Lake Choclococha

Welcome, distinguished traveler, to the breathtaking and austere expanses of the central Peruvian Andes. You are standing before the magnificent Lake Choclococha, a monumental body of water suspended high in the heavens. …

As we arrive at this elevated bluff overlooking the lake, your eyes will immediately be drawn to the numerous small towers of stacked stones dotting the landscape. These are known as apachetas, traditional Andean cairns…

We have now descended to a lower elevation along the shore, arriving at a profoundly melancholic site: the ruins of the original town of Choclococha. Look closely at the crumbling foundations and the skeletal remains of walls…

Continuing our journey along the rocky and uneven shoreline, we arrive at an astonishing archaeological discovery that rewrites the conventional history of this lake. If you look closely at the rock faces rising from the water,…

We now stand on a wide, open stretch of the shoreline facing the vast center of the lake. Here, the weather can change with terrifying speed, and the sheer expanse of water creates a unique microclimate. …

We have now reached a small, rudimentary docking area where local boatmen, like our friend Franklin, offer rides into the interior of the lake. From here, you can clearly see several small islands and rocky outcrops breaking the…

As we walk further along the perimeter, the traditional landscape gives way to an industrial reality. Floating offshore, you will notice large, geometric grids of nets and metal walkways. …

Our final stop along the walking route brings us to the very mechanism that controls the life and death of this entire ecosystem. Before you stands a massive concrete structure equipped with heavy metal valves and thick metal…

As our comprehensive journey along the shores of Lake Choclococha comes to a close, I invite you to take one last, sweeping look across this magnificent and troubled landscape. We have traversed a great distance today, both…