Choquequirao ruins | Tourist Attraction

Agree with previous comments.
We hiked it in 3 days from Colmena campground, where we left our van. First day we walked to Marampata, where there are plenty of campgrounds, all 5sol per tent. Second day we hiked to the site and then went back down to Santa Rosa Baja campground (also 5sol per tent). On the last day we got up at 4am and hiked back to the trailhead and further to Colmena; the morning was cloudy, so the sun started appearing arround 8:30, when we were about half way up the hill. It is indeed a good idea to go early or late to avoid the sun on the last day hiking up, once the sun appears it is shining all day and there is almost no shade.
Entrance fee to the site is 60sol per adult and there was noone collecting on the trailhead. Locals told us there would be someone further at the site. There we found offcial building but also empty. Later the ranger found us at the ruins and we got our tickets.
Btw. The trail is well mantained but please leave no trash behind. It is awfull how much trash is arround the trail at some places.

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Super nice two day hike, no need for 3 or 4 days for semi fit or better hikers. Two days was a lot of waking, including around 3 hours at the ruins, but even our 8kg lap dog made it no problem. The other people at the parking spend one more night on a campsite and returned early in the morning, so 2.5 days, also an option.

Tickets can be purchased at the trailhead, but the office opens only at 7am and we were long gone by that time. We left without tickets and to our surprise nobody checked anything, neither at the toll boot you’ll pass on your way, not at the site itself. We paid upon return, no problem.

We spend the night at the last campsite, about 1km away from the ruins, which was for free. There’s multiple bathrooms and a shower.

We saw a lot of donkeys but don’t know how that works, we just carried our own gear and supplies. Water is no problem, enough water on the way. If the distances in between are too big, you just need to carry bigger bottles. Great quality, tastes much better than anything for the shop, and always cold. We drank it pure from the streams and had no issues.

Main drawback for us were the sandflies, they were incredibly aggressive and left a lot of marks on my partners legs. Thin long sleeves and pants recommended.

Tip: Wait with the return ascent until sunset and hike in the dark, way nicer temperature and no flies or mosquitos. Otherwise you’ll be boiling since that’s the side fully in the sun with no coverage. There’s enough moonlight to see, and for the cloudy nights just bring a headlamp.

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WOW!!!! What a site! There are so many ruins to visit. Spent two fulls days here. The llamas site is incredible and the path is scary as....but worth the visit. Just follow the pathes and the signs. Enjoy!

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I thought people might find some more detailed info for planning purposes. Times are for reasonably fit 40 year olds carrying full packs.

Chiquisca: 2 hours down (-900m). Water after an hour. Camping, rooms, food, basic showers & toilet.

Bridge: +1 hr steep down rough track with steep switchbacks (-600m). Camping, showers & toilets. No food.

Santa Rosa Baja: +2 hrs steep switchbacks up (+700m) rough track. Camping, food, shower, toilets. 2 or 3 camping options.

Santa Rosa Alta: +20 mins. A bit scrubby. Closed at this time of year. Water here but easier 10 & 40 mins up trail.

Marampata: +2.5 hours steep up (+700m). Small camp site just before but recommend main village. Camping, food, even at hot shower at one place! Lots of options.

Toll booth: +20 mins easy. 60S pp.

Main plaza: +1 hr up/down steep at times (+/-200m) . Enjoy your only 10 mins of flat trail! No water on site - get at waterfall on way up.

Llama terrace: +30 steep down (-200m). Amazing viewpoint at end. Worth it.

Return: down to Santa Rosa 1.5 hrs. Down to bridge +1.25 hrs. Up 17 horrible switchbacks to Chiquisca +1.25. Up to start +3.25 hrs.

Some people do it in 3 days but they all didn't recommend it! We did to Santa Rosa, Marampata (pitched tent) then up to ruins (leave early as you will need 3+ hrs there), back to Chiquisca, then up the next morning. Days 1 & 3 are tough but short, day 2 is long. Somehow coming back isn't as bad as going.

I think having a full day at the site (basically a rest day) might have been a better option. Personally I don't see the point of camping at the site as you are not in the ruins, but on a terrace before it and there's limited options (i.e. no hot showers or food).

Camping is 5S per tent, and food for 10S. A donation for parking is appreciated but didn't feel the need to do 5S a day.

Road is fine, actually worse around the towns. Took a 4 tonne Roadtrek over the bridge without worries - lots of full minibusses use it. Tight turning anything over 6m at far end.

No-one on site when we were there but seemed busier at weekend and went crazy (100+ people) departing on Easter week so watch out for holidays.

Don't forget deet to keep the sand flies away, plus long sleeves at all times.

Decompress at Casa Lena if going to Cusco - great camping & great cause. Nice swimming pool site the other way.

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Candata's entry is spot on, especially about the advisability of leaving everything at the village while visiting the ruins: the additional hike with gear to the 'Choquequirao campsite' is totally unnecessary unless you're hiking trough to Machu.

The piece of advice I'd add is to bring a headlamp, which will allow you to hike out the last section (between the river and the trailhead) at night, since there is sun on all sections all day.

Also it doesn't seem necessary to carry much water, as there are regular natural water sources flowing out of the mountains. I drank it straight with no ill consequences.

Also I'd say to pack *some* food, since some campsites don't have it or might be closed, but at least during the high season it shouldn't be a problem in most places buying food. In particular you can buy whatever you want in Marampata.

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Really nice entry and our final motivation to do the Track.
Just some additional Informations for the time in June:

- Like already written, big rigs should not try to drive to the trailhead, on the way is a wooden bridge, not suitable for heavy vehicles.
- Day 1 or from Mirador Capuliyoc to Rosalina, this Part has Sun over the whole day, nearly no shady spots.
- Day 2 or from Rosalina to Marampata, the really hard part is at the Bottom mostly shady, 100% until 10:00am, after Rosa Alto more open spots with sun, but if you Start early you can reach 2900m mostly cool and shady (June!!!)
- Please consider: the last Campsite called Choquequirao is not in the Ruins, it is far surrounded by them, shady and cool - not nice in Winter
- We are 100% with the creator of this entry, pack all food or waterfilter utilities, we saw shops open on the way there and closed coming back! Be careful of hoping to buy things there. Otherwise people went there and eat every single meal at the small shops and Campsites, but we don't know, if they organized anything in beforehand. Their mostly Peruvians!
- After our schedule to sleep at the Choquequirao Campsite, we would now spent the night in Marampata! Why? The Campsite Choque has sun for just 5h and you need to carry your heavy backpack over the last, still hard 4km which is not necessary if you start with a daypack from Marampata, where the view, sun and infrastructure is better! (just our opinion for June, Summer could be totally different)
- Lama terraces got Sun in June by 11:30am, so you start to climb down around 11, enjoy the Lamas pictures "early"
- Park Entry now 60 p.P.
- Bring Money! Water 2,5l 12sol, Coke 0,5l 5sol, Apple, Eggs, Tomatos for normal prices
- they told us to bring our passport, but we didn't need it, may a copy is enough

Have fun and enjoy the tough and wonderful track

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Choquequirao are mountaintop ruins they call the 'second Macchu picchu'. Its a difficult 2day hike to reach, so almost no one visits. To get here:
1. Park the car at Mirador capuliyoc, which is easily reached with a small or medium vehicle on a good single lane gravel road. 5sol a night paid to the shop owner is appreciated. Backpackers and big rig owners walk 2 hours from Cachora.
2. Hike from 3000m to 1500m to cross the river. This is hard on the knees and ankles. Many people hire mules (30sol pd) and drivers (50sol pd) from town to carry their bags. Pack as light as you can. There is camping an hour before you reach the river, and at the river.
3. Cross the bridge and ascend back to 2800m,where you reach the camping for the ruins. This is brutal - it's a 6 hour climb up steep rocky switchbacks in full sun to get to thr town of marapata. Then it's another 4km to the ruins. There is camping at Santa Rosa (Baja and alta), the town of marampata, and inside the ruins.
4. The ruins are another 2km (3000masl) from camp. DO NOT MISS THE LLAMA TERRACES! From the main Plaza follow the sign straiht down the other side of the hill and keep going. The white stone llamas built into the terraces down there are worth the effort. Try to go in the early afternoon, when the sun is on them.
5. Now you have to walk back out, which is just as difficult, and takes another 2 days. You did it!

(bonus points for people who keep hiking to Macchu Picchu from here - you are crazy! Lol)

Tips:
+ You have to be able to sterilize your water. It's fairly easy to find, but natural source. We used a filter. In November we were drinking 4l a day, each. Always fill up every time you can. If you rely on buying bottled water enroute you will fall short.
+ Camping is cheap (5 sol per tent) or free. Main cost is the ruins, at 55sol pp. Also bring money for snacks, and for a horse if you get injured and need to be carried out (many people do). Also you need money to pay for parking, if you did.
+ Food and drinks are available at several camping and little shops, but we didn't rely on it. The town of marapata is well stocked, but remember- if you didn't carry it then someone else did. Costs are higher because of this.
+ there are two roads being built to this site, so it won't be remote for much longer. So if you want to hike, do it now! If you want to drive - your time is coming.

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