The purpose of the Trail to Choquequiraw was religious and ceremonial, a pilgrimage that included rituals to honor the mountains and peaks of the route, like Salkantay sacred mountain.
It is situated in the mountain range of the Salkantay, at over 3030 meters above sea level, surrounded by the Apus (mountain gods) of Yamana, Ampay, Chokecarpu, Pumasiyo and Panta, on the left bank of the Apurimac River. During the time of the Incas, everything was connected and in communication with Machu Picchu through a complex network of trails.
Choquequiraw is considered "The Last Refuge of the Inca Empire". Visitors will have a chance to discover a complex hydraulic system, most likely for domestic, ceremonial and agricultural use. The geographic location of Choquequiraw in reference to other religious centers of the same period tends to indicate that its function was that Inca enclave toward the valleys of the Apurímac River. There are many similarities between Choquequiraw and Machu Picchu.
We will pick you up from your hotel by touristic transport to take you to “San Pedro de Cachora” (2800masl) a beautiful Andean Village; in Cachora we start the 4 hours hiking before to reach our lunch place. then we will head to Kapuliyoq sector, where we continue our trek. There in Kapuliyoq, during the way we can enjoy a big diversity of landscapes that belong to different climates, like Padriyoc snowcapped, flora and fauna Andean diversity that makes beautiful our trip.
We will be able to see the deepest canyon of the world, the Apurimac canyon where the Apurimac River flows and also is possible to see the first views of Choquequiraw. We will continue descending until Chiquisca, where we will have a short break.
After Lunch we will start with our last descent of the day, it will be about 2 hours approx. towards the La Playa Sector. La playa is about 1800 m.a.s.l Close to Apurimac “the sacred river”.
Meals: Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Minimum altitude: 1550 MASL – 4650 FASL
Maximum altitude: 3100 MASL – 9300 FASL
Distance: 14 km – 9 miles
Time: 5 hours (approximately)
Difficulty: Easy
fter organic breakfast, starts the climb up of 2 hours to Santa Rosa small village (break point) then continues the uphill for 3 hours to Marampata lunch spot. During the hike you get to enjoy the splendid of Apurimac canyon, the mountain of Choquequiraw and beautiful sharply mountains. After lunch the walk is very gentle to get the lost Inca city, Choquequiraw. The campsite is only outside of the Inca site (Chance to see the sunset and Condors).
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Minimum altitude: 1550 MASL – 4650 FASL
Maximum altitude: 3100 MASL – 9300 FASL
Distance: 16 km - 10 miles
Time: 5 hours (approximately)
Difficulty: Easy
After breakfast, we will visit the magnificent archeological site of Choquequiraw for the entire day. Enjoy the private guided tour and explore all of the beautiful city sections: Temples, terraces, palaces, llamas’ quarters, and much more. We will return to the same campsite for tea and to spend the night.
Choquequiraw means “Cradle of Gold” in Quechua - the language of the Incas - although this is probably not its original name. It is another “Lost City of the Incas” rediscovered officially late in the 20th century. It is located high on a ridge spur almost 1750 meters/5741 feet above the raging, glacier-fed Apurimac River and is surrounded by the towering Salkantay and Humantay snow-capped peaks. Excavations and restoration of the 1810-hectare site began in the 1990s, and it is estimated that only 30% of the site has been restored to date. Every day archeologists are finding new things.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Minimum altitude: 1550 MASL – 4650 FASL
Maximum altitude: 3100 MASL – 9300 FASL
This morning we will start our walk back towards Santa Rosa, where we are going to have lunch. Then we will continue descending for another 2 hours until we reach Rosalina Beach at 1450m/4756ft, where we might have time to take a refreshing dip in the waters of the Apurimac River. We camp and dine here; also, we spend the night close to the river exactly in the first campsite.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Minimum altitude: 1550 MASL – 4650 FASL
Maximum altitude: 3100 MASL – 9300 FASL
Distance: 16 km - 10 miles
Time: 5 hours (approximately)
Difficulty: Easy
Today we will leave the campsite extremely early in the morning after the breakfast, we’ll hike 4 hours uphill to Capuliyoc, where will you have the last lunch with your expedition team. After lunch we still have 2 more hours of hike to Cachora Andean village, finally since this point we are going to take the bus to Cusco we will be arriving in the afternoon.
About Choquequiraw Campsites:
Please note: Campsites may change (be different from this itinerary) depending on booking time and availability, weather conditions or on restrictions undertaken for safety reasons by the Peruvian Government.
Meals: Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Minimum altitude: 1550 MASL – 4650 FASL
Maximum altitude: 3100 MASL – 9300 FASL
Distance: 14 km – 9 miles
Time: 5 hours (approximately)
Difficulty: Easy
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Adrian L
July 25, 2025
Hicimos el camino Inka de 2 días. Nuestro guía fue Eduardo y anduvimos muy contentos. Tuvimos un día maravilloso. El día anterior hicimos un briefing en nuestro hotel donde nos explicó todos los detalles importantes. El día del inicio quedamos en el km104 del tren y ahí empezamos la ruta. Fueron espectaculares todos los paisajes que vimos, las informaciones de Eduardo y todas las otras conversaciones que tuvimos con el. Es un guía muy tranquilo y con muy buena actitud.
Roberto P
July 24, 2025
Foi uma das experiências mais belas de minha vida. Paisagem majestosa, história fascinante e um guia (Percy) extraordinário.
Horacio V
July 24, 2025
Isabel - fue mi guía personal.. y déjame contarte que fue unas de las mejores experiencias de mi vida!!! Estuve con dios en cada momento de este viaje y siento que dios me conectó con ella. Increíble guía llena de amor, compassion y cariño. (Estuve un poco enfermo) y ella me recomendó exactamente lo que necesitaba. Lo máximo!! Súper agradecido, porque no solamente fue un guía sino una gran amiga. Un servició 10/10 rating. Porque Isabel lo hizo mágico. Es más que un guía es un ángel de compañía. Gracias Dios, gracias Perú, gracias Machu Picchu, y gracias Isabel por los lindos recuerdos! Hasta pronto… amén.
Quenia S
July 23, 2025
Fazer o Caminho dos Incas estava a muito tempo nos planos da nossa família. Tivemos a grande sorte de ter uma experiência única com o nosso guia Percy! O Caminho é exigente, mas Percy consegue unir tudo que importa: atenção aos detalhes, talento, generosidade e carisma. Tudo que se pode esperar de um guia…ele ultrapassa e muito! Só agradecer por todo cuidado e atenção! Foi uma escolha certeira fazer a viagem com a Inka Trail! Além disso, a equipe que acompanha é muito simpática e solícita e a comida do chef Richard foi sempre surpreendente.
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