+51 984 751 486 perutravelcompany@gmail.com Cuesta Santa Ana N° 701 and siete cuartones Nº 245

Price

From$560

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Length

5 Days, 4 Nights

Group

Min 6, Max 12

Trip Style

Trekking Tours

Grading

3, 4

Tour Details

Locations Visited: Choquequirao citadel

Frequency : Upon request

Choquequirao, The sister of Machupicchu 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 20th century located high on a ridge spur almost 1750mts above the raging glacier-fed Apurimac River and surrounded by towering Salkantay and Humantay snow-capped peaks.

Choquequirao was build during the last days of the Inca empire in the government of the Inca Pachacutec 1490, by Tupac Inca Yapanqui, and probably after the Spanish invasion in 1532. Almost 40 years the Inca’s held stand against the spanish conquerors (between 1536 – 1572). The construction of the different levels of temples, palaces, canals and aqueducts is really fantastic. “Choquequirao is the city which demonstrates the inspiring example of an elite Inca ceremonial center. A city dedicated to worship the “Pachamama” the andean mother earth “the Apus” mountain gods and divinities, the river and the elements of nature.” Choquequirao finally burned down and left deserted. This happened probably after the execution of the last Inca, Tupac Amaru I in 1572.

By this occasion, the plaster covering the walls, carbonized and disappeared for the most part. At the east side of the complex more then 110 terraces with houses and squares are being revealed. At the west side another 170 terraces are hidden and covered by the forest, in some of these terraces can be seen now an amazing in straight line white color llamas in symetrical order, Until now only 25% is put to overdraft and conserved. With this Choquequirao is the largest Inca-town of the continent and much larger then Macchu Pichu. For the first time in 1710 they mentioned the existence of Choquequirao. The first drawings of the structure of the ruins were made about 1836 by the Frenchmen Léonce Angrand and them by Eugine Sartigues.

USEFUL INFO

Choquequirao Weather.

Dry season (April – November)

Day temperature 20ºC/35ºC
Night temperature 5 ºC/10ºC
Wet season (December – March)
Day temperature 17ºC/22ºC
Night temperature 0 ºC/7ºC

Advice for Hikers.

Is recommendable have yellow fiber vaccination (malaria) because you will be 3 days in the high jungle. We never hear news about problems with malaria in this zone but are better to be prepared.
It is also important to be well acclimatized to the altitude for that try to spend 2 nights in Cusco (3400m) prior to do the trek.

Local kids and adults .

Along the way you will met many people, specially kids walking long distance to arrive at school and study 5 hours and they back home after maybe 30 minutes or 2 – 4 hours depending how far they live from the school. Normally they are son or daughter of poor farmers living on the mountains. We strongly recommend help us to give some present to them like pencils, notebook, dictionaries, toys, clothes (socks, gloves, hat, t-shirt, etc) and something to eat. We don’t recommend giving them things like candies, chew gun, soda, camping knife or money. If you really like to make picture of them, especially of adults we strongly advise you to ask first. If you don’t speak any word of Spanish language (español) coordinate with your guide to see if is possible to have picture of them. Local people don’t permit take picture of them, because they believe you taking their spirit on your camera.

Hire Horse and Horseman.

Horses can carry up to 120 Kg = $140 USD for the full duration of the tour ( $35 USD per day). Each horse comes equipped with saddle and assistant who will provide food and care the horse every day.
Riding a horse you will need to carry a daypack with your Camera, bottle of water, snacks, a fleece or something warm and a poncho in case of rain (unlikely in Dry season but as a precaution). Your bag will be waiting for you in your tent at campsites.

Inclusions

Briefing at Hotel or Office
Professional Bilingual Tour guide
Collection from hotel
Bus from Cusco to Cachora (Trailhead) – Cusco
Entrance fees to Choquequirao Citadel (one time)
Cook Horseman , Mules
5 breakfast, 5 Lunches,5 Dinners
Water supply (boiled) after every dinner or breakfast
Doble occupancy tents
4 nights Camping and 1 night hostel in aguas calientes
Dining tent , Kitchen tent
Foam sleeping mattresses note (if you want hire a comfortable air mattresses it also can be hired from us)
First aid kit
Vegetarian Option or special diet-Free available.

Excludes

First Breakfast , last lunch and dinner
Mineral water (boiled water provided with food but you can buy it along the way )
Personal Horse US$ 65
Sleeping bag ( you can hire from us US$25 )
Walking poles (you can hire from us US$15)
45 Lt back pack US$ 10.
Tips for the guide,cook, horseman (arrieros) is a custom but not mandatory.
PERU TRAVEL COMPANY provides a duffle bag to transport your belongings.

Recommended to carry

Original Passport
Travel Insurance card is essential
Hiking water proof boots ( with ankle protectors )
Trekking poles metal tips are not allowed on the trail
Waterproof jacket or rain poncho
Warm jacket
Sun hat and gloves
T-shirts / shirts
Comfortable hiking zip off trousers
Rain pants
Bathing suit (for hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
Sun protection cream ( factor 35 recommended ) sun is strong
Insect Repellent ( for mosquitos )15 % of deet at least
Water bottle
Toilet paper and wet wipes
Personal medication
Camera and films
Torch with spare batteries (flashlight) we recommend headlights
Emergency money at least 200- 300 extra soles (USD$ 120)
Short pants , Plaster and bandages
Walking poles (with rubber tips) they can also be hired from us (they can be used on the Inca Trail if they have rubber tips)

Itinerary

DAY 01 : Cachora – Coca Masana – Playa Rosalina

We leave from Cusco early in the morning by private transport. Approx. at 5:30 we will arrive after 4 hours in Cachora (2,900m asl), a typical Andean town where we meet the rest of our trekking team. After a well deserved breakfast we start a two-hour trek to Capuliyoc (2,915m). On the way we get our first views of the Apurimac Valley stretching below and of the snow-capped peaks of Padrayoc and Wayna Cachora (5,482m). Afterwards we descend through the eastern slopes of the Andes to reach Coca Masana (2,330m). The temperature becomes higher and the flora and fauna begin to change. Finally we arrive at Playa Rosalina (Rosalina Beach) at 1,550m, where we camp beside the raging Apurimac River.

The night.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping 4 people tents for 2 people per tents
Maximum Altitude:3000 masl Capulichayoc
Minimum Altitude:1750 masl playa rosalina
Distance Travelled:16 Km
Approximate Walking Time:6 – 7 Hours

DAY 02 : Playa Rosalina – Choquequirao

Again we get up very early to start, after the breakfast, our walk to reach Maranpata or Choquequirao after middday.

We will reach the archaeological site and we get to know it step by step, the great ability and intelligence which had the people who constructed this vestige which makes us seeing again the glorious time of Inca empire.

Admiring the beauty and with our heads full of ideas, we observe dauntless the condors flying, which around 3 p.m. appear in area of Choquequirao when they fly to higher zones.
Later we take a route to Raqaypata where we camp and after dinner we pass the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Accommodation:Camping 2 people per tents
Maximum Altitude:3200 masl choquequirao
Minimum Altitude:1500 masl playa rosalina
Distance Travelled:15 km
Approximate Walking Time:7- 8 Hours

DAY 03 : Choquequirao All Day

This day we will dedicate ourselves exclusively to enjoy all the magic of history and splendor of Choquequirao, with a guided visit and time to know whole the site with its 8 sectors, like barns, houses temples and also we will observe the three levels of the excavated ruins of this late Inca-town, like the ruin in progress of excavation and finally unexplored areas that can tell us about this last refuge of the oppressed inca empire terraces. Again, like in the morning this afternoon we have the opportunity to enjoy the majestic flight of condors which with big luck will pass very close to you. In the afternoon we will return to our campsite to have our lunch and then rest and enjoy the quietness of Choquequirao.

DAY 04 : Choquequirao – Santa Rosa – Chiquisca

After having Breakfast we will begin to go down towards Santa Rosa, where the vegetation will become abundant and the weather hotter so then. We will continue to the sector of Chiquiska for camping.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Accommodation:Camping 2 people per tents
Maximum Altitude:3200 masl Choquequirao
Minimum Altitude:1750 masl chiquisca
Distance Travelled:17 km
Approximate Walking Time :8 -9 Hours

DAY 05: Chiquisca – Cachora – Ollantay tambo – Aguas Calientes

We will wake up with birds’ songs and beautiful scenery. We will walk back to Cachora. The trek time to Cachora will take 5 to 7 hours depending of your physical condition. In Cachora we will met our private van to take us to Train station Ollantay tambo to take train to aguas calientes arriving at 9 pm

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: hostel
Maximum Altitude:3000 masl Capulichayoc
Distance Travelled:15 km
Approximate Walking Time:7 – 8 Hour

DAY 06 : Aguas Calientes-Machupicchu-Ollamtaytambo -Cusco

Early after a good breakfast re-live the history and the mysterious world of the Incas, we take the first bus up at approx 05.30am and arrive at the ruins at 06.15am. This time is still not so crowded so we take advantage of the tranquility of this sacred site ; Guided Tour of Machupicchu. This enigmatic city is explored for Approx 2 hrs and their mysteries and archaeological information will be explained by your expert guide, ( you generally have approx 6 hrs extra free time but depends on train timetables in high season.) Option to climb to the Huayna Picchu mountain ( Please check previously with your guide. Sometimes guided tour is after Huaynapicchu.)

Machu Picchu is a magical, mysterious place that for nearly a century has intrigued archaeologists and visitors alike. Perched atop a steep, emerald green peak 8,000 feet high in the Andes in southern Peru, it is reachable only by a long road that zigzags up the slope from the roaring Urubamba river, or by hiking four days along the challenging Inca Trail. One can imagine the excitement when intrepid Yale professor-explorer Hiram Bingham, led there by local peasants in 1911, first glimpsed the jungle-invaded citadel abandoned by the Incas four centuries earlier.Bingham eagerly surveyed the site over the next five years, clearing away brush and identifying palaces, temples, and a celestial observatory from what is believed to have been a summer palace or ceremonial center for the first Incan emperor, Pachakuteq. Most of its gold and other treasures had been looted around the time of the Spanish conquest, but he unearthed thousands of artifacts and carted them off to New Haven to study. The Incas built their mysterious city here to be closer to the gods. It was placed so high in the clouds, that the conquering Spaniards never found or destroyed it. Visitors to Machu Picchu see well-preserved ruins hidden among the majestic Andes: palaces, baths, temples, tombs, sundials and farming terraces, along with llamas that roam among hundreds of gray granite houses.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation:Not Included,
Maximum Altitude:2,700 m / 8,856 ft
Minimum Altitude:2,400 m / 7,872 ft ( Machupicchu )
Distance Travelled:8 Km approx plus exploration of Machu Picchu
Approximate Walking Time:6-7 hours / Descent : 300 m

Photos

Choquequirao & Machu Picchu Trek 6 Days Unique

Gallery

FAQs

1.What is Choquequirao, and where is it located?

Choquequirao is an ancient Inca city often referred to as the “sister city” of Machu Picchu. It is located in the Vilcabamba mountain range in the Cusco region of Peru, at an altitude of around 3,050 meters (10,010 feet) above sea level. The site is known for its remote location and stunning archaeological remains.

2.How difficult is the hike to Choquequirao?

The hike to Choquequirao is considered challenging, requiring a good level of physical fitness. The trek typically takes 4 to 5 days round-trip and involves steep ascents and descents, crossing valleys and rivers. The journey is demanding but rewarding, offering breathtaking views of the Andes and a unique experience at the less-crowded archaeological site.

3.Is Choquequirao similar to Machu Picchu?

While Choquequirao shares some similarities with Machu Picchu, such as its Inca architecture and mountain location, it is less excavated and much less visited. This gives Choquequirao a more authentic and serene atmosphere. The site is also larger than Machu Picchu, with many of its structures still covered by jungle, adding to its sense of mystery.

4.What is the best time of year to visit Choquequirao?

The best time to visit Choquequirao is during the dry season, which runs from May to September. During these months, the weather is more predictable, with clear skies and less rain, making the trek safer and more enjoyable. The rainy season, from October to April, can make the trails muddy and more difficult to navigate.

5.What wildlife can I expect to see during the Choquequirao trek?

The trek to Choquequirao offers the chance to see a variety of wildlife, especially birds. You might spot Andean condors soaring above the valleys, as well as other bird species like hummingbirds and toucans. Mammals such as spectacled bears, deer, and foxes may also be seen, though they are more elusive. The diverse ecosystems you pass through, from cloud forests to high-altitude grasslands, are home to a rich array of flora and fauna.

2 Reviews

Sort By:RatingDate

Giovanni P.

Solo Traveller

Choquequirao is an incredible hidden gem! It’s like Machu Picchu without the crowds—remote, peaceful, and surrounded by stunning mountains. The trek is tough but totally worth it for the views and the sense of discovery. If you love adventure and history, this place is a must-see!

August 29, 2024

Carla M.