DESCRIPTION
With the “Choquequirao 5D Tour“, you will walk an inaccessible route and your difficult adventure will become a memorable one. Choquequirao was also a fortress and a ceremonial centre. The truth is that due to its hidden location in a high and distant mountain, it was a strategic point for different purposes. With the Choquequirao Tour, you will be able to walk through an inaccessible route and your difficult adventure will become memorable and at the end you will realise that it was worth every step you took.
CHOQUEQUIRAO, means Cradle of gold in Quechua. It is an Inca urban centre with common features to others in Cusco, especially Machu Picchu. The similarity with Machu Picchu is largely due to the similarity of the geography of the place where the enclosure was built, according to various investigations, it would also be a fortress and a ceremonial centre.
It has numerous Inca buildings. However, currently only 30% of its entire area has been excavated. Its most important buildings are made of quartzite, cut with great detail, the rest of the walls are made of rough stone. It has two main plazas, temples, fountains, canals, workshops, storehouses, elite residences and more common residences. The ceremonial centre is a large platform that can only be reached by passing through a double-jambed gate, and the largest buildings on the site are the colcas or storehouses. It also has structures that mark solar events such as solstices and equinoxes, such as the enormous stairway that is completely illuminated by the sun’s rays at dawn on the summer solstice.
MAIN PLACES TO VISIT
- Cusco (3,399 masl)
- Cachora (2, 900 masl)
- Capuliyoc (2, 800 masl)
- Chiquisca (1, 930 masl)
- Chiquisca (1, 930 masl)
- Santa Rosa (2, 095 masl)
- Maranpata (2, 820 masl)
- Choquequirao (3, 030 masl)
TOUR SUMMARY
- DAY 01: CUSCO – CACHORA – CAPULIYOC – ROSALINA BEACH.
- DAY 02: ROSALINA BEACH – MARANPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAO.
- DAY 03: CHOQUEQUIRAO – MARANPATA – CHIQUISCA.
- DAY 04: MARAMPATA – ROSALINA BEACH.
- DAY 05: ROSALINA BEACH – CAPULIYOC – CACHORA – CUSCO.
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 01: CUSCO – CACHORA – CAPULIYOC – ROSALINA BEACH
- 05.30 hrs We will pick you up at the hotel in tourist transport and we will go in our bus to the village of San Pedro de Cachora (2800 m.a.s.l.), a beautiful Andean village.
- On the way, we can enjoy a great diversity of landscapes belonging to different climates, such as the snow-capped mountain Padriyoc, the flora and fauna of the Andean diversity that makes our trip beautiful.
- From Capuliyuc we start the 4 hours walk, we will arrive at the view point of Capuliyuc, from where we can observe the deepest canyon in the world, the Apurimac with the river of the same name at the bottom and it is also possible to see the first views of Choquequirao.
- We will continue descending to Chiquisqa, where we will have a short rest, before arriving at our lunch spot.
- After lunch we will start with the last descent of the day, which will take approximately 2 hours to the sector of Playa Rosalina. Playa Rosalina is about 1800 meters above sea level. Near the Apurimac river “the sacred river”. Here we will spend the night.
Camping – ROSALINA BEACH
BREAKFAST – PASSENGER / LUNCH AND DINNER – AGENCY
DAY 02: ROSALINA BEACH – MARANPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAO
- After an organic breakfast, we will start climbing for 2 hours to the small village of Santa Rosa – stopping point, we will have time to take a refreshing break and then continue the climb for 3 hours to Marampata where we will have lunch.
- In Santa Rosa you can see up to five Spectacled Bears a month, these curious avocado-loving animals build platforms in the treetops to feed and rest undisturbed. The presence in the wild of the spectacled bear, also known as the Andean bear, is key. It is an important seed disperser, favours the regeneration of wild flora and transports pollen in its dense fur.
- During the hike we can enjoy the splendid Apurimac Canyon, Choquequirao Mountain and other beautiful rugged mountains, as well as unique ecosystems, ranging from grasslands and dry forests to cloud forests.
- At the heart of this protected area is one of the main attractions of the Cusco region, the Inca citadel of Choquequirao. In this archaeological site the claw marks on the trees of the Inca terraces are proof that these mammals have been present for centuries.
- After lunch, the hike will be very gentle and we will arrive at the lost Inca city of Choquequirao.
- The camp is outside the Inca site with the possibility to see the sunset and the condors.
Camping – MARANPATA
BREAKFAST / LUNCH / DINNER – AGENCY
DAY 03: CHOQUEQUIRAO – MARANPATA – CHIQUISCA
- After having a delicious breakfast, we will start with our guide, the mysterious tour to Choquequirao, we will visit the magnificent archaeological site of Choquequirao during the whole day.
- Enjoy the private guided tour and explore all the beautiful sections of the city: temples, terraces, palaces, llama quarters and much more. We will visit the sectors where the llamas are located, the Ceremonial Ushnu and the Religious Zone, later we will have free time in the lost Inca city which is also considered as the sister of Machu Picchu.
- Choquequirao, located 1500 meters above the Apurimac Canyon, only one third of this archaeological complex has been discovered and still many archaeologists find something interesting every time.
- Then we will have lunch in Choquequirao and then descend to the Pajchayoc fall.
- After visiting the site, we will return to the same camp to have tea and spend the night.
Camping – CHIQUISCA
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner – Agency
DAY 04: MARAMPATA – ROSALINA BEACH
- This morning we will start our hike back to Santa Rosa, where we will have lunch. We will then continue descending for another 2 hours until we reach Rosalina beach at 1,450m above sea level, where we will have time to take a refreshing dip in the waters of the Apurimac River.
- We camp and have dinner here; in addition, we spend the night near the river.
Camping – ROSALINA BEACH
BREAKFAST / LUNCH / DINNER – AGENCY
DAY 05: PLAYA ROSALINA – CAPULIYOC – CACHORA – CUSCO
- Today we leave the camp very early in the morning. After breakfast, we will walk 4 hours uphill to Capuliyoc, if we are lucky we will see some condors and eagles flying above us.
- Here we will have our last outdoor lunch with your expedition team. This will be our last stop and then we will walk the last 2 hours until we reach the village of Cachora. We will say goodbye to the muleteers and horses that accompanied us all the way. Afterwards, we will board the bus back to Cusco and arrive in the afternoon.
BREAKFAST – AGENCY / LUNCH AND DINNER – PASSENGER
INCLUDES
This tour includes
- Transfers In/ Out
- Tourist transportation Cusco/Capuliyuc
- Choquequirao trek adventure tour guide
- Entrance fee to the Choquequirao Trail
- Camping equipment: dining and kitchen tents, tables, chairs and cooking equipment
- 1 duffel bag, up to 5 kg carried by horses
- Professional trekking chef with an assistant
- Meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners (vegetarian, vegan or special menus available at no extra cost)
- Boiled water: From your first lunch to your last breakfast
- Wake up with tea: Every morning at camp, you will wake up with a cup of coca tea! Our staff will bring the tea to your tent.
- Tea time every day during the trek: Every evening before dinner, the cooks will give you our tea time popcorn, cookies, coffee, hot chocolate, tea, hot water, etc.
- Hygiene products: You will be provided with a small towel before each meal to wash your hands and every morning there will also be a bucket of warm water to wash your personal hygiene.
- Medical kit and emergency oxygen bottle.
- Private tourist transportation Capuliyoq/hotel
This tour does NOT include
- Last Lunch
- Sleeping bag
- Walking sticks
- First breakfast and last lunch
- Travel insurance
- Additional costs or delays beyond management’s control (scenery, bad weather, itinerary modification due to a security issue, illness, government policy change, political instability/strike, etc.)
- Please note that our agency staff is well paid, so feel free to tip or not,”Recommendation 6.00 – 8.00 USD per day, per traveler for all trek staff” according to your satisfaction.
Recommendations
- Original passport
- Small backpack
- Rain poncho
- Good hiking pants and hiking boots
- Hat and sunglasses
- Camera batteries and extra
- Insect repellent
- Sun block
- Trekking poles
- Sleeping bags
- Personal toiletries
- Snacks: cereal bars, chocolates, cookies, dried fruits.
- Cash: coins and small bills
- Sleeping bags
- Hat or cap
- Trekking shoes
- Trekking backpack
- Waterproof jacket
- Trekking pants
- Rain poncho
- Water bottle with water
- Water purification tablets
- Sun block
- Mosquito repellent
- Personal hygiene items
- Snacks: cereal bars, chocolates, cookies, dried fruits.
PRICES AND HOTELS
TOUR IN GROUP SERVICEChoquequirao Trekking Tour in Cusco PRICE PER PERSON Minimum 02 people | |
| GROUP SERVICE TOUR | |
Por que elegir a Cusco Tours Perú
Asesores Expertos
Nuestros asesores expertos están aquí para ayudarte a planificar y organizar tu viaje a Perú de manera excepcional.
Con un profundo conocimiento y experiencia en el país, te brindarán asesoramiento personalizado, recomendaciones de destinos y actividades, así como información detallada sobre la cultura, la historia y la gastronomía peruana. Ya sea que estés interesado en explorar las maravillas arqueológicas de Machu Picchu, navegar por el misterioso Lago Titicaca o descubrir la selva amazónica, nuestros asesores te guiarán para que vivas una experiencia inolvidable en Perú.
Confía en nuestros asesores expertos y déjate sorprender por la magia de este país fascinante.
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En Cusco Tours Perú nos esforzamos en brindarte una experiencia única de viaje de la siguiente forma, la inmersión en la cultura local, la interacción con la naturaleza, la participación en actividades específicas, la degustación de la gastronomía local y el descubrimiento de lugares auténticos.
Creamos experiencias placenteras y enriquecedoras al ofrecer servicios como transporte, alojamiento, guías turísticos y actividades programadas. El objetivo es superar las expectativas del viajero y garantizar momentos significativos y memorables.
Además, proporcionamos valor sobre información local, recomendaciones, consejos de seguridad, acceso a lugares exclusivos y la oportunidad de conocer a otros viajeros con intereses similares.
En resumen, una experiencia de viaje implica un itinerario cuidadosamente diseñado, servicios organizados y la búsqueda de momentos únicos y significativos para los viajeros, brindándoles la oportunidad de disfrutar de un viaje inolvidable.
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Al elegir viajar con nosotros, no solo disfrutarás de una experiencia en Perú, sino que también contribuirás directamente a mejorar la calidad de vida de aquellos que más lo necesitan. (Revisar más sobre Proyección Social)
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Nos preocupamos por preservar el entorno natural y cultural de Perú y Machu Picchu. Trabajamos en colaboración con las comunidades locales, promoviendo el turismo sostenible y respetuoso con el medio ambiente. Nos esforzamos por minimizar nuestro impacto, fomentar prácticas responsables y educar a nuestros viajeros sobre la importancia de conservar la belleza natural de Perú.
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Valoramos a cada uno de nuestros clientes y nos esforzamos por brindar un servicio altamente personalizado. Desde el momento en que nos contactas, nos dedicamos a comprender tus necesidades y deseos específicos para crear un itinerario a medida.
Nuestro equipo estará contigo en cada paso del camino para asegurarse de que tengas una experiencia inolvidable de tu visita a Perú.
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Estos testimonios auténticos reflejan la calidad y el impacto positivo que Cusco Tours Perú tiene en la vida de nuestros viajeros. Nos enorgullece ofrecer experiencias excepcionales y significativas en Machu Picchu.
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Nuestra experiencia en viajes Culturales y de Aventura nos permite diseñar itinerarios emocionantes y personalizados, adaptados a tus preferencias y nivel de experiencia.
Getting to know Choquequirao Trekking Tour in Cusco
Frequently Asked Questions from Travelers
What is the best time to travel to Cusco?
The best time to travel to Cusco is during the dry season, which runs from May to October. During this period, the weather is generally dry and sunny, with daytime temperatures ranging from 18°C to 22°C. Nights can be quite cold, with temperatures dropping around 5°C, especially in June and July.
The rainy season in Cusco runs from November to March, and during this period you can expect regular rains, especially in January and February. Rainfall can be heavy and can cause disruptions to transportation and tourist activities.
Keep in mind that, although the dry season is the best time to visit Cusco in terms of weather, it is also the busiest time in terms of tourism.
What to see in Choquequirao?
Choquequirao has several Inca constructions, among the most important we have:
- Main Plaza: There are several plazas in Choquequirao, including the Main Plaza and the Sunken Plaza, which are open spaces surrounded by buildings and structures.
- Colcas: these platforms with internal subdivisions were common in the main Inca centers, and in Choquequirao they were used to store foodstuffs, clothing and other goods.
- Agricultural terraces: Choquequirao has numerous agricultural terraces that were used to grow food. These terraces are an impressive display of Inca skill and engineering.
- Dwellings: in the highest part of Choquequirao you can find up to five buildings that probably served as housing for the priests of the place.
- The Ushnu: this construction in the form of an oval platform is located at the top of a hill. Due to the wall that surrounds it and its privileged view of the snow-capped mountains, the river and the whole area, it is believed that it had an important religious function.
In addition, you can see the breathtaking scenery. Choquequirao is located in an impressive natural environment, surrounded by mountains and vegetation. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the surroundings while exploring the archaeological site.
What is the weather like in Cusco?
The climate in Cusco varies according to the time of the year.
- The dry season (April to October): During this time, the weather in Cusco is generally dry and sunny, with temperatures ranging between 18°C and 20°C. Nights can be cold, with temperatures dropping as low as 5°C. This is the best time to visit Cusco, as weather conditions are ideal for exploring the city and outdoor activities such as hiking and trekking.
- Rainy season (November to March): During this season, Cusco experiences frequent rainfall and cooler temperatures, with an average temperature of 16°C. Nights can be cooler, with temperatures dropping as low as 3°C. Rainfall can be quite intense and prolonged, which can make outdoor activities difficult.
It is important to keep in mind that the weather in Cusco can be unpredictable, even during the dry season. It is advisable to wear appropriate clothing for the weather and be prepared for sudden changes in temperature and rain.
What is Choquequirao?
Choquequirao is an Inca archaeological site located in the Cusco region, near the Vilcabamba mountain range. It is often called the “little sister” of Machu Picchu due to its similarities in architecture and design, and is a popular destination for those interested in Inca history and culture.
Choquequirao is an Inca citadel believed to have been built in the 15th century. It is located on a ridge high above the Apurimac River valley, at an altitude of about 3,050 meters above sea level. The archaeological site covers a large area, with numerous buildings, agricultural terraces and aqueduct systems, and it is believed that at its peak, it may have been home to up to 10,000 people.
What to bring on my trip to Cusco?
If you are planning a trip to Cusco, there are some important items you should take with you to make sure you are comfortable and prepared for any situation. Some of the items you might consider bringing are:
- Appropriate clothing: Due to the variability of the climate in Cusco, it is important that you bring clothing suitable for different weather conditions. Include warm clothes for cold nights, comfortable clothes for walking, and comfortable, sturdy shoes for exploring the ruins and trails.
- Sunscreen: Cusco’s altitude means that the sun can be very strong during the day, so it is important to bring sunscreen to protect your skin.
- Water bottle: The altitude can also cause dehydration, so it is important to stay hydrated.
- Medications: If you take any medications regularly, make sure you bring enough for your trip. It is also a good idea to bring some basic medications for headaches, upset stomachs and colds.
- Cash: Although most places in Cusco accept credit cards, it is advisable to carry cash in Peruvian soles for shopping in local markets, paying for cabs and tipping.
- Plug adapter: If you are coming from another country, you may need a plug adapter for electrical outlets in Peru.
- Camera: Cusco is a beautiful place with many interesting landscapes and tourist attractions, so you will want to capture many memories in photos or videos.
How difficult is the route to Choquequirao?
The route to Choquequirao is considered a challenging trekking route. Due to its length and steep terrain. The trek usually lasts between 4 days, and a good physical condition is required to complete it. The trek includes long uphill and downhill hikes, so it is recommended that trekkers have previous trekking experience and be in good physical shape before attempting this route.
In addition, the Choquequirao trek requires camping in remote locations and carrying all necessary equipment and supplies, so it is important to be prepared to carry a heavy backpack and be willing to camp in basic conditions. While the hike is challenging, the natural beauty of the landscape and the cultural richness of the Choquequirao archaeological site make the experience worthwhile.
Which camps will you visit during the trek?
- Rosalina Beach Camp: The camp is located in the canyon of the Apurimac River. This camp is the first resting point on the trekking route to Choquequirao, and is about a 3-4 hour hike from Cachora. The Playa Rosalina campsite is a popular place to camp overnight. It offers basic facilities such as toilets and showers, as well as tents for rent.
- Maranpata Camp: Maranpata is another popular camping site located on the trekking route to Choquequirao. This camp is about a 7-8 hour hike from the town of Cachora, after passing through Playa Rosalina and the Apurimac River crossing. What makes Maranpata camp an attractive place to camp is its location on the side of a mountain with breathtaking views of the canyon and the Apurimac River. It is an ideal place to rest after a long day of hiking and to prepare for the last stretch of the trek to Choquequirao.
- Chiquisca Camp: Chiquisca is a basic camp that offers toilets and showers, as well as space for camping. What makes Chiquisca camp an attractive place to camp is its amazing views of the canyon and the Apurimac River.
What does the name Choquequirao mean?
The name “Choquequirao” comes from the Quechua language. Where “Choque” means “gold” and “quirao” means “cradle”, so the name translates into Spanish as “cradle of gold”.
It is believed that the name refers to the importance Choquequirao had in the production of gold for the Inca Empire, since it was located in an area rich in minerals and natural resources. In addition, the name may also refer to the spiritual and religious importance of the city, as gold was considered a sacred metal for the Incas and was used in many of their rituals and ceremonies.
