If you want to explore more of Peru beyond Machu Picchu, consider the ancient ruins of Choquequirao. Known as the “Cradle of Gold,” Choquequirao offers an adventurous alternative to Machu Picchu, best undertaken as a standalone trek due to its challenging nature. The site is set in a stunning natural environment, surrounded by towering mountains and lush vegetation.
Often compared to Machu Picchu for its similar architecture and layout, Choquequirao remains one of the most well-preserved archaeological sites, as it was never discovered by Spanish colonizers, many people believe that it was the last Inca refuge during the colonization. Although this trek is demanding, for those seeking adventure and a deeper dive into Inca history, Choquequirao will become a rewarding experience.
A Glance at Choquequirao
Choquequirao, located in the La Convención region, north of the Apurimac River. This area is a remote Inca site accessible only by foot through steep terrain and lush forests. Believed to have been commissioned by Inca Pachacutec and expanded by his son Tupac Yupanqui, Choquequirao served as a cultural, religious, and residential center, providing access to the Amazon and Cusco.
As the Spanish colonized Peru, Choquequirao possibly became a last refuge for the Incas. Rediscovered in 1710 by Spanish explorer Juan Arias Díaz Topete and documented in 1768 by Cosme Bueno, it remained obscure until Hiram Bingham encountered it on his way to Machu Picchu. Today, only 30% of Choquequirao’s 1,810 hectares have been excavated, revealing impressive Inca architecture.
About the Trek to Choquequirao
As we mentioned at the beginning of this blog, the Choquequirao Trek is definitely challenging despite going through lower-altitude locations in comparison to the Classic Inca Trail or the Salkantay Trek.
That’s because the trail is significantly tricky, with pronounced ups and downs on the way to the ruins and on the way back. The 4-day trek will take you on a 1,500m descent into the Apurimac valley followed by a 1,800m climb.
Therefore, completing this trek is all about mental and physical preparation. So if you’re eager to visit this wonder of the ancient world, it would be best if you up your current training routine. Although the trail isn’t as challenging as the Inca Trail, we have made a preparation guide that might work for this trek as well.
Choquequirao: 4-Day Trek Itinerary
Most treks to Choquequirao start from Cachora or the Capuliyoc Viewpoint though we believe that it would be best if you start from the viewpoint as you would skip an unnecessary part of the trail by car, which will allow you to save time and rest longer.
Another point to highlight is that, unlike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you won’t need to get a special permit to explore this route and a guide isn’t mandatory either. However, due to the difficulty of the trek, we highly recommend going with a specialized travel operator to avoid any inconvenience.
Prepare yourself for an amazing adventure through the Andes and the cloud forest, here you’ll get to cross several ecosystems and other beautiful settings in Peru. With nothing more to add, here’s the 4-day trek itinerary to Choquequirao:
Day 01 | Cusco – Capuliyoc – Santa Rosa
The starting point of the adventure will be Cusco, where you should depart between 04:30 and 05:00 a.m. to save some time to complete the first-day hike. You’ll be headed to Capuliyoc and on the way you’ll be mesmerized by the impressive scenery of the Andes, where the towering Salkantay and Humantay snow-capped mountains will welcome you.
Once in Capuliyoc, make sure to have some hearty breakfast to get all energized for today’s adventure. If you decide to travel with a tour operator, this will be the place where you’ll get to meet the porters and cooks who will accompany you along the trail. Remember, it’s best to start the trek from the Capuliyoc viewpoint, that way you will have more time to explore and take in the awe-inspiring surroundings.
Usually, the first part of this hike takes about 3 hours of a downhill walk through the Apurimac canyon until Chiquisca, a paid campsite with basic toilet and shower facilities, as well as cooked food for purchase. After your well-deserved lunch break, you’ll continue descending to the Apurimac River, which comprises class V rapids suitable for canoeing or rafting.
After two hours you’ll get to Santa Rosa, located at 1,970 meters above sea level, which will be your campsite for the night.
- Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging.
- Walking Distance: 13 km approx.
- Walking Time: 6 – 7 hours.
- Max. Altitude: 2,890 m.a.s.l.
Day 02 | Santa Rosa – Choquequirao
Mentally prepare yourself since this will be the most challenging part of the trail since you’ll take a 3-hour uphill walk towards Marampata, another paid campsite with basic facilities and food to buy. It would be best to start early in the morning, around 5:30 a.m. so you can have some time off to rest and potentially visit Choquequirao.
Once you get to Marampata, take some time to appreciate the sheer drops of the canyon and the snow-capped mountains that surround it. Remember that you can buy food there, just in case you’re doing the trek on your own. However, most tour operators include lunch at the campsite near Choquequirao.
After your well-deserved break, you’ll descend to the Choquequirao campsite and if you arrive early, you can visit the ruins before nightfall or you can just wait for the next day to explore the site calmly.
- Difficulty: Challenging.
- Walking Distance: 9.5 km approx.
- Walking Time: 6 hours approx.
- Max. Altitude: 3,050 m.a.s.l.
Day 03 | Choquequirao – Playa Rosalina or Chiquisca
Start early in the morning and catch the first light of the day at Machu Picchu’s Sacred Sister. The Choquequirao Archeological Site is significantly bigger than the Inca citadel though only 30% of it is fully excavated. One of the reasons why to visit this outstanding Inca structure on a guided tour is that it will be much easier to understand the history and purpose of the place.
That way you’ll get to know everything about Choquequirao and the Incas. The so-called Cradle of Gold comprises several plazas, temples, warehouses, and agricultural terraces. There’s so much to explore on this site so make sure to take some time to discover every single detail of it. Afterward, you can have a lunch break around 12 pm to later continue back to Playa Rosalina or Chiquisca.
We’ll leave that totally up to you since the trek could be long but not as strenuous as on the way to the ruins. Nonetheless, we recommend going all the way to Chiquisca campsite so you don’t have to walk that long on your last day.
- Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging.
- Walking Distance: 14.5 km approx. (Choquequirao – Chiquisca)
- Walking Time: 7 hours approx.
- Max. Altitude: 3,050 m.a.s.l.
Day 04 | Chiquisca – Capuliyoc – Cusco
Remember you can buy breakfast in either Chiquisca or Playa Rosalina campsites. If you’re traveling with a tour operator then you won’t need to worry about food since they usually include this in the itinerary.
After an energizing breakfast and a warm cup of tea, you’ll start the trek back to the Capuliyoc viewpoint. It will be a nice walk along the side of the canyon though it finishes with the series of sharp switchbacks that you started with on the first day.
Once in Capuliyoc, you can decide to walk down to Cachora town or simply take a taxi from the Mirador. If traveling with a tour operator, they can pick you up from there and take you straight to Cusco.
As you can see, the trek is definitely not an easy hike, so comfort and safety should be your #1 priority. If you’d like to join a guided trek to Choquequirao, contact our travel agents for more information.
If you’re looking for something exciting to do on your trip, here’s a list of the best treks in Peru, where you’ll pass by the sweeping views of the Andes before reaching several archeological sites or natural wonders.
Also, we would love to show you the real authenticity of our country, so make sure to check our travel packages and start planning the vacation of your dreams with Viagens Machu Picchu.
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