Choquequirao, located in Peru’s Cusco region, is one of the most ancient Inca structures, as well as the world wonder Machu Picchu.
To get to Choquequirao, there is only one way, and that is by walking. Here in this blog, we will tell you everything.
How do I get to Choquequirao from Cusco? 2023 Tourist Information
Location:
It is located in the Region of Peru, in Cusco, in the Vilcabamba valleys of the Convención, one of the provinces that belongs to Cuzco, next to the great Apurmac canyon.
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Altitude:
Choquequirao is located in part of the jungle of the Cusco region at 3,034 m.
How many days is the trek to Choquequirao?
Previously, getting to Choquequirao took six days because the last town was Cachora. Today, the road for transportation reaches the town of Capuliyoq, from where the trek to Choquequirao begins.
The road to Choquequirao crosses the Capuliyoq viewpoint, the Chuspiyoq community, Rosalina Beach, and Marampata.
On the trek to Choquequirao, you will enjoy plenty of flora, fauna, and fresh air.
How many kilometers does the walk to Choquequirao have?
The trek to Choquequirao has a distance of 32 kilometers to the sanctuary itself and another 32 kilometers back. adding 64 km. pure adventure.
Is the route to Choquequirao demanding?
It is demanding if you plan to visit in 2 or 3 days, but if your trip to Choquequirao is 4 to 5 days, it will not be demanding, You will enjoy this route a lot, making stops at each camping site where they have everything.
Can I do it on my own?
If you have experience in mountaineering, you know what to wear: first aid kits, radio communications equipment, good trekking shoes, walking sticks, etc. Of course, you can do it on your own, but if you don’t have experience, we recommend taking a tour to Choquequirao with an agency specializing in adventures.
Important Tip
In the videos and information blogs, they do not show the real thing! You cannot know how exactly the road to Choquequirao is, what the level of walking is, and they do not show you how your body can react to the weather, so we recommend you book with experienced agencies on this route to Choquequirao.
Do you recommend using a tour operator to get to Choquequirao?
Completely, because you won’t have to worry about taking the right or wrong path, you’ll be safer with the agency, which includes you, an adventure guide, first aid teams, media teams, and others.
You will have all the time you need to relax and quietly enjoy your vacation to Choquequirao.
What travel agency do you recommend?
The best adventure operator agency that I recommend is Búho Tours, who have all the equipment to carry out this four-day adventure. The equipment they have is as follows:
- camping equipment
- specialist guides
- muleteers and horses
- first aid kits
- oxygen balloon
- Others
If you have any questions about this tour to Choquequirao, contact a company specialist.
What is the price of the ticket to Choquequirao for foreigners and nationals?
The cost of the tourist ticket for foreign tourists to Choquequirao is 60.00 soles.
The income for national tourists is also at the same price of 60.00 soles.
Students receive a special price of 60.00 soles when they present their student card.
Entrance fee to Choquequirao for local people or people from Cuzco, every Sunday is free.
What is the best time to visit Choquequirao?
The months of April to October are the best for visiting Choquequirao because they are the dry seasons; that is, it does not rain, whereas the months of November to March are the rainy seasons, which cause landslides, so we do not recommend visiting during those months.
What to take for the route to Choquequirao
- 2 sticks
- trekking shoes
- Trekking pants
- Medium-size backpack (bring long-sleeved polo shirts and trekking pants)
- Hat (important)
- mosquito repellent
- Sunscreen
- rain poncho from November to March
- dried fruits
- Water for the Camino depends on the section you will be doing, because you can still buy water in the camps.
Choquequirao on your own or without a detailed tour
First option, interprovincial transport from Cusco to kilometer 154
To start your independent trip, you must have everything recommended and go to the Cusco bus terminal and take the interprovincial transport that goes to the city of Abancay. You must not forget to get off at the 154-kilometer detour and go to the community of Cachora; it will arrive in 4 to 5 hours.
After the community of Cachora, you have two options: take a collective transport to Capuliyoq, or, as an alternative, you can also walk from Cachora to Capuliyoc in 2.5 hours.
From Capuliyoc-Choquequirao-Capuliyoq to Cusco and back, you’ll walk 64 kilometers round trip.
Second option: collective transport from Cusco to Curahuasi.
This group is located on Arcopata Avenue, where you will find several collective transports that go to Curahuasi. You just have to wait until the mobility fills the seats with passengers; this does not take long, and the price per person is between 15 and 20 soles.
Next step: In Curawasi, you have to take a private taxi that will take you to Cachora or to the town of Capuliyoc, where the walk to Choquequirao begins. In this place, you can find accommodation and restaurants to stay for one night.
Before starting to walk to Choquequirao, you have to pay your entrance ticket, which is 60.00 soles.
The recommended days to travel from Capuliyoc to Choquequirao are four. You can stay in the small towns that have lodging and meals.
Description of the Complete Route to Choquequirao
First day:
The path from this first day is down and up to the town of Santa Rosa Baja, crossing places at:
Capuliyoc viewpoint (2,900 m), a preview on the road to Choquequirao, and enjoy the flight of the condor.
Coca masana; Apurimac viewpoint
Chiquisca, 1,551 m. In this hamlet, you can have lunch, rest, buy water, etc.
Rosalina Beach, 1,500 m. It is located next to the Apurmac River, and from here the path up to the first camp begins.
(2,200 m.) Santa Rosa, You can spend the night here, as well as have dinner and breakfast, and you can rent tents, sleeping bags, and flasks (mattresses) for 10 to 15 soles.
Second day:
It is necessary to start the walk at 8 in the morning to get to lunch in the town of Marampata (3,000 m), which is about 4.5 km away. Very far away; very high.
Visit to the Choquequirao archaeological site
Choquequirao’s entire sector should be visited in at least one full day due to the abundance of places to visit.
- Colcas
- the main square
- Platforms and flaming figures
- kallankas
- inca cemetery
- ushnu
- priest’s house
After visiting the wonder of Choquequirao, you will have to stay or camp in the town of Marampata, a place where they offer food, lodging, tent rental, etc. For this place, I personally recommend one of the very kind ladies named Elizabeth, your The camp is at the entrance to Marampata, in the left direction, where you can also have lunch and leave some things to go to Choquequirao without cargo.
Third day:
It is recommended to leave at 9 a.m. because the walk will only go down to the town of Santa Rosa Baja, which is 4.5 km away. It is also recommended to have lunch and rest before continuing down to Rosalinas Beach; from here, you will start to climb a small section to the town of Chiquisca, where you will spend the last night.
Fourth day:
On the last day of the route to Choquequirao, it is recommended to leave very early for Capuliyoq, since you have a better chance of finding a return transport to Cusco.
If you want to stay more days, you can take the option of leaving late, at around 10 a.m., since in the Capuliyoq Viewpoint, there is one of the condor viewpoints, which you can take advantage of to see the condors at 3, 4, and 5 p.m.
2023 news update
At the moment, there is a dispute over territories between the province of Anta and the province of the Convention, both belonging to the Region of Cusco.
The walk has a new starting point; previously, it began in the community of Cachora; now, there is vehicular access to the town of Capuliyoq, from which the walk to Choquequirao begins; where you will also find:
- Restaurants
- Lodging
- Horses and mules (who can take you to Choquequirao)
- stores to buy water, soda, etc.
lonely planet
This prestigious travel guide, published in 2017, has rated Choquequirao as one of the best tourist destinations in Peru.
Cable car project
There has been a notorious influx of foreign tourists of all nationalities, as well as national tourists, and for this reason there is a project underway to develop a cable car to increase visits and reduce walking time.
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