Choquequirao 4-day guided hike

Our first day starts driving from the village of Cachora. The path works its way down into the Apurimac Valley where we will have fantastic views of the snow-capped peaks in the distance. The area around Choquequirao is rich in wildlife and we will see a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Our campsite for the night is at Santa Rosa (2200m) which is on the other side of the Apurimac River. As the campsite is a little further, it is one of the quietest places to camp. So we can enjoy the beautiful scenery around us without distraction.

Today is probably the hardest day of the trek. To get to Choquequirao we need to make our way back up the opposite side of the Apurimac Valley which involves ascending about 800 m over a distance of 14 km. The views we’ll get today, mixed with the wide variety of flora and fauna, make it worth it.

Throughout the day we will see a wide variety of bromeliads, orchids and stands of bamboo. We’ll also hopefully see birds such as Quetzals, Toucans and a variety of humming birds. After about a 5-hour walk we’ll arrive to our campsite, close to Choquequirao (3050m) and settle in for the night. If the weather is clear, the views of the sun setting from here are amazing and we may be lucky enough to spot Condors soaring over the valley.

Today’s focus is on exploring Choquequirao. Waking up early you’ll head off on a guided tour of the site during which you’ll see the most important and interesting sections of the city and learn about the Inca culture and the close relation between Choquequirao and Machu Picchu. 

Compared to Machu Picchu little is known about Choquequirao even though it has been known for much longer. Originally discovered in the 17th century by the Spanish, it lays abandoned and forgotten until recent years when tourism raised the profile of the city and exploration began. 

After your tour you’ll begin the trek back to Cachora along the same route we came. Our campsite for tonight is Chiquiska (1800m) in the base of the valley by the Apurimac River.

Today is the final day of the trek as we make our way back to Cachora. Winding our way back up the side of the valley, we’ll have our final views of Choquequirao in the distance before arriving to Cachora in the late afternoon and travelling by bus back to Cuzco.