ABOUT CHOQEKIRAW (Choquequirao)
The historic monument of Choqekiraw aroused much interest in the tourist market; Choqekiraw (Choquequirao) figures on all tourist guides, two monothematic books have been published and the international mass media never forget to mention it in every tourist report of Peru. It has taken only 4 or 5 years to introduce Choqekiraw (Choquequirao) as an international tourist destination.
Visiting Choqekiraw, as with many of the archeological-related trips in Peru, cannot be classified as just touristic, archeological, ecological or adventurous. All of these activities are present, and help create an unforgettable experience for its visitors.
Coming in from Huanipaca or from Cachora requires a long and demanding hike to reach the archeological complex, so this trek will be more enjoyable for people who are used to this type of hiking. The effort will be pleasantly rewarded by the beautiful sights and discovery of this magical sanctuary. Even though only 30% of the site has been revealed, it is open to tourism.
The word "Choqekiraw", translated from the Quechua language (the ancient Incas' language), means "cradle of gold" and it is a composite word: choqe = gold and kiraw = cradle. Today we usually see it written "Choquequirao", which is a Spanish onomatopoeic transliteration of the word.
The archeological complex of Choqekiraw (Choquequirao) is located 72 degrees 53' longitude West and 13 degrees 32' latitude south from the Greenwich Meridian. It reaches an altitude of 3,100 meters above sea level and is 1,500 meters above the Apurimac River. Municipally, it is located in the district of Santa Teresa, La Convención province, in the region of Cusco.
The monument is found in the ecological floor at the edge of the jungle, a dry, mountainous subtropical forest zone, with an average temperature of 16 degrees Celsius.
Although Choqekiraw (Choquequirao) was discovered a long time ago and explorers have been visiting it for decades, it wasn't until 1968 when the sanctuary was included in the Official Register of Archeological Monuments by the Peruvian authorities.
Twenty years later, a government institution from the Ministry of External commerce and tourism "COPESCO" www.copesco.gob.pe, was officially put in charge of an intense study and restoration plan. In 1999, COPESCO formulated a Master Plan of Choqekiraw (Choquequirao) with the idea of transforming this important archeological site into a tourist destination of international importance.
In 2002, the National Institute of Culture www.inc.gob.pe, the government institution in charge of the cultural patrimony of the country, included Choqekiraw (Choquequirao) as part of the archeological park of Vilcabamba. Finally, in 2003, it was declared the "Archeological Park of Choqekiraw (Choquequirao)" covering an area around 522.800 acres and spanning the regions of Cusco and Apurimac.
The archeological complex of Choqekiraw (Choquequirao) has been studied intensely for several years by different groups of specialists. It includes 12 sectors from the north to the south, some that we'd like to highlight: in the high sector there are buildings organized around the main square "Hanan Square"; the lower sector "Hurin Square" has buildings with double door accesses; the "Ushu" or conic hill can be used for astronomic observation.
The most important buildings are in the south and they are organized around a big square called Haucaypata. A short distance away is the main temple with inner walls decorated with beautiful niches. To the east of the Haucaypata square is a collection of field terraces formed by 150 platforms.
In addition, there are other sectors within a 10 kilometer radius of Choqekiraw (Choquequirao) that are covered with vegetation and have yet to be discovered. They are an enigma and a challenge for explorers and archeologists, especially for any systematic studies.
The whole area chosen for the construction of Choqekiraw (Choquequirao) was ideal from a landscape perspective, because the geographical surroundings unite all the elements in the area. It is like an enclave connected to the jungle, similar to such important sanctuaries as Machu Picchu and Vitcos.
For more information you can visit the pages: www.cuscoweb.com and www.es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choquequirao
The Archeological Park of Choqekiraw (Choquequirao) includes a great variety of life zones that shelter an ample diversity of ecosystems and species of fauna and flora. There are endangered species such as the Spectacled Bear Tremarctos Ornatus and the Andean Condor Vultur Gryphus that can be found on the archeological site, along with a variety of other mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects.
These ecosystems house a great number of epiphytes, shrubs, herbs and fern - the vegetation linked with the diversity of the forest. Here you will find a great diversity of plants, especially bromeliads and orchids, known for their exotic beauty and delicate and whimsical forms, the most representative being the genera Odontoglossum, Epidendrum Secundum and Pleurothallis.
The institution in charge of protecting these natural resources is INRENA www.inrena.gob.pe
Welcome to the inca's gold cradle, Choqekiraw
The Apus, entities of power, guards on the way to Choqekiraw from Vilcabamba's mountain range
Niches at the principal temple to the sanctuary, as it is seen at present
The wild animals have freedom in Choqekiraw, Tremarctos ornatus
The beauty is in the trail's each bend , in route to Choqekiraw, Epidendrum secundum
Release your senses, take the liberty to know a spectacular place, with nature, history and culture
Spectacular panoramic view from the priests' houses
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