This trek will take you past amazing views of snow-capped mountains, across the Apurimac River, and through steep farmlands. You will have time in Marampata to learn about high mountain agriculture in the Peruvian Andes before continuing to the citadel of Choquequirao. The 5-day trek gives you a full day to explore the Choquequirao archeological ruins, including the famous stone llamas and some unexcavated sites still hidden in the jungle. There is much to see at these extensive ruins. You will return along the same route and will be taken back to your hotel in Cusco.
Highest Point: 3,050m / 10,007ft
Distance: 44km / 27.3mi
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5
We pick you up very early at your hotel in Cusco and drive by private transport to the village of Cachora. In Cachora we meet our staff and drive 30 more minutes to the Capuliyoc lookout point and our trailhead. After a good lunch enjoying the amazing view of the Apurimac Canyon, we will descend for about 5 hours to our campsite at Chikisca.
Meals: L, D
Maximum Altitude: 2,977m / 9,767ft
Minimum Altitude: 1,836m / 6,024ft
Distance Travelled: 8 km / 5.0 mi
Walking Time: 5 hrs
After breakfast we will continue downhill for around one hour to reach the Apurimac River. This is one of the longest rivers in Peru, over 7000km, coming from the very south of Peru all the way north to Iquitos where it joins with Amazon River (Apurimac is a Quechua word for “the God who speaks). After crossing the Apurimac, we begin our uphill trek 2 hours of hiking will bring us to Santa Rosa where we’ll have a rest, and after another 2 hours we will arrive at Marampata.
In Marampata we will have lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon visiting the local family land and sharing their daily activities. Depending on the season, you may help harvest some food which will be used to prepare the remaining meals on our trek. This is a wonderful way for us to support the local families who live near Choquequirao. We will camp overnight in Marampata.
Meals: B, L, D
Maximum Altitude: 2,914m / 9,560ft
Minimum Altitude: 1,500m / 4,921ft
Distance Travelled: 9 km / 5.6mi
Walking Time: 6 hrs
Two hours of hiking will take us to the principal archaeological complex of Choquequirao. We will visit and explore the Usnu, Priests House, Llamayoq, (stoned llama figures designed into farming terraces) and the Administrative Sector. We will have the whole day to explore and learn about the Inca people of Choquequirao, the remote city of the Incas. With your native certified guide, you will explore every area of this magical city. Only an estimated 50% of this Inca city has been excavated and restored, so the site is continually expanding as new areas are discovered. Late in the afternoon we will head to our campsite located just below Choquequirao.
Meals: B, L, D
Maximum Altitude: 3,050m / 10,007ft
Minimum Altitude: 2,914m / 9,560ft
Distance Travelled: 7km / 4.3mi
Walking Time: 7 hrs
After a leisurely morning, we return to Marampata for lunch. Continuing back on the same path we came in, we once again cross the Apurimac River and climb to Chikisca where we will spend the night
Meals: B, L, D
Maximum Altitude: 3,000m / 9,843ft
Minimum Altitude: 1,500m / 4,921ft
Distance: 12km / 7.5mi
Walking Time: 7 hrs
It will take approximately 5 hours to climb uphill to the Capuliyoc lookout point where we began our trek. After lunch we will return to the city of Cusco.
Meals: B, L
Maximum Altitude: 2,977m / 9,767ft
Minimum Altitude: 1,836m / 6,024ft
Distance Travelled: 8km / 5.0mi
Walking Time: 5 hrs