Trapezoidal niches, characteristic of Inca design (Choquequirao, Cordillera Vilcabamba)

Cloud forest: one of the planet’s biodiversity hotspots

Setting up camp on Inca terraces at Choquequirao

Cordillera Vilcabamba

The Incas’ Last Refuge

15 days / 14 nights

The Cordillera Vilcabamba is located at about 100 km to the northwest of Cuzco, between the Apurímac and Urubamba Rivers. Considered sacred by the Incas, this remote and inaccessible range played an important role in their history, serving as a refuge from the Spaniards. Indeed, from his retreat in Vilcabamba, Inca chief Manco and his heirs organized rebellions for more than 40 years, in an attempt to overthrow Spanish rule. 

In Inca times, towns, fortresses and ceremonial centres were linked together by thousands of kilometers of carefully paved roads, forming a dense network. Today, many of these roads have been forgotten. In this trip, you will discover two ‘lost cities’, Choquequirao and Machu Picchu, which have fascinated explorers over the centuries.

Choquequirao, meaning ‘Cradle of Gold’ in Quechua, is perched on a ridge amidst a lush forest, high above the mighty Apurímac River. Owing to its remote location, this site, which was the Incas’ last refuge, still receives few visitors. Its architecture (double trapezoidal doors, numerous wall niches) suggests that it was occupied by high ranking Incas.

This challenging trek offers a great variety of landscapes: tropical jungle (exotic fruit trees, coffee plantations), arid puna (high altitude grasslands) and snow-covered peaks. To top off your journey, you will camp in a spectacular setting, facing the magnificent ruins of Machu Picchu.