Choquequirao Trek 5 Days Hike to the Lost Sister of Machu Picchu
Cross the Apurímac Canyon, then camp inside the “Cradle of Gold”, an Inca citadel where only a third has been uncovered. Private transport, muleteers, a cook and meals on the trail are included.
Over five days, the Choquequirao Trek takes you down into the Apurímac Canyon and up to a vast Inca citadel where only a third has been uncovered. Like its sister Machu Picchu, it sits about 1,500 m above a river, and it was once an administrative and religious center. Along the way, you walk through Andean history, culture and nature on one of Peru’s most rewarding trekking routes, with far fewer visitors than Machu Picchu. Moreover, you can choose a shared or private service, and we tailor every trip to your needs and budget.
Incredible Apurímac Canyon scenery
Camp inside the Choquequirao complex
Led by a local expert team
Reach the “Cradle of Gold” on foot
Route and Itinerary
Five Days, One Trail
Interactive map of the Choquequirao trek route from Punta Carretera, including campsites and altitude changes.
Day 1 covers 7.7 km from Punta Carretera to Chiquisca. Next, you hike 12.7 km to Choquequirao on day 2. Day 3 is spent exploring the site without a long hike. Then day 4 adds 12.2 km back to Chiquisca, and the final stretch on day 5 to Punta Carretera is 7.7 km.
Times are approximate and vary with your pace and the weather.
A private drive to Capuliyoc, then a 3-hour walk down the Apurímac Canyon to camp at Chiquisca.
We leave Cusco or the Sacred Valley at 6:00 a.m. in a private vehicle and drive to the village of Cachora, and then on to Capuliyoc (Punta Carretera). There, our muleteers and their mules are waiting to carry the camping gear. After that, we walk for about 3 hours down the Apurímac Canyon to Chiquisca, where we set up camp for the night.
Highlights
Drive from Cusco or the Sacred Valley to Capuliyoc.
Meet our muleteers and their mules.
Walk about 3 hours down the Apurímac Canyon.
Camp at Chiquisca.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Altitude from the route’s GPS track. Distance measured along the trail.
Cross the Apurímac River, climb to Marampata for lunch, and reach the Choquequirao campsite.
After a hearty breakfast, we walk toward the Apurímac River and cross it by the bridge. Then the ascent begins, and it takes about 5 hours to reach Marampata, where we have lunch. Afterwards, a couple more hours bring us to Choquequirao, where we camp.
Highlights
Cross the Apurímac River by the bridge.
Climb for about 5 hours to Marampata.
Lunch at Marampata.
Camp at Choquequirao.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Altitude from the route’s GPS track. Distance measured along the trail.
A full day to explore the “Cradle of Gold” with your guide.
Today is all about Choquequirao. With your guide, we visit the archaeological complex, the sister citadel of Machu Picchu, which covers more than 8 hectares although only a third has been uncovered. Since there is no long hike today, we explore at a relaxed pace and enjoy the terraces, the plaza and the views over the canyon.
Highlights
Visit the Choquequirao archaeological complex with your guide.
Walk among the terraces and plazas of the “Cradle of Gold”.
Learn why Choquequirao is called the sister of Machu Picchu.
Descend from Choquequirao to Santa Rosa for lunch, then continue to the Chiquisca campsite.
After breakfast, we leave Choquequirao and start the descent to Santa Rosa, where we have lunch. From there, the trail keeps going down toward Chiquisca, and in total the day takes approximately 6 hours before we camp.
Highlights
Descend from Choquequirao to Santa Rosa.
Lunch at Santa Rosa.
Continue down to Chiquisca.
Camp at Chiquisca.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Altitude from the route’s GPS track. Distance measured along the trail.
A 3-hour climb to Capuliyoc, then a private drive back to Cusco.
After breakfast, we begin the 3-hour ascent to Capuliyoc. There, a private vehicle is waiting to take us back to Cusco, where we arrive at about 4:00 p.m.
Highlights
Start with breakfast at Chiquisca.
Climb for about 3 hours to Capuliyoc.
Return to Cusco in a private vehicle.
Arrive in Cusco at about 4:00 p.m.
Meals: Breakfast
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: 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners, plus afternoon snacks and snacks.
Transport
Private transport from your hotel: Cusco – Cachora – Capuliyoc – Cusco.
Departure from Cusco or the Sacred Valley at 6:00 a.m. on day 1; back in Cusco at about 4:00 p.m. on day 5.
What’s not included
Tips for the guide, cook and muleteers.
Breakfast on day 1 and lunch on day 5.
Optional extra: horse riding for the whole trek (not allowed on the descent). Ask us for pricing.
Optional extra: single tent (1 person per tent). Ask us for pricing.
Important Notes
Choose a shared or private service; we tailor every trek to your dates, needs and budget.
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 5 days you walk about 40 km, with steep descents into the Apurímac Canyon and long climbs back out. Day 1 is short, at 7.7 km in about 3 h, and it drops toward Chiquisca. Then day 2 is the toughest, with 12.7 km in 6–7 h as you cross the Apurímac River at about 1,460 m a.s.l. and climb to Choquequirao. Fortunately, day 3 is spent at the site without a long hike. On day 4 you walk 12.2 km in 5–6 h back to Chiquisca, and finally day 5 is a 3 h ascent over 7.7 km to Capuliyoc.
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. Besides, 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. Therefore, 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 3,043 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. Besides, 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. Moreover, our mules carry your large backpack, up to 6 kg. Finally, bring cash in soles and/or US$ (there are no ATMs in Cachora), also for tips.
Book as early as possible, especially if you plan to travel in the high season. In addition, the Choquequirao entrance ticket is included in the price.
Likewise, 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. Afterwards, 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 or the Sacred Valley at 6:00 a.m. in a private vehicle to Cachora and Capuliyoc, 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 and lunch on day 5 are not included, so have breakfast before departure and lunch after you return.
On day 5, after breakfast, you climb for about 3 h to Capuliyoc. 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. Moreover, 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. In addition, 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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