Choquequirao Trek: Trip Details for the 4 days Adventure
Full Itinerary
DAY 1: CUSCO – CAPULIYOC – PLAYA ROSALINAS – SANTA ROSA
This incredible adventure begins at 4:30am, when the guide will pick you up at the hotel and drive for the next 4 hours in our private van to Capuliyoc (2,850m/9,407ft). Along the way, there are picturesque views of villages, spectacular valleys and snow-capped mountains. Once at Capuliyoc, we meet our horsemen, pack all of our equipment onto the horses. You will carry a small daypack with the essentials you will need on the trail.
Start walking all the way down to Playa Rosalinas (1,475m/4,840ft) where we have lunch. Along the way, you will enjoy great views of the Apurimac Canyon and mountain peaks such as Padreyoc at (5,571m/18,387ft). After lunch, ascend for two hours to our first campsite at Santa Rosa, (1900m/6234ft) where hot drinks and appetizers will be ready. You will have time to settle into your tents, which will already be set up, before dinner.
- Meals included: Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
- Accommodation: Camping facilities
- Distance: 16.5kms/ 10 miles
- Difficulty: Difficult
DAY 2: SANTA ROSA – MARANPATA – CHOQUEQUIRAO
The guide will wake you with a hot mug of tea or coffee to enjoy before you get up. After an early breakfast, we start our adventure by walking for 2 hours to the rural village of Maranpata (2,850m/9,350ft). Enjoy the scenery and walk through an astonishing variety of flora and fauna to the magnificent archeological site of Choquequirao! We have lunch and we will have a private guided tour of the fascinating site in the afternoon.
During the tour, explore all the important sections, such palaces, temples, ritual water fountains, amazing Usnu (ceremonial platform), agricultural terraces, llama’s section and more. The guide will tell you about the fascinating history of this amazing site! Finally, we head back to our second campsite located at Maranpata which is 1.5h from the Choquequirao ruins, where we will have tea time and dinner.
- Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
- Accommodation: Camping facilities
- Distance: 16km/10miles
- Difficulty: Difficult
DAY 3: MARAMPATA – CHIQUISCA
After breakfast, descend to the magnificent Apurimac River (1,550m/5,117ft) a walk of about two hours. This is a very sacred river in the Inca culture and you will understand why as you marvel at its strength and power. Finally, we walk up hill for one hour to our third campsite at Chiquisca (1,990m/6,270ft). Once again, your tents will be set up, with hot drinks and appetizers ready.
- Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
- Accommodation: Camping facilities
- Minimum Altitude: 1,550m/5,117ft
- Maximum Altitude: 1,990m/6,270ft
- Distance: 12kms/7.5 miles
- Difficulty: Difficult
DAY 4: CHIQUISCA – SAYWITE – CUSCO
After a delicious breakfast, walk up a moderately difficult hill towards the Capuliyoc Pass. Once there, enjoy the spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and the Apurimac Canyon. Then we take our car to Cachora (2,850m/9,407ft) for lunch. Afterward we take our private transport to the archeological site of Saywite taking plenty of time to explore. Finally, our van will take us back to Cusco to the hotel, arriving in the evening, around 6pm.
- Meals: Breakfast – Lunch
- Minimum Altitude: 1,990m/6,270ft
- Maximum Altitude: 2,850m/9,407ft
- Distance: 8km/4.4 miles
- Difficulty: Difficult
WHAT IS INCLUDED for Choquequirao Trek 4 Days?
Included
- Pick-up at your hotel the morning of your trek
- Private transport from Cusco to Capuliyoc (starting point of the trek) and Cachora to Cusco
- Entry fee to Choquequirao and other Inca sites
- English speaking, experienced and professional guide
- Comfortable tents with two people in a four-person tent
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (optional vegetarian food with prior request)
- 1 emergency horse (with helmet) which can be ridden if you’re feeling exhausted or are ill
- All camping equipment such as: dining tent, table, chairs, kitchen and toilet tent
- Tents for our staff to sleep in
- First Aid kit, including emergency oxygen bottle
- Pack horses (for equipment and personal items) including horsemen
- Camping pillow and foam sleeping mattresses
- Private guided tour at each archeological site
- 7 kgs of your personal items such as extra clothes and sleeping bag will be carried by our horses
- Boiled water for drinking and washing purposes
- Taxes
Not Included
- Sleeping bag adequate for the temperature of minus 10°C – $20 USD
- Air mattresses – $20 USD
- Trekking poles – $15 USD
- Additional horses for extra personal luggage above that of the personal item allowance
- Tips for the crew, guide, cook and horsemen of SAM TRAVEL PERU
PRICE
The Choquequirao Trek 4 days is available on any date that it’s best for you, as long as we have a minimum of 2 hikers.
- $537 USD per person
***We provide large Eureka 4 person tents for each 2 trekkers.
***The cost for a private trek is an extra $100 USD per person.
DISCOUNTS
- Group of 5 or more: $30 USD. – All you need is to book the trek together at the same time.
EXTRAS
- Sleeping bag: $20 USD per person per trek (It will be clean and warm)
- Air mattress: $20 USD per person per trek (Therm-a-rest mattresses)
- Walking poles: $15 USD per pair per trek (Professional Poles that can be extended)
- Personal tent: $30 USD – (Tent is for single trekkers)
ADDED VALUES FOR FREE
- TRANSFER – from the Airport to Hotel (Cusco Only)
- DUFFLE BAG AND LINER BAGS – included in the trekking price
- EXTRA PACK HORSE is included in the price, the porter will carry your belongings up to 7 kgs /14p like sleeping bag, mattress, clothes etc
- BOILED WATER is included along the Inca Trail
- OXYGEN TANK will be available along the trek
- EMERGENCY HORSE is included in the price which can be ridden if you get tired or sick
- CAMPING PILLOW AND FOAM MATTRESS
WHY CHOOSE SAM TRAVEL?
SAM Travel Peru is a family owned travel agency and a local tour operator based in Cusco with personal experience over many years of trekking. SAM Travel Peru is a 100% Cusqueñian Company without any shareholders.
Our dream as a locally based company is to create small personalized tours & treks strictly and only operated by local professional staff catering in PERSONALIZED and HIGH QUALITY SERVICE.
We take pride in our reputation as a RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE tour operator. Our staff are our extended family. We ensure they are supported financially by offering them a fair salary. We are so proud of our team! Without them, we wouldn’t be able to offer the best service and lifetime experiences to our clients.
SAM Travel Peru knows how important it is to trust in a reliable honest operator to create your adventure of a lifetime while in Peru. Check out our reviews and certificates of excellence on, TRIPADVISOR for yourself! Also we are highly recommended on Conde Nast Travelers, Lonely Planet and by many blogs like: Trek de Lares 4 hours, “It’s the journey, not the destination…”, Lares Pass – Day 3, Trekking in the Sacred Valley.
SMALL GROUPS
To ensure a more personalized service for our guests, at SAM Travel Peru we have a policy that our groups will not exceed 8 people. This fact alone sets us apart from other companies that operate departures with bigger groups.
OUR TOP TOUR GUIDES
We are so proud of our guides! They are highly professional and speak fluent English. They are very knowledgeable and passionate for Inca heritage and history. Our guides are dedicated to continuous personal and professional development. They do research to ensure that you receive accurate and recognized theories in Inca and Andean culture. Our crew is fun loving, great sports and well-educated. They all hold degrees in one of the following: Archeology, Tourism, Botany, History or Anthropology.
OUR COOKS
The food on the trek has been highlighted by all our clients as delicious and abundant gourmet style meals. Peruvian and international cuisine are prepared by our professional and dedicated cooks from a mixture of local and exotic produce. If you have any dietary restrictions or have food allergies of any kind, we can cater to your needs!
OUR EQUIPMENT
Our team (Guides, cooks, and horsemen) and our equipment are what really makes SAM Travel Peru stand out from all the competitors…. For all our adventures we hike we include the following items:
- OUR TENTS: Enjoy a good night’s sleep in our 4 season EUREKA Timberline tents. All our tents are 4 person tents, but ONLY sleep 2, leaving lots of room to spread out comfortably and store your duffel bags. They also include a little vestibule in front, giving you some extra outdoor space to leave your boots and walking sticks so you don’t have to bring in dirt.
- OUR MATS: They are used to separate and insulate you from the ground. They all are comfortable.
- AIR MATTRESSES: They can be rented for $20 USD.
OUR KITCHEN & DINING TENTS: The dining tent is used as our meeting room at meal time. It’s a place to enjoy our meals and the company of fellow trekkers. - OUR TABLES & CHAIRS: The interior of the dining room includes tables and chairs with two doors on each side, which are adaptable to weather conditions.
- DUFFEL BAGS: Will be provided at briefing time the night before the trek.
- MORE: Pillows, backpack rain covers, survivor t-shirts, hot shower and the biochemical camping toilet are provided on the trek.
OUR SERVICE PROJECTS
SAM Travel Peru has always believed that we should give back to the communities we pass through when on our treks. Therefore, as part of our commitment to responsible tourism, we always do many service projects and hire locally.
SAM Travel Peru is so proud to be able to support these beautiful people, not only employing them work but also keeping things at grassroots, to share in their homes and with their families. This makes us happy to have this holistic approach with our highland employees and their families!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CHOQUEQUIRAO 4 DAY TREK
Please read carefully the following information. It will help with your questions about our services and the Choquequirao 4 Day Trek.
ARRIVAL TO CUSCO
You will be greeted at Cusco airport and taken to your hotel, please ensure that you inform us of your full flight details at least 14 days prior to arrival. Look for our representative holding an orange SAM Travel Peru board at the exit from the arrival terminal.
THE BRIEFING
The briefing will take place the night before the trek at 6pm in our office, which is located at Calle Garcilaso 210, office 207 (second floor) in the La CASA DEL ABUELO shopping center.
CAN I STORE MY LUGGAGE AT YOUR OFFICE?
Of course! During the Choquequirao 4 Day Trek, your main luggage can be stored at our office or at your hotel, whichever is more convenient for you.
HOW TO BOOK THE CHOQUEQUIRAO 4 DAY TREK
FIRST, to book your Choquequirao 4 Day Trek, we need you to fill out our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or click here the link BOOK NOW.
Please be ready with the following information, FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group.
- Personal information (your full name, exactly as on your passport):
- Gender
- Passport number
- D.OB. (dd / mm / yyyy)
- Nationality
SECOND, we require a deposit of $211.00 USD per person in order to purchase a permit for the Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu. You can make you deposit by clicking on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on the top of our home page, or you can click on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on our booking page.
WHAT ABOUT THE BALANCE?
If you would like to avoid the high credit card fees in Peru, you may pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. There are many ATMS within the historical center to withdraw money. You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 5.5% service fee, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account and use our email address samtravelperu@gmail.com.
MAY I CHANGE THE DEPARTURE DATE AFTER THE TICKETS HAVE BEEN BOUGHT?
Yes, but with some restrictions. Please contact the office as soon as possible if you need to change your date.
If you cancel your Choquequirao Trek 4 days, the deposit is not refundable at all!
DO I NEED MY ORIGINAL PASSPORT ON CHOQUEQUIRAO 4 DAY TREK?
Yes! You have to bring your original passport and it is very important that it is the same passport number you sent to us to book your Choquequirao 4 Day Trek, other entrances and reservations. In case you are renewing your passport or changing your name, go ahead and send us your old passport information to secure your permit, and we can change it when you get your new passport number or updated your name for a fee of $25 USD per person. We must have a copy of your old and new passport to make the change. Before you change your passport keep a copy of your old one.
If you do not wish to pay this fee you will need to bring both passports to Peru with you. You can enter Peru with your new passport but you will need to show both passports, old and new to be to enter the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu or the train. If you do not have both you will not be allowed to enter, Machu Picchu or get on the train.
HIKING THE CHOQUEQUIRAO 4 DAY TREK
The evening before you start your trek, you will be given a SMALL DUFFEL BAG to pack your clothes for the next four days. Your weight allowance is up to 7kg/14lbs. Your team of pack horses will carry your duffel bag for you, together with the food and camping gear. It’s important to be aware that you will not have access to your items in the duffel bag until the end of each day as the pack horses will always be ahead of the group. During the trek, you need a day backpack big enough to carry your personal belongings such as a warm jacket, a rain jacket, your camera, sunscreen, snacks, water, etc. A 30 to 50L backpack is sufficient.
IS THE CHOQUEQUIRAO 4 DAY TREK DIFFICULT, DO I NEED TO BE FIT?
The trail is certainly not easy but you do not need to be an athlete or a trekking expert to complete it. Fitness is naturally important for the trek and obviously the more fit you are the more you will enjoy the trail and the more chance you will have to take in the scenery and appreciate the Inca ruins dotted along the way. If you do not exercise regularly, it is advisable to do extra walking, hiking or some kind of aerobic activity in the months leading up to your trip. This trek is from moderate to difficult level.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM UNABLE TO FINISH THE CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK?
In the unlikely scenario that you are unable to finish the trek due to a health issue, Sam Travel Peru will assist you to the nearest town for help with transportation. We always carry oxygen on the trek for any respiratory problems. In extreme cases, a helicopter pick up can be arranged at your own expense. (Travel insurance required). There are no refunds in the unlikely situation that you are unable to finish the trek.
ARE WE GOING TO BE DROPPED AT OUR HOTEL AFTER THE CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK 4 DAYS ?
Absolutely!! Included in the package and on the last day we will drop you at your hotel! If you have booked your hotel in the Sacred Valley like Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, we will drop you there too! If you spend the night at Ollantaytambo before the trek, will pick you up there !
TIPPING
If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appreciated. While it may not be customary in your country, it’s of great significance for the people who will take care of you during the trek. It inspires them to give excellent service and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many SAM Travel Peru destinations. Of course, you are free to tip as much as you feel appropriate, depending on your perception of the quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
ARE WE SUSTAINABLE?
Yes, we are a local, sustainable & responsible tourism operator for that we incorporate the universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities by respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our local staff to know and understand, respect the places and the local people.
PACKING LIST TO CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK 4 DAYS
WHAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE WITH YOU
- Original passport (it has to be the same you have used for booking your trek)
- Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
- Water storage: 2-3L, please bring reusable, not disposable, bottles
- Comfortable hiking boots with ankle support
- Sleeping bag (can be rented from SAM Travel)
- Headlamp: essential
- Toilet paper
WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR DUFFEL BAG
As a Direct Local Tour operator we provide you with a duffel bag at your briefing and INCLUDE an extra pack horse which will carry up to 7 kgs or 14 lbs including your 2.5kg sleeping bag, mattress and extra clothing. By Peruvian law, a duffel bag must not weigh more than 7 kilograms (15lbs). This limit is set to protect the health of the porters or horses. All bags will be weighed before being accepted. If you require more than 7 kilograms, it will then be your responsibility to carry the extra weight with your day pack. In this 7 kilos, please count 2 kilos for your sleeping bag and 1 kilo for your sleeping pad. This leaves you about 4 kilos for your personal gear.
- 2 t-shirts
- 2 hiking pants at least
- 4 sets of undergarments
- 3 sets of hiking socks
- Fleece/ thermals
- Warm clothes, down jacket — 2nd campsite temp around 3º C
- Waterproof gloves (even if they are ski gloves, take them)
- Comfortable shoes for camp
- Quickdry towel. We provide small ones, you might prefer something larger
- Small bottle of soap: we provide warm water each day to wash
- Battery Charger: No electricity along the trek
- Large plastic bags will be provided at the office to line your duffel
- Sleeping bag: It has to be at least -15ºC – This can be rented from us
TOILETRIES
- Face moisturizer
- Hand sanitizer
- Wet wipes
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Personal medications
- First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc
WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR BACKPACK
We highly recommend a small backpack 30 to 40Litres for hiking in the day. The remainder of your belongings will be in your duffel bag at camp.
- Water: Please supply your own water until the first lunch spot, then we will provide you with cold boiled water at every meal time. Please bring your canteens
- Sun hat
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Headlamp: essential
- Wool hat
- Rain gear
- Fleece
- Snacks like chocolate bars, cereal bars or any dry fruits
- Rain plastic poncho
- Gloves
- Camera
- Hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
- Extra money for souvenirs, drinks & tips
