Choquequirao Trek 4 Days Hike to the Lost Sister of Machu Picchu
Cross the Apurímac Canyon and camp inside the “Cradle of Gold”, an Inca citadel where only a third has been uncovered. Private transport, muleteers, cook and all meals included.
The 4-Day Choquequirao Trek takes you down into the Apurímac Canyon and up to a vast Inca citadel where only a third has been uncovered. Walk through Andean history, culture and nature on one of Peru’s most rewarding trekking routes, with far fewer visitors than Machu Picchu.
Incredible Apurimac Cayon scenery
Camp inside the Choquequirao complex
Led by a local expert team
Reach the “Cradle of Gold” on foot
Route and Itinerary
Four Days, One Trail
Interactive map of the Choquequirao trek route from Punta Carretera, including campsites and altitude changes.
Day 1 covers 12.3 km from Punta Carretera to Santa Rosa Baja. Next, you hike 8.1 km to Choquequirao on day 2. Day 3 adds 12.2 km to Chiquisca, and the final stretch back to Punta Carretera is 7.7 km.
Times are approximate and vary with your pace and the weather.
Cusco – Punta Carretera – Chiquisca – Santa Rosa Baja
A steep descent into the Apurímac Canyon, then a climb to the camp at Santa Rosa Baja.
We leave Cusco at 5:00 a.m. and drive to Cachora and Punta Carretera, where our muleteers load the mules. From there the trail drops steeply through the Apurímac Canyon. After lunch at Chiquisca you cross the river and climb to the village of Santa Rosa Baja, where we camp.
Highlights
Descend through the Apurímac Canyon.
Lunch at Chiquisca.
Cross the Apurímac River.
Camp at the village of Santa Rosa Baja.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Altitude from the route’s GPS track. Distance measured along the trail.
From Santa Rosa to the Choquequirao archaeological complex, where you camp.
After breakfast you climb to Marampata. From there the trail eases, alternating gentle ascents and descents for about 2 h until you reach the campsite inside the Choquequirao complex. In the afternoon you visit the archaeological site with your guide.
Highlights
Climb to Marampata.
Camp inside the Choquequirao archaeological complex.
Visit the “Cradle of Gold” in the afternoon.
Reach the highest point of the trek, 3,046 m a.s.l.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Altitude from the route’s GPS track. Distance measured along the trail.
A long day: more of Choquequirao, then a descent and a climb to Chiquisca.
Very early, after breakfast, you visit another sector of Choquequirao. Then a 5-hour descent takes you to Playa Rosalina for lunch, and a 2-hour climb brings you to Chiquisca, where we camp. It is a long day, but a rewarding one.
Highlights
Visit another sector of Choquequirao.
Descend to Playa Rosalina for lunch.
Climb to Chiquisca.
Camp at Chiquisca.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Altitude from the route’s GPS track. Distance measured along the trail.
The day starts at 3:00 a.m. After a nutritious breakfast you take advantage of the morning energy for the last ascent, about 5 h to Punta Carretera. Our private vehicle is waiting to take you back to Cusco, where you arrive at about 4:00 p.m.
Highlights
Start at 3:00 a.m. with a nutritious breakfast.
The last ascent to Punta Carretera, about 5 h.
Return to Cusco in a private vehicle.
Arrive in Cusco at about 4:00 p.m.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Altitude from the route’s GPS track. Distance measured along the trail.
Your price
What’s Included
On the trail
Professional English / Spanish guide.
Choquequirao entrance ticket.
Muleteers and mules for all camping equipment.
Mules for your large backpack (maximum 6 kg).
Cook.
First aid kit.
Accommodation for all our staff.
Camp and meals
Double tent for 2 people (3-season).
Kitchen tent and dining tent with tables and chairs.
Sleeping pad.
Sleeping bag.
Trekking poles.
All meals along the route: 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, plus afternoon snacks and snacks.
Transport
Private transport from your hotel: Cusco – Punta Carretera in Cachora – Cusco.
Departure from Cusco at 5:00 a.m. on day 1; back in Cusco at about 4:00 p.m. on day 4.
What’s not included
Tips for the guide, cook and muleteers.
Breakfast on day 1.
Optional extra: horse riding, USD 150 for the entire trek (USD 125 per horse for 2 or more horses). Riding is not allowed on the descent.
Optional extra: single tent (1 person per tent), USD 60 per person.
Important Notes
Shared departures run every other Tuesday, with a minimum of 4 passengers.
Bring an ID document, and your student card if you are a student.
There are no ATMs in Cachora: bring cash in soles and/or US$.
The Choquequirao entrance ticket is included in the price.
Times are approximate.
FAQ
Difficulty and altitude
The Choquequirao trek is rated Medium-High. Over 4 days you walk about 40 km, with steep descents into the Apurímac Canyon and long climbs back out. Day 1 covers 12.3 km in about 7 h, dropping to the Apurímac River at about 1,460 m a.s.l. before a steep climb to Santa Rosa Baja. Day 3 is also long, at 12.2 km in about 7 h, and day 4 starts at 3:00 a.m. with the toughest ascent, about 5 h over 7.7 km.
Good physical condition is recommended. Also, our muleteers and mules carry the camping equipment and up to 6 kg of your large backpack, so you carry only a daypack. Your team travels with a first aid kit.
We recommend at least one full day in Cusco (3,399 m a.s.l.) or the Sacred Valley before you start, and more time if your schedule allows. As a result, your body has time to adjust before the trek. Take it easy on that first day and drink plenty of water. In fact, the trail starts high, at Punta Carretera (about 2,900 m a.s.l.), drops to about 1,460 m a.s.l. at the Apurímac River and then climbs again; the highest point is 3,046 m a.s.l., near Choquequirao. If you have a health condition, check with your doctor before you travel.
Packing and booking
Bring an ID document (and your student card if you are a student), comfortable waterproof trekking shoes, a rain jacket or poncho, warm clothes for the cold nights, a hat for sun and cold, sunscreen, insect repellent (minimum 20%), a flashlight or headlamp, a non-disposable water bottle with water for the first morning, snacks and any personal medication. A small daypack is enough for the day. In addition, we provide the double tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, trekking poles and filtered boiled drinking water. Our mules carry your large backpack, up to 6 kg. Bring cash in soles and/or US$ (there are no ATMs in Cachora), also for tips.
Book as early as possible, especially for the shared departures, which leave every other Tuesday with a minimum of 4 passengers. The Choquequirao entrance ticket is included in the price.
Private tours are available on any day of the season (April to December, and January depending on the rains), with no limits. The price depends on your group size, so request a quote.
Write to us on WhatsApp with your preferred dates and group size, and we will confirm availability and explain how to secure your booking. We will reply as soon as we can.
Before and after the trek
The day before the trek, your guide holds a briefing to go over the trek. On day 1 we leave Cusco at 5:00 a.m. in a private vehicle to Cachora and Punta Carretera, where our muleteers and mules are waiting.
Carry an ID document, and your student card if you are a student. Also, breakfast on day 1 is not included (lunch and dinner are), so have breakfast before departure.
On day 4 the wake-up is at 3:00 a.m. for the last ascent of about 5 h to Punta Carretera. Our private vehicle then takes you back to Cusco, where you arrive at about 4:00 p.m.
Vegetarian meals are available; vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free meals are available with advance notice. Times are approximate.
Pack light
What to bring
The bag you carry yourself while walking. Camping equipment is normally carried by the trekking crew.
Sun and rain
Hat
Sunscreen
Waterproof poncho
Jacket
Insect repellent (minimum 20%)
Daypack essentials
Water (non-disposable bottle)
Snacks
Toilet paper and wet wipes
Headlamp or flashlight
Documents and health
Documents (ID, and student card if you are a student)
Personal medication
Camera and power
Camera / phone
Power bank
Bring cash in soles and/or US$ (there are no ATMs in Cachora). Our mules carry your large backpack, up to 6 kg.
On the trail
Food and dietary needs
Vegetarian options are available on the Choquequirao trek. Vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free meals are available on request with advance notice. Please tell us about any food allergies when you book, so we can confirm what we can arrange for you.
Traveling responsibly
We buy local products whenever we can, to support the local economy. On the trail we take care to recycle, reuse and avoid single-use plastic.
Our muleteers and mules
On this trek our muleteers carry the camping equipment and your large backpack with pack mules. They work under the same conditions as our porters on other treks, except for the 20 kg weight limit that applies to porters:
Food: meals provided throughout the trek.
Equipment: uniform provided.
Animal care: load protectors on every mule.
Shelter: accommodation for all our staff.
That is why your large backpack is limited to 6 kg (13 lb).
Tripadvisor · 2026 Reviews
What Our Travelers Say
Recent Tripadvisor reviews of Santu trips in Peru, posted in 2026.
This is Santu’s overall rating, not a rating specific to the Choquequirao trek.
“The experience was incredible; we were 3 families and we loved it. The level of food, the tents, the guides. A ten.”
Edgardo C · Toledo, Spain Written 4 August 2026 · Translated from Spanish by Tripadvisor
“… Giuliana exceeded our expectations. She did an amazing job listening to our wants/needs, make recommendations and take care of all the steps along the way. We felt fully informed.”
“Giuliana who is an amazing travel agent who planned everything for Us and give us lots of great ideas and she came with an amazing package that it took care of all our needs …”
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