Choquequirao Trek: An Unexplored Retreat in Lush Cloud Forests and Snowcapped Andean Mountains

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Embark on the Ultimate Choquequirao Trek and explore the untouched beauty of lush cloud forests and snowcapped Andean mountains. Discover the ‘Twin Sister of Machu Picchu’ and enjoy a serene retreat in this hidden gem of Peru.

Duration: 5 days

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

CUSCO – CACHORA – CAPULIYOC – LA PLAYA

Capuliyoc - Pick up from your hotel in Cusco between 4:30 am, to drive you across the Andes towards Capuliyoc, arriving at approximately 8:30 am. After breakfast, start a 4-hour trek downhill from Capuliyoc (9550 ft / 2911 m) to our lunch spot at Chiquiska (1893m / 6210 ft). Along the way, you can enjoy some absolutely stunning views of the Apurimac canyon - one of the deepest in Peru, and spectacular panoramas of the different landscapes: from the highlands of Peru to the dense vegetation of the cloud forest. After lunch we continue our journey for another 2 hours down to Playa Rosalina (1478m / 4849ft), your tents and a hot drink will be waiting for you. Here we will have dinner and camp for the night.
Distance: 10.8 km / 6.7 miles
Approximate Hiking Time: 6 hours
Highest Elevation Crossed: 2,911 m / 9,550 ft
Camp Elevation: 1,478m / 4,849 ft
Meals: Breakfast, snack, lunch & dinner
Accommodations: Camping
Difficulty: Moderate

LA PLAYA – MARAMPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAO

EXPLORE CHOQUEQUIRAO RUINS

Choquequirao Inca Citadel - We will wake you up bright and early with a nice cup of hot coca tea or coffee to witness the amazing sunrise over the mountains. After breakfast we have the entire day to explore this magnificent Inca city. Your guide will take you on a comprehensive tour - taking you to the most beautiful spots and teaching you about the history of Choquequirao and of the Incas. Choquequirao (cradle of gold) is nicknamed the twin sister of Machu Picchu, but is almost twice the size. For this reason it is expected that this largely unknown location will very soon become one of the most popular tourist destinations in South America. After you have taken all the time you need to discover Choquequirao, we will return to the same campsite for dinner and to spend the night.
Distance: 8 km/ 4.9 miles
Approximate Hiking Time: 4 hours
Highest Elevation Crossed: 3,066 m / 10,059 ft
Camp elevation:2,073 m / 6801 ft
Meals: Breakfast, snack, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Difficulty: Easy

CHOQUEQUIRAO – MARAMPATA – LA PLAYA – CHIKISKA

Choquequirao Inca Citadel - We will wake up for a second time is this magical place. After breakfast, it is a 3 hours downhill trek to our lunch spot at Santa Rosa (2230 m / 7300 ft). We will then continue downhill for a further 2 hours, before trekking uphill for another 2 hours, until we arrive to our campsite at Chiquiska (1800m / 5905ft). This a perfect day to enjoy the surrounding landscape and nature. We will pass a wide range of different flowers and birds along the way and the sound of waterfalls can be heard in the distance.
Distance: 8 km /11.32 miles
Approximate Hiking Time: 8 hours
Highest Elevation Crossed: 3,100m/9,300 ft
Camp Elevation: 1,450m/4,350 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Meals: Breakfast, snack, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Camping

CHIKISKA – CAPULIYOC – CUSCO

Saywite - On our final day we will get up, have breakfast and prepare for our last 4 hour trek uphill to Capuliyoc. Here we will have lunch and say good bye to our team of chefs and porters that have accompanied un on this expeditions. We will then take our private transportation to the archeological site of Saywite; a beautiful carved rock that remains a mystery to archaeologists. You will have plenty of time to explore before we return to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel around 5pm.
Distance: 8 km / 11.32 miles
Approximate Hiking Time: 8 hours
Highest Elevation Crossed: 2,850m / 9,407ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Meals: Breakfast, snack, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Difficulty: Moderate

What's Included

Professional English-speaking tour guides
Expert chef for all meal preparations
Convenient airport-hotel transfers
Hotel pick-up service included
Meals provided: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Informative pre-departure briefing at 6:30 PM
Personal porter service for luggage up to 7kg
Comprehensive transportation throughout the tour

What's Not Included

Rental gear: mattress, sleeping bag & poles

Additional Information

For adventurers seeking untouched landscapes, we present the Ultimate Choquequirao Trek. This expedition traverses the vibrant cloud forests and snowcapped peaks of the Andes in the Choquekiraw region. Whereas Machu Picchu hosts approximately 5000 tourists each day, Choquequirao often welcomes less than twelve, offering an unparalleled peaceful retreat….

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.9

(28 Ratings)

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Escapesartist

Aug 3, 2025

5 day 4 night 60km trek to Choquequirao - We just got back from an incredible 5 day / 4 night private trek to Choquequirao. We wanted to trek away from the crowds of Machu Picchu, and we found exactly what we were looking for. We had a team of 4: G (our guide), Esteban (head chef), Feliciano (assistant chef), and Henry (our porter and horseman). They made the entire experience unforgettable. G met us the night before at our hotel in Cuzco to walk us through what to expect, and the next morning they picked us up right on time at 4:30 a.m. for the 4-hour drive to the trailhead. When we got there, Esteban and Feliciano made us a delicious hot breakfast, and that set the tone for the week — we ate so well. And the views from breakfast were like being in a scene from The Sound of Music. Every single day felt special. G was an incredible guide — so knowledgeable on the Inca culture and history. He was super patient and encouraging, especially on the tougher hiking days (looking at you day 2 with switchbacks all the way up!), and always made sure we had water and whatever we needed. We felt really taken care of. Henry was such a hard worker. Every morning started with warm water to wash our faces and hot tea delivered to our tent (which were a luxury!). He worked so hard, always with a smile, and was just a lovely presence to have around. While we had breakfast, Henry would take down our tent, another luxury and everyday after we finished our hike and came to our new campsite, our tent would be up and Henry would deliver hot water to us to clean up immediately and refresh ourselves. Note: You do not need to bring any of your own snacks on this trip! Esteban and Feliciano were the BEST chef and assistant chef one could hope for. The meals were healthy, colorful, full of fresh veggies and fruit — and there were fun surprises too, like fresh donuts at tea time and even a cake with “Peru” written in icing. They seriously thought of everything. We never went hungry — breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea time, snacks for the hike — they kept us full and happy the entire time. When we travel, we usually travel to eat and explore the local culture that way, but on a Trek of this sort, we weren't expecting to eat so well. This was a delightful surprise, I was obsessed with our team, and our chefs made our morning, noon and night. One of the highlights was the traditional Peruvian BBQ on the final day — such a fun way to end the trip. And maybe the most amazing part: they hiked two hours to meet us inside Choquequirao with a private picnic. Having a team so dedicated to making your trip special left us speechless. TreXperience is incredibly lucky to have this team. We felt supported, cared for, and totally spoiled the entire week. If you’re thinking about doing this trek — go, and ask for G, Esteban, Feliciano, and Henry. You’ll be in the best hands.