Choquequirao trek
Choquequirao Trek is part of the 3 great cities from the Incan times, which are located in the Urubamba range and Vilcabamba range, these great cities are Machu Picchu, Vilcabamba, Choquequirao, each other is linked by the Inca trail. Today, Choquequirao is not well uncovered yet, only 35% of the whole complex is unveiled while the rest of the ancient constructions still rest underneath the thick forest. Choquequirao is still unknown for the world, because of that, just fewer hikers are seen in the park, this encourages to adventure lovers who want to feel like Indiana Jones for a while hiking this trail and making a proper exploration of the ancient ruins.
Choquequirao ruins
It seems the Inca first flatted the area to build the basement of the main square at Choquequirao. Then, they dug the soil and assembled all the rest of the terraces and structures leaning the mountainside. Thereafter the set of buildings found in Choquequirao feature a very different architectural style and techniques, more rudimentary and simpler. What is particularly interesting and a must-see is the herd of Llamas designed in such a way with particular white stones in a terrace wall.
Where Is Choquequirao In Peru?
Choquequirao is on the right bank of the Apurimac river, way high in the Vilcabamba mountain range at 10 000 ft. in the La Convencion province, about 98 miles west of Cusco.
How To Get To Choquequirao?
Hop on the buses going to Abancay Province from Terminal Terrestre of Cusco, Ask the driver to get off at the turn to Cachora(Ramal de Cachora)
From there either hike, descend to Cachora town (1,5-2 hours) or take a shared taxi. Note! Local taxi drivers sometimes overcharge tourists, shared taxis up or down to Cachora( 7 soles). If you are taking a guided tour from Cusco, they will get you straight to Capuliyuc. The farthest the cars get is Capuliyoq hamlet, which is 6 Km from Cachora district Abancay – Apurimac.
The only way to get to Choquequirao, so far, is by hiking. From a 4-day hike to a 5-day trek.
Choquequirao Permits
Permits are up the entrance in Capuliyoq hamlet and punched at the park station before approaching Choquequirao. No pre-reservations are needed because it doesn´t get crowded as Machu Picchu. Each Choquequirao permit cost is about 60 soles per adult, 30 soles for University students, and 25 soles per child.
Best time to visit Choquequirao
The best months for hiking Choquequirao start from about May to November because these months promise better weather conditions, same as clearer views of the way and all the panorama. Also, within this time of the year, the rainfall precipitation is low; therefore, the trail is much safer to walk and avoid mudslides or rockslides in one of the deepest canyons of the world.
Choquequirao trek altitude
The highest spot you get is at the Choquequirao site, located at 3050 m / 10 000 ft. The trek is more of physical endurance and mental attitude rather than other things like altitude sickness. And carry with you your mosquito repellants because they are very pesky at times.
Weather In Choquequirao
Choquequirao is located in the forested fringes of the Amazon basin, and weather varies quickly. Moving clouds rise from down the valley and shrouds Choquequirao; however, heavy rain downpours occur in the rainy season, so rain or bad weather out of the rainy months will pass fast.
The temperature ranges more or less from 50 °F / 10° C to 68 ° F / 20° C, and at higher elevations, it drops as low as 5 °C / 41 °F in the early hours.
Historia
When Was Choquequirao Discovered?
Ever since the last inhabitants abandoned the Choquequirao site, no Spanish soldiers nor priests could find it; they didn´t even hear about it. Then, years later, and naturally, the thick vegetation began to cover the once well-preserved plaza and buildings, it became a sort of lost city, but the native people living in Cachora colonial village knew that on the other side of the canyon, there were year´s past ruins. Under the Spanish domination, it didn’t interest the recovery of Choquequirao; on the contrary, the few outsiders such as Spanish explorer and mineral prospector Juan Arias Díaz and others who reached Choquequirao looted the site. In 1909, Professor Hiram Bingham from the University of yale visited the site, with the help of a church from Abancay city. They reported the archeological lootings and pottery shards, and there, they announced for the magazines and journals for the outside world. There, the Choquequirao site became notorious, at least for the archeology community. The significant excavations proceeded later in 1970, 2004, and still today, there is much more to uncover in Choquequirao.