Machu Picchu may well be firmly on the tourist map, but the Inca heartland around Cusco is scattered with ancient, lost cities as isolated today as they ever were. No trains, no hordes, no hotels, no restaurants here... The ruins of Choquequirao are one such place - a huge complex built, once again, high on mountain saddle at over 3,000 metres altitude (the Incas obviously didn't like building "easy" stuff...). The complex is as large as, if not larger than, Machu Picchu, and it has been only partially excavated and restored. Getting to Choquequirao is not the simplest of tasks, and although some very hardy souls attempt the 62 kilometre, four-day return trek by themselves, it's easier to join a group from Cusco. Demand is so low that getting a group together can be something of
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