Hike to the Lost City from Cusco
The Choquequirao Trek 5 Days is the ultimate remote trek in Peru. Over five days, you will hike steep ascents and descents through the Apurimac Canyon, rugged mountain scenery, and diverse ecosystems to reach Choquequirao – the lost city of the Incas.
Choquequirao means “Cradle of Gold” in Quechua. Recently excavated and only 30% uncovered, this archaeological complex is potentially three times larger than Machu Picchu. Built in the late 15th century and abandoned during the Spanish conquest, it was the last refuge of the Inca resistance. Far from the crowds, you will have this mysterious city almost to yourself.
This trek is designed to explore the mysteries of the final days of the Inca Empire. No trains, no buses, just you, the Andes, and the jungle.
Main Challenges
- Steep Terrain: Significant daily ascents and descents over rugged summits
- Altitude: Choquequirao sits at 3,050m / 10,007 ft. Camps range from 1,550m to 3,100m
- Long Hours: 5 to 8 hours hiking per day, 8 to 18 km daily
- Remote Location: No villages or shops for 5 days – true wilderness
Highlights of the Choquequirao Trek
- Visit Choquequirao, the recently discovered archaeological complex, 3x bigger than Machu Picchu and still 70% covered by jungle
- Incredible views of the Apurimac Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world, and snow-capped peaks
- Diverse flora and fauna – chance to spot Andean condors, spectacled bears, and hummingbirds
- Shared time around campfires with our local team and small group of trekkers
- Full-day exploration of Choquequirao with private guided tour – temples, palaces, Usnu ceremonial platform, and famous llama terraces
Who Is This Trek For?
This adventure is for those travelers brave enough to go as remote as the trail can take you. It is highly demanding, due to the nature of the terrain and long distances to be covered every day.
If you are looking to take in an experience that will show you the unexplored side of the Inca world, while discovering these hidden landscapes, this unforgettable experience is for you.
Looking for something less adventurous, check our Machu Picchu Tours.
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Capuliyoc – Playa Rosalinas – Santa Rosa
The Adventure Begins – From Cusco to the Canyon
Welcome to the Choquequirao Trek 5 Days!
Pickup from your hotel in Cusco at 5:00 AM. Private transport 4 hours to Capuliyoc at 3,100m / 10,170 ft, the trailhead. Meet our horsemen who will carry all camping equipment, food, and your 7 kg personal duffel.
Start hiking after a picnic breakfast and gear check. First segment: Hike to Chuquisaca, a small village overlooking the Apurimac Canyon. From Chuquisaca, spot Choquequirao for the first time across the canyon.
Break for lunch with canyon views, then continue 2 hours downhill to La Playa Rosalinas at 1,550m / 5,085 ft, our first campsite. Arrive to hot drinks and appetizers as our crew sets up tents. Hearty dinner prepared by our trek chef.
Day 1 Stats:
- Meals: Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner
- Accommodation: Camping facilities with dining and toilet tents
- Min Altitude: 1,550m / 5,085 ft – La Playa
- Max Altitude: 3,100m / 10,170 ft – Capuliyoc
- Hiking Time: ∼5 hours
- Distance: 14 km / 8.7 miles
- Difficulty: Challenging – steep downhill
Day 2: Playa – Maranpata – Choquequirao
Into the Wild – Nature and Archaeology
The second day offers stunning nature and mysterious archaeology.
Wake up with a hot drink served to your tent – the perfect start. After a hearty breakfast, start the first segment: a gentle 2-hour climb to Maranpata at 2,850m / 9,350 ft, a picturesque rural village.
Continue to Choquequirao, reaching the ruins in early afternoon. Rest and enjoy a re-energizing lunch at our campsite near the site.
First Visit to Choquequirao
Afternoon private guided tour of Choquequirao. Explore all key sections: palaces, main temple, ritual water fountains, the impressive Usnu ceremonial platform, agricultural terraces, and the famous white llama section. Our licensed local guide brings history to life with fascinating stories of the last Inca resistance.
Return to Maranpata Campsite for hot drinks, appetizers, and a delicious dinner.
Day 2 Stats:
- Highlights: Diverse ecosystems, first Choquequirao visit, panoramic Apurimac Canyon views
- Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
- Lowest Altitude: 2,850m / 9,350 ft – Maranpata
- Highest Altitude: 3,050m / 10,007 ft – Choquequirao
Day 3: Full Day in Choquequirao
The Cradle of Gold – Deep Exploration
Full day dedicated to detailed exploration of Choquequirao.
After a nourishing breakfast, hike 15 minutes to the ruins. Choquequirao is three times bigger than Machu Picchu and only 30% excavated. Still covered by dense cloud forest, it continues to reveal new sections – every visit is unique.
Choquequirao translates to “Cradle of Gold” in Quechua. It is proof of the Inca civilization’s architectural skill. Your guide leads a full private tour of temples, terraces, palaces, and the llama section. Learn about excavations and restorations happening since the 1990s.
Return to Maranpata Campsite for hot drinks, appetizers, and your last night camping next to the ruins.
Day 3 Stats:
- Starting / Ending Altitude: 2,950m / 9,678 ft – Maranpata Campsite
- Highest Altitude: 3,050m / 10,007 ft – Choquequirao Main Plaza
- Difficulty: Moderate – full day at ruins with short walks
Day 4: Maranpata – La Playa – Chikiska
The Journey Back Begins
Today we start the return to Cusco.
Marampata to La Playa
Early morning with hot drink served to your tent and hearty breakfast. Hike back along the same trail, 2 hours with Apurimac Canyon views to Maranpata viewpoint. From here, trail turns steep downhill for 4 hours to La Playa. Halfway, stop for locally farmed fruit.
Well-deserved lunch upon arrival in La Playa.
Night in Chikiska Camp
Continue with 2-hour uphill trek to Chikiska Camp at 1,950m / 6,397 ft. At this campsite, glimpse Andean rural lifestyle. Chance to encounter wildlife: spectacled bears, Andean condors, and hummingbirds.
Day 4 Stats:
- Starting Altitude: 2,950m / 9,678 ft – Maranpata
- Ending Altitude: 1,950m / 6,397 ft – Chikiska
- Difficulty: Challenging – steep descent then uphill
Distance: ∼18 km / 11.2 miles
Day 5: Chikiska – Capuliyoc – Cusco
Final Push – Back to Cusco
Last day and final push to Capuliyoc
Early breakfast, then 4-hour uphill hike. This final ascent is a test of resilience and strength, surrounded by the beauty of the Peruvian Andes.
At Capuliyoc, enjoy final lunch together with your guide, chef, and horsemen – a special moment to thank the team who made your Choquequirao journey possible.
Farewell to our horsemen team. Private transport back to Cusco with our guide. Arrival around 6:00 PM with door-to-door drop-off at your hotel. End of trek.
Day 5 Stats:
- Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
- Distance: ∼8 km / 5 miles
- Hiking Time: ∼4 hours uphill
- Max Altitude: 3,100m / 10,170 ft – Capuliyoc
What is included?
- Private transportation Cusco to Capuliyoc and return – door to door
- Professional licensed local guide fluent in English & Spanish, born in Cusco, licensed by Ministry of Tourism
- Horsemen and horses to carry all equipment, food, and 7 kg of your personal items
- Accommodation: 4 nights camping with high-quality tents, dining tent, toilet tent
- Meals: 4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners, afternoon tea time, snacks – prepared by professional trek chef
- Camping equipment: Kitchen tent, tables, chairs, sleeping mats
- First aid kit, emergency oxygen, safety briefing
- Entrance fee to Choquequirao Archaeological Park (S/60)
- Environmental responsibility – leave no trace
What is excluded?
- Sleeping bag suitable to -10°C / 14°F – available to rent $20 for 5 days
- Travel insurance – required, must cover trekking up to 4,000m and evacuation
- Personal trekking gear and backpack (30-40L daypack)
- Meals in Cusco city before and after trek
- Tips for guide, chef, horsemen – optional but appreciated
- Emergency evacuation and medical costs
Price – Choquequirao Trek 5 Days to Lost City
Trek Details: $597 USD per person for 2 or more people | Pack horses included for 7 kgs personal gear | Eureka 4-person tents for every 2 trekkers | Depart any day with minimum 2 people | Licensed local operator Cusco
Price Per Person – Choquequirao 5 Days
- Standard Price – 2 or More People — $597 USD
- Pack horse included for 7 kgs, duffel bag provided, all camping equipment, private guide, chef, entrance tickets to Choquequirao
Extras – Optional Rental and Upgrades
- Sleeping Bag -10°C — $20 USD
- Per person per trek, clean and warm, recommended for cold nights at Maranpata 2,850m
- Air Mattress Therm-a-Rest — $20 USD
- Per person per trek, insulated mattress for better sleep at altitude
- Walking Poles — $15 USD
- Per pair per trek, professional extendable poles, essential for steep descent to Apurimac River 1,550m
- Personal Tent – Solo Trekkers — $30 USD
- For solo trekkers only, single tent for more privacy at campsites
Added Values For FREE – Included in $597
- Duffel Bag and Liner Bags — FREE
- Included in trek price, duffel for 7 kgs personal gear on pack horses
- Extra Pack Horse up to 7 kgs — FREE
- Will carry sleeping bag, mattress, clothes, duffel – no extra charge
- Boiled Water Daily — FREE
- Included daily along the trek for drinking, bring reusable 2L bottle
- Oxygen Tank and First Aid Kit — FREE
- Available along trek for emergency, guide certified Wilderness First Aid
- Emergency Horse — FREE
- Can be ridden if tired or sick on steep ascents to Capuliyoc 3,100m
- Entrance to Choquequirao — FREE
- All park entrance tickets included – S/60 value included in $597 price
Key InformationBest Value: $597 USD per person for 2+ people includes private transport Cusco-Capuliyoc-Cusco, professional licensed local guide born in Cusco, chef, horsemen, pack horses for 7 kgs, duffel bag, all camping equipment, 4 breakfasts / 5 lunches / 4 dinners, emergency horse, oxygen, entrance to Choquequirao. Depart any day
What to Pack for Choquequirao Trek (5 Days)
Trek Details: 85km over Apurimac Canyon to 3,050m at Choquequirao | 4 nights camping | Challenging trek with licensed local operator in Cusco
Essential Documents and Cash
- Original Passport (Mandatory)
- Original passport used for booking is required
- Checked at Capuliyoc checkpoint (3,100m) and Choquequirao entrance (3,050m)
- Name and passport number must match your ticket exactly. If renewed, bring both passports
- Licensed guides verify documents the night before in Cusco
- Travel Documents and Insurance
- Travel insurance details showing coverage for trekking up to 4,000m and medical evacuation
- Cash (Peruvian Soles)
- Cash in small bills for tipping the guide, chef, and horsemen, as well as for snacks and souvenirs at Saywite
Packs and Gear
- Backpacks (Daypack + Duffel)
- Daypack (30–40L): For daily hiking with good support system. Used to carry 2L water, rain jacket, passport, camera, and snacks
- Duffel Bag (Up to 7kg): Provided free with a liner bag for horses to carry main items
- Note: A large backpack makes the steep descent to Playa Rosalinas (1,550m) harder
- Sleeping Bag (-10°C / 14°F)
- Suitable to at least -10°C for cold nights at Maranpata (2,850m) where temperatures drop to 5°C. Essential for 4 nights of camping
- Rental available: $20 for 5 days (clean, warm, includes liner)
- Trekking Poles
- Highly recommended to reduce impact on knees and improve balance on the 1,500m descent to the Apurimac River and final 4-hour ascent to Capuliyoc
- Rental available: $15 per pair (professional extendable with rubber tips)
Footwear and Clothing
- Footwear
- Hiking Boots: Good quality, well-fitting, broken-in waterproof hiking boots with ankle support (mandatory for 85km over loose rock, sand, and steep ascents/descents)
- Camp Shoes: Comfortable shoes or sandals for evenings at camp (Chikiska and Maranpata)
- Clothing Layers
- Base Layer: Moisture-wicking tops and thermal underwear for sleeping
- Insulating Layer: Fleece or down jacket for cold evenings at 2,850m
- Outer Layer: Waterproof and windproof jacket / rain pants / good quality raincoat or poncho
- Trekking Tops & Bottoms: 2 quick-dry t-shirts, 2 long-sleeve shirts, 2 trekking pants (including one convertible to shorts), moisture-wicking underwear
- Warm Accessories and Sun Protection
- Hats: Brimmed sun hat for canyon heat; warm wool hat for cold evenings at Maranpata and Chikiska
- Gloves & Socks: Waterproof gloves and 4 pairs of wool or moisture-wicking hiking socks to keep feet dry
Hydration, Sun, and Insect Protection
- Hydration System
- Water bottles or hydration bladder with at least a 2-liter capacity (canyon is hot and dry)
- Reusable water bottle (boiled and filtered water is provided daily starting from Day 1 lunch)
- Purification tablets or filter as backup
- Sun and Insect Protection
- High SPF 50+ sunscreen, lip balm with SPF, and UV-protection sunglasses
- Insect repellent with DEET (especially for lower elevations at Playa Rosalinas 1,550m and jungle areas near Chikiska)
Personal Health, Toiletries, and Electronics
- Headlamp and Toiletries
- Headlamp with extra batteries (essential for early 5 AM starts and night visits to toilet tents; no electricity for 4 nights)
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, small quick-dry towel, and biodegradable soap
- First Aid and Medication
- Personal medication, blister plasters, painkillers, and altitude sickness medication (e.g., Diamox)
- Note: Your guide carries oxygen and a first aid kit
- Electronics and Snacks
- Camera with extra batteries
- Power bank (minimum 10,000 mAh; no charging outlets on the trail)
- Energy bars, trail mix, coca candy, and electrolytes for steep climbs (Maranpata to La Playa and Chikiska to Capuliyoc)
