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Voykit pocket guide · Peru
Cachora
Cachora is the launch point for the Choquequirao trek. Budget two days to hike in and two days back, or continue to Machu Picchu. One night before and one after the trek is the minimum.
Cachora is a small Andean town in Apurímac, best known as the gateway to the Inca site of Choquequirao. The trek there is a multi-day commitment, and the town itself has a few basic stores and a couple of places to sleep. Most travellers pass through for the hike, not as a destination.
- Country
- Peru
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Mar (rainy season, trails can be muddy and slippery)
- Stay
- 2 (one before the trek, one after) nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PEN
- Money
- Currency is the Peruvian sol (PEN, S/). Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants in Lima and Cusco; markets, small towns, taxis and entrance fees in villages need cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget S/ 30–50 (excluding trek costs) · Mid S/ 50–100 · High S/ 100+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro, Movistar, Entel and Bitel sell prepaid SIMs; register with your passport at official shops.
- Emergency
- Police 105 · Fire 116 · Ambulance 106
- Plugs
- Types A, C · 220 V · 60 Hz · US devices need to be dual-voltage (most chargers are).
- Tipping
- Restaurants: About 10% if service is not included.; Inca Trail porters and cooks: Per the operator's guidance; pooled at the end.; Guides: S/ 20–50 per person for a day tour.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap; bottled or filtered.
- Toilets
- Paper in the bin; carry tissue and coins for public toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | S/ 3–5 |
| Simple meal (soup and main) | S/ 10–15 |
| Taxi from main road to town | S/ 10–15 |
| Bus Cusco → Cachora turn-off | S/ 20–30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CUZ · Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, Cusco
- Nearest airport with scheduled flights; bus from Cusco toward Abancay stops at the Cachora turn-off, about 4 h, then a taxi to town (check schedules)
- LIM · Jorge Chávez International Airport, Lima
- Main international gateway; fly Lima–Cusco, then continue by bus (check)
Typical fares
- Taxi main road → Cachora
- S/ 10–15
- Bus Cusco → Cachora turn-off
- S/ 20–30 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
On foot within the town. Taxis from the main road to the plaza (about 10 min). For the trek, you need a guide or a good map.
See and do
Known for
- Choquequirao trek
- Saywite (Sayhuite) archaeological site
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Saywite (Sayhuite) | Taxi from Cachora, about 15 min | About 30 min |
| Abancay | Bus from the main road turn-off, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
| Cusco | Bus from the main road turn-off, about 4 h | About 5 h |
Sleep
- Cachora town centre
- Basic hostels and guesthouses near the plaza; limited options, book ahead in high season.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Good morning | Buenos díasBWEH-nohs DEE-ahs |
| How much does it cost? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
| Where is the trail to Choquequirao? | ¿Dónde está el sendero a Choquequirao?DON-deh es-TAH el sen-DEH-roh ah Cho-keh-KEE-row |
| I need a guide | Necesito un guíaneh-seh-SEE-toh oon GEE-ah |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-ahs |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; one cheek kiss among acquaintances; avoid: Skipping greetings
- Food pride: Ask about local dishes; avoid: Comparing pisco or ceviche unfavourably with Chile's
- Photos: Ask and pay if asked; avoid: Photographing people without asking
- Politics: Listen; avoid: Taking sides in protests
Scams and watch-outs
- The Choquequirao trek is strenuous and requires good fitness; altitude is around 3,000 m at the trailhead.
- No ATM in Cachora — bring enough soles for the trek and any extras.
- Buses from Cusco stop at the turn-off on the main road, not in town; a taxi meets most buses except on Sundays when you may wait an hour.
Cachora is generally safe, but the trek requires caution: hire a guide, carry enough water and food, and watch for altitude sickness.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Cachora yet. Suggested stay: 2 (one before the trek, one after) nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Choquequirao trek
- Saywite (Sayhuite) archaeological site
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Cachora, revision 5126702 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5126702
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Cachora
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US embassy is in Lima; most other embassies are in Lima. For emergencies, contact your embassy in Lima.
No ATM in Cachora; bring enough soles.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/cachora). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.