No road, railway or cable car reaches Choquequirao. The site is reached on foot from the village of Cachora (Apurímac region), and more precisely from the Capuliyoc viewpoint about 10 km beyond it, where the trail drops into the canyon. From Cusco to Cachora is roughly 160 km along the Cusco–Abancay highway: allow about four hours.
You have four realistic ways to cover that first stretch.
The options, compared
| How | Time to Cachora | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organised trek (transport included) | 4–5 h | Included in the trek price | Most people — nothing to arrange |
| Bus towards Abancay + taxi | ≈3.5 h + 30 min | Cheapest: bus fare + taxi from the turnoff | Independent trekkers on a budget |
| Shared colectivo + taxi | ≈3–3.5 h + 30 min | A little more than the bus | Speed, early departures |
| Private transfer | ≈4 h door to door | Most expensive; best shared | Groups, early starts, Capuliyoc drop-off |
1. An organised trek — the easy way
Every organised Choquequirao trek includes the drive from Cusco (usually a very early pickup from your hotel), the transfer to Capuliyoc and the drive back at the end. It also sorts out the mules, the muleteer, the cook, the camping gear and usually the entrance ticket — which is why most visitors book one. See our ranked tour comparison.
2. Bus towards Abancay, then a taxi
Buses from Cusco to Abancay leave from the Terminal Terrestre several times a day. Ask to be dropped at the Cachora turnoff (the “desvío” or “ramal” de Cachora), close to the Sayhuite archaeological site, about three and a half hours out. From there it is roughly 15 km down a side road to the village: taxis and occasional colectivos wait at the junction, most reliably in the morning. Fares change, so check at the terminal.
3. Shared colectivo
Shared cars and minivans to Abancay and Curahuasi leave when full from the streets around Cusco’s bus terminal. They are faster than the bus and drop you at the same Cachora junction; the taxi onward is the same.
4. Private transfer
A car and driver from Cusco straight to Cachora or to the Capuliyoc trailhead is the most comfortable and flexible option, especially for three or four people sharing the cost. Your driver can stop at Sayhuite and at the viewpoints above the Apurímac valley on the way.
From Cachora to the trailhead
The trail proper begins at Capuliyoc (about 2,900 m), a viewpoint and small campsite roughly 10 km from Cachora by dirt road, with a first staggering view down into the Apurímac canyon. You can walk it from the village in around three hours, but almost everyone takes a car. Muleteers (arrieros) and their animals are hired in Cachora — ideally arranged the day before.
The other way in: Huanipaca and Kiuñalla
A less-used route approaches from the Apurímac side, from Huanipaca and the hamlet of Kiuñalla, dropping steeply to the river and climbing to the site. It is shorter on the map but steeper and less serviced, with fewer campsites. It is also where the long-planned Choquequirao cable car would start: the project has spent years in Peru’s public-investment pipeline and is not expected to operate before the end of the decade, so plan on walking.
Coming from elsewhere
- From Lima: fly to Cusco (about 1 h 20 min) and spend two days acclimatising before the trek.
- From Abancay: roughly 1.5 hours by road to Cachora — the closest city with banks and a range of hotels.
- From Machu Picchu: there is no short cut. Return to Cusco by train and road, or walk the other way on the Machu Picchu–Choquequirao trek.
