Fantastic holiday, a real adventure. We saw sights I had only dreamed about. Every day there was something new to wonder at, from…
Anonymous | Traveled in Mayhe Choquequirao Trek 5 Days is for travelers who want time, silence, and a real mountain approach to one of the most impressive Inca sites in Peru. This is not a quick hike to a viewpoint. It is a full Andean journey through the Apurimac Canyon, steep trails, warm valleys, rural homes, cloud forest vegetation, and one of the least crowded archaeological sites linked to the Inca world.
Choquequirao means “Cradle of Gold.” It stands high above the Apurimac River, surrounded by rugged slopes and distant snow-covered peaks. Often compared with Machu Picchu, this site feels different because you must reach it on foot. That effort keeps the crowds away and makes the arrival feel more personal.
The 5-day version gives you something valuable: a full day at Choquequirao. You do not need to hurry through the temples, terraces, palaces, ceremonial spaces, and llama sector. You get time to understand the place, walk slowly, listen to the guide, and let the scale of the site sink in.
With Machu Picchu Peru Lovers, this trek is planned with small groups, local mountain staff, proper camping logistics, strong meals, and a pace designed for a demanding but deeply rewarding route.
Your guide picks you up from your hotel in Cusco early in the morning. From there, you travel by private tourist van toward Capuliyoc, the starting point of the trek.
The drive takes you through rural valleys, small villages, and mountain roads with views of the surrounding Andes. At Capuliyoc, you meet the horsemen, organize the equipment, and prepare your daypack for the trail.
From this viewpoint, you can see the Apurimac Canyon, distant snow-covered mountains, and, depending on visibility, the general area where Choquequirao sits hidden among the slopes. The descent begins from Capuliyoc toward Chiquisca, where lunch is served.
After lunch, the trail continues downhill toward Playa Rosalinas, the first campsite. The path is mostly dirt and stone, with dry exposed sections. As you descend, the temperature often becomes warmer and the canyon feels more enclosed.
At camp, hot drinks and appetizers will be waiting. Your tents will already be set up before dinner.
Day Highlight: Begin the trek with a strong descent into the Apurimac Canyon and the first views of the route toward Choquequirao.
Technical Details
After breakfast, you cross the bridge and begin a long uphill section toward Marampata. This climb is one of the most demanding parts of the route. The trail rises steadily from the canyon floor, with switchbacks, dirt paths, rocky areas, and warm exposed sections.
The climb can feel slow, especially under the sun. This is where a steady rhythm matters. Your guide will help manage breaks, hydration, and pace.
Once you reach Marampata, lunch is served with views toward the Choquequirao area. After lunch, you continue walking toward the campsite located close to the archaeological site. This location is one of the best parts of the 5-day route because it allows you to stay near the ruins instead of rushing back down.
In the late afternoon, you may see condors riding the canyon winds. The evening feels quieter here, with the site and mountains close by.
Day Highlight: Climb from the canyon floor to Marampata and camp near Choquequirao for a slower, deeper visit the next day.
Technical Details
This day is the main reason to choose the 5-day version.
After breakfast, you spend the day visiting Choquequirao, one of the most important and least crowded Inca archaeological sites in the region. The site is large, and many areas still feel raw because restoration work has revealed only part of the complex.
Your guide leads you through the main sectors, including temples, terraces, palaces, ceremonial areas, water channels, plazas, and the famous llama sector. The visit is not only about seeing stone walls. It is about understanding why the Incas built in such a difficult location, how they controlled the slopes, and why this place became linked to resistance after the Spanish invasion.
The full-day visit gives you time to move without pressure. You can pause, take photos, ask questions, and look across the Apurimac Canyon from different angles. The silence around the site makes the place feel larger.
After the guided visit, you return to the same campsite. Hot drinks and appetizers are served before dinner. This is your last night near Choquequirao.
Day Highlight: Spend a full day at Choquequirao, with enough time to walk through its main sectors and understand its scale.
Technical Details
After breakfast, you begin the return route. The trail first takes you back toward Marampata, with views of the Apurimac Canyon along the way. Your guide may point out plants, birds, waterfalls, and canyon details that are easy to miss during the climb in.
From Marampata, you begin a long and steep downhill hike toward La Playa / Playa Rosalinas. This descent can be tough on the knees, so trekking poles are strongly recommended. The ground includes loose dirt, stone sections, and exposed switchbacks.
Halfway down, there may be time to stop for fresh fruit grown in the area. Cactus fruit is one of the local products sometimes found along this section.
After reaching La Playa for lunch, the trail continues uphill for around two more hours toward Chiquisca Camp, located near a local family home. This part can feel demanding because the climb comes after a long descent and lunch.
Depending on conditions, this area may offer sightings of condors, hummingbirds, and other wildlife.
Day Highlight: Return through the canyon, passing fruit-growing zones, waterfalls in the distance, and the strong uphill finish to Chiquisca.
Technical Details
After an early breakfast, you prepare for the final climb of the trek. The trail rises steadily from Chiquisca toward Capuliyoc, where the walking section ends.
This uphill hike can feel hard because your legs already carry four days of effort. The path includes dirt, stone, and exposed sections. The canyon views behind you become wider as you climb, giving a final look at the route you completed.
At the end of the trek, you share a final lunch with your guide, cook, horsemen, and support team. After saying goodbye to the trekking crew, you return to Cusco by private tourist van.
Arrival in Cusco is expected in the evening, depending on traffic and road conditions.
Day Highlight: Complete the final climb out of the Apurimac Canyon and return to Cusco after five demanding days on the trail.
Technical Details
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From $577 USD per person
The Choquequirao Trek 5 Days is available on the date that works best for you, with a minimum of 2 hikers.
The group service is a strong option for travelers who want to share the route with people from different countries while keeping the cost lower than a private trek.
Group Service Characteristics
If you need to bring professional photo or video gear, medical devices, special food products, mobility aids, or other personal support items, please inform our reservations team before booking.
Travelers with pets, wheelchairs, crutches, or serious mobility limitations must contact us before booking so we can evaluate whether this route is suitable.
Pick-up is arranged from your hotel in Cusco on the morning of the trek. Please send your hotel name and address in advance so our operations team can organize the departure properly.
For private services, pick-up from certain Sacred Valley locations may be evaluated upon request, depending on logistics.
During the trek, your main luggage can usually be stored at your hotel in Cusco. You may also ask our team about storage options at our office.
Only bring what you need for the trek. Your duffel bag has a strict 7 kg limit, and the pack horses move ahead of the group. You will not have access to your duffel during the walking day.
A deposit is required to confirm the reservation and organize guide assignment, transport, entrance logistics, horses, camping equipment, meals, and operational planning.
The remaining balance can be paid before departure according to the payment method confirmed with our reservations team.
Cash payments in Cusco may help avoid extra card processing fees. Online or card payments may include service fees depending on the payment platform.
Deposits are not refundable once operational arrangements are confirmed, because part of the payment is used to secure staff, equipment, transport, and route logistics.
The Choquequirao Trek 5 Days can usually be arranged with reasonable notice because it does not require Machu Picchu entrance tickets or Inca Trail permits.
However, availability depends on entrance access, guide schedules, transport, horses, camping equipment, weather, and current trail conditions.
For last-minute bookings within 24 hours, please contact our reservations team directly by phone. We will do our best to arrange the trip, but confirmation depends on real operational availability.
Strikes and demonstrations are common in Peru and may affect transport, roads, and access routes.
If this happens, our operations team will try to keep your trip as close as possible to the original plan. In some cases, this may require leaving earlier, changing transport, or adjusting the itinerary.
Tours may also be canceled if safety conditions are not suitable. Any change or cancellation will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is always the priority.
Please pay attention to your personal items during transport, meals, camps, rest stops, and guided visits.
You are responsible for your belongings during the tour. Always check your seat, tent, dining area, and daypack before leaving any place.
This is a formidable and challenging trek with steep descents, strong climbs, warm canyon sections, and several long walking days.
It is not recommended for travelers with serious heart conditions, severe knee problems, uncontrolled blood pressure, serious respiratory issues, or major mobility limitations unless approved by a doctor.
Older travelers or travelers with medical concerns should speak with their doctor before booking.
You do not need to be an athlete, but you should be in good physical condition and used to walking for several hours. Training before the trek will make the route safer and more rewarding.
The weather changes by altitude and canyon location. Mornings can be cool, lower sections can become hot, and nights at camp may feel cold.
Rain can make the trail muddy or slippery, especially on descents. Good hiking boots, sun protection, rain gear, and trekking poles are highly recommended.
The Choquequirao Trek 5 Days is the better option for travelers who want more time at the archaeological site and a slower, stronger connection with the route.
The trail is demanding. The canyon is hot in places. The climbs are serious. The descents test your knees. But that is exactly why Choquequirao still feels different.
With Machu Picchu Peru Lovers, you travel with a local team focused on safety, service, small groups, proper camping logistics, and respect for the communities along the trail.
If you have a question about this or any other trip, our travel experts are ready to help with dates, availability and private options.
