When this magnificent city was rediscovered, nobody visited because we already had Machu Picchu. A historian guessed that it was the Golden City, and later Choquequirao was proven to be the last refuge before the Peruvian coast.
The location of the city is close to the gods (sky, sun, moon, star, and mountain). This spectacular trek will lead you to the enigmatic last refuge of the Incas. Choquequirao (3103 MASL – 10178 FASL) is a huge archaeological complex still in a cleaning and restoration process located in the surroundings of the sacred Salkantay mountain (6271 MASL – 20569 FASL) and the Apurimac River canyon. You will enjoy amazing mountain scenery as well as lots of Andean flora and fauna.
This trail includes a section of some of the original Inca trails of South America and has a lot history and legends behind it. The trail is 60 km/40 miles traversed in 4 days.
Day 01: Cusco – Cachora – Chiquisqa
Day 02: Chiquisqa – Playa Rosalina – Santa Rosa – Maranpata
Day 03: Maranpata – Choquequirao – Chiquisca
Day 04: Chiquisqa – Capuliyoc – Cachora – Cusco
Day 01: Cusco – Cachora – Chiquisqa
Distance: 18 km/11.2 miles
Climate: Warm
Hiking Time: 7 hours
Before first daylight the day of your trek, we jump in the car to travel to where the adventure begins! Breakfast will be in your hotel at around 5 AM. Don’t forget any of your gear as we then start our journey to the village of Cachora, about a 5-hour drive from Cusco to the trail head. During this morning drive, we will first move toward the Cunyac Bridge between the departments of Cusco and Apurimac. Next, we will travel through the district of Curahuasi and the Saywite Andean Comunity, then arriving at Cachora (2800 MASL – 9186 FASL) at approximately 10 AM. Here, we will meet with our horsemen and other staff will begin our trek! We will walk for about 2 hours along sloping paths leading down to the pass of Capuliyoc (2915 MASL – 9563 FASL). Here, we will have an energizing lunch with our first views of the Apurimac valley stretching below and the snow-capped peaks of Padrayoc and Wayna Cachora. From Capuliyoc, we will have the first view of Choquequirao from far away. Then, we will then descend toward Coca Masana (2330 MASL – 7644 FASL) where the climate becomes noticeably warmer and the flora and fauna begin to change. Finally, we arrive at Chiquiskä at 1900 MASL – 6233 FASL, closer to the Apurimac River, where we will set up camp and spend the night in tents. In this camping area, we will find humble huts where people from Cachora live offering refreshing soda to the trekkers.
Day 02: Chiquisqa – Playa Rosalina – Santa Rosa – Maranpata
Distance: 17 km/10.6 miles
Climate: Warm
Hiking Time: 6 hours
Today will be full of adrenaline as we climb up to the ancient city! At the top are the highest views of the landscape. After breakfast around 6:00 AM, we will continue our trek. We will walk for about an hour downhill to cross the Apurimac River in the cable car, just for some more fun! Then, we will start trekking uphill toward Santa Rosa (2115 MASL – 6938 FASL) where we will rest after the hard climb. This stretch is the hardest, and it will take three hours. When we are ready, we will continue up to Maranpata (2850 MASL – 9350 FASL), a bit easier of a climb. During our journey, we will observe various types of Andean vegetation that exist in the area. When we will arrive at Maranpata beside the Chunchumayo River, we will have lunch and take another rest around 2 PM. Along the way, we will observe many orchids and wild flowers as well as different types of birds. In this same spot, we will again find small huts, and next to them we will make our camp.
Day 03: Maranpata – Choquequirao – Chiquisca
Distance: 22 km/13.7 miles
Climate: Warm day and cold at night
Hiking Time: 8 hours
Waking up in the middle of the Andes is one of the delights of spending these days as a trekker! It is an amazing experience! Breakfast will be ready early, around 6:00 AM, and afterward we will walk from Maranpata to Choquequirao (3035 MASL – 9957 FASL); a 2-hour hike. The wildlife in Choquequirao is already active by sunrise and will fill you with a deep joy! We will arrive at the archaeological site in time to enjoy the impressive views of the deep canyons and maybe even have the opportunity to see a Condor flying nearby. We will walk around the archaeological complex once we arrive. Your guide and his knowledge of this important and mystic Incan town will make you feel as though you have travelled through time! Around 3 PM, we head to Maranpata to have lunch and rest with the magnificent view. Soon we start the descent into the forest back along the same trail to the cable car crossing. Our base camp for the night is called Chiquisca.
Day 04: Chiquisqa – Capuliyoc – Cachora – Cusco
Distance: 17 km/10.6 miles
Climate: Warm
Hiking Time: 7 hours
The last Andean breakfast is the biggest and most special with the noise of the river hanging in the background. We spend most of the day heading back to the beginning of the trail. We will return along the same route to Cachora (2800 MASL – 9186 FASL). During our journey, we will observe the exotic flora and fauna as well as sights of the majestic snow-capped peaks and the impressive canyon of the Apurimac. After we get to Capuliyoc where the climbing path finishes, we will have lunch. We have our final view of the apurimac valley and Choquequirao from here. It will take us another four hours to get the village of Cachora at around 3pm. In the afternoon, we will drive a car back to Cusco (approx. 5 hours). Arriving around 8 PM, trekkers will be dropped off at their hotels.
