TRAVEL AND TOURS

Some of the remarkable features of Choquequirao, the other Machu Picchu, are the astonishing stone walls protecting it, the greenness of their fabulous land shelves, and all that atmosphere charged with energy probably coming from old ceremonies where the Sun was worshiped.

Spectacular and distant, lonely and forgotten, Choquequirao (3,085 m.a.s.l.) is built at the top of an almost untouched mountain in the province of La Convención, department of Cusco. This fact explains why it became, during 40 years, the last resistance point of the Sun's children who were looking for shelter behind its stone walls when Manco Inca, the rebel Inca, was sieged and defeated.

Its palaces and temples in two levels, systems of fountains, canals and aqueducts and its fantastic land shelves covered by thick vegetation were most probably built during the Inca Pachacutec government ( XV century) and they are only comparable to Machu Picchu, the most visited archaeological site in Peru.

Choquequirao is divided into two areas and its stone buildings form small villages. The governors' houses and the main temple are to be found around its main square. Researchers say that the complex has been an important religious, politic and economic centre as well as a commercial and cultural link among the Coast, the Highlands and the Jungle.

However, the real splendour of Choquequirao ( in quechua "chuqui k 'iraw: golden cradle) is still unknown. Only thirty percent of the 1,810 hectares of the complex has been "rescued" from the broad vegetation which during years, maybe centuries, covered this real Inca jewel.

Being forgotten after being "rediscovered" is the especial story of Choquequirao, the last Inca shelter. Cosme Bueno, an historian, was the first person to announce its existence In 1768. The French Eugen de Santiges and Leónce Angrad did the same in the XIX century. In 1911, Hiram Bingham, who discovered Machu Picchu the same year, recognized the importance of its buildings.

Besides the archaeological and historical value of Choquequirao, the Inca "golden cradle", we can also find a beautiful environment of geographic features and biodiversity adding a new attraction for the visitors who are able to watch the grandiose condor flight as well as the heavy walk of the spectacle bear.

Arriving at Choquequirao is a challenging adventure which starts in a road trip from Cusco to the town of Cachora (Apurimac) beginning in a zigzag 30 kilometres trail to arrive at the historical building. The trip to Choquequirao, from Cachora, is a 60 kilometres round trip, but it lasts four endless walking days in which we can also ride a horse.

During the long hours riding a horse or walking, we can see gigantic mountains, frightening cliffs, perfect snow mounts and the strong cannon of the Apurimac river which is one of the world deepest and where the flora and the ecological riches of this place will always delight the visitor. It is worth while to make the effort to get there. We forget our tiredness as we become witnesses of this stunning site called Choquequirao.