Choqueqirao known as the "Sister City of Machu Picchu" Seldom seen by tourists, this Inca "lost city" fascinated 19th century explorers. Nestled in cloud forest, a magnificent 1150 meters above the Apurimac river, this site is similar in many ways to Machu Picchu. Abandoned for centuries, both were overlooked by the Spanish chroniclers of the 16th and 17th Century. It is located on an ample Andean plateau in the Convention province, in the middle of Vilcabamba valley. Its archeological sites are as important as Machu Picchu, and that is why it has been called its sister city. Archeologists presume that it is one of the several lost citadels in Vilcabamba where the Incas took refuge in 1536. Choquekirau is relative inaccessible, the southern approach to the site requires a steep descent from almost 3200 meters, near the village of Cachora, down to the Apurimac river at 1200m, followed by an even steeper ascent of 1800m to ruins. Machu Picchu is situated on the eastern slope of the cordillera Vilcabamba and Choquekirau on it́s opposite western slope at about the same parallel. Both citadels are located half way up steep, densely forested mountain slopes. Choquekirau is an extraordinary complex which is formed by nine architectural stone groups. It has hundreds of terraces, rooms and irrigation systems. As of recent less than approximately only 30% of the archeological area has been cleared by COPESCO, the Government body responsible for tourism in Peru. The area is open and can be explored easily by those willing to undertake the difficult trek required to get there.

Choquekirau is composed of nine sections including the religious-political center, the irrigation and fountain systems with aqueducts, and the group of main doors. It is necessary to understand the religious character of this complex. The architecture is distributed around a main square or place and is very well complemented by nice terrace work. The archeological sites are distributed on the lower part of the Choquekirau hill and they are grouped into different quarters. Each one is separated a little bit from the next, probably following a functional and social rank. The trip to Choquekirau is long and tiring but certainly unforgettable. You will leave Cuzco on the Abancay Road and at Km 154 you detour to the Cachora Village where the trek will begin. To reach Choquekirau you should be in good physical condition. The route starts at 2900 meters above sea level at Cachora and ends at 1530 meters above sea level at the Apurimac river. On the second day you will hike up to 3085 meters above sea level where the complex lies.

Day 1 - Cuzco - Waqcha Pampas
Morning you will depart by private car and guide from Cuzco on the Abancay road to the Town of Cachora. On the way you will pass the towns of Izcuchaca and Limatambo. Afterwards continue over the Kunyac Bridge and proceed to where you will visit the ruins of Tarawas & Sawite. After clearing the Cachora Pass continue to San Pedro de Cachora where camp will be set in Waqcha Pampas. ( B/L/D )

Day 2 - Waqcha Pampas - Rosalina beach
After a healthy breakfast you will proceed to La Colmena with pack mules to the Pucaira pampas, down to the Apurimac river canyon. Here you will view the Chanchaillu which has a complex of water fountains. Here you will ascend to Wayna Qalli, where the first views of the archaeological site of Chokequirao and impressive Vilcabamba range can be appreciated. Here you will proceed to descend toward Cuca Masana and the beginning of the Amazon basin where a variety of fauna / flora abundantly emerges. After the extended hike the camp will be set near the Rosalina beach. Camp at Rosalina beach. ( B/L/D )

Day 3 - Rosalina beach - Raqaypata
After our breakfast we will set out to be what is the most difficult day of the trek.Starting from our camp we will proceed toward the mountains on the Cusqueno side, toward Maranpata where many varieties of colorful orchids, species of birds and other creatures are known to exist on the basin of the fertile Amazon. As we make our way to the "newly located" site of the Choquekirau ruins, the surroundings become more apparent that we are near our final post for the day above the Apurimac river or as known as the Gold Cradle. Proceed to Raqaypata where you will camp on the banks of the Chunchullmayu river. ( B/L/D )

Day 4 - Raqaypata - Choqueqirao - Rosalina beach
After a early sun rise and hearty breakfast the trek takes you approx 1 hour hike to the archaeological compound of Choqueqirao. Here you will be able to walk into the acropolis of eight sectors including the altar of the sun, Andean terraces, barns, Qolqas and plazas. After some time is spent to appreciate this latest Inca wonder you will have additional free time and later proceed for the trek back down to Rosalina beach were the camp again will be spent. ( B/L/D )

Day 5 - Rosalina beach - Cachora - Ollantaytambo
After breakfast the gear will be packed and the we will depart the area hiking back to Cachora. Along the way a excellent view of the Apurimac river as well as the site of Wayna Qalli is a viewable appreciation toward the canyon. Here the private bus will be waiting here for the transfer into the Urubamba Valley then to Ollantaytambo the oldest continuously habituated town of the Inca. Here there are several structures of importance to the Inca. At the top of the sixteen massive terraces are the ever impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo Fortress where it is known the Inca fought some of their fiercest & strongest battles. The huge precisely carved stones were transported somehow by hundreds of men down one mountain range to the Ollantaytambo location and fitted perfectly to support a strategic fortress that has bared the test of time. Also found here are "silos" or grain mills that are directly adjacent to the fortress and were to have maintained thousands of pounds of grain for the Inca and its people. Some of which was most likely produced by the surrounding agricultural terracing where a variety of crops were grown. Return to Cuzco or transfer to the Sacred Valley. ( B/L )