It’s another early start today as we aim to get the best out of day 2 of our Choquequirao tour. Very early in the morning we will wake you up with a hot cup of coca tea, and a delicious breakfast to recharge your batteries for the tough day of our trek.

After enjoying breakfast, we will cross the pedestrian bridge and then it will be 4½ – 5 hours uphill on a switchback trail to reach to the little village called Marampata (2940m / 9646 ft) a place where we’ll have our lunch prepared by our team to recover energy.
Along the way, we´ll make our well-deserved break at the hamlet of Santa Rosa (1,970 m / 6,463 ft) and hike by some sugar cane farms, more great views of the valley from the opposite hill, possibly some condors above and beautiful flora and fauna. This climb is one of the most challenging part of the Choquequirao Trek.

Upon our arrival at this lunch spot, we will be done with uphill portion and then we will have our first glimpses of the spectacular Choquequirao ruins in a further direction. After lunch, we will take a siesta and enjoy the spectacular scenery that Marampata has to offer. From Marampata, it’s another 2 hours of hiking up gentle, undulating terrain until our second evening’s campsite Choquequirao located at 2,950m/ 9,676 ft.

This section of the Choquequirao trail will be the most impressive of our entire trek because we will have amazing views from the summit to the canyon of Apurimac. We will also see orchids, among other flowers and black bears. If you still have some energy left, that afternoon, you will able to take 30-minute walk to enjoy the beautiful sunset from the Choquequirao ruins. In the evening we’ll have tea time, followed dinner.

• Hiking Distance: 16 km / 9.9 miles.
• Hiking Time: 8 hours approx…
• Overnight Accommodations: Camping facilities
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea time and dinner.
• Highest point: 2,950m/ 9,676 ft
• Lowest point: 1,500m / 4,920 ft
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Weather: Hot with mosquitoes

Today is the most important day of our classic 5-day Choquequirao trek. It is visiting the impressive Choquequirao Archeological Complex, known as the “sister city” of Machu Picchu, built in the 15th century in the mountains and very close to the deepest canyon of the Apurimac River, in the entire South American continent.

We’ll start the day wake you up bright and early with a nice cup of hot coca tea or coffee to witness the mountains’ fantastic sunrise in the Peruvian Andes. After enjoying delicious breakfast, we will prepare for the most spectacular exploration of the magnificent archeological site of Choquequirao, there is so much to see.

Then, we will hike for about 30 minutes through dense jungle to archeological site of Choquequirao and then we´ll have a full day to really appreciate the amazing Inca mastery contained in these impressive ruins. Choquequirao has yet to be fully investigated. Only about 30% of the Inca remains have been excavated, the rest remains shrouded in mystery.

Enjoy the private guided tour and learn the history of Choquequirao and the Incas; and then explore properly with our trek leader all of the beautiful sections of the temples, the main plaza, ritual bath, administrative sector, granaries, astronomical observatories, terraces, water channels, palaces, the llama area, and much more. You will also visit the Usno area, where you will enjoy the sunset over the mountains.

Choquequirao is considered to be bigger than Machu Picchu, although most of it is still hidden in the forest. Although often lost in Machu Picchu’s shadow, Choquequirao’s impressive building indicate a site of high status. The beauty of the location and the site’s relative isolation also evoke a sense of awe, and you’ll marvel at the Inca’s ingenuity.

This Inca site is extremely spread out because the Incas had to study which areas of the mountain to build several buildings, terraces, and houses on. Moreover, the most impressive parts of this Choquequirao Inca site are the temples, astronomical observatories, water channels and inlaid stone llamas at the ruins of Choquequirao.

Choquequirao means “Cradle of Gold” in Quechua Inca’s language although this is probably not its original name. It is an Incan City built during the late 15th and early 16th century; it is another “Lost City of the Incas” rediscovered officially late in the 20th century. It is located high on a ridge spur almost 3,100 meters above the raging glacier-fed Apurimac River and is surrounded by the towering Salcantay and Humantay snow-capped peaks. Excavations and restoration of the 1810 hectares 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.

Choquequirao (cradle of gold) is nicknamed the twin sister of Machu Picchu but is almost twice the size. For this reason, this mostly unknown location is expected to become soon one of the most popular tourist destinations in South America.

After our thorough explorations of this impressive Inca site of Choquequirao, we will head back to our campsite to enjoy our lunch. In the afternoon, we will have time to relax and take a nap. Enjoy your last night next to these magical ruins, under an incredible sky of the southern stars. All meals included.

• Highest point: 3,100 m/ 10,168 ft
• Lowest point: 2,950 m/ 9,676 ft
• Overnight Accommodations: Camping facilities.
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea time, dinner

After an early breakfast, we’ll pack our equipment and prepare for our journey back to Cusco. As soon as we are ready, we start hiking two hours back to Marampata along the same path from whence we came circling the edge of the Apurimac Canyon.

Along the way, our tour guide will point out the beautiful flora and fauna of the area, we will also have an impressive view of the Canyon of Apurimac and waterfalls in the distance, as well as the clouds lifting from the bottom of the canyon. Also, if the weather is pleasant, we will get to enjoy the spectacular landscapes of the Andes.

From Marampata, we’ll begin 4-hour steep downhill hike to La Playa, this section of the trail requires trekking poles. Halfway down, we will have a break at Santa Rosa (2,970 m / 6,463 ft) and enjoy some fruit farmed in the area. Cactus fruit is the main attraction.

Finally, we will reach La Playa for lunch. After lunch, it will be another two hours, uphill to Chikiska Camp, also spelled Chiquisca (1,900 m / 6,234 ft), which is located in the backyard of a family’s home. Use this time to make new friends and learn about the Andean lifestyle, like their customs and traditions. You’ll be able to closely observe the deep relationship that the Andean communities have with Pachamama or, as you know her, Mother Nature.

You will also have a chance to see some black bears, condors, hummingbirds and so on. There you will have the last dinner prepared by our trekking cook of Choquequirao trek. After a delicious dinner, you can rest peacefully for the night in our cozy camp and reflect on your journey up to this point.

• Hiking Distance: 16km / 9.9 miles.
• Hiking Time: 6 hours approx…
• Overnight Accommodations: camping facilities.
• Meals: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea time and dinner.
• Campsite Elevation: 1,836 m / 6,023ft.

After enjoying the last breakfast of our epic adventure, we start our last day hiking and leave the camp site as early as possible to avoid the sun hindering our hike and the midday sun, which is so exhausting or it can make things very difficult at high altitudes.

It will be a four-hour arduous climb back up the other side of the canyon until we arrive at the end of the expedition, known Capuliyoc (2915m / 9561 ft) where we are rewarded with spectacular views.

Once we arrive our private car will be waiting for us there for the 4.5-hour return trip, we will enjoy our last lunch, and have a farewell time to our team of chef, porter and muleteers who were part of our team for 5-day trek to Choquequirao.

After that, we’ll take our private transport back to Cusco for about four more hours with some stop offs on the way, we will drive through Curawasi, where the famous local tea Anis is farmed. We will arrive in Cusco at around 6 pm. We will drop you off at your hotel.

• Hiking Distance: 8km/ 4.9 miles
• Hiking Time: 3.5-4 hours approx
• Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Time-permitting, along the way, we have the option of visiting Saywite (3500m / 11,483 ft), which is a pretty archaeological site located in the district of Curahuasi. It’s an Incan complex that probably was built in the 16th century. Saywite occupies an area of around 2 hectares which houses important examples of Inca stone art, as well as religious-ritualistic spaces. Entrance ticket is not included to Saywite site.