Choquequirao Trek – History and Background
Choquequirao whose meaning is the cradle of gold is perched in the mountains of Vilcabamba range and high above the Apurimac canyon which is deeper than the Grand Canyon reaching a depth of 4,691m/ 15,390ft. The area of Choquequirao could have been already inhabited before the arrival of Incans because pre-Incan archaeological pottery was found during the research. The ninth Incan emperor whose name is Pachacuteq was the one who brought a lot of changes for the empire, providing great public works and enlarging the empire to take advantage of each conquered province, it’s how, he started the campaign to conquer the tropical jungle side of Cusco, this place was suitable for him for the Coca production, extract the gold from the river’s banks, and tropical fruits production.
To have a total control of this area he was setting up big cities which later on would become the last inhabited cities and strongholds for the Incan empire to resist the Spaniard’s collision. The constructions at Choquequirao were finished by the tenth Incan emperor Tupac Yupanqui, although this place was never finished in being built, as the Incans were still building more to keep enlarging the city. The last inhabitants who were still living in were moved due to reduction law to San Pedro de Cachora a Spaniard foundation village between 1590 – 1596 by viceroy Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza.
