes
This morning will be a special occasion to make an outdoor breakfast due the sunrise in Marampata is just astonished. Once you get ready, you will start hiking downhill for 4 hours to Playa Rosalinas. In half of the way, you will walk around Santa Rosa Chica looking for a family of friendly spectacled bears that live there eating avocados and gourds. Upon arrival, your cook will be waiting you with a cold apple juice and a varied buffet lunch; here you can also dip your feet in the refreshing Apurimac river. Then you will hike uphill for 2 hours through a winding path to Chiquisca farmhouse. Here you will be part of the elaboration of Cambray, which is an alcoholic sugar cane drink. Cambray is drank daily by Choquequirao porters, muleteers and cooks.
This drink goes through different processes, Ines, a local person from Chiquisca told me that to prepare this drink one first has to extract the juice from the cane, it is boiled for about 30 minutes, in the time it boils, the trash and the remains of the cane come to the surface, all this is removed with a fine sieve. After removing the remains of the cane, it is left to cool, everything boiled is placed in a pot or a container with a lid, 3 cups of already fermented sugar cane juice are added, then everything is left to rest until the next day and in this way, a good, fresh, sweet and slightly fermented Cambray is obtained, if you want with more degrees of alcohol, let it ferment for a longer time.
** Taste the flagship drink of the Choquequirao trek and have a stunning sunrise in Marampata.
Day 4: Chiquisca- Capuliyoc- Cusco
- Hiking distance: 4.2 miles/8 km (4 hours)
- Considered: moderate
- Meals: Breakfast,snacks, lunch,! All served as buffet
- Weather: hot and dry
Last day of our Choquequirao experience, we will wake up very early to have breakfast and then hike up for 4 hours the last section of this hike in Choquequirao. The idea is to start hiking at 5 in the morning to avoid as much as possible the sun heat. Upon arrival to Capuliyoc, your cook has ready for you a cold juice and a delicious last supper lunch. After your well-deserved lunch we can say «The Choquequirao Trek is done».
You will be transported for 2 hours to Conoc, which are a set of crystalline thermal baths located some meters over the Apurimac river. According to historical data, these hot springs were places of rest at the time of the Inca Empire, since they are right on the path of the Inca Trail to Choquequirao. Then you will be driven 2 more hours back to Cusco, where you will arrive around 6 pm.
** Our Choquequirao Trek has a door to door service.
Included on the Choquequirao Trek
Professional local english speaker Guides: all our super leaders grew up in cusco region and studied tourism for five years at cusco’s university, they are friendly, funny charming, knowledgeable, professional and will care your safety into our choquequirao trek
Permits: As soon as we get your details and deposit, we will purchase your permits for the choquequirao trek.
Briefing: The night before your trip, you will come to our office for your informative meeting. You will receive your duffle bag that will stay with your porters while you hike on the choquequirao trek. This duffle bag should not exceed 7 kg / 14 pounds and should include your sleeping bag and air mattress.
Porters: We include a personal porter who is responsible for carrying your duffle bag and also our camping equipment and food to our basecamp. There is no additional cost for this. You will not have access to your duffle bag until you arrive at your camp in the afternoon.
Transportation: IncaGo Expeditions will be providing all transportation for this choquequirao trek. You will be picked up from your hotel at 5 am. and brought to the trailhead to begin your choquequirao trek. We also include mules and horses that will carry our equipment and the private van from Capuliyoc to Cusco.
Equipment: Incas path has the best equipment; we use Eureka Timberline 4 tents that are shared by only two people. You will have a large dining tent to enjoy your meals.
Food: Our choquequirao trek includes expert hiking chefs who will cook delicious meals that many previous trekkers have loved. We honor all food restrictions, so be sure to add any that you have on your booking form and let us know. Food is typically all served as buffet.
Water: Starting from your first lunch until your last breakfast we will provide you boiled, filtered, and then cooled water before distributing. You must bring personal water bottles and or a camelback. We advice you to bring a bottle or camelback of 1.5 litters , as being well hydrated is the key to feeling great in the mountains.
Details: we profess that it is the attention to small details that separates us from other travel agencies; each hiker receives a small sleeping pillow, a foam mattress to insulate, a backpack cover to protect their belongings while hiking and a rain poncho. We will work hard to create your best holiday.
First Aid: Every guide has got training in first aid from a clinic and firemen. We elaborate mandatory training sessions every February on the choquequirao trek, which every Incas Path tour guide must attend. Your tour leader is going to have always a first-aid kit for basic medical problems.
Not Included on the Choquequirao Trek
Rentals: Due there we are hiking the choquequirao trek, each trekker needs a sleeping bag when camping, inflatable air mattresses and trekking poles (with rubber tips). They are optional but encouraged for a better comfort; if you don’t want to bring any of the above, they are all available for rent:
- Sleeping Bag: $20
- Inflatable Air Mattress: $15
- Trekking Poles (Pair): $15
Prices
We would love to tour the choquequirao trek with you and your loved ones and take care of immortalizing your visit to choquequirao trek. We can leave any day from March to January as the ausangate trek & rainbow mountain is always available
Group Price (2022):
- $465 per person
Private Tours are based on Group Size (2022):
Priced per person
- Two trekkers: $495 per person
- Three trekkers: $490 per person
- Four trekkers: $485 per person
- Five trekkers: $480 per person
- Six trekkers: $475 per person
- Seven trekkers: $470 per person
- Eight, or more, trekkers: $465 per person
Student Discount:
– $ 10 discount per person
Student discounts apply to anyone who has a valid International Student Card (ISIC) at the beginning of the hike or who is 17 years old or younger; for those who use an international student card or for children under 17, we need to see a copy of their card or passport at the time of booking to receive the discount of the choquequirao trek of the government.
Please send everything to info@cuscodigital.com
Packing list
This choquequirao trek, includes porters who will carry all your duffle bag while you hike on the choquequirao trek. We suggest you to carry lightweight backpack that the is key to feeling good during the choquequirao trek.
Essentials:
- Original Passport ,
- STUDENT CARD (if you booked as a student)
- Immigration Card (given on the plane as you enter Peru)
- Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
- Water storage: Water reservoir like Camelbaks are encouraged – but enough for at least 2-3 liters.
- Comfortable hiking boots (lightweight with good soles) remember that the choquequirao trek is entirely dirt soil
For Your Duffel: Our porters will carry up to 7 kg of your personal items. This must include your sleeping bag and air mattress.
- 4 wicking t-shirts
- 2 hiking pants
- 4 sets of undergarments.
- 4 sets of hiking socks
- 1 fleece and 1 down jacket; it gets cold at night
- 1 rain jacket and rain pants /rain poncho
- 1 sun hat
- 1 wool hat
- Headlamp: essential
- Hiking boots
- Comfortable shoes for camp
- Quickdry towel. We provide small ones, you might bring a towel a little larger.
- Battery Charger: There is no place to plug, on the choquequirao trek!
- Large plastic bags: to help organize and keep away clean clothes from dirty clothes.
- Earplugs in case someone from the group snores
- Sleeping bag: Recommend down bags for -10C at least
Toiletries:
- Sunscreen
- Face moisturizer
- Bug spray
- Handsanitizer
- Wet wipes
- Toothbrush and paste
- Toiletpaper
- Personal medication
- First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.
Inside Your Daypacks:
Daypacks can be any size for hiking, but we always recommend the smaller, the better. Some items are listed below
- Sunhat
- Rain gear
- Fleece
- Camera
- Music (IPhone)
- Handsanitizer
- Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
- Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
Where do we pick up the hikers for the Choquequirao Trek?
Pick up will be from your hotel at 4:30 a.m. Please provide clear contact information of your place of accommodation when approaching our office in Cusco.
Where to pay the remaining amount for the Choquequirao Trek?
Most hikers arrive in Cusco 2 or 3 days before the choquequirao trek for proper acclimatization. Once you are in Cusco it is imperative that you come to our office to review the last details of your excursion and also pay the remaining amount of your choquequirao trek.
Reserve for the Choquequirao Trek?
We try to make the booking as easy as possible in Incas Path. We prepare a reservation form where you will complete and include all the details for the excursion, and then a deposit of $ 200 per person. Once we have all the deposits and details, we will reserve your permits. Once the choquequirao trek permits are in our hands, we will send you your invoice and confirmation that everything is 100% organized. All excursions once confirmed, are guaranteed.
Permissions for the Choquequirao Trek?
Only tour operators licensed by the goverment, such as Incas Path, can obtain the corresponding permits from the government. Once we have obtained your choquequirao trek permits, the name and start date cannot be changed under any circumstances. The only information that the government allows us to change are passport numbers.
Passport Number Update?
The government will only allow us to change passport numbers if we have a copy of the new passport and the old passport. If you no longer have your old passport, any identification document that you have in your hands will be accepted while the name is the same as in your passport.
Where to stay in Cusco?
You can stay in a hotel that you consider convenient, however you must have the account of the location of the hotel because the traffic within the city has become stressful in the last 5 years. Many roads are up to 100 years old; Especially near the main square the roads are only for pedestrians. We will notify you if it is not possible to pick you up by car from your hotel and coordinate another nearby pick-up point. For a list of recommended hotels, consult your Incas Path sales representative.
Can I stay in the sacred valley?
Not, as the driving route to get the trailhead of the choquequirao trek does not go through the sacred valley of the incas.
During the trip, how challenging is the Choquequirao Trek?
Remember that this choquequirao trek, it is challenging because you will climb one very high mountain pass; if rains, the dirt soil path could be muddy ( don´t worry if you have good hiking boots) also this 4 day trek into the choquequirao trek is humid,hot and with mosquitoes all the time, so it will be exhausting but it will be worth it when you arrive at the choquequirao ruins, and so you will take your so awaited posdcard pictures and will learn all the most interesting details about choquequirao
Will I need extra money on the Choquequirao Trek?
Of course, if you want to buy some type of drinks, reminders or for tiping, take about 400 soles with you;«also remember that along the days of hiking into the choquequirao trek just cash is accepted».
How many people will be in my group on the Choquequirao Trek?
We require a minimum of 2 people for our tour, and if you are traveling alone, we invite you to join our groups that start each day; we can have up to 8 hikers with a guide and if our groups are between 9 and 16 people, we have 2 accredited guides with a lot of experience in the choquequirao trek. During the low season it is most likely that the groups are small and during the high season the groups are probably much larger.
Do you need hiking boots for the Choquequirao Trek?
We always recommend hiking boots, since if it rains a little the choquequirao trek can become a bit muddy and slipery; please make sure they have good soles.
Are trekking poles really necessary on the Choquequirao Trek?
For the choquequirao trek we recommend the use of trekking poles for everyone, especially for those passengers with knee problems or older people; there are several sections during the tour where you will need to use the walking sticks, either climbing or descending the dirt soil path.
Are there any toilets along the Choquequirao Trek?
Along the choquequirao trek there are 3 places that has toilet; firstly at the hiking start, then at lunch spot and at basecamp. Please carry a roll of toilet paper in your daypack.
Can I use plastic botles during the Choquequirao Trek?
Due to New goverment regulations for the choquequirao trek it will be 100% BANNED to BRING PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES. We kindly suggest you getting your aluminum plastic bottles to avoid any dissapointment at the check points along the choquequirao trek
Aluminum water bottles can be bought in many different shops around the main square.
If you are still at home and ready to fly to Peru for your choquequirao trek we recommend you bringing aluminum water bottles or camel bags.
Where do I store my luggage?
All luggage not necessary for the hike must remain in Cusco. All hotels are very helpful and are quite accustomed to storing luggage of their guests, or if you wish you can store it safely with our customer service team in our office storage
What should I expect from the weather on the Choquequirao Trek?
Please understand that this is a very difficult question to answer. Historically, from April to October it is the dry season, from November to March it is the rainy season, but in recent years our weather has been affected by climate change and today it is very difficult to predict. Remember that in the mountains the radiation and heat are very high during the day and the evenings and nights always cold, we always recommend a short sleeve shirt for the choquequirao trek long pants to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, rain jacket and a fleece jacket and for the night a down jacket.
Can Incas Path please my dietary needs? What kind of food will there be?
For us it is an honor to please all kinds of dietary needs, just let us know at the time of booking. If you are vegetarian, vegan, lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant or any type of allergies, we have a team of chefs with a lot of experience in the preparation of all types of diets on the choquequirao trek. Also remember that we want to pamper you during your trip to choquequirao trek and for that reason we use 100% organic vegetables for the elaboration of our buffets.
What type of outlet is used in Cusco?
Most hotels and even homes in Peru now have the standard US output and also that of South America.
What is the standard procedure when it comes to tip?
Tipping is part of the tradition of any trip to choquequirao trek and, although we pay good salaries to our entire team, we always appreciate any extra appreciation. Keep in mind that this is not mandatory and that you should never feel pressured for this reason.
In general, participants in a group show their appreciation as a group for their porters and chef and a personal appreciation towards their tour guide, which will be according to their degree of satisfaction with the service provided.