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Choquequirao Archaeological Site and its twelve sectors

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Sectors of Choquequirao

In sector I, the sector of the plaza and temple, hanan area, located to the north and which is the highest part, there are five floor buildings, located on terraces of different levels. It is possible that they served as the residence of the priests. Higher up, there is another smaller plaza where two warehouse buildings (qolqas) and three other long residential buildings are located.

(kallankas). A wall with a main channel of water collected from the Ch’unchumayo stream also enters here, supplying the archaeological site and descending, like a spinal column, organizing the arrangement of the buildings.

In sector II, hanan zone, there are the deposits or qolqampatas divided into warehouses with internal subdivisions with quincha partitions; in another space, within this subsector, there are small ceremonial platforms (16 platforms), crossed by an alternate channel that takes advantage of the waters of the main channel.

CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK INFORMATION.

Sector III, which appears to be the main square or Hauqaypata, is located between the upper (hanan) and lower (hurin) sectors, on the filling of a platform. On the extreme sides of this square there are buildings with one and two levels. In the north there is a kallanka (building) for ceremonial use — Sunturwasi — with low niches (kind of chapels); To the east are two-story buildings with walls that support gabled roofs. They have two facades, one for entering the main plaza and the other that leads to a patio with side accesses. Access to these buildings is through double jamb covers (a double frame). These buildings are separated by a corridor, which highlights the largest building (kallanka) in the city that goes to the side of the backyard and that leaves through a wall to the south side, which is where the platforms in the north sector are located. of the city or llacta.

Sector IV, located in the Hurin or south zone, is a main construction made up of five covers called by Sartiges “triumphal wall” and by Samanez and Zapata “wall of offerings to the ancestors”. The other four, probably, were for ceremonial use and would correspond to an open temple. Behind these covers is a field, where you enter a second level, which is above the covers.

Sector V is the ushnu: a hill cut at its top that forms a ceremonial oval platform and surrounded by a small wall as a fence, which is entered by an entrance that first rises by steps and from where you can see the main square and hanan site. From this place the snow-capped mountains and the Apurímac river are visible.

Sector VI is the Wasi Cancha, located south of the ushnu in the lower part; It is also known as a temple and home of priests. A space of four platforms with zigzag walls is observed, which was used as a ceremonial space. In the first wall it is finished off with a source for water, and the other platforms are accessed with stairs. Below this area of ​​worship you can see a field or space with two enclosures of one and a half floors enclosed by a perimeter wall; from here you can see a good part of the Apurímac river canyon.

Sector VII belongs to the cultivation platforms on the east side. It stands out from the rest, for being wide and wide platforms. It can be entered through walkways from the main square.

The discovery was made in September 2004 within the framework of the «Cadastre and Delimitation (…)
Sector VIII is an area of ​​cultivation platforms, located on the west side, with eighty platforms, divided into plots and water channels that descend from the main square. Here were the famous “Llamas del Sol”

The ceramic remains show a multi-ethnic presence of the llacta (even though there has been int (…)
Sector IX is made up of popular houses, also called Pikiwasi, and is where one of the water channels ends. The houses seem to have been for collective and family use, built on artificial platforms, rectangular, square and circular in design, communicating by means of stairs and narrow passageways.

Sector X is made up of the cultivation platforms, the Paraqtepata, made up of 18 platforms and irrigation channels parallel to the stairs.
Sector XI also has cultivation platforms, the Phaqchayoq, made up of 80 wide platforms, the largest of the entire complex and located on the right bank of the Ch’unchumayo stream. There are also small quadrilateral enclosures in the middle of the plots with two-level enclosures, both for ceremonial use and for housing, with three sources for water and irrigation channels.
Sector XII presents cultivation platforms three hours away from Hanan Square, and is made up of 57 platforms with permanent irrigation. In the upper part there are buildings for ceremonial use that occupy the entire width of the platform, a spring pool, a semicircular enclosure where ceramic remains, stone tools and bone remains were found.

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All About Salkantay Mountain – Cusco – Peru (part 1)

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Also known as Salkantay, Peru’s snowy peak located in the department of Cuzco, it is one of the main elevations of the Vilcabamba Range, an extension of the Eastern Cordillera, a mountainous branch of the Peruvian Andes. It reaches an altitude of 6,271 meters. It has two snowy peaks, known as China Salkantay and female Salkantay, separated by a port that opens to the Santa Ana Valley in the province of Urubamba. Both the mountain pass and the course of the river that is born there are called Salkantay. This river pours its waters into the Urubamba on its left bank.

Our company has the Salkantay Trek, a walk that will take you to Machu Picchu.

Hence the name of Snowy Salkantay:

The name of this mountain is a contraction that comes from Salga = sullen or wild and Antay produces bees or avalanches. It is usually preceded by the name of Apu, which in Quechua language comes to mean sir, is defined as large mountains that mean something sacred above the valleys. For example, Apu Salkantay in the Vilcabamba mountain range.

Snowy Salkantay (6,271) Source: Musical Henares, S.L. (Alcalá de Henares – Madrid)

The great white Apu. A little stories between ropes and crampons:

The Salkantay is one of the highest mountainous regions of the Qosco (Cusco). The highest mountain is the Gran Agusánate with 65 meters more in the Vilcanota mountain range located further south. However, and without a doubt, it is the greatest in its splendid isolation and in the greatness of its double-headed massif, to which is added the fact of being one of the mountains of this magnificent Andean region that presents greater technical problems for all its slopes This is evidenced by the six itineraries opened to date by the different slopes of this white giant.

His conquest dates from 1952 by the Swiss cordate composed of Bronimann and Marx.

This first ascent, like so many others in the history of mountaineering, is involved in several contradictions, since a few days later it is promoted again by a Franco-American expedition that included the well-known and relevant mountaineer of the Claude Kogan era.

Modern statistics merit being the first woman on top of the Italian Consuelo Bonaldi who climbed Cresta Este on August 4, 1978 accompanied by G.Marconi, A.Monononi, F.Nodari, S.Castellani, Augusto Zanotti and M.Quatrinni, obviously this is a mistake, since Claude Kogan did it 26 years before.

The Salkantay summit has two peaks, the East and the West, formerly the West, more slender and attractive than the East, which was slightly taller because it was crowned by a seracoa. After the passing of the years and the collapse of this serac, as the prestigious Pyrenean Louis Audoubert has pointed out, the height is practically identical in both peaks.

What happened in those two consecutive “first ascents” gave rise to the controversy that it had really been the first real one.
The Swiss went up in the fog to the top of the East (the lowest in those days), the Americans however went up to the West, which was somewhat higher so the statistics, always relentless, want to deny Bronimman and Marx his first absolute ascension.

In 1953 he was climbed for the third time by the prestigious Alpine guide Lionel Terray, who together with the Dutch T. de Booy and the Swiss Raymond Jenny defeated the summit following a route along the northern ram, now known as the Terray Ram.

Years later, a German expedition tries the top following the dangerous crest of the N.E. which, with its cornices, does not favor traffic … a relevant rope formed by Tony Mazenauer and Fritz Kasparrek (the latter conqueror of the north face of the Eiger) disappears on this ridge and the expedition has to be withdrawn.

Today there is a plaque commemorating that unfortunate event under the passage of Palcay (the usual base camp of the mountain) and on a block of visible rock.

On August 23, 1975, it was the turn of a long and steep crest of the S.E. of an Australian-New Zealand expedition composed of Peter Jennings, Wayne Barton and Michael Andrews. This ascent was the ninth to the top.

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Inca quarry of Cachicata Ollantaytambo – Cusco

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This place was dedicated to the extraction and carving of the stones that were used for the construction of Ollantaytambo and many surrounding precincts. This place is located about 14 km from the Inca town of Ollantaytambo and has three groups of quarries: Molle Pucro, Sirkusirkuyoc (it was the largest of the three), shows the evidence of having been fully operational when the Spanish arrived in this area . And finally Cacchicata or Kantirayoq, where another type of extraction of minerals and precious stones was practiced. Visitors can observe the great work done at the time of moving the giant stones to build Ollantaytambo enclosures. We can find the stones called “Tired Stones” that were on their way to Ollantaytambo and in some parts of the city.

INCA QUARRY TREK INFORMATION

Cachicata or Inca quarry is one of the old quarries used by the pre Inca and Inca civilizations to build the vast complexes of Ollantaytambo. It was a source of large amounts of pink granite. Cachicata quarries are 14 km from Ollantaytambo. The view of Ollantaytambo from the quarries is spectacular and during the walk you can see many large stones that remained in the middle of their long trip to the village. It was also a commercial route for the Incas. Cachicata is a small and remote town that can benefit from the occasional visit of tourists.

The Hike to Cachicata is a great alternative to the famous Inca Trail hike. This road was built by the Incas and used for hundreds of years to access local communities and transport goods. This trail is not as well known as the Classic Inca Trail, so much less crowds and a more serene trekking experience in Peru are expected. This hiking adventure not only visits Peru’s cultural past, but also explores modern Inca communities and customs. The trail takes us through isolated waterfalls, ancient terraces and exotic wildlife, while offering fantastic views of the Sacred Valley and its snowy mountains. Visit with local families and explore an active quarry. Each step brings a new look to the Inca culture.

How long is Ollantaytambo?

The trip from the city of Cusco to the Inca city of Ollantaytambo is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes in private mobility but if you wish to travel in the public transport units the approximate time is 2 hours.

Can you climb to the Inca quarry of Cachicata without a guide?

The Walk to the Inca quarry of Cachicata being part of the Inca road circuit that runs through the country of Peru, and the circuit of Qhapap Ñan, it is recommended that it be carried out with the supervision of an authorized agency that provides the professional guide service so that you can enjoy the best way to hike and take a nice memory to your country.

How high is Inti Punku “Puerta del Sol”?

Inti Punku or «Puerta de Sol» is the highest point on the hike to the Inca quarry being at a height of approximately 3886 meters from that point you can see an impressive view of the Sacred Valley and the Snowfall that are around as are the snow Veronica.

What should I take to make the walk to the Inca quarry of Cachicata?

To make the walk without any inconvenience we recommend the following:

  • A lightweight backpack to carry your stuff.
  • Water bottle.
  • Money for snacks, souvenirs and tips if you want to tip.
  • Hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
  • Jumper (sweater)
  • Protection against rain (or plastic poncho) the Cusco region can experience “all seasons in one day”, therefore, it is advisable to wear a hat and gloves, as well as a sun hat, when you go out tomorrow, in order to be prepared for all eventualities.

Is a tourist ticket needed for the Inca Quarry of Cachicata?

At the moment no income is being collected, which will allow you to discover more freely the path of the Incas to the Inca quarries of Cachicata.

 

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Information of the Inca Quarries in Cusco

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The quarry of Cachicata was the place of extraction of the stones that were used for the construction of Ollantaytambo and many surrounding areas. This place is 9 kilometers from the Inca town of Ollantaytambo and has three groups of quarries: Molle Pucro, Sirkusirkuyoc (it was the largest), shows evidence of having been in full operation when the Spaniards entered this area. And finally Kantirayoq or Cacchicata, where another type of extraction of minerals and precious stones was practiced.

MORE INFORMATION OF INCA QUARRY TREK

Useful Information

– Starting Altitude – 3350 meters / 10990 feet .
– Highest Altitude – 4500m / 14,764ft
– Walking Distance – 25 km / 15.5 miles
– Meals – 2 breakfast, 2 lunch, 2 dinner, 2 tea times, 2 wake up tea
– Overall Difficulty – Moderate
– STARTING POINT: – Cusco at your hotel

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

  • The Community of Cachiccata consists of 80 families and a total of approximately 300 people.
  • The quarries of Cachiccata is one of the most important attractions, these quarries were widely exploited in the Inca period. From this mine they selected and transported the stones from the archaeological remains of Ollantaytambo. By means of own bearing and thrust techniques, the stones were transferred to this old center. On the way we can see giant semilabrated stones that were being transported. Near the quarries we can also visit some pre-Hispanic chullpas (ancient funerary tower).
  • Machu Picchu is one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World, Heritage of Humanity, Historical Sanctuary of Peru and probably the most important archaeological site in Latin America.
  • Machu Picchu is majestic architecture comprises 140 structures throughout the citadel.
  • Machu Picchu is was built by the Inca Pachacutec around the year 1460
  • After being forgotten, it was only in 1911 that the American Hiram Bingham reached Machu Picchu on an expedition and spread the site worldwide.

Brief Itinerary

– DAY 1: CUSCO – PACHAR – SOQMA – CHARCAHUAYLLA
– DAY 2: CHARCAHUAYLLA – INTI PUNKU – CACHICATA – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES
– DAY 3: MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO