Trek to intriguing choquequirao, machu picchu’s sister city
choquequirao: trekking to cusco’s lost citadelMachu Picchu’s sister city is a site called Choquequirao. Perched on a ridge overlooking the Apurimac Canyon, this ancient and often overlooked Inca ruin rivals Machu Picchu in both scope and awe factor, save for one appealing detail: Choquequirao is far less crowded! In this blog post, we’ll walk you through how you can include a tour to Machu Picchu’s sister city in your greater Peru adventure.
By ExplorandesSep 10, 2025
What was Choquequirao to the Incas?
With much of the ruins still buried in the jungle, archeologists have yet to reach a final verdict on what Choquequirao was to the Incas. Some say it was an administrative hub and ceremonial center that connected Cusco to the Amazon, while others theorize that it was a royal Incan estate that belonged to the 10th ruler of the Inca Empire, Túpac Yupanqui. However this vast complex, three times the size of Machu Picchu, was used, archaeologists do agree that it was built to align geo-cosmically with its sister, Machu Picchu.
Two Choquequirao Tour Options
1. Opt for an Under-the-Radar Trek Over a Machu Picchu Trek
The classic Choquequirao Trek will consume five days and four nights of your Peru vacation, the same length of time as the more popular Machu Picchu trek. If you have to pick and choose between the two treks, consider opting for this road-less-traveled journey for a much more private experience at an equally intriguing Incan ruin. The trek is there-and-back style, but on different trails in each direction, with the entire third day reserved for enjoying Machu Picchu’s sister city, Choqueqirao.
2. Combine Your Choquequirao Tour with a Machu Picchu Hike
If you can’ t choose between a Machu Picchu Trek and the Choquequrao Trek, combine the two for an eight-day continuous trek through the canyons and mountain ranges of Peru’s southern Andes. This route takes you to Machu Picchu’s sister city of Choquequirao first, gives you a full day to explore its temples, shrines, and terraces, and then continues through the cloud forests and mountain passes to Machu Picchu. If you have time during your Peru tour, this is a fantastic option, as it allows you to experience two monumental Inca sites on the Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trip.
Book Your Choquequirao Tour With Explorandes
Nestled on a hilltop on the other side of a vast canyon, Choquequirao, Machu PIcchu’s sister city, can only be reached by trekking to it. Who better than the leading adventure tour operators in Peru to guide you there? For more information about our Choquequirao tour options, with or without a Machu Picchu hike, get in touch with us today!
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