Choquequirao Trail

Today’s trek will see you walk along the valley floor and across farmland where you’ll see locals at work. Cross the Apurimac River towards the snow-capped peaks of Nevado Padreyoc (5,482m) and Qoriwayrachina, before climbing up to Capuliyoc (3,300m). From Capuliyoc you will have spectacular views of the Apurimac Valley and, in the distance, your ultimate destination, the Inca citadel of Choquequirao.

Enjoying views of the Vilcabamba Mountain Range, particularly Mount Salkantay, you descend approximately 900m down a steep path to Chiquisqa (1930m), for a lunch break.

After lunch, you will continue downhill for around one hour to Rosalina’s Beach (1,550m), cross the Apurimac River again and follow a steep zig-zag path to Santa Rosa (1,890m) – your camp for the night.

In Maranpata, you  stop to have lunch and to recharge your energy. As you climb today you’ll begin to appreciate a change in the environment, as the forested lowlands give way to highland vegetation on both sides of the Apurimac Canyon.

After lunch you have a relatively easy trek of approximately two hours on mostly flat terrain to Choquequirao (3,103m).

Depending on the time of your arrival you may be able to explore this incredible archaeological complex of over 1,810 hectares, of which only 30% has been uncovered. Late afternoon, continue to your camp, located close to the ruins, where you’ll enjoy a sundowner drink and a well-deserved dinner under the stars.

Many of the temples are centred around water, leading some archaeologists to believe the site was dedicated to Mama Cocha, Mother of the Sea. After your explorations you will hike for around 4 hours back towards Santa Rosa for lunch. From Santa Rosa, continue to Playa Rosalina (2 hours), where you can have a refreshing dip in the water, before setting up camp for the night.

After breakfast, continue to climb to the Capuliyoc scenic point, enjoy the impressive views along the way, and then proceed on a peaceful hike for about one and a half hours until you reach the original starting point, in Cachora. After stopping for lunch, you will then be driven to Cusco city and transferred to your hotel (Los Portales, or similar).