Skip to main content

Choquequirao: The Hidden Inca City of the Sacred Llamas

Every culture has something else sacred - the Incas did it with the llamas. They immortalized the animals in a hidden city 3000 meters high in the Andes, not far from the famous Machu Picchu. Archaeologists found out: The whole complex points to a Lama constellation.

Choquequirao Peru

The ascent from the Andean village of Cachora to the ruins of Choqequirao takes almost two days. About 160 kilometers northwest of the ancient Inca capital of Cusco and 3,000 meters above sea level, there is a complex of more than 2,000 hectares that was only slightly inferior in grandeur to its famous neighbor Machu Picchu in its heyday.

Today the visitor sees in the "Golden Cradle", as the name translates, terraces, squares, temples, fountains and canals overgrew with vegetation; only thirty percent of the city has been cleared of the undergrowth. In the 17th and 18th centuries, this place, which is described in Spanish documents as the silver city, was difficult to access and far from larger settlements and was of particular interest to treasure hunters. In 1847 the ruins then had distinguished visitors: the French diplomat Léonce Angrand indulged in archaeological interests and was the first to attempt to draw the city's floor plans. He rightly considered the settlement to be one of the last strongholds of the Inca against the Spaniards. The American Hiram Bingham undertook the first excavations there at the beginning of the 20th century, shortly before he discovered Machu Picchu. In the meantime, the Peruvian government has uncovered and restored some larger buildings in order to build an archaeological park. French archaeologists have been supporting the work for three years.

Choquequirao Machu Picchu

The Incas were the last Andean culture to emerge, establishing a farming state in the Cusco Valley in the 14th century. Only after the victory of King Pachacutec over the Chanca people around 1438 did they expand throughout Peru. To control the empire, Pachacutec and his successors built a network of cities and administrative centers, including Choqequirao.

Like other Inca cities, the site was divided into two: Hanan, the upper city, consisted of cult buildings around an open space, two-story warehouses and terraces with niches for cult images. In Hurin, the lower city, the elite probably lived in spacious buildings around a square and near a fountain. Hurin also had a temple and two large, oblong buildings interpreted as kallankas, halls for ritual dances and festivals. A flat-topped crest loomed over the lower town, perhaps a ceremonial platform (ushnu) on which sacrifices were made to the gods. A network of canals supplied the city with water that flowed down an aqueduct from the Yanacocha Glacier, 2,400 meters higher.

Choquequirao

Due to the difficult terrain, the houses usually had only one rectangular room with a flat floor. Quarry stones were worked in such a way that they could be piled up without mortar, but sometimes they were jointed with clay. In this way, walls could be adapted to the undulating ground. Humpback stones also gave them a relief character. Also typical: trapezoidal doors, windows and niches.

The dwelling houses of the common people stood on the edge of the two parts of the city. From there it was not far to lower terraces where corn and the "Inca rice" quinoa, and perhaps also coca, were grown. It was precisely these simple dwellings, most of which are still hidden under dense vegetation, that surprised the researchers.

Choquequirao Llamas

RELATED:



Popular posts from this blog

Visit Machu Picchu in Peru: Everything you need to know about the visit!

Machu Picchu : Our tips for visiting the wonder of the world Visit the wonder of the world Machu Picchu : the best tips to make your visit unforgettable! A visit to the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu in Peru is the absolute highlight for many travelers! No wonder the tickets are in great demand. Over 1.5 million visit Machu Picchu every year! This means an average of around 2,500 tourists per day. In the past, there were even more! For this reason, the Peruvian government had to limit the number in order to protect and preserve the site for future generations. And that's good. Therefore, there are many new rules that you should read carefully here! Unfortunately, there are still far too many tourists at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Worse still, many don't follow the rules. So I very much welcome the changes made by the Peruvian government to limit and regulate the flow even further. Now you will know exactly what you have to consider. If you want to visit the modern wond...

Travel to Peru - Things to Know Before Your First Trip to Peru

Breathtaking nature, cultural treasures, friendly people and a unique animal and plant world - all this is Peru. Among trips to South America, trips to Peru are still something exotic. The country in the Andes has a lot to offer its visitors. Travel to Peru is breathtaking in the truest sense of the word, because if you want to admire the beauty of the country in all its glory, you have to aim high. There, at 4000 meters, live the alpacas , whose wool is highly valued all over the world. The beauty of nature of Peru Travel to Peru is always travel to a fascinating natural landscape. If you want, you can take a canoe tour on the Amazon on a round trip through Peru to explore the densely forested jungle. A visit to the Colca Canyon , the deepest gorge in the world, is always something special when traveling to Peru. The canyon in the Andes is beautiful and there the huge condors draw their silent circles. The legendary Nazca Lines are still a mystery. These oversized depictions of ...

Our Top Travel Tips For Your Best Peru Trip Summarized

Peru trips that mean more than just Inca Trail and Machu Picchu No matter how you travel, Peru always has something that suits you. In Peru you will find the Andes, the steaming Amazon, the colonial architecture of yesteryear and of course ancient Inca cities. Machu Picchu is the most famous Inca citadel, but you can also admire the Inca region in the Sacred Valley. If you're touring around Peru, why not occasionally stay in a family guesthouse or go on local excursions. This is how you get to know Peru and the Peruvians. Discover alternative ways for an individual travel experience On the individual round trip through Peru you will get to know Machu Picchu on an alternative route. This famous Inca city is undoubtedly one of the highlights of your trip. You can reach the Inca City via the Inca Trails. The most picturesque way to reach the royal citadel of Machu Picchu is to hike in the impressive Andes. However, the most popular trail is the ancient Inca Trail . While the hike is...