Our 5-day Choquequirao trek is the best choice if you want to explore every corner of this site. Unlike standard itineraries that begin in the community of Cachora or Capuliyoc, we offer a superior alternative via the new route through the community of Kiuñalla—a total round-trip distance of only 32 km, sparing you the 52 km trek required when starting from Capuliyoc.
This 5-day itinerary to Choquequirao is specifically designed for travelers who wish to explore the citadel of Choquequirao in its entirety, spending a full day discovering its every corner while immersing themselves in the culture and landscapes of the great Apurímac Canyon. You will be accompanied by expert local guides, cooks, and muleteers from the community of Kiuñalla.
We offer more tour options for those who love hiking in the Peruvian Andes and the Apurímac River Canyon. See more choices under «Choquequirao Trek.»
Your hotel or accommodation in Cusco city
5:00 AM (Door-to-door hotel pick-up)
This is a true wilderness trek in the Apurímac Canyon, starting from the small community of Kiuñalla and going up and down the mountain in order to reach the ruins of Choquequirao in a natural way and without masses of tourists. The route is characterized by many steep climbs up switchbacks, but because it is a direct route of 32 km we can keep a good pace and provide full support in the field with our local team.
Pick-up at 6:00 AM. Visit the Temple of the Moon at Killarumiyoc, the Tarawasi *Usnu* in Limatambo, and the carved monolith of Saywite. Lunch en route and arrival at the Kiuñalla viewpoint around 3:00 PM for an afternoon of acclimatization.
Accommodation: Community lodge / Camping area in Kiuñalla.
A 3-hour descent into the Apurímac Canyon through lush cloud forests. Freshly prepared lunch by the river, followed by a 4-hour uphill hike to Marampata and our peaceful campsite near Choquequirao.
Hiking time: ~7 hours.
Spend the entire day uncovering the secrets of Choquequirao. Visit the ceremonial sector, the royal palaces, the main plaza, and the famous llama terraces (Llamas del Sol). Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere for photography and take in the panoramic views of the canyon.
Descend for three hours to the Apurímac River. Make the steep ascent back to Kiuñalla on horseback, avoiding the physical strain of the climb. Celebrate the successful trek with our local support team in the village.
Hiking time: approx. 6 hours.
Take part in an authentic Pachamanca feast, prepared in an earthen oven by community hosts. Transfer to the Cconoc hot springs to enjoy a relaxing soak and lunch before returning to Cusco in the early afternoon.
The 5-day Choquequirao trek via Kiuñalla is better than the standard routes starting from Capuliyoc or Cachora as it covers a distance of 32 km in total, 20 km on foot and 12 km by vehicle. This is short distance in comparison to the 52 km on foot for the standard routes.
This 5-day itinerary is perfect for visitors who want to explore every corner of the Choquequirao citadel without feeling rushed. It includes a whole day to explore the main plaza, temples, agricultural terraces and hidden sectors of the citadel, as well as plenty of time to explore the breathtaking Apurímac Canyon.
The round trip is 32 km (20 miles) long. The trek is challenging to demanding as you have to descend into the Apurímac Canyon and then ascend again. However, it is much shorter than the traditional routes to Choquequirao via Capuliyoc or Cachora.
The support team for the trek will consist of local mountain guides, professional chefs and arrieros (muleteers) from the community of Kiuñalla, all speaking English.
Yes! Our support team includes pack horses from Kiuñalla to transport all heavy camping gear, cooking equipment, and your personal duffel bags (up to 5 kg / 11 lbs per trekker). You only need to hike with a light daypack containing your daily essentials.
There are emergency support horses on the trail in case you can’t make it to camp on a given day. These are not the same horses that carry the camp equipment and food for the trek.
On the fourth day of the trek you will spend a full day exploring the ruins of Choquequirao with our guide. You will see the Usnu (ceremonial platform), the Priest’s House, the main plaza and the famous Llamas Terraces. There will also be plenty of time for taking photos.
All the transfers in the private vehicle of Cusco – Kiuñalla – Cusco. Entrance tickets to the ruins of Choquequirao. All the mountain equipment for the trek. Professional local guide. Professional chef. Meals on the trek. Pack horses for the trek. Emergency horses on the trek.
It is very important to acclimate in Cusco or the Sacred Valley for at least 2 days prior to starting this trek. High altitude can cause severe problems to the body, such as altitude sickness, which can result in death.
Check out our 3-day and 4-day treks to Choquequirao in the “Choquequirao Trek” category of our website.
