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.
The white stone llama mosaics set into the terrace walls are the site's rarest feature, and their Chachapoya-style design suggests workers from that northern people took part in building Choquequirao. The site covers about 1,800 hectares, yet only 30 to 40 percent has been excavated.
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