If you’re looking to experience much more of Peru besides Machu Picchu, the ancient ruins of Choquequirao might be the right adventure for you. Although the so-called Cradle of Gold may have been shadow casted by the historical sanctuary, it is undoubtedly another wonder of the Inca era.
For those looking to spice up their experience in Peru, the Choquequirao Trek can be another alternative to get to Machu Picchu but due to its strenuous trail, we would advise to take it as a standalone trek.
Choquequirao comprises an impressive natural setting, surrounded by towering mountains and lush vegetation. Likewise, this ancient citadel is often compared to the Peruvian wonder of the world due to the similarities in architecture and distribution they share.
Luckily, just like Machu Picchu, Choquequirao was never discovered by the Spanish colonizers, which makes it one of the most well-preserved archeological sites within the cloud forest. For that reason, it is believed that it could have been the last Inca refugee during the colonization process.
If you’re feeling adventurous and would like to discover another side of the Inca history, this is the way to go. Keep in mind that this trek is not for the fainthearted but there’s nothing that an inveterate traveler can’t overcome.
A Glance at Choquequirao
Choquequirao is located in La Convención region, north of the Apurimac river, in a remote location where the only way in or out is by walking through steep inclines and lush forests.
Although not much is known about this splendid Inca masterpiece, it is believed that the Inca Pachacutec was the one who ordered the construction of the site about the same time as Machu Picchu’s.
Nonetheless it was his son, Tupac Yupanqui, who expanded the complex and continued with this legacy. Apparently, Choquequirao served as a cultural, religious and residential center for the Inca people, while also ensuring access to the Amazon jungle and the Imperial City of Cusco.
As the Spanish colonizers arrived in Peru and were taking control of the land, Choquequirao may have been one of the last refuges and resistance points of the Incas. A secret kept for a long time and left forgotten in the depths of the Peruvian high jungle.
Many years later, the Spanish explorer Juan Arias Díaz Topete was the one who rediscovered this ancient structure in 1710, though it wasn’t until 1768 that Cosme Bueno officially documented the site though it wasn’t taken into consideration during that time.
Later, Hiram Bingham stood upon this marvelous site on his way to Machu Picchu, though it was long forgotten and nearly disappearing in the dense jungle. As Bingham unveiled Machu Picchu to the world, both archeological complexes became popular among historians, archeologists and tourists.
Currently, only 30% of the 1,810 hectares of Choquequirao have been fully excavated, the other 70% remains hidden underground or in the dense vegetation of the region. Nonetheless, as far as it has been uncovered, the site still presents an outstanding architectural style, just as impressive as the famous Inca citadel.
About the Trek to Choquequirao
As we mentioned at the beginning of this blog, the Choquequirao Trek is definitely challenging in spite of 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 pronunciated 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 another beautiful setting 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 that 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 the hike takes about 3 hours of 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 in this site so make sure to take some time to discover every single detail of it.
Afterwards, 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 Peru travel packages and start planning the vacation of your dreams with Viagens Machu Picchu.