GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMPLEX OF CHOQUEQUIRAO

Location

It is located at 13 ° 32 'south latitude and 72 ° 44' west longitude. It is located at 3035 m.a.s.l. in the foothills of the snowy Salcantay, north of the Apurimac river valley, in the province of La Convencion in the department of Cusco. It is approximately at a distance of 47 km. with reference to the town of Cachora (department of Apurimac).

We can mention that the Choquequirao environment is one of the richest in biodiversity. All these species have been conditioned despite temperature variations such as sun throughout the day and inclement frosts during the night. The fauna of the place is mainly composed of condors, tarucas, vizcachas, foxes, skunks, pumas, hummingbirds, spectacled bears and the popular rock cock, the national bird of Peru. Giant ferns, ichu and a great variety of orchids stand out in its flora, where the wakanki variety stands out. CLASSIC CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK INFORMATION

Weather

Because of its geographical position, Choquequirao has a warm climate alternated with cold temperatures at night. The average annual temperature is 17ºC.

History

During the Inca civilization it was a cultural as well as religious center for the region. Well, it is presumed that this citadel was used as a checkpoint to ensure access to the areas of Vilcabamba, which connected the jungle with other important centers such as Písac and Machu Picchu. It is also estimated that the citadel played an important role serving as a link between the Amazon rainforest and the capital of the Inca empire (Cusco).

At the time of transition that lasted approximately 40 years, Choquequirao is considered one of the last strongholds of resistance and refuge of the Incas, who by orders of Manco Inca, left the city of Cusco to protect themselves in the cities of the Vilcabamba region, when around 1535 Cusco was controlled by the Spanish. It was in this place (and in general throughout the Vilcabamba Valley) where Manco Inca and the last Inca descendants of Vilcabamba where they resisted the attack of the Spaniards, until the capture and execution of Túpac Amaru I that happened in the year 1572.

Biodiversity

The environment of Choquequirao is one of the richest in biodiversity, biologists, ecologists and experts mention it, however in this area, it is not known exactly the number of species in plants and animals that exist, despite this deficiency and From the few scientific studies carried out, it has been possible to determine the existence of various life forms.
Among the most relevant species are: Al condor, the fox, the skunk, the puma, the spectacled bear, the taruca, the vizcachas, the pica flowers, the tall toucan, the quetzales and the tigrillos. All these species have been conditioned despite temperature variations such as the sun throughout the day and the frosty during the night. This space can also be seen to the cock of the rocks, national bird of Peru.
The flora of the place is composed of giant ferns and a great variety of orchids, where the wakanki variety stands out. At the bottom of the great valley and under the thermal effect of the watercourse that runs through it, the forests of the mountain eyebrow provide their warmth and ideal conditions for a huge variety of coca, achiote, corn, cocoa, coffee and fruit crops.
From the environmental point of view, the main value of these presented ecosystems lies in the role played by the lush forests that grow in the high parts of the mountains for the maintenance of the water balance of the region, capturing rainwater and driving it without causing erosion towards the Apurimac river.
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