The fifteen years of Marco are engaged in a small and vibrant. She looks like a ragamuffin, fishing pants, skinny legs and feet under winged sandals fused to a dark. He lives in Cachora, three hours west of Cuzco, in southern Peru, in a valley elusive to modern, Andean mountains surrounded by huge, accessible in the ubiquitous Machu Picchu. Despite the closeness, Marco has never been in that Wonder of the Modern World. And that is a tour guide.
Maybe it's because Marco and his, along with a handful of families in the area, have their own Wonder, although this does not appear on any list of Unesco. It's called Choquequirao, and is, saving little difference, a twin brother of Machu Picchu, rescued another citadel of the Inca Empire. Unless this, for the glory of those who still aspire to feel special and find treasures almost unknown, of those fleeing extreme mass tourism, has not yet been exploited, and probably never will be, so wild is the brother of rich media dictatorship Machu Picchu. Although there are many hundreds of travel agencies in Cusco provide the path to the ruins of Choquequirao, virtually no one finds time in his schedule to visit.
Yet, Choquequirao has it all, and certain things, even more than Machu Picchu. To begin with, perfectly fulfills the main slogan of the Inca settlements, called llactas: is located on top of a mountain, about 3.000 meters, because the emperors wanted to be them, who considered the Chosen of the Gods, the first to receive the rays of morning sun, and the first drops of rain. And because if someone would try to conquer, from above the citadels became almost impregnable.
In every inch of ground, the greatness of the Incas. And on top, visiting virtually alone
The irresistible charm reminiscent of the pre-Columbian civilization, that created the most imposing Empire that has given South America, with domains covering, in times of Pachacutec (fifteenth century), from southern Colombia to the current beyond the Chilean desert Acatama, is present in every stone Choquequiraw. In the palaces, in homes, in religious temples, in concourses where they made animal sacrifices, or the towering works of hydraulic engineering who stand up to the passage of the centuries journal. In every inch of ground, the greatness of the Incas. And on top, visiting virtually alone. An unthinkable luxury.
The Choquequiraw, was also discovered that, as Machu Picchu, Hiram Bingham por, who soon left her disappointed not to find the treasures to which he aspired, The other feature elevates: the challenge that it takes several days of walking-legs broken hollarla, always accompanied the traveler of the stunning beauty of the cliffs, Apurimac River, impossible slopes, cold and extreme heat, vertiginous bridges ...
To reach Choquequirao-and here we finally our hero, the small framework-, is highly recommended, but not essential, hire a mule to ease the burden. And, therefore, of a mulero. Tent needed, bags, water, food, camping gas to heat and several changes. If you choose to go with a travel company in Cuzco, prepare, at least 160 U.S. dollars, more food and equipment rentals.
We were lucky to run into Marco, adolescents with veteran whose hands gesture embridaban the mule to the sufficiency of a magician
Our travel advice, by rental car or bus, to Cachora and once there, in any home hire a guide and mule. Practically everyone is dedicated to bringing travelers and bring, however meager they may be. You will not find it very difficult to find what they want. Then they will see that the price drops to 10 euros a day, more or less.
We were lucky to run into Marco, adolescents with veteran whose hands gesture embridaban the mule to the sufficiency of a magician, and I was able to entertain the hardness of a road traveled a thousand times with the juiciest anecdotes. And also able to keep quiet when the splendor of the landscape left us speechless.
The Peruvian government tried, in years 70, to rescue this settlement. With money donated by France, never knew why- is brought to light constructions largely buried by the time, although experts say that the 70% of this settlement still lies hidden. That's why the French are most travelers who visit. And also, course, There are German and U.S..
On the way there are several places to camp prepared by the locals, although most have no food or drink. They have exotic names like Chiquisca, Cocamasana or Marampata. Impossible not to enjoy with the viewpoint of Capuliyoc, where intermittent rain on our visit we were given a double rainbow, and where, around, those same rains forced us to run for fear of a landslide. The gap to be up and down is wild. And total, from Cachora, round trip, its 70 km over 6.000 vertical meters. Yes, definitely need to be fit for the road. But make no mistake, worth, if one wants to feel, for one day, Review of exclusivity.
According to legend, was built Choquequiraw, presumably, during the rule of Inca Pachacutec (fifteenth century). It is divided into nine zones and stone buildings are clustered in small neighborhoods. Around the main square are the largest of their temples and dwellings of the rulers. The researchers argue that the complex would have been an important religious center, political and economic, and a commercial and cultural link between the coast, the mountains and the jungle. And, according to other theories, was here that organized resistance from the Spanish Empire fell, when Pizarro captured Atahualpa, ending the Inca domain. Between 1532 and 1570, about, the Spanish would have been forced to battle attacks Incas whose return would have been based in Choquequiraw. Manco Inca, Cahuide, Titu Yupanqui ... until the final fall of Emperor Tupac Amaru, The legend continued ...
And these stones explain many of the secrets of the magnificence of that Empire. A journey, an adventure.
