Choquequirao Trek vs Inca Trail

Choquequirao Trek vs. Inca Trail: Which Adventure is Right for You?

If you’re planning a trek to experience the magic of the Andes and explore ancient Inca ruins, two routes often come up: the iconic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and the wild, lesser-known Choquequirao Trek. Both offer stunning landscapes and rich history — but the experience is very different.

Here’s a detailed comparison to help you choose the best option for your adventure:

🏔️ Destination

• Inca Trail: Ends at the famous Sun Gate (Inti Punku) with a direct entrance to Machu Picchu, the most visited archaeological site in South America.
• Choquequirao Trek: Takes you to Choquequirao, a massive Inca site still being excavated, often called the “sister city” of Machu Picchu — but with very few tourists.

✅ Choose the Inca Trail if Machu Picchu is your bucket-list goal.
✅ Choose Choquequirao if you want an off-the-beaten-path experience.

🧭 Popularity and Crowds

• Inca Trail: Highly regulated with limited permits — 500 people per day including guides and porters. It sells out months in advance.
• Choquequirao Trek: No permit needed. You’ll often find yourself alone on the trail, with few hikers around.

✅ Inca Trail is more structured and popular.
✅ Choquequirao offers solitude and immersion in nature.

🥾 Difficulty Level

• Inca Trail: Moderate to challenging. Highest point is Dead Woman’s Pass (4,215 m).
• Choquequirao Trek: More physically demanding, with intense descents and climbs through deep canyons. Highest point is around 3,100 m, but the terrain is tougher.

✅ Inca Trail is challenging but more evenly paced.
✅ Choquequirao is for experienced or determined trekkers.

⛺ Duration

• Inca Trail: 4 days / 3 nights (classic route).
• Choquequirao: Typically 4 days / 3 nights, but many trekkers opt for 5 days / 4 nights to take it slower.

✅ Both treks are similar in length, but Choquequirao has more flexibility.

🕰️ Archaeological Interest

• Inca Trail: Includes several small Inca sites along the route, ending in Machu Picchu.
• Choquequirao Trek: Leads to a vast site with temples, terraces, plazas, and ceremonial platforms — much of it still being uncovered.

✅ Machu Picchu is more famous.
✅ Choquequirao offers a more exploratory feel, like stepping into a lost world.

🌿 Nature and Scenery

• Inca Trail: Cloud forests, alpine tundra, and stone paths through lush valleys.
• Choquequirao: Deep canyons, rivers, orchids, condors, and untouched wilderness.

✅ Inca Trail blends nature and ruins.
✅ Choquequirao is wild, remote, and incredibly scenic.

💰 Cost

• Inca Trail: More expensive due to permits, regulations, and demand.
• Choquequirao: More affordable, with no government permits and fewer logistics.

🧳 Required Permits

• Inca Trail: YES — permits are mandatory and limited. Book 4–6 months ahead.
• Choquequirao: NO — only a site entrance fee (~60 soles). Easier to organize last minute.

Final Thoughts: 

If your dream is to walk the same path as the Incas and enter Machu Picchu through the iconic Sun Gate, the Inca Trail is the experience you’re looking for. It’s rich in history, well-organized, and filled with breathtaking scenery — but it comes with high demand, structured itineraries, and plenty of fellow hikers along the way.

On the other hand, if you’re an adventurous soul who enjoys off-the-beaten-path journeys, physical challenge, and the serenity of wild landscapes, then the Choquequirao Trek offers something truly special. You’ll likely have the trail — and the ruins — almost to yourself, and the sense of discovery is unmatched.

Both treks offer unique windows into the Inca civilization. One is world-famous and perfectly preserved, while the other feels like a hidden chapter of history still being written.

Whichever you choose, you’ll walk in the footsteps of the Incas and come away with memories for a lifetime.