Cachora in Perú is a town located in the Apurímac region, Abancay province, San Pedro de Cachora district. It is located at an altitude of 2902 meters above sea level. It had a population of 703 inhabitants in 1993.
From the administrative point of view of the Catholic Church it is part of the Diocese of Abancay which, in turn, belongs to the Archdiocese of Cusco.
Cachora, 164 kilometers by car from Cusco, is the starting point for hiking to the Choquequirao archaeological site, known as the younger sister of Machu Picchu, located at 3,103 meters above sea level.
History of Cachora in Perú
The district was created by Law No. 9857 of December 7, 1943, in the first government of Manuel Prado Ugarteche.
Location and geography
It is located in the following geographic coordinates: 13º31’06” south latitude and 72º49'00" west longitude, at 2,903 masl., With an area of 108.77 km² and a population of 3,849 inhabitants, estimated at 2017.
Tourism in Cachora in Perú
The town of Cachora is the beginning of the hiking route of about 31.5 km4 to the Choquequirao archaeological complex, which can then be continued for about 100 km to the National Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. The most recommended tour is the Choquequirao Trek 5 Days.
Festivities
- San Juan
- Saint Peter
- Lord of Exaltation: It is a patronal festival that is celebrated every September 14, the place of the party that takes place is in the community of T'astapoyoncco Paccaypata neighborhood where a day before September 13 they perform the cerenata, on 14 September is the central festival and finally on September 15 the famous Altarpashcay is held.
- Lord of Huanca
¿How to get from Cusco to Cachora?
When leaving from Cusco to Cachora, you will have a 4-hour trip before reaching the town. You will pass by km 817, where to your right is the Saywíte Architectural Complex. Then you will have to take a 16 km unpaved route. There are also buses that depart from Abancay and Cusco that stop at the detour (from S /. 15), and from where you must take a taxi to the city. Taxis generally wait for buses to arrive, except on Sundays, where the average waiting time is 1 hour and they charge S /. 5. However, if you get a package, the company take you from Cusco to Cachora.
Cachora to Choquequirao Hike
Choquequirao is located between the jungle and the Peruvian Andes, on a mountain 3033 meters above sea level and has a great peculiarity: it can only be accessed on foot, on a 62-kilometer round trip and with descents and rises from 3100 to 1400 and vice versa.
Where is Choquequirao Located?
Choquequirao is located between the slopes and the top of the hill that bears the same name at 3104.09 meters above sea level, in what is described as a rocky spur of the Yanama mountain, located in the Vilcabamba mountain range, on the right bank of the Apurímac river. It is currently located within the jurisdiction of Santa Teresa, in the province of La Convencion, in the Cusco región
How to get to Choquequirao?
The easy (and expensive) way is to do it with a Choquequirao Trek 4 Days, which charges you around $ 300 with everything included. But today we want to talk about the most adventurous and cheapest way to visit this citadel: on your own.
Choquequirao on your own and without tour?
Although many tourists choose to arrive in Choquequirao with a tour, it is also possible to do it on your own. To achieve this, you must follow the usual route and pay the entrance fee at the entrance gate to Choquequirao.
Getting to San Pedro de Cachora
The starting point of Choquequirao hike is the small town of San Pedro de Cachora, in the department of Abancay. To get here, you can do it from Cusco or from Lima, via Abancay.
We recommend spending a night in Cachora to start the trek the next day very early.
From San Pedro de Cachora to the Santa Rosa campsite
The starting point of is the Capullylloc viewpoint, located 7 kilometers from San Pedro de Cachora. Despite the fact that many people make this section on foot, we recommend you do it by taxi and thus save energy for the rest of the way.
The first part of the route is a long descent until you reach Playa Rosalina, where there is a camp where you can stay for the night, but if you still have energy, we recommend simply taking a short break and continuing to the Santa campsite. Rose.
From Santa Rosa to Choquequirao
As soon as the first rays of the sun come out it is time to continue on the road and thus we will be able to reach our destination avoiding the hottest time of the day.
From Santa Rosa to Choquequirao you will go through a long path of curves and climb. Before reaching the Inca citadel, you will pass through the town of Marampata, where you can stop for lunch and recharge your batteries. From this point to Choquequirao it is only about an hour's walk where you will go through a more jungle area full of different types of butterflies.
Arrival to Choquequirao
Once in Choquequirao you have the option to see the citadel in what remains of the day or to spend the night there, since there is a camping, and take advantage of the next day to explore the construction with more tranquility.
Return to San Pedro de Cachora
After enjoying Choquequirao, the return to San Pedro de Cachora must be done the same way you came. Our advice is that you leave the citadel very early and arrive at the Cocamasana camp. Here you can spend the night and resume your journey the next day: you will only have 14 kilometers to go!
Cachora to Machu Picchu
There is another tour that travel Cachora to Machu Picchu in 8 days and 7 nights. In total 115 kilometers of history and adventure are covered.
Day 1: The Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek begins in Cusco that day and ends on the banks of the Apurimac River after a bus trip to the town of Cachora. You walk between 4 or 5 hours that day.
Day 2: The day starts early with an uphill and difficult path (4 or 5 hours on the way) until arriving at the archaeological site of Choquequirao.
Day 3: After touring Choquequirao, the route from Cachora to Machu Picchu continues through places such as the Río Blanco sector and the Maizal sector. The day is demanding but rewarding for the landscapes it crosses.
Day 4: The day crosses the Yanama pass, and then reaches the so-called ‘Victoria Mine’, an old silver deposit. The day is not as demanding as the day before.
Day 5: That day begins to descend to the tropical geography of Peru. The ‘Totora’ area and the ‘Collpa’ camp are appreciated. The day is not highly demanding.
Day 6: The day covers beautiful landscapes such as various banana and coffee plantations. The descent reaches ‘La Playa’, where a waterfall falls.
Day 7: The day starts very early until reaching the so-called ‘Hydroelectric Station’. The walk continues to the town of Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu. There, overnight in a hotel or lodging.
Day 8: The day begins with an ascent to Machu Picchu. That morning, and part of the afternoon, is dedicated to touring the Wonder of the World. Then, the return to Cusco is by train and bus.
Tips for Choquequirao Hike
- Food: to avoid carrying a lot of weight, we recommend you carry only some snacks (fruit, nuts, etc.) in your backpack. In all the campsites you will find families that offer food dishes at an affordable price.
- Water: there are different places to buy or refill your water bottle along the way, yes, if you prefer to refill it, we recommend that you bring purifying tablets to clean the water.
- Camping: The campsites on the way to Choquequirao charge around S / 5 to let you camp there, while the one in the citadel is completely free. Some of them have tents to rent but others do not, so it is advisable to bring your own.
- Pack mules: the road to Choquequirao is long and tedious, so if you see that you cannot handle all the cargo you carry in your backpack, you will always have the option of paying a muleteer and carrying your things on a pack mule. Of course, this always with responsibility and without overloading the animal.
- Signage: the path is perfectly signposted, so there is no risk of getting lost until reaching Choquequirao.
- Visiting dates: it is advisable to avoid visiting Choquequirao between the months of January and March, since it is the rainy season and the soils can be very muddy.
- Price: the general admission price to Choquequirao is S / 60.
What to bring on a trip to Choquequirao?
Whether on tour or on your own, there are some things necessary for all tourists visiting Choquequirao:
- Sunscreen.
- Mosquito repellent.
- Cap or hat.
- Sunglasses.
- Walking sticks.
- Poncho for the rain (in case of precipitation).
- Sleeping bags (not included in the tours).
- Trekking shoes.
- Trekking backpack.
- Food.
When is the best time to travel to Choquequirao?
The best time to travel is between April to October. Choquequirao has two stations:
- Rainy season (from November to March): it is characterized by frequent fluvial precipitations. The sun is not so intense but the rain can harm the walk.
- Dry season (from April to October): it is characterized by the lower frequency of rains. The days are hotter and the nights are colder. However, the little chance of rain favors the walk.
