Choquequirao — The Other Great Citadel

Where it is

Choquequirao sits on a spur of the Vilcabamba range high above the Apurímac river, at roughly 3,000 metres. The canyon below is among the deepest in the Andes.

What is established

The site is Inca, generally associated with the period of imperial expansion in the 15th century, and later with the Vilcabamba region where Inca resistance continued after the Spanish conquest. It includes plazas, ceremonial platforms, residential groups, water channels and extensive agricultural terraces.

One sector features terrace walls decorated with figures of llamas made from white stone set into the darker masonry.

What remains unknown

Only part of the complex has been cleared and studied. Large areas remain under forest, and researchers are still working out how the site was used and how it related to other settlements in Vilcabamba.

The journey

There is no road to the site. The standard approach is a demanding multi-day trek from the village of Cachora, descending into the canyon and climbing out the other side. Practical details on this page are an early draft. Check opening hours, entry tickets, road conditions and local guidance before you travel.