The archaeological site of Choquequirao is part of the complex system of Andean towns in Vilcabamba and Espiritu Pampa or Vilcabamba la Nueva (New Vilcabamba) in the time of the Incas, it was united and in communication with MACHU PICCHU by a complex network of trails. After visiting Choquequirao, we will continue to explore other valleys, this route is one of the last unexplored routes. You will be able to meet local people and see their way of living.
We will pick you up from your hotel and leave Cusco early in the morning by bus, arriving at Cachora City approximately at 08:00 a.m. We’ll start walking after all the equipment is arranged by our horseman and his crew on mules and horses. From here, we might observe the Majestic Padreyoq snowy covered peak 5,482 masl. Today, we’ll hike about 22 Kms. The first 3 hours from Cachora to “Mirador Capuliyoq” are mostly flat and then we continue walking about 4 hours down hill until we reach our campsite for tonight at 1,580 masl.
It is an early start today in order to have breakfast and leave the camp at around 06:00 a.m in the morning. We will arrive at the archaeological site of Choquequirao after around 6 hours. We will have enough time to enjoy that majestic place, where we’ll observe three levels of the excavated ruins. We might enjoy houses, terraces and other parts of this Inca town. Depending of the weather, we might be lucky to see Condors flying above our heads.
We will leave our camp after breakfast at around 07:00 a.m. We will be hiking in the direction of Maizal along a climbing trail to the pass of the Choquequirao 3,300 masl, from which we’ll have impressive views of the Apurimac Canyon. We will descend towards the small archaeological complex of Pinchiunuyoq and “Blanco River”. Where we’ll rest and have lunch. In the afternoon, we will climb around 3 hours until we reach Maizal, we’ll have dinner and spend the night.
After breakfast, we will leave the campsite at around 07:00 a.m to start the four hour steep climb towards the Yanama Pass (4,500 masl) from which we will have impressive views of the Salkantay snow peak. We will rest after descending towards the Yanama community (3,400 masl) where we will also set our camp for tonight.
After a nutricious breakfast, we will leave the campsite at around 07:00 a.m to start the seven hour steep climb towards Choquetacarpo pass (4,720 masl) the highest pass of the entire trail. During our hike, we might enjoy the cloud forest and maybe spotting bears eating bambu. From the pass, we will have impressive views of the Vilcabamba district and other mountains, we will descend towards the camp, where we’ll have dinner and spend the night.
We will depart from our camp at around 08:00 a.m after enjoying our breakfast. We walk downhill until Huancacalle, we will descend differents levels and along we will see locals working in the fields where potatoes, corn and other products grow. After arrival in Huancacalle, we will have dinner and camp there.
Early in the morning after breakfast, we’ll visit the archaelogical complex of the Rosaspata, Vitkos and Ñusta Hisp’ana. After lunch, we will depart in the direction of “Vilcabamba la Vieja” (“Old Vicabamba”) along a climbing trail which takes us through different levels of vegetation. We’ll see little groups of houses and for this area typical flora, small wild birds and spectacular views of the surrounding mountain peaks.
After aproximately 4 hours of walking, we will arrive at our campsite.
We will wake up at around 07:00 a.m and after breakfast we will leave towards Otuto. Today, we will ascend to the Qollpaqasa pass, from this point; we will see the whole Valley of the Concevidayoq. After the pass, we will descend to Otuto where we’ll set our camp and enjoy dinner.
Today, we walk mostly downhill and we might enjoy the vegetation of cloud forest. We will enjoy the freshness of the Concevidayoq river, as we are having lunch by the the river shore. After a rest, we’ll continue walking until we arrive to Vista Alegre, where we will camp.
After breakfast, we will enter the Valley of Concevidayoq, with its warm climate. We’ll arrive to Q’asa Cross a beautiful place, where we can enjoy abundant flora and fauna and we might be lucky to spot the Cockerel of the Rocks (Peru’s national bird) we’ll continue walking towards Tunkimayu in order to direct us toward Concebidayoq where we’ll set our Camp.
Today, we will get up at 05:00 a.m to enjoy an early breakfast and start our last hiking day, leaving Concevidayoq. About 2 hours later, we’ll arrive to Espiritu Pampa situated in the highland jungle. We could feel the different climate as it is now tropical and humid in this valley. We will visit the last refugee of Manco Inca or Manco II and see a rich flora and fauna. We will arrive to Chuanquiry the place of our seventh camp.
Today our journey will take us by bus towards the city of Kiteni. We’ll travel up the “Alto Urubamba Valley river”. After about 6 hours, we will arrive to Quillabamba and there we’ll take the bus back to Cusco.
Departures and arrival times are approximately
Recommendations for Choquequirao of what to bring in your luggage:
How to pack your personal backpack?
For your trip to Choquequirao, it is necessary to carry a personal backpack, where its weight should not exceed 5 kilos. In it, you should pack everything you will need during the tour.
It is essential to pack :
Also do not forget to pack plastic bags, gloves for the cold, a bottle of water and spare clothes.
Choquequirao is considered the last Inca refuge, it resisted the Spanish conquistadors for decades after 1536.
Located in the Vilcabamba Valley, it is located at the top of the Apurimac Canyon, the deepest in the world, at an altitude of 3,030 meters above sea level, between the Andean mountains and jungle. This archaeological park is considered as important as Machu Picchu.
The trekking is 60 kilometers long and it is necessary to take into account the following advice about the travel equipment you will need to bring.
Choquequirao is known as the sacred sister of Machu Picchu because it has a structural and architectural similarity, the archaeological monuments are made up of terraces distributed in different levels which were leveled and fenced with stones to form a platform with an approximate area of 150 square meters.
The ruins of Choquequirao are located at 13° 32′ latitude and 77° 44′ west longitude, at 3033 meters above sea level in the mountains of the snow-capped Salkantay to the north of the Apurimac River in the district of Santa Teresa, province of La Convention, department of Cusco.
Currently to get to the last Inca fortress is by land, the best-known route of how to get to Choquequirao is taking the road to Abancay, and at km 154 choose the detour that will direct you to the town of Cachora.
The route to Choquequirao has narrow roads so you have to walk very carefully, also have good physical condition and the right equipment to make this hike.
Due to its altitude, Choquequirao enjoys a temperate climate. However, it is necessary to emphasize that the Choquequirao trail is warm due to the Apurimac canyon.
CONTACT
chaskitrek2@gmail.com
Address: Calle del Medio N° 135 Plaza de Armas Cusco – Perú
Phone: +51 984 295 630
Phone: +51 984 556 303
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Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. &
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CHASKI TREK
Chaski Trek is a professional licensed adventure and cultural tour operator and is owned by a Peruvian family. With the assistance of our well-trained team of professional tour guides and office staff we do our best to offer our clients a high quality service.
Our office is located right on the beautiful Plaza de Armas in the historic capital of the ancient Inca Empire, Cusco.
Our office is located right in the beautiful Plaza de Armas of the historic capital of the ancient Inca Empire, Cusco.