Choquequirao has been nicknamed the “Twin Sister of Machu Picchu.” This Incredible Citadel was built by the Incas on an incredible mountain top, overlooking the beautiful landscapes of the Peruvian Andes. If you prefer non-crowded places, the Choquequirao hike is the ultimate destination. Enjoy the nature, history, and adventure of visiting the Twin Sister of Machu Picchu. Hiking distance 48.8 km/30.3 miles.
The departure will be from your hotel in Cusco at 5:00 am and drive across the Andes towards Capuliyoc, arriving at approximately 8:30 am. After the first breakfast prepared by your chef, start the TreXperience to one of the Incas’ legendary lost cities, the Choquequirao Inca Site. The first part is a 4-hour downhill from Capuliyoc (9550 ft. 2911 m) to our lunch place at Chiquiska (1893m – 6210 ft.). Along the way, you will get the first views of the Apurimac canyon, one of the deepest canyons in Peru, this part of the trek offers us spectacular panoramas with different landscapes from the mountains of Peru to the dense vegetation of the clouds forest. After lunch, continue the journey for two more hours to Santa Rosa (2230mts – 7300ft), where we camp for the night.
Distance: 10.8 km / 6.7 miles
Hiking hours: 6 hours
Camp Elevation: 2230mts – 7300ft.
Meals: Breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner
Accommodations: Camping
After breakfast, get ready for one of the most challenging but rewarding days of this trek! First, hike for 4 hours uphill to Marampata (9550 ft. 2911 m). On the way, you will visit sugar cane farms where locals produce 'Cañazo' a local alcoholic drink made for centuries and delivered to cities like Cusco. Lunch is in a local house with amazing views of the mountains and the river. After lunch, ascend another 2-hour uphill to Choquequirao (3057 m / 10029 ft). A spectacular Inca site perched in the Peruvian Andes, Choquequirao, was one of the last Inca cities built in the cloud forest and abandoned during Peru’s conquest. It might have been one of the entrance checkpoints to Vilcabamba, the last capital of the Incas. In the 16th century. Today, our campsite is right next to this archaeological site, allowing us to walk to these mysterious places back and forth anytime we want to relax.
Distance: 14 km / 8.6 milesApproximate Hiking Time: 8 hours
Camp Elevation: 2,866 m / 9401 ft.
Meals: Breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner
Accommodations: Camping
Wake up with a cup of coffee or coca tea provided by your trekking team in your tent while you enjoy the most spectacular sunrise at this magical place. It will be a 3-hour downhill to Santa Rosa (2230mts – 7300ft), our lunch spot after breakfast. Later, continue down for 2 more hours downhill and 2 hours uphill until the last campsite at Chiquiska (1800m / 5905ft). This is a perfect day to enjoy the surrounding landscape from hundreds of different flowers, birds, and waterfalls in the distance.
Distance: 16 km /9.9 miles
Approximate Hiking Time: 8 hours
Camp Elevation: 1800m / 5905ft
Meals: Breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Camping
On the final day, wake up early and enjoy the last breakfast with your team. Then, prepare for the last 4-hour trek uphill to Capuliyoc. We will arrange a special feast, Pachamanca underground barbecue, where we will have different kinds of vegetables, meats, and fruits, and buried underground with hot stones. After lunch, say goodbye to all our trekking team that accompanied you to this expedition. Afterward, take the private transportation to the archaeological site of Saywite: a great mysterious rock believed to be the complex irrigation system of the region. You will have plenty of time to explore the area, then return to Cusco, and get dropped off at your hotel around 6:00 pm.
Distance: 8 km / 4.9 miles
Approximate Hiking Time: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, snack, lunch
Accommodation: Not included
All transportation
Professional Tour Guide
Second Tour Guide for groups of 9+
Trekking Chefs to prepare fresh meals
Porters, muleteers
Horses to carry food and equipment
Duffle bag for 7 kilos of your stuff
Three meals per day
Vegetarian, vegan options available
Comfortable camping equipment
Sleeping foam mattress, pillows
Private toilers, Portable hot showers
First aid kit with Oxygen bottle, satellite phones
Entrance fee to Choquequirao site and Saywite
All taxes and booking fees included
Sleeping Bag, air mattress, trekking poles (Can be rented )
Dinner on day 4 (When back in Cusco)
Gratuities (Optional)
Travel Insurance (Strongly recommended)
There is a $200 non-refundable and non-transferable fee; however, in case of travel restrictions that might prevent you from traveling, you will be able to transfer those funds to a future date with no fees. All date changes or cancellations must be requested until 48 hours before the tour departure date without fees.
Please note that this benefit is only applicable when travel restrictions related to Covid 19 or similar force majeure events prevent you from traveling to Peru.
Our flexibility policy allows all bookings to cancel and change the departure dates with no added costs for tours scheduled at any time in the future. Please note that with this policy, $200 is non-refundable; however, you can change the travel dates and even pass this credit on to a friend or relatives when travel restrictions exist. This wayyou don't lose your deposit.
To benefit from this policy, you must change your departure dates or advice the cancellation 48 hours before the tour departure date. After 48 hours, the full payment is non-refundable.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS:
All rooms are standard twin (two single beds) rooms with private facilities. We can arrange double-bed rooms on request. Hotel upgrades are available. Please let us know in advance of any upgrades / special requests so we can arrange this for you. A single supplement is applicable for single occupancy.
GROUP SIZE:
For group tours, we have 8 travelers with 1 tour guide; if there are 9 travelers or more, we will assign a second tour guide. The maximum group size is 16 people per group on the Inca Trail. We require a minimum of 2 travelers to depart. We can accommodate the group size as per guest requirements for private tours.
TIPPING:
Tipping in Peru is entirely voluntary. Tipping guidelines are provided with your final travel documents during your tour briefing, held the day before your tour.
OUR GUESTS DURING THE TOURS
Return Train tickets from Machu Picchu are subject to availability. After the tour, the arrival time back to your hotel depends on train availability. We reserve the right to book the most convenient trains for the group. If you must take earlier or later specific trains, please advise via email in advance, and extra charges might apply.
While on the tours, you must strictly follow the tour guides' instructions. All Inca sites and places we visit have restrictions and need to be followed. If you have issues with the tours, please report to your guide or office staff to solve any problems.
If you cannot continue your trekking trips due to illness or injuries, we will help you return to the nearest medical center or your hotel. The traveler must cover helicopter airlifts, transportation, and medical expenses. However, we will provide you with a certificate to help you with your insurance company. Travel insurance is not mandatory, but we recommend buying one for your trip.
We reserve the right to cancel, modify or reschedule the tour in case of bad weather conditions, catastrophes, strikes, or injuries during the trips. In this case, the standard terms and conditions will apply.
Our Group tours start with 2 people and a maximum of 16 people with 2 tour guides. A third guide will be provided if the groups are bigger than 16. Group tours are open to everybody. By booking a group tour, you agree to travel with other travelers of different ages, countries, and speeds. Tours can be canceled if the minimum of 2 is not met.
All our tour guides are fluent in English and native Spanish speakers. All our tours are done in English unless special requests are in advance.
ASSUMPTION OF RISK:
Embarking on an adventure, such as the tours we offer, may involve the risk of illness or injury caused by forces of nature, animals, insects, and flora. By booking your trip, you acknowledge these risks and apply to participate voluntarily.
LIABILITY:
Liability to the Guests is limited to the guest's total amount of money paid. We will be in no way liable for any direct or indirect loss or damage suffered by the Guest except as expressly provided in these terms.
Locally Owned Business
Discover the unparalleled beauty of Peru with TreXperience, a visionary tour operator handpicked by Lokal for its extraordinary blend of adventure, cultural immersion, and commitment to sustainability. Established in 2016 in the heart of Cusco, TreXperience se