Trek to Choquequirao
5 Days Starting and ending in Cusco, Peru
Visiting: Cusco, Choquequirao
Tour operator:
Tour code:
26126
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 16
Age range:
You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable adventure with the "Trek to Choquequirao" tour in Peru. This small group, active adventure takes you off the beaten path to explore the stunning Choquequirao archaeological site, often referred to as the "other Machu Picchu." Begin your journey in Cusco, acclimatize to the altitude, and then set off on a challenging yet rewarding trek through the breathtaking Andes mountains. With local guides, cooks, and porters, you'll traverse the Apurimac River canyon, spot condors, and sleep under the stars at remote campsites. Enjoy guided tours of Choquequirao's ancient ruins, marvel at the cloud forest, and immerse yourself in the rich history and natural beauty of this hidden gem.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: hotel
Arrive at any time.
Arrive early and spend some time exploring the city. Meet the group at the welcome meeting, check for the start time on the welcome note at the hotel.
Additional Information: Please note that hot water shortages and power outages can be fairly common in Peru (even in upgraded hotels and private homes). We appreciate your patience and understanding that these occurrences are outside of our control.
Pre nights are recommended in order to acclimatize to the altitude and take advantage of the optional activities on offer in Cusco.
ACTIVITY: The adventure begins today. Feel free to explore, but make sure you're back in time to meet the group. Your G Representative will review the details of your tour.
Day 2: Cusco/Choquequirao Trek
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: Santa Rosa Campsite
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transfer from Cusco at 4am to San Pedro de Cachora where the group will eat breakfast. Travel 30 more minutes by car to the beginning of the trek in Capuliyoc. Walk as a group surrounded by breathtaking views of sweeping mountain scenery at every turn. Finish today's part of the trek at the Santa Rosa Campsite.
The lost city of Choquequirao was discovered hundreds of years ago, but it still feels as though you may be the first to discover it. Encroaching jungle still covers some of the stonework as only roughly 40 percent of these ruins have been excavated. The trek to this remote Incan city although challenging, is well worth the effort. Winding trails take you through the Apurimac River canyon with circling condors up above and views of the snow-capped Salkantay mountains making a breathtaking backdrop.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY: Embark on the first part of the hike, a scenic route with an incredible view of the Apurimac River. Camp for the night at Santa Rosa (1,900m - 2,850m/ 5,700 - 9.400 ft). The trek today is 18 km long and will take around 7 hours.
ACTIVITY: Enjoy G Adventures-supported handmade biodegradable soap products, for use on our treks. This G Adventures for Good project empowered local Cusqueña women to start their own business in order to reduce the environmental impact of treks in the region. Planeterra provided $10,000 of seed funding for two young entrepreneurs to register their biodegradable products in order to sell them to the tourism industry. "Esencia Andina" is now a successful business that produces biodegradable soaps, detergents, and natural products for travellers, guides, porters, and cooks on our treks.
Day 3: Choquequirao Trek
Location: Choquequirao
Accommodation Name: Marampata Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Eat breakfast as a group at the Santa Rosa Camp and then walk 2 hours to Marampata where the group will later camp for the night. From there continue trekking through the Apurimac River canyon on the way to Choquequirao. Spot condors as you make your way up into the cloud forest. In the afternoon, take a guided tour of the ruins and marvel at your historical surroundings. Return to Marampata Camp in the early evening.
ACTIVITY: Depart Santa Rosa and follow the switch back trail up to Marampata. After 2 hours the group will stop for lunch before continuing upwards to the stunning ruins of Choquequirao (3,000m/9,842 ft). When the sun swings around onto the mountain face, it can get warm during the climb. Today has a very early start to hike while it's cool. Make sure to dress in layers and prepare for a strenuous trekking day.
Minimum altitude: 1,550 m / 5,117 ft
Maximum altitude: 3,150m / 10,397ft
Distance: 14kms / 9 miles
Difficulty: moderate / difficult. This day is 8 hours of walking.
ACTIVITY: Enjoy a fully guided tour of the main square of Choquequirao and the surrounding terraces. The ‘other Machu Picchu,’ Choquequirao is built at the top of an almost untouched mountain in the province of La Convención. Ancient stone walls adorned with white stone llamas protect its two-leveled palaces and temples, systems of fountains, canals and aqueducts that fed the fantastic terraces farmed by the Inca during the Pachacutec government (XV century). Visit the colcas, used for agricultural storage and learn about the cultivation practices during the Incan Empire.
Day 4: Choquequirao Trek
Location: Choquequirao
Accommodation Name: Chiquisca Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy an early breakfast in Marampata. Then, the group will begin the return walk to Chiquisca. Once here, have some lunch together and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure.
ACTIVITY: Leave Marampata behind and head down to Chiquisca (1,800m/5,900 ft), the camp for the night.
Minimum Altitude: 1,550m / 5,117ft
Maximum Altitude: 1,990m / 6,270ft
Distance: 9 kms / 5.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate / Hard. This day is 7 hours of walking.
Day 5: Choquequirao Trek/Cusco
Location: Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
The group will have an early departure from Chiquisca. Walk back to San Pedro de Cachora and enjoy lunch together before transferring back to Cusco. The tour will end upon arrival.
ACTIVITY: Walk back to San Pedro de Cachora today and have lunch before transferring to Aguas Calientes.
Distance: 7kms / 4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate / Hard. This day is 3 hours of walking.
TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
ACTIVITY: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
What's Included
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Handmade Biodegradable Soap Products
Your G for Good Moment: Handmade Biodegradable Soap Products
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Trek to Choquequirao
Trek to Choquequirao with local guide, cooks, and porters (4 days)
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Guided Tours
2 guided tours of Choquequirao archaeological site
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Transport
All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
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Accommodation
Hotels (1 night), camping (3 nights)
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Meals
4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
What's Not Included
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Hot Water and Power
Hot water shortages and power outages can be fairly common in Peru (even in upgraded hotels and private homes).
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Pre Nights
Pre nights are recommended in order to acclimatize to the altitude and take advantage of the optional activities on offer in Cusco.
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Solo Traveller Supplement
Solo travellers on some Independent trips must pay the single trip price.
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Meals Not Included
Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat.
Accommodation
Hotels (1 nt), camping (3 nts).
Transport
Private van and hiking.
Solo Travellers
We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Meals
Eating is a big part of traveling. G Adventures understands the importance of breakfast to start your day, we strive to include a basic breakfast wherever possible. A typical breakfast may include toast, coffee and tea, however this may vary depending on the city. Should breakfast not be included, your CEO can suggest some local options.
Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. While trekking in remote regions etc. food is included, plentiful and made of fresh local ingredients.
For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.
Mode of Transport
Private van and hiking.
Meals Included
4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
Group Size
Max 16, Avg 8
Minimum Age
You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.
Group Leader
All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders, a G Adventures representative, or an expedition team. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.
About Accommodation
Please note that hot water shortages and power outages can be fairly common in Peru (even in upgraded hotels and private homes). We appreciate your patience and understanding that these occurrences are outside of our control.
What to Take
Most people automatically assume that the weather is hot in South America, but because of the higher altitude in the Andes, the temperature can feel quite cold, especially at night. We recommend the use of a duffel bag or backpack, whichever is easiest for you to carry. A good size daypack is also essential.
Spending Money
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of accommodation is provided during the trek?
The accommodation includes hotels for 1 night and camping for 3 nights.
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What is the maximum group size for this trek?
The maximum group size for this trek is 16 people, with an average group size of 8.
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Are meals included during the trek?
Yes, 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners are included during the trek.
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What kind of transport is used during the trek?
The transport includes private vans and hiking.
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Is there a single supplement for solo travelers?
No, solo travelers are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip, and there is no single supplement.
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What should I expect in terms of meals while trekking?
While trekking in remote regions, food is included, plentiful, and made of fresh local ingredients. Breakfasts typically include items like toast, coffee, and tea, but this may vary depending on the location.
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What is the difficulty level of the trek?
The trek includes moderate to hard difficulty levels, with some days involving up to 8 hours of walking and significant altitude changes.
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What kind of activities are included during the trek?
Activities include guided tours of the Choquequirao archaeological site, trekking through the Apurimac River canyon, and spotting condors in the cloud forest.
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What is the altitude range during the trek?
The altitude ranges from a minimum of 1,550 meters (5,117 feet) to a maximum of 3,150 meters (10,397 feet).
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What is the environmental impact of the trek?
The trek includes the use of handmade biodegradable soap products, which are part of a G Adventures for Good project aimed at reducing the environmental impact of treks in the region.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
G Adventures was established in 1990
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Most of our trips do not have a single supplement. This means that the accommodation is on a twin share basis and, if travelling on your own, you will be sharing a room with another G Adventures traveller of the same sex. Some tours have an optional single supplement. An optional service that may be available is called "My Own Room". This service allows solo travellers to request their own room.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
It's extremely difficult if not impossible to join a tour after it has begun. It is possible to leave a tour early however you will be responsible for your own arrangements from the moment you decide to leave the tour. You would also be responsible for all costs associated with joining a tour late or leaving one early. If you feel this may be necessary, please consult us before you book.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
https://www.gadventures.com/travel-with-confidence/
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
https://www.gadventures.com/about-us/core-values/
Reviews of this operator
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Free Date Changes
G Adventures allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
G Adventures requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of g adventures charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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