When is the best time to trek to Choquequirao Peru?

by Perry Smith Blogger

If you've been researching lost Inca cities of Machu Picchu's sister city Choquequirao, you may be wondering how challenging the Choquequirao walk is and how many days you should spend trekking Choquequirao. There is also a link between these two questions: the longer you spend on the choquequirao trek, the easier it will be! (In general - you must consider your fitness, among other things.)

The good news is that you've discovered the 'heart' of the Choquequirao hikes! That's correct. Among Peruvian tour companies, TreXperience is one of the most enthusiastic about the Choquequirao region! Not only did one of our founders fall in love with the place, but we have since operated thousands of Choquequirao treks. We are ranked as one of the best Choquequirao trek operators in many of the most recent Lonely Planet guidebooks to Peru.

How challenging is the Choquequirao trek?

Hard! I'm not going to sugarcoat it for you: the Choquequirao hike is challenging no matter how you do it. This is because you must cross the Apurimac canyon on foot. In general, the first day comprises descending 1500m (4921feet) of steep and treacherous descents, followed by a climb back up 1500m to reach the Choquequirao ruins. Both days include a sequence of switchbacks that are difficult for people of all fitness levels.

Some Choquequirao trek operators would inform you that the Choquequirao trek difficulties aren't too terrible because they're not high altitude. Again, I believe some candour is required. The Choquequirao trek is one of the lowest altitude treks in the Cusco region, but that doesn't imply it's a low-altitude trek! You begin at 3300m (10826 ft) on the first day and will be back above 3000m by the second day (depending on the route you pick).

To put that in context, the highest state capital in the US, Santa Fe, New Mexico, is just 2180m, while Denver, Colorado, is only 1500m - 1700m (the height of the trek's lowest point!)

When is the best time to trek to Choquequirao, Peru?

Yes, the Choquequirao walk difficulty is affected by the weather.

As a general rule, the best time to hike Choquequirao is during the dry winter months of May to August, when there is little rain and the trail is solid underfoot.

There are several disadvantages to walking Choquequirao during the dry season.

● Temperatures can drop below freezing at night, making it exceedingly cold. This only applies to upper campsites, such as those near the Choquequirao ruins or Marampata. When you arrive in lower campsites, such as Chiquisqa or Santa Rosa, the nightly temperatures should be pleasant.

● The lowest section of the canyon can get quite hot — reaching 37'C or 98/F. The frigid winds of winter will then hit you as you climb back out. This is easy to cope with if you layer properly, but it's worth noting.

● Because it is the high season in Cusco, the path is likely to be busier than in the low season. However, because this is one of the most challenging hikes in the Cusco region, it is not overcrowded.

Along the Choquequirao-Huanipaca Highway! The best months to trek in the Andes are April, September, October, and November. The quality of the shoulder months depends entirely on the year and the amount of rain at the time! For example, if it was a particularly wet rainy season, April can still be quite treacherous; November might be a challenging trekking month if the rain arrived early. However, because the earth is not yet saturated, November may be fine.

The Choquequirao Peru journey is dangerous to hike from December to March because the Apurimac canyon's sides are affected by the severe rainy season rainfall. This is not a joke — rock falls from above have killed trekkers on the Choquequirao trail, and no trekking company should transport tourists to Choquequirao during these months.

In addition to the risk of rockfall from above, the Choquequirao trail is exceedingly steep, and when wet, it may be very slippery. The slopes around the trail are highly inclined, plunging hundreds of meters to the Apurimac.

A Choquequirao trek in September and October should be fine in general, though Apus Peru retains the right to reschedule or cancel treks if weather circumstances make walking risky.