Choquequirao

Welcome to the lost city of Choquequirao, an architectural masterpiece hidden deep within the formidable terrain of the Peruvian Andes. Situated at an elevation of over three thousand meters above sea level, this majestic…

Before we delve into the heart of the majestic Inca architecture, our journey begins on the western fringes of the site, in an area heavily shrouded by the lush vegetation of the cloud forest. Here, archaeological teams have…

We now ascend into the formally structured heart of Choquequirao, arriving at the elevated sector known as Hanan, which translates to the upper plaza. The spatial organization of Inca settlements was deeply rooted in their…

Descending from the upper terraces, we arrive at the expansive, beating heart of the citadel, the main plaza known as Waqaypata. This immense open space functions as the central nervous system of Choquequirao, the focal point…

Rising prominently on a hill just above the main plaza, we find ourselves at the Usno. This distinct, oval shaped ceremonial platform represents the spiritual summit of Choquequirao. …

Just a short distance south of the towering Usno, we enter a highly specialized religious zone containing the Wasi Kancha, commonly referred to as the Temple of the Priests. This intricate complex is composed of four distinct…

We now step onto an architectural marvel that continues to baffle and amaze modern archaeologists, the Great Observation Platform. To create this vast, flat space, the Inca emperor ordered his laborers to literally slice the…

Leaving the flattened expanse of the Great Platform, we navigate toward the agricultural heart of the royal estate, the Monumental Sacred Terraces. As you peer over the edge of the slope, the mountainside falls away into a…

For our final, and perhaps most breathtaking architectural encounter, we traverse to the western slope, situated dramatically below the Great Platform. Here, suspended in the void on a terrifying sixty degree incline, are the…

As our extensive exploration of the Cradle of Gold comes to an end, we find ourselves standing once again amidst the quiet, ancient stones, looking out over the magnificent expanse of the Vilcabamba mountain range. We have…