Self-Launched Choquequirao Trek: Cusco to the Lost City of the Incas
5 days · Peru
G Adventures charges £1,049
No-markup version: ~£420 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 5-day Choquequirao trek. Instead of a private guided group with cooks and porters, you arrange the same route independently from Cusco: a colectivo to Cachora, a self-guided (or locally-hired muleteer-assisted) hike down into the Apurimac canyon, camping or staying at basic trail lodges at Playa Rosalinda/Chiquisca and Santa Rosa, and two mornings exploring the remote Choquequirao ruins — far quieter than Machu Picchu. Costs are estimated for a budget backpacker using local transport, basic guesthouses/camping and a local guide hired on the ground for the ruins. Note: the Choquequirao trek is physically demanding (Physical Grading 5) and involves significant altitude and canyon elevation changes — allow acclimatisation days in Cusco first.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Cusco & acclimatise
Cusco
Land at Velasco Astete International Airport and take a set-rate official taxi into the historic centre (~S/25-35, about £5-7). Check into a hostel in San Blas or near Plaza de Armas and spend the day gently acclimatising to 3,400m — hydrate, avoid heavy meals and alcohol, and pick up any last trek supplies (water purification tablets, snacks, cash in soles). In the afternoon visit the Inka Museum (S/10) or wander San Pedro market. Book your Choquequirao trail logistics this evening: either hire a local guide/muleteer in Cachora by phone, or use a small Cusco trek agency for a bare-bones package. IMPORTANT: do not start the trek the day after arrival — build in 2 nights in Cusco to acclimatise (the source itinerary's 1 night is tight; consider adding days).
🚌Official airport taxi ~£6; walking in the centre
🛏Hostel in Cusco historic centre (dorm or private room), ~£12-18 pn
- →San Blas neighbourhood wander
- →Inka Museum (S/10)
- →San Pedro market
- →Trek logistics briefing
Cusco to Cachora & hike to Playa Rosalinda
Cachora / Playa Rosalinda
Take an early colectivo or shared minibus from Cusco to Abancay road junction and on to Cachora (~2.5-3 hrs, S/15-25 / £3-5); local buses leave from the Terminal Terrestre. In Cachora, meet your muleteer (arranged in advance or via the small trekking offices on the main square — mule + arriero roughly S/90-120 per day) and start the descent into the Apurimac canyon, passing the Capuliyoc lookout with sweeping views of the river and surrounding peaks. Descend ~4-5 hrs to Playa Rosalinda (1,500m) beside the river, where you camp or take a basic trail lodge. Note this is a low-canyon camp — hot and buggy, so bring repellent.
🚌Colectivo Cusco–Cachora ~£4; hiking
🛏Camping at Playa Rosalinda or basic trail lodge ~£8
- →Capuliyoc viewpoint
- →Canyon descent hike (~5 hrs)
- →River camp
River crossing & climb to Choquequirao
Choquequirao
Cross the Apurimac bridge early and begin the long, steep climb up into cloud forest toward Choquequirao (~6-7 hrs). This is the toughest day — the ascent from 1,500m to roughly 3,000m is relentless but you'll be rewarded with condor sightings and changing vegetation from cactus to orchids. Camp at the Choquequirao campsite just below the ruins (or Santa Rosa if you prefer an easier day), or use the basic lodges there. Hire a local site guide for the afternoon (roughly S/120-180 / £25-38 for a half-day) or explore independently — bring cash for the site entrance (Choquequirao entry ~S/60 / £13 for foreigners).
🚌Hiking ~7 hrs
🛏Campsite or basic lodge at Choquequirao ~£8
- →Apurimac suspension bridge crossing
- →Cloud forest ascent
- →First afternoon at Choquequirao ruins
- →Local guide (optional)
Explore Choquequirao ruins & descend to Chiquisca
Chiquisca
Wake early for sunrise over the ruins and spend the morning exploring the terraces (the famous llama carvings), the ceremonial plaza and the upper sector — Choquequirao sees a tiny fraction of Machu Picchu's crowds, so you may have the site almost to yourself. Entry is generally included in a single ticket valid for both days, so keep your stub. Optional: continue to the Casa Cascada viewpoint. Midday, begin the long descent back down to the river and on to Chiquisca, where you camp for the night.
🚌Hiking ~7-8 hrs (mostly downhill)
🛏Camping at Chiquisca ~£7
- →Sunrise at Choquequirao
- →Guided or self-exploration of ruins
- →Descend to Chiquisca camp
Chiquisca to Cachora, Cusco
Cusco
Set off early for the final climb out of the canyon to Capuliyoc and back to Cachora (~3-4 hrs). Settle up with your arriero/muleteer in Cachora (tip ~S/20-40 per day is customary, plus food for the crew), then catch a colectivo or shared minibus back to Cusco (~£4-5) — afternoon departures are frequent until around 5pm. You'll arrive into Cusco in the evening; check back into your hostel. Tip: allow a recovery day in Cusco before onward travel.
🚌Colectivo Cachora–Cusco ~£5; hiking ~4 hrs
🛏Hostel in Cusco ~£14
- →Final canyon climb
- →Return to Cusco
- →Trek celebration dinner
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£420 | £1,049 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £629 per person (60%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£420
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Choquequirao Trek: Cusco to the Lost City of the Incas cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £420 per person for 5 days in Peru. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,049 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £420 — a saving of roughly £629 (60%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Peru.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, backpacker trip through Peru, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.