The five-day Choquequirao trek
Four nights beneath Andean skies. A full unhurried day at the citadel. The classic 5-day Choquequirao trek to the cradle of gold.
For hikers who refuse to rush. The five-day Choquequirao trek allows the place to settle into you — the dust of the trail, the rhythm of the meals, the slow recognition of how the canyon changes light from hour to hour.
- Group shared service · USD 499 per hiker — runs only on confirmed scheduled departures, with a minimum of 4 hikers per group (up to 16). Most economical option.
- Private service · by custom quote — available any day of the year, from 1 hiker onward. Request your quote via the form or WhatsApp.
At a glance
- Duration5 days · 4 nights
- ServiceGroup shared (min. 4) or private (from 1, by quote)
- Group size4 to 16 wanderers (group modality)
- Highest point3,033 m / 9,950 ft (Choquequirao citadel)
- Lowest point1,500 m / 4,920 ft (Apurímac river)
- Daily walking5 – 7 hours
- Physical demandModerate
- DepartureCusco · early morning
- Group shared priceFrom USD 499 per hiker (min. 4 hikers)
The route, told slowly
Setting forth from Cusco — to Capuliyoc and Chiquisca
Before dawn, our team collects you from your Cusco accommodation. The road climbs west across the highlands toward Limatambo and the Apurímac valley, descending then through the warm river plains. By midday we reach Capuliyoc (2,915 m), the gateway viewpoint, where the canyon opens before us in its full vertical drama. After lunch, we begin the descent — long, measured, with switchbacks shaded by giant cactus. We camp the first night at Chiquisca (1,930 m), surrounded by the songs of cicadas.
Across the Apurímac — to Marampata
We rise early, walking the remaining descent to the Rosalina bridge over the roaring Apurímac. From the canyon floor (1,500 m), the climb begins — slow, deliberate, hour after hour, switchback after switchback. The vegetation changes around us: from canyon shrubs to high-altitude grasses. By late afternoon we reach Marampata (2,920 m), a small homestead where we camp facing the archaeological site itself, just two kilometers away across the ridge.
The citadel — a day among the ruins
The most contemplative day. After breakfast we walk the final two kilometers to Choquequirao itself (3,033 m). Our guide walks you through each sector — the main plaza, the white-stone llama terraces, the priest’s house, the usnu ceremonial platform. Lunch is taken among the ruins, and the afternoon belongs to you: to wander on your own, to write, to sit silently above the canyon. We return to Marampata for our third night.
Descent and crossing — back to Chiquisca
We retrace our steps: the long descent from Marampata to the Apurímac, the bridge crossing, and the climb back up to Chiquisca for our fourth night. The light is different on the return — the same trail, in reverse, becomes a new place. The body now knows the canyon. The legs no longer protest the way they did at first.
Return to Cusco
After breakfast, the final ascent to Capuliyoc — short but steep, the canyon falling away beneath us one last time. Our vehicle awaits at the trailhead, and we drive back to Cusco through the changing light of the highlands. You arrive in Cusco by late afternoon, dusty, tired, and quietly altered.
Photographs from the route
A glimpse of what the five-day journey unfolds.
Everything we carry, everything you carry
Included in the expedition
- Hotel pickup in Cusco
- Round-trip transport Cusco — Capuliyoc — Cusco
- DIRCETUR-certified bilingual guide (EN / ES)
- Mules carrying camping gear and personal items (6 kg per hiker)
- 4-season tents, sleeping mats, dining and kitchen tents
- All meals along the route, prepared by our trail cook
- Daily snacks, herbal teas, refilled drinking water
- Entry ticket to Choquequirao archaeological site
- First-aid kit and emergency oxygen
Not included
- Flights to / from Cusco
- Hotel in Cusco (before / after expedition)
- Sleeping bag and trekking poles (rental available)
- Travel insurance (required, must cover 4,650 m)
- Tips for guide, cook, and muleteers
- Personal trekking gear and clothing
- Optional riding horse (~USD 80 / day)
- Snacks, drinks, and personal expenses
“The five-day walk is not about reaching the citadel. It is about being slowly carried there — by your legs, by the canyon, by the patience of the trail itself.”
— from our JournalReady for the 5-day Choquequirao trek?
Request a personalized quote — our team will reply within twelve hours.