Explore the Choquequirao Trek
Experience the incredible flight of the Andean condor
Choquequirao is an Inca citadel, and is just as impressive as the world famous Machu Picchu. It’s commonly known as the ‘Lost City of the Incas’ because it’s so remote and difficult to get to. This means that it has very few visitors on a daily basis and is a great alternative if you don’t like large crowds.
Only a part of the site is uncovered at the moment and is huge overall. You get to enjoy the immense citadel in peace with just the sounds of nature to accompany you. Similarly to Machu Picchu, it formed a link between the Andean and Amazonian regions.
This archaeological site was hugely important in its time and it served as one of the last resting places of the Incas before the Spanish invasion.
Choquequirao is an Inca citadel, and is just as impressive as the world famous Machu Picchu. It’s commonly known as the ‘Lost City of the Incas’ because it’s so remote and difficult to get to. This means that it has very few visitors on a daily basis and is a great alternative if you don’t like large crowds.
Locally Owned & Operated
We are the operators! We are a licensed Tour Company. There is no middleman on a trip with us!
Expert Local Guides
Chosen for great knowledge of their country, and a passion to make your trip extraordinary.
Fantastic Meals
Our owner and all of our staff are local to Peru and care about its environment, people and culture.
Eco-Friendly Tours
Education and conservation are our passion. We aim to create lifelong ambassadors for the protection of all wilderness areas.
Small Groups
Average groups of 10; solos, couples and friends, united by a desire for authentic experiences.
Our Best Seller
If you have a love for adventure and enjoying some of the best hiking routes in the world, our classic Choquequirao trek 5 Days is for you. It combines the most exciting trekking trails with the most incredible scenery you can imagine. Join us on your own, in a couple, or as part of a group.
Our Best Seller
The Classic Choquequirao Trek
How does heading out on an adventure to a place just as incredible as Machu Picchu sounds, but with fewer tourists? Our Classic Choquequirao Trek is just that. Join us on this epic journey to one of the most amazing Inca complexes in existence.
How does heading out on an adventure to a place just as incredible as Machu Picchu sounds, but with fewer tourists? Our Classic Choquequirao Trek is just that. Join us on this epic journey to one of the most amazing Inca complexes in existence.
The name Choquequirao means “Cradle of Gold” in the Quechua language. This spectacular archaeological site is located above the furious Apurímac River and is surrounded by towering glacier peaks. Very few tourists visit it because it's not as well-known as Machu Picchu, but it's 3 times bigger! It's said to have been one of the last refuges of the Incas who tried to resist the Spanish invasion. Later, Choquequirao was abandoned, and the dense vegetation of the cloud forest ended up covering it and hiding it from civilization.
Choquequirao Trek Packages
To visit Choquequirao there are a few different treks, ranging from 4 days to 8. You can opt to visit only Choquequirao or combine it with a visit to Machu Picchu. Depending on your fitness and time available in Cusco, you can choose the right option for you.
The Best Adventure Combinations in Peru
Every journey we design is carefully curated and completely bespoke, fine-tuned to your passions and interests. Experience jaw-dropping natural wonders, mysterious ancient civilisations, diverse indigenous culture and unique wildlife with some of the best trek combinations in Peru and South America.
Choquequirao & Machu Picchu 9 Days
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Camps Accommodation -
![Trek Highest Altitude]()
4,650 m / 15,256 ft Max. altitude -
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Challenging to Strenuous Difficulty
You’ve all heard of Machu Picchu, but what about Choquequirao? It’s just as spectacular but far less visited. Discover the two great architectural wonders of the Incas on a 9-day trek that’ll challenge your physical and mental limits to renew yourself completely. If you're addicted to physical activity, you love nature, and you’re passionate about the history of ancient civilizations, this route is perfect for you.
You’ve all heard of Machu Picchu, but what about Choquequirao? It’s just as spectacular but far less visited. Discover the two great architectural wonders of the Incas on a 9-day trek that’ll challenge your physical and mental limits to renew yourself completely. If you're addicted to physical activity, you love nature, and you’re passionate about the history of ancient civilizations, this route is perfect for you.
Due to the archaeological importance of Choquequirao and Machu Picchu—the largest and most well-preserved Inca sites that exist in all of South America—and the impressive natural beauty of this part of the world, this route was chosen in 2015 by National Geographic as one of the most beautiful in the entire world. The difficulty of this excursion is comparable to the trek to Mount Everest base camp, so it’s not for the faint-hearted. But, if you’re up for the challenge, we recommend it as the most epic trek in Peru.
Why Travel With Us?
We are dedicated and commited to our clients, to the environment, and to our fellow compatriots
Our Horsemen & Horses
All of our horsemen are from Mollepata, which is the starting point of our trek. We make sure to employ responsible people that are serious about what they do. This way, they do an excellent job at transporting everyone’s items along the trail with mules and are in charge of getting your gear safely to each campsite where it will be waiting for you.
Our horsemen are very content with us receiving a good salary and benefits at the end of each season. Salkantay Trekking provides all the mountain gear and uniforms to the horsemen. These guys can be of great help in an emergency because they know the area and trail like the back of their hand.
In addition to the trekking and camping equipment, each horse carries 40kg of the trekkers’ belongings. You’ll have 7kg of allowance for your gear.
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Knowledgeable Tour Guides
Salkantay Trekking relies on an extensive network of highly trained guides and expert ambassadors as a premise to guarantee excellence in our services. We are fully conscious that an excellent guide is key to making your trip a memorable experience, which is why we are extremely demanding when recruiting and regularly training our guides.
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Our Chefs
In all of our trekking trips, the chef ensures high-quality meals on time, an adequate diet both in its quality and quantity. The secret lies in the careful selection of our team of chefs, whose top-quality restaurant background, creativity and passion for their jobs provide an unequalled touch to all of our meals. We do not have set menus since we wish to give our chefs the chance to create, innovate and surprise our clients through delicious dishes in every trip.
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The Best Trekking Food in Peru
We do not have set menus since we wish to give our chefs the chance to create, innovate and surprise our clients through delicious dishes in every trip. We provide general guidelines, guest information on dietary restrictions and preferences and, most especially, the tools for a constant updating of our cooks’ knowledge in both Peruvian and International cuisine through specialization courses and training.
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The Best Camping Equipment
Enjoy a good night’s sleep in our spacious Eureka tent. All our tents are built to be four man tents, but you will only have to share with one other trekker. This leaves a lot of room to spread out comfortably and store your duffels. They are an A-frame design, with entrances on both sides of the tent. They also include a vestibule in front, giving you some extra outdoor space to leave your boots and walking sticks. We are proud to be the only company to use these tents.
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Find the Perfect Destination in Peru
With astonishingly varied landscapes, stunning scenery, compelling history, and a legacy of fascinating cultures, there is truly something for everyone. Our expeditions in Peru are designed to showcase all that this country has to offer.
Our expeditions in Peru are designed to showcase all that this country has to offer.
Choquequirao
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Rainbow Mountain
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Salkantay
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Ausangate
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Lares
View MoreChoquequirao Trek Travel Guide
Before You Go, What You Should Know
We hope that this Peru & Choquequirao Trek travel guide will serve as a reference for you to prepare for and undertake an exceptional and seamless journey through this “Empire of Hidden Treasures.”
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Highlights
- Enjoy the pure beauty of this Inca archaeological complex.
- Discover many secrets of the Incas and learn a lot of the important history.
- See many species of exotic animals and plants as well as coca leaf plantations.
- Feel free as you walk through the Peruvian nature and soak in the fresh Andean air.
- Experience the incredible flight of the Andean condor.
- Witness the different climates of the Andes and the jungle.
- Observe small villages on the way and see how people live in remote areas of Peru.
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Tours
To visit Choquequirao there are a few different treks, ranging from 4 days to 8. You can opt to visit only Choquequirao or combine it with a visit to Machu Picchu. Depending on your fitness and time available in Cusco, you can choose the right option for you.
Choquequirao Trek Short 4 Days
The Classic Choquequirao Trek 5 Days
Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek 7 Days
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What to Expect on the Trail
Knowing what to expect from the trek in advance can be a great help when getting ready for your trip or deciding to book it in the first place. Read on for what to expect on the Choquequirao trek.
It’s a Challenge
This is one of the more challenging treks in Peru, so you need to be prepared. Different altitudes and terrains mean that parts are difficult. In regards to distance, this isn’t very far at all compared to other trails, but the gradient is tough.
Feeling the Altitude
Like with any trek in Cusco, we recommend you spend 2-3 days in the city beforehand. If not, you’ll find that the altitude affects you much more on the trail. You might experience lightheadedness or headache as you trek, but this is normal.
Cold Nights
You’ll be camping along the trail and the nights in the Andean mountains can get very chilly. You’ll need a warm sleeping bag and clothing to keep you cozy.
Warm Days and Insects
In contrast to the nights, the days are very warm. You’re going to be hiking much closer to the sun as you’ll be at high altitude, so the UV rays can do a lot more damage. There are also plenty of bugs along the way, so repellent is a must.
Basic Supplies and Amenities
Being far away from the city means that you need to go back to basics. You’ll find small stands along the way to buy snacks and water, but it’s better to be prepared. Toilet paper is a must and don’t expect luxury bathrooms.
Motion Sickness
The road to get to the trek is windy and makes you feel a little motion sick. Just prepare beforehand and you’ll be ok. Many people like to sleep along the way to avoid it altogether. This is usually doable as the ride is early in the morning.
Beautiful Surroundings
There’s no doubt that a trek through the Andes is stunning. The scenery that surrounds you is beautiful and you’ll see some lovely flora and fauna. The rolling hills provide for one of the best landscapes you’ll see in your lifetime.
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Where is Choquequirao?
The ruins sit high in the mountains surrounding the city of Cusco. It’s far away from Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley and isn’t visited by many. It’s in the Vilcabamba mountain range and sits at 3,050 masl. It’s in the Santa Teresa district of La Convencion.
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Difficulty Level
This is a challenging trek and one of the toughest in Cusco. It isn’t a long-distance hike, but you’ll be climbing steep trails and the days will be hot while the nights are cold. You’ll find that the elevation changes along with the climate making you experience hot and cold changes quickly. There are easier sections, but the trek is challenging overall.
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Choquequirao Packing List
Getting your things together for a trek can prove challenging, especially when you’re going to be passing through different climates and altitudes. To help you out, we’ve put together the ultimate packing list to make sure you have everything you need.
- Hiking boots
- Long pants/leggings
- Thermal layer for underneath your clothes
- Long sleeved t shirts
- Hiking socks
- Clean underwear for each day
- Waterproof jacket/poncho
- Sandals for campsites
- Sleeping bag
- Walking poles
- Headlamp/flashlight
- Warm hat and gloves
- Toilet paper
- Wet wipes and packing list
- Protection from the sun; sun hat, sunglasses, factor 50 or more sunscreen
- Strong insect repellent
- Good quality camera or phone with camera
- Charger pack
- Medicine and first aid supplies
- Snacks
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Choquequirao Tips
Take a look at the following tips to help you prepare.
- Go on hikes back home before you come to mentally and physically prepare your body for the tough trek to come.
- Create a daily routine of stretches and exercises to get your fitness level up.
- Spend 2-3 days in Cusco before you set off on the trek to acclimate.
- When you arrive in Cusco, drink as little or no alcohol as possible. The alcohol will dehydrate you and make hiking at high altitude a lot more difficult and make you more susceptible to sickness.
- Due to the tough terrain and steep climbs, walking poles are recommended.
- A quality sleeping bag is a great idea. You need it to be able to withstand cold temperatures at night.
- Keep up your water intake. It’s easy to become dehydrated at high altitude and with the strong sun beating down on you.
- Go at your own pace. There’s no problem if you walk faster or slower than the rest of your group. There’s no need to over-exert yourself.
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Recommendations
Finally, to make sure you have everything you need and are as well prepared as can be, here are some recommendations.
Book Ahead of Time
Even though the Choquequirao trek is a quiet route and doesn’t tend to sell out, it’s a good idea to book in advance. This is because your tour operator will need time to prepare and organise the trip. Hoping for a last minute spot may mean you’re disappointed when you get here.
Use the Packing List
You really need to make sure you thoroughly check the packing list and have everything you need. Once you leave the city there’ll be no turning back and nowhere to top up on forgotten items. You don’t want to be freezing at night because you forgot the right clothing.
Check Out When to Travel
The weather in Cusco doesn’t change too much during the year, but November to April is the rainy season. This can make the trail slippery and a little more dangerous. May to October is the dry season, however this makes it colder at night.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Most operators won’t let you travel without it. If you were to suffer an injury and didn’t have coverage, you’ll find that medical care is very costly in Cusco.
Stock Up on Extra Snacks
Although the company you travel with may give you daily snacks, it may not be enough. We recommend taking some extras for when you need a boost of energy, like nuts, fried fruits, or chocolate.
Prepare for the Altitude
As mentioned before, you’ll be heading up to high altitude. You’ll need to plan for this by coming to Cusco 2-3 days before the trek. You can talk to your doctor back home about pills to help. You can also make use of coca tea and candies, which can really help.
Be Ready to Go Back to Basics
Remember that there’ll be no showers or proper toilets along the way. This is why we recommend toilet paper, wet wipes, and hand sanitiser.
Quality Service
For us quality of experience is only second to safety
We are committed to providing world-class trekking experiences for our guests that go way above and beyond the mass-produced tours so common today.
Our group of 10 friends had a fantastic experience on the 5 day Choquequirao trek. Even though we are all experienced hikers and backpackers, it proved to be a very challenging trek. Angelo, our lead guide was excellent. His knowledge, care, and true passion for the area was apparent throughout. The food was absolutely amazing! This may be the first hiking trek where I have gained weight. All of the staff went above and beyond. A wildfire occurred in the area towards the end of our trek, but the staff managed the situation with expertise and we always felt our safety was the top priority. With Angelo’s expert guidance we were able to avoid the fire and enjoy the end of our trek. Our entire group had an amazing experience!
CHRISMAUGUST
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