Safari to Choquequirao

a six hundred year old fortified guardpost

Set on the side of a remote mountain around 40 km to the southwest of Machu Picchu, Choquequirao is a similarly dramatic set of Inca ruins.

Whilst Machu Picchu is arguably a more spectacular site, it’s also very busy with visitors. By comparison Choquequirao experiences relatively low visitor numbers, due to the fact that it can only be accessed by means of an arduous trek. There are roughly four hundred people heading for Machu Picchu for every one that heads to Choquequirao and there are rarely more than 20-30 visitors at the whole site on any given day, even in peak season.

The ruins are set at 3050m (10,010”) altitude and are centred on a hillside which has been artificially levelled and shored up with massive stone walls to create a 30m by 50m platform (which rarely features in images of the site), below which sit a range of (remarkably intact) ruined buildings. There’s also extensive terracing down the slopes, overlooking the canyon of the Apurimac River.

The site dates to around 1450-1550 AD (which makes it contemporary with Machu Picchu) and is thought to have been developed under the guidance of emperor Pachacuti and his son Yupanqui, this area being a part of the private estate of the former. It was one of the last refuges of the leader Manco Inca Yupanqui after his capital of Cusco fell to the Spanish in 1535.

This mountain outpost is thought to have served as an entrance checkpoint into the Vilcabamba area and included ritual places dedicated to Sun God, mansions for administrators, houses for artisans, warehouses and large kallanka dormitories for farmers and soldiers. In total the site covers a remarkable 6 sq km (1500 acres)

Choquequirao can only be reached on foot, largely following historic Inca trails through the mountains.

In recent years there has been talk of a cable car being installed to provide access to this remote site, which is anticipated would increase the number of visitors by a factor of at least a hundred. If that happens, we’ll simply have to go find another ‘undiscovered’ citadel hidden amongst these dense cloud forests.

Where to stay

There are three ways to visit Choquequirao, both of which are treks …

The shortest option is a three night trek from the trailhead at the village of San Pedro de Cachora, returning by the same route. Although this is a perfectly decent option, we can’t help feeling that you would be missing the best part, which is the wild and little-trodden trails that lie on the far side of Choquequirao. But please do let us know if you are interested in this shorter route, it is no problem for us to arrange.

A more exciting option is the six night trek that starts with the same first two nights up to the ruins, but then continues north into the backcountry, eventually emerging all the way over at Machu Picchu.

The ultimate option is arguably the eleven night option which also starts by trekking up to Choquequirao and continues on through the backcountry, but then veers east and crosses the extreme high altitude areas of Salkantay to come down and join the classic Inca Trail for the last three nights.

Please contact us for more information on this trek.

only accessible on multiple day treks