Trip Details
Group Size: Up to 8 people (nice small group!)
Highest Point: 5571 meters (that’s pretty high!)
Type: Group tour
Transport: Comfortable van
Difficulty: Really challenging – but worth it!
Length: 5 Days / 4 Nights


Want to see something really special? Let me tell you about Choquequirao – we call it the “Cradle of Gold” in Quechua. Trust me, this place is amazing! It’s sitting way up high above the wild Apurimac River, with these huge snow-covered mountains all around it. You know what’s crazy? It’s actually three times bigger than Machu Picchu, but hardly anyone comes here! This was one of the last places where the Incas held out against the Spanish, but then everyone kind of forgot about it and the jungle took over. Even now, we’re still finding new parts of the city – how cool is that? You’ll get a whole day to explore everything! On this 5-day trek, we’ll walk on actual Inca trails, go through the high mountains with glaciers, down into deep canyons where you might spot condors flying overhead, and through these beautiful misty forests. Keep your eyes open for condors, all kinds of birds, cool plants, and beautiful orchids before we head back to Cusco.
Group Size: Up to 8 people (nice small group!)
Highest Point: 5571 meters (that’s pretty high!)
Type: Group tour
Transport: Comfortable van
Difficulty: Really challenging – but worth it!
Length: 5 Days / 4 Nights
We’ll pick you up super early at 5:00 AM – I know, I know, but trust me, it’s worth it! We’ll drive for about 4 hours to Capuliyoc (2,850m). The drive is actually pretty nice – you’ll see lots of little villages and amazing valleys with snow-capped mountains in the background. When we get to Capuliyoc, you’ll meet our horsemen – these guys are amazing! They’ll pack everything on the horses, so you just need a small backpack with your daily stuff.
From here, you get your first look at Choquequirao – it’s incredible! You can see the whole Apurimac canyon and this massive mountain called Padreyoc (5,571m). Then we go downhill for 3 hours to Chikisca for lunch. After that, it’s 2 more hours down to our first camp at Playa Rosalinas (2061m). Don’t worry – when you get there, we’ll have hot drinks and snacks waiting, and your tent will be all set up before dinner.
Meals: Lunch, afternoon tea time (with snacks!), dinner Where you’ll sleep: In tents (we set everything up) Lowest point: 2061m Highest point: 3100m Walking distance: 9km Time on trail: About 5 hours Difficulty: Pretty tough
After breakfast (early again, sorry!), we cross a bridge and start climbing. It’s a 4-hour uphill trek to Marampata – but the views of Choquequirao make it worth it! We’ll have lunch here with an amazing view. Then it’s just 20 minutes to our campsite. The best part? We’re so close to the ruins, you can sit and watch the sunset over them, and if we’re lucky, see condors flying around!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, tea time, dinner
Sleeping: Camping
Lowest point: 2061m
Highest point: 3100m
Distance: 12km
Walking time: About 5 hours
Difficulty: Challenging
Today’s the big day! We spend the whole day exploring Choquequirao. There’s so much to see – temples, terraces, palaces, and this really cool section with llamas carved into the walls. And get this – they’re still finding new parts hidden in the jungle!
Want to know something interesting? Choquequirao means “Cradle of Gold” in Quechua, but we think it might have had a different name originally. It’s massive – 1810 hectares! – but only about 30% has been restored so far. The archaeologists working here find new stuff all the time.
After exploring, we head back to camp for drinks and snacks. The night sky here is incredible – you’ve never seen stars like this!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, tea time, dinner
Sleeping: Camping
Height: 3100m
Difficulty: Challenging but at your own pace
Early breakfast again! On the way back, you’ll see things you probably missed on the way in – I’ll point out the waterfalls, plants, and animals. It’s about 2 hours to Marampata with amazing views of the Apurimac canyon. Then comes the tough part – 4 hours downhill to La Playa. Don’t worry, we’ll take breaks! There’s this great spot halfway where we can try some local cactus fruit. After lunch at La Playa, it’s 2 more hours uphill to Chikiska Camp – we stay in a local family’s backyard! Keep your eyes open – sometimes we see spectacled bears, condors, and lots of hummingbirds around here.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, tea time, dinner
Sleeping: Camping
Distance: 18km
Difficulty: Tough day, but we’ll take it slow
Last day! After breakfast, it’s a 4-hour climb to the end point. We’ll have one last lunch together with the whole team – they’re like family by now! Then we head back to Cusco, getting there around 6pm.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch Distance: 8km
Extra Stuff You Can Rent:
“ITAN Adventure” is a 100% Peruvian-owned tour operator based in Cusco, with extensive experience in hiking, adventure tours, and customized travel packages. As a completely local company, we’re dedicated to providing travelers with authentic, high-quality experiences.
Our vision as a local company is to deliver personalized travel and hiking journeys, managed exclusively by experienced local professionals, with a strong focus on HIGH-QUALITY and PERSONALIZED SERVICE.
We are proud of our reputation as a travel agency that upholds RESPONSIBLE and SUSTAINABLE practices benefiting both the environment and local communities.
We treat our team like family and ensure they receive fair wages. We are incredibly proud of each member of our team! Their dedication makes it possible for us to provide the top-notch service that our many travelers appreciate.
At “ITAN Adventure,” we understand that our reputation and the feedback from our travelers are essential for gaining the trust of future adventurers. You can check out honest reviews from our guests on TripAdvisor, Facebook, and Google to see why we’re a reliable choice for creating your Peruvian adventure.
To ensure a more personalized experience at “ITAN Adventure,” we keep our group sizes to a maximum of 8 travelers. This approach allows us to offer a tailored experience, unlike companies that operate with larger groups.
Our guides are our pride. They’re highly knowledgeable and professional, fluent in English, and deeply passionate about Inca culture and history. Each guide is committed to ongoing personal and professional development, allowing them to share accurate insights and fascinating theories about Andean heritage. They are friendly, athletic, and well-educated, with backgrounds in Archaeology, Tourism, Botany, History, or Anthropology.
Hiking with “ITAN Adventure” ensures a fulfilling experience. Our porters are here to make your journey comfortable and memorable. They carry your equipment, prepare meals, set up camps, and attend to your needs so you can relax and enjoy the adventure. Along the way, you’ll connect with local people, explore stunning sites, and discover historic Inca villages.
We provide our porters with essential equipment at no cost: jackets, sun hats, warm hats, shirts, pants, hiking boots, comfortable bags, canteens, back support belts, sleeping bags, mattresses, and travel insurance. Our porters come from remote communities, and by hiring them, we help improve their economic conditions and support their children’s education. We treat our porters like family!
Our team—guides, cooks, porters, muleteers—and our equipment make “ITAN Adventure” stand out from the competition. During our hikes, we provide:
“ITAN Adventure” is committed to giving back to isolated communities. We support social projects and prioritize hiring local staff.
We are proud to support local communities not only by providing employment but also by offering assistance to their families. This holistic approach benefits our employees from the Peruvian Andes and their loved ones, strengthening our connection to the local heritage.
The Choquequirao 5 Day Trek is available on any date that it’s best for you, as long as we have a minimum of 2 hikers.
***We provide large Eureka 4 person tents for each 2 trekkers. Â