The essential experience.
A detail that changes the visit
This is a demanding trek, not a short alternative to Machu Picchu; confirm route access and support.
For the curious reader
History, landscape and context.
Choquequirao is a 16th-century Incan site in the Cusco Region of southern Peru. Often called the "sister city" of Machu Picchu due to its similar structure and architecture, the site consists of an extensive complex of buildings and agricultural terraces built around the Sunch'u Pata, the truncated hill top, on a steep mountainside overlooking the Apurímac River. The ruins are situated in the Santa Teresa district (La Convención province) at an elevation of 3,050 metres (10,010 ft) in the rugged Vilcabamba mountain range.
Abridged background from Choquequirao, by Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Paragraphs have been selected and shortened; this adapted background remains under the same licence. Retrieved 23 September 2026. Source revision.
From inspiration to a practical plan
Plan your visit.
- Physical demands
- A very strenuous descent and ascent across the Apurímac landscape, with heat, steep trails and basic overnight facilities.
- The consequential detail
- This is a demanding trek, not a short alternative to Machu Picchu; confirm route access and support.
Through the seasons
A place in the world.
Peru.
Select the pin to open a detailed map. Use Closer look to see the surrounding region. Drag to move a zoomed map.
Map: Natural EarthIn pictures.
Choquequirao’s terraces and ceremonial spaces occupy steep mountain ground above the Apurímac.
Follow the connection
Keep exploring.
Explore more places in the same country.
363 · Peru
Colca Canyon
A great canyon is also a cultivated and inhabited landscape, with terraces and villages adding depth to its natural drama.
Useful links and further reading.
Choose a source for the job: official visitor information for access, the UNESCO record for the named property’s designation, and background or library resources for deeper reading.
Read · Wikipedia
Choquequirao: background reading
Encyclopaedic context and its bibliography. Follow the cited research for a deeper examination of particular claims.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Visit · Wikivoyage
Find travel information for Choquequirao
A clearly labelled search of the community travel guide; check the page’s coverage and the age of practical details.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Books · WorldCat
Find books about Choquequirao
Search library holdings and editions, useful for finding specialist histories, field guides and works beyond a general travel guide.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Photography · Wikimedia Commons
Find photographs of Choquequirao
Explore further photographs and their individual credits.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.Maps · OpenStreetMap
Explore the local map
Inspect the surrounding area.
External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.