Choquequirao, Archaeological site in Santa Teresa District, Peru
Choquequirao is a large stone settlement in Santa Teresa District that spreads across steep slopes above a deep river gorge. The site consists of multiple platforms with residential buildings, ceremonial structures, and agricultural terraces connected by stairs and pathways.
The settlement emerged in the late Inca period as an administrative and ceremonial center on the edge of the Amazon region. After the Spanish conquest, it served as a refuge for the last Inca rulers who organized resistance from here.
The name means cradle of gold and reflects the religious importance this site held for the Inca. Visitors can still see unusual llama figures made from white stone on the terraces, pointing to contact with Amazonian cultures.
Access is through a multi-day hiking trail from Cachora that crosses different climate zones and requires good physical fitness. Basic camping spots line the route, and hikers should carry enough drinking water and sun protection.
Only around 30 percent of the site has been excavated so far, with large sections still hidden beneath dense vegetation. The terraces featuring llama figures were discovered only in the 1990s and remain surprisingly unknown to many visitors.
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