Getting to know Choquequirao

What does Choquequirao mean?

Choquequirao is a Quechua word that means ‘Cradle of Gold’. The name comes from the name of a hill near the archaeological site.

Where is it located?

Choquequirao is located on one of the fringes of the snow-capped Salkantay, north of the Apurimac River. It is currently located in the district of Santa Teresa, province of La Convención, department of Cusco, Peru.

How high is it?

Choquequirao is located at 3,033 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.). Due to its location, it is presumed that this Inca enclosure served as a checkpoint between the main Inca sites such as Pisac, Cusco and Machu Picchu.

What is in Choquequirao?

Choquequirao has only been 30% excavated. Despite this, it already has several very important Inca constructions:

• Main Plaza – The main plaza or Huaqaypata divided the enclosure in two. It is a two-story stone construction. Next to it, there are other buildings connected to each other.
• Colcas – Typical constructions of the main Inca centers. In Choquequirao, these platforms have internal subdivisions. The purpose of these deposits was to store products for food, clothing and others.
• Platforms – Choquequirao has an important number of platforms used for cultivation. In the western sector there are 22 engravings in the form of flames arranged in 15 platforms. These figures are known as the ‘Llamas of the Sun’.
• Dwellings – In the highest part of Choquequirao, there are up to 5 buildings whose purpose was probably to house the priests of the enclosure. It is believed that this Inca site was an important ceremonial center.
• Inca Cemetery – Also known as the ‘Triumphal Wall’. There were found 17 burial bundles and a water channel called “The house of the water fall”.
• Kallankas – These rectangular buildings had multiple functions such as workshop, administrative center, meeting space, etc. In Choquequirao there are 2 Kallankas in whose walls there were gutters that supplied water.
• Ushnu – This construction in the form of an oval platform is located on top of a hill. Due to the wall that surrounds it and the privileged view of the snow-capped mountains, the river and the entire enclosure; it is believed that it had a religious purpose.

How to get to Choquequirao?

The only way to get to Choquequirao is by land. Currently, the main route is to go to the town of Cachora (2,903 meters above sea level), 3 or 4 hours by road from the city of Cusco (2 hours from the city of Abancay).

There, the hike to the Inca archaeological site begins. The route crosses important points such as Capuliyoc, Maranpata and Sunchupata. It is estimated that from Cachora, after 32 kilometers on foot, Choquequirao is reached.