Choquequirao Trek 5 Days Camina a la hermana perdida de 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
Acampa dentro del complejo de Choquequirao
Guiado por un equipo local experto
Llega a la “Cuna de Oro” a pie
Ruta e itinerario
Five Days, One Trail
Mapa interactivo de la ruta del trek a Choquequirao desde Punta Carretera, con campamentos y cambios de altitud.
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.
Los tiempos son aproximados y varían según tu ritmo y el clima.
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.
Puntos destacados
Drive from Cusco or the Sacred Valley to Capuliyoc.
Meet our muleteers and their mules.
Walk about 3 hours down the Apurímac Canyon.
Acampa en Chiquisca.
Comidas: Almuerzo, Cena
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.
Puntos destacados
Cross the Apurímac River by the bridge.
Climb for about 5 hours to Marampata.
Lunch at Marampata.
Camp at Choquequirao.
Comidas: Desayuno, Almuerzo, Cena
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.
Puntos destacados
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.
Puntos destacados
Descend from Choquequirao to Santa Rosa.
Lunch at Santa Rosa.
Continue down to Chiquisca.
Acampa en Chiquisca.
Comidas: Desayuno, Almuerzo, Cena
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.
Puntos destacados
Start with breakfast at Chiquisca.
Climb for about 3 hours to Capuliyoc.
Regreso a Cusco en vehículo privado.
Llegada a Cusco hacia las 4:00 p. m.
Comidas: Desayuno
Altitude from the route’s GPS track. Distance measured along the trail.
Tu precio
What’s Included
En el camino
Guía profesional en inglés / español.
Entrada a Choquequirao.
Arrieros y mulas para todo el equipo de camping.
Mulas para tu mochila grande (máximo 6 kg).
Cocinero.
Botiquín de primeros auxilios.
Alojamiento para todo nuestro personal.
Campamento y comidas
Carpa doble para 2 personas (3 estaciones).
Carpa cocina y carpa comedor con mesas y sillas.
Colchoneta.
Bolsa de dormir.
Bastones de trekking.
All meals along the route: 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners, plus afternoon snacks and snacks.
Transporte
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.
Qué no incluye
Propinas para el guía, el cocinero y los arrieros.
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.
Notas importantes
Choose a shared or private service; we tailor every trek to your dates, needs and budget.
Lleva tu documento de identidad, y tu carné de estudiante si eres estudiante.
No hay cajeros automáticos en Cachora: lleva efectivo en soles o US$.
La entrada a Choquequirao está incluida en el precio.
Los tiempos son aproximados.
Preguntas frecuentes
Dificultad y altitud
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.
Equipaje y reservas
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.
Antes y después del 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.
Hay comidas vegetarianas; las comidas veganas, sin gluten y sin lácteos están disponibles con aviso previo. Los tiempos son aproximados.
Viaja ligero
Qué llevar
La mochila que llevas contigo mientras caminas. El equipo de camping lo carga normalmente el equipo de trekking.
Sol y lluvia
Sombrero
Protector solar
Poncho impermeable
Chaqueta
Repelente de insectos (mínimo 20%)
Esenciales de la mochila de día
Agua (botella no desechable)
Snacks
Papel higiénico y toallitas húmedas
Linterna frontal o linterna
Documentos y salud
Documentos (documento de identidad, y carné de estudiante si eres estudiante)
Medicación personal
Cámara y energía
Cámara / teléfono
Batería externa
Lleva efectivo en soles o US$ (no hay cajeros automáticos en Cachora). Nuestras mulas llevan tu mochila grande, de hasta 6 kg.
En el camino
Alimentación y necesidades dietéticas
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.
Viajar con responsabilidad
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.
Nuestros arrieros y mulas
En este trek nuestros arrieros llevan el equipo de camping y tu mochila grande con mulas de carga. Trabajan en las mismas condiciones que nuestros porteadores de otros treks, salvo el límite de 20 kg que se aplica a los porteadores:
Alimentación: comidas durante todo el trek.
Equipo: uniforme incluido.
Cuidado de los animales: protectores de carga en cada mula.
Alojamiento: Alojamiento para todo nuestro personal.
Por eso tu mochila grande está limitada a 6 kg (13 lb).
Tripadvisor · Opiniones 2026
Lo que dicen nuestros viajeros
Opiniones recientes en Tripadvisor sobre viajes de Santu en Perú, publicadas en 2026.
Esta es la calificación general de Santu, no una calificación específica del trek a Choquequirao.
“La experiencia fue increíble; éramos 3 familias y nos encantó. El nivel de la comida, las carpas, los guías. Un diez.”
Edgardo C · Toledo, España Escrita el 4 de agosto de 2026 · Traducida del español por Tripadvisor
“… Giuliana superó nuestras expectativas. Hizo un trabajo increíble escuchando lo que queríamos y necesitábamos, dándonos recomendaciones y encargándose de todos los pasos del camino. Nos sentimos totalmente informados.”
Carrie G · Viaje en familia Escrita el 16 de julio de 2026
“Giuliana es una agente de viajes increíble que lo planificó todo por nosotros y nos dio muchas ideas geniales, y llegó con un paquete extraordinario que cubrió todas nuestras necesidades …”
Kuro G · Burlington, Canadá Escrita el 9 de julio de 2026
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