Choquequirao, Peru

Only 30 percent of Choquequirao has been excavated. The site is larger than what’s been uncovered, and what’s visible is more intact than Machu Picchu because almost no one goes there. The four-to-five-day round-trip trek from Cachora that is the only access route is specifically designed to be difficult by the absence of any road or cable car, which means the people who arrive are the ones who walked two days down into the Apurimac Canyon and two days back out. In 2024, that was roughly 10,000 people annually; Machu Picchu receives that in two days.

What It Is

A 15th-century Inca royal estate and administrative centre, built on a ridge above the Apurimac River at around 3,000 metres. Terraces cascade down the steep slopes, the principal plaza has precisely fitted dry-stone walls, and the Condor Complex has a distinctive terrace and stone arrangement forming a stylised condor pattern visible from above. The site is not fully understood; ongoing excavation continues to reveal new structures.

The Trek

The classic route starts in Cachora village (about 30 kilometres from Abancay, reachable from Cusco or Lima). Day 1 descends 1,500 metres into the Apurimac Canyon through switchbacks and cloud forest. Day 2 crosses the river and climbs the opposite slope. Day 3 or 4 reaches the site, depending on fitness. The return follows the same route.

Hiring a guide and mule from Cachora is the standard approach; local agencies in Cusco arrange the full logistics. Doing the route independently without a guide requires solid Andean experience and navigation confidence.

When to Go

May through September (the dry season) is the practical window. The trail becomes dangerous in the wet season from November through April; river crossings can be impassable and the paths erode.

The Future Access Question

A cable car to Choquequirao has been under discussion for years. If built, it would bring visitor numbers comparable to Machu Picchu and change the character of the site entirely. As of mid-2026, the cable car remains approved in principle but not yet under construction. The current window of low-crowd access is not guaranteed to last.