Self-Launched Choquequirao Trek: Cusco to the Lost City of the Incas
5 days · Peru
G Adventures charges £540
No-markup version: ~£220 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of G Adventures' 5-day Choquequirao trek: acclimatise in Cusco, then ride a local colectivo to Cachora and hike the remote Apurímac canyon route to the "other Machu Picchu" with a village-registered local guide (or fully self-supported if you're confident). Costs assume you hire a guide and mule support in Cachora (recommended, and required in the park), stay in Cusco hostels and camp or use basic campsite beds on the trail. All prices are approximate GBP per person and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Cusco – acclimatise and prep
Cusco
Land at Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) and take a taxi or airport minibus (~S/20-30, £5-7) to your hostel in San Blas or the historic centre. Take it easy today — Cusco sits at 3,400m. Drink coca tea, walk slowly, and buy your trek supplies: snacks, water purification tablets, sunscreen, cash in soles (ATMs on Av. El Sol). Pop into the Inka Museum (£2-3) or wander Plaza de Armas. In the afternoon, confirm your Cachora transport and, if you want support, message a Cachora-based trekking association or a highly-rated local guide on GetYourGuide to lock in a guide plus mule for the next day. Alternatively travel independently and hire guide/mule directly in Cachora's plaza (S/300-450 guide per group, S/60-80 mule per day) — cheaper, but riskier in busy season. Early night; you're leaving at 4am.
🚌Airport taxi ~£6; local minibus/walk for the rest
🛏Hostel private twin or 4-bed dorm in Cusco (e.g. Wild Rover, Milhouse, or a San Blas guesthouse) — £12-20
- →San Blas wander
- →Inka Museum (S/10)
- →Trek logistics & shopping
Cusco → Cachora → Capuliyoc → Santa Rosa camp
Cachora / Capuliyoc
Pre-booked colectivo or shared taxi from Cusco around 4am (~3.5-4 hrs, S/50-80 per person; a private van split 4 ways is ~£15-20 each). Stop in San Pedro de Cachora for breakfast at a comedor (S/10-15) and to pay the entry fee (S/30, ~£6.50) and register at the trailhead. A 30-min taxi/moto-taxi ride (S/20 per car) gets you to Capuliyoc, the start of the descent. Today is mostly downhill into the Apurímac canyon — roughly 4-6 hours through agave slopes with huge views across to the Choquequirao ridge. Camp at Santa Rosa / Playa Santa Rosa beside the river. Mule carries your heavy pack if you've hired one; you carry a daypack. Buy water from campsite kiosks or filter river water.
🚌Shared colectivo/minivan Cusco–Cachora ~£8-12; short moto-taxi to Capuliyoc ~£2; hiking
🛏Own tent at Santa Rosa riverside campsite (S/15-25 per person) — camping gear hire in Cusco ~£6-10/day
- →Cachora trailhead registration
- →Descent into Apurímac canyon
- →Riverside camp under the stars
Santa Rosa → Marampata → Choquequirao ruins
Choquequirao / Marampata
Breakfast at camp, then the big climb: ~2 hours up to Marampata (2,900m), a small village with a couple of family-run hospedajes and campsites. Dump your bags, eat lunch, then continue 2-3 hours up through cloud forest to the Choquequirao archaeological complex (3,050m), watching for condors over the canyon. Explore the terraces, the llama plaza, and the ritual baths — either on your own with a paper map/app, or with a Cachora guide, who will unlock the history in a way signage won't. Head back down to sleep at Marampata in a hospedaje bed or your tent. It's a tough day: ~8-9 hours of walking, altitude, and heat.
🚌Hiking only
🛏Marampata family hospedaje basic bed (S/25-40) or own tent at campsite (S/15-20) — £4-9
- →Sunrise canyon climb
- →Choquequirao archaeological site
- →Condor spotting in cloud forest
Marampata → Chiquisca
Chiquisca
Early breakfast in Marampata, then the long descent back towards the river — about 6-7 hours, mostly downhill, with switchbacks and mule trains to dodge. Stop for lunch along the way and rehydrate constantly; the canyon floor is hot. Arrive at Chiquisca, a small cluster of campsites and a tienda with cold drinks, and claim a flat pitch. Afternoon is yours — read, swim in the river if the flow allows, and watch the cliffs turn gold at sunset. Ask your campsite host about the best departure time for the climb out tomorrow.
🚌Hiking only
🛏Own tent at Chiquisca campsite (S/15-20 per person) — £4
- →Canyon descent
- →River swim / rest afternoon
- →Sunset over the Apurímac
Chiquisca → Cachora → Cusco
Cachora / Cusco
Very early start to beat the heat: ~3-4 hours up the switchbacks back to Capuliyoc, then the flat 30-minute walk into San Pedro de Cachora. Celebrate with a set-menu lunch in town (S/15) and pick up any last-minute souvenirs. Catch an afternoon colectivo or shared van back to Cusco (~4 hrs, S/50-80) — most leave before 15:00, so don't dawdle. Arrive Cusco mid-to-late evening, check into a hostel (or head straight to the airport if your flight is after 21:00), and treat yourself to a proper dinner and a hot shower. Tips for guide and muleteer (S/50-100 each, ~£10-20) are customary if you used them.
🚌Hiking out; shared colectivo Cachora–Cusco ~£8-12
🛏Cusco hostel (or onward flight) — £12-20
- →Dawn climb out of the canyon
- →Cachora set-menu lunch
- →Optional Cusco city tour (S/45) if staying on
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£220 | £540 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £320 per person (59%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£220
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.
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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 £220 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 £540 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £220 — a saving of roughly £320 (59%) 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, culture 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?
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