Cachora in Perú

Cachora in Perú is located in the Apurimac department, just off the highway between Abancay and Cusco. It is the most popular starting point for travelers who want to see the incredible recently rediscovered Inca site of Choquequirao.

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Location and geography

It is located at the following geographic coordinates: 13º31’06 ”south latitude and 72º49’00” west longitude, at 2,903 meters above sea level, with an area of 108.77 km² and a population of 3,849 inhabitants, estimated as of 2017.

Tourism Week

The tourism in Cachora in Perú, although it has a movable date in the calendar, is generally celebrated during the end of July and the beginning of August, with the jurisdictions of Abancay, Andahuaylas and Aymaraes as the main places of celebration.

Among the sporting events scheduled for this week you can find canoeing competitions in the Pampas, Pachachaca and Apurímac rivers, as well as rooster fighting championships, extreme aerial sports such as: paragliding and land such as: mountain biking.

In addition to the sports programs in Apurímac, tourist plans are carried out to promote the protected areas of the area.

As is not to be missed, those who visit Apurímac during the celebration of their Week, will be able to enjoy the monumental gastronomic fairs. Along with the gastronomic fairs, there are also dance fairs, where the dancing qualities of the population are exhibited. You can also go to the interesting craft fairs and agricultural fairs with products from the lands of Apurímac.

Other festivities of San Pedro de Cachora include:

Feast of San Juan
Feast of San Pedro
Festivity of the Lord of Huanca
Festivity of San Pedro e Cachora – Apurimac

Tourism in San Pedro de Cachora

The town of Cachora in Perú is the beginning of the hiking route of about 31.5 km to the archaeological complex of Choquequirao, which can then be continued for about 100 km to the National Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

Tourism in Archaeological Ensemble of Saywite (Archeology)

The Saywite archaeological site is located in the Curahuasi district, within the province of Abancay, in the department of Apurímac, at about 3,500 meters above sea level. It is an archaeological complex that belonged to the Inca culture and was built during the 16th century. The Saywite complex occupies an area of approximately 2 hectares where important samples of Inca lithic art are housed, along with spaces intended for ritual purposes.

What catches the traveler’s attention to visit Saywite is the so-called Saywite Monolith, located in the first sector, where you can see a kind of model of what the Inca world would be like. The Saywite Monolith is made of granite and is approximately two meters high and has an average diameter of four meters, with the largest circumference of 11.14 meters.

In order for the visitor to reach the Archaeological Ensemble of Saywite, they must start from Abancay traveling a distance of 47 kilometers, in a detour in kilometers to reach Curahuasi and from there another 47 km of the detour of the Abancay-Cuzo highway at the height from Km 49.

The entrance to the Archaeological Complex is allowed after the payment of the ticket that costs s / 11.00 for adults and s / 3.00 for children and students. The entrance to the site is from Monday to Sunday from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.

Tourism in Archaeological Complex of Sondor (Archeology)

The Sondor archaeological complex is located in the district of Pacucha, within the province of Andahuaylas in Apurímac. Sondor is at an approximate height of 3,200 meters above sea level, occupies an average of 10 hectares and would have been built with the purpose of being a Religious Center, although there are new and different theories about its functionality.

The most outstanding building in Sondor is called Muyu Muyu, it is a promontory, where a pyramidal construction of several platforms (a total of 8) can be observed, and where an average of 500 steps can be seen that allow people to the entrance to the top of the building. Some scholars believe that the Muyu Muyu would have served in his time for the performance of human sacrifices and these offerings would have been made at the top of the pyramid, where a huaca has been found.

The Sondor Raymi, is an activity that takes place during the month of June in the Muyu Muyu, it is a representation where the battle between heroes of the Chanka group is observed in order to obtain the absolute leadership of the people. The representation begins in the Pacucha lagoon and ends in the Muyu Muyu where animal sacrifices and the flight of the condors are observed.

The entrance to the Complex is from Monday to Sunday from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon and the entrance price has a cost of S / 10.00 for adults.

Tourism in Archaeological Complex of Curamba (Archeology)

The Archaeological Complex of Curamba, also called Inca Monte, is located in the district of Kishuara, in the province of Andahuaylas, within the department of Apurímac, at about 4,500 meters above sea level. The site was discovered by the Peruvian archaeologist Raúl del Mar in 1989 and, according to him, and the chroniclers of the Colony, would have been a metallurgical center for the treatment of silver, the largest of this type, which was part of the culture Inca. The location of this Metallurgical Center would also have responded to the purposes of Inca domination, since after the expulsion of the Chankas from the area, it would have also functioned as an Intermediate Administrative Control Center.

Within this archaeological complex are remarkable: the so-called Inca Monte along with the so-called Pyramid of Curamba, also known by researchers as Ushnu. The Inca Monte is a space where you can find the so-called metallurgical furnaces or wind furnaces, also known as huayras. The Curamba ovens were based on charcoal and it is believed that corn was also used as fuel, due to the remains of this found in the cavities of the huayra.

The pyramid of Curamba, also called Ushnu, is another important attraction of the Complex. This quadrangular building is made up of two floors or platforms, in addition to an underground structure in the shape of a cell or cave, and a patio in which there are several rooms. It is believed that in his time it was used for ritual purposes, especially sacrifices. Near this pyramid have also been found, in the surrounding hills, the presence of burial, from which, according to the chronicles, several mummified human remains have been obtained.

The entrance to the enclosure is semi-restricted and to access it you must have the authorization of the Municipality.

Tourism in Hot Springs of Ccocho (Nature)

In the district of Antabamba, in the province of the same name in Apurímac, are the Hot Springs of Ccocho, an ideal tourist resource for those who have a penchant for thermo-medicinal tourism. The name of this attraction comes from the Ccocho river, which surrounds it.

The pool is fed by water from a spring whose temperature is around 41ºC. The minerals that feed the waters of Ccocho, make the hot springs are recommended especially to people who suffer from rheumatic diseases. Entrance to the hot springs is free.

Tourism in Kilkata Hot Springs (Nature)

The Kilkata or Kilcata Hot Springs are a thermomedicinal resource, which is located in the Oropesa district, in the Antabamba province, in the Apurímac region.

These hot springs have a temperature that exceeds 70 ° C, which despite their waters are warm. Near the resort, there are some natural mud pools, which together with the hot springs, are recommended for patients suffering from diseases related to bone problems.

The entrance to the resource is free of cost, and the visits can be made until 4 in the afternoon. There are only two ways to get to the Kilkata Hot Springs: on foot and by foot, so it is recommended to anticipate this inconvenience.

Tourism in Santo Tomas Hot Springs (Nature)

In the district of Pichirhua, in the province of Abancay, in the Apurímac region, there are the Santo Tomas Hot Springs.

These hot springs are located on the banks of the Pachachaca river and arise from two sources of water that are distributed in rudimentary pools in the surrounding territory. The minerals that nourish the waters of the sources of Santo Tomas, are recommended for people with muscular ailments or high levels of stress, as they have relaxing and analgesic properties.

In order to get to the Santo Tomas Hot Springs, it is necessary to take a walk along a 5 km path. The entrance to the hot springs is free, and although the place can be visited at any time, it is preferable to do it in the morning. .

Tourism in Cconoc Thermal Baths (Nature)

On the banks of the Apurímac River, are the Cconoc Thermal Baths. These hot springs are located in the district of Curahuasi, in the province of Abancay in the Apurímac region.

It is known that the minerals that nourish the Cconoc hot springs make the waters of these baths recommended, especially, to patients with bone or muscle diseases. The Cconoc baths are reached after a journey of about two hours, from the city of Abancay.

The entrance to the Cconoc bathrooms is allowed, after presenting a ticket, the cost of which is s / 2.00 for adults. Thanks to the popularity of the place, it has a basic tourist infrastructure, as well as a modest accommodation and food service on request.

Cachora to Choquequirao Trek

The most common way to get from Cachora to Choquequirao is through the Choquequirao Trek 4 days and 3 nights. You can hire this tour online or directly at an agency in the city of Cusco.

The tour from Cachora to Choquequirao in 4 days and 3 nights is like this:

Day 1: The tour from Cachora to Choquequirao begins in the city of Cusco between 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. At that time the bus leaves for Cachora (4 or 5 hours of travel). There you rest a bit to start the trekking route. After about 5 hours of walking, you spend the night on the banks of the Apurímac River.
Day 2: The walk continues very early after breakfast. The ascent becomes more arduous until reaching Marampata (3,000 m.a.s.l.). The route continues until finally reaching the archaeological site of Choquequirao, after 10 kilometers of road.
Day 3: After appreciating the most remote areas of Choquequirao, the way back begins by the same way in which it was arrived. After almost 5 hours of walking, a camp is set up in the Chiquisca area.
Day 4: The last day starts early. On the route, you will reach the Wayna Qali viewpoint where you can appreciate the beauty of the Apurímac canyon (considered the most beautiful in South America). After approximately 3 hours of walking, you will reach the town of Cachora where a car will return the tourist to the city of Cusco.

Cachora to Machu Picchu Trek

There is another tour that connects Cachora to Machu Picchu in 8 days and 7 nights. In total, 115 kilometers of history and adventure are covered.

Day 1: The adventure from Cachora to Machu Picchu that day begins in Cusco and ends on the banks of the Apurímac 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 upward and difficult road (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 due to the landscapes it crosses.
Day 4: The journey crosses the Yanama pass, to then arrive at the so-called ‘Victoria Mine’, an old silver deposit. The day is not as demanding as the previous one.
Day 5: That day begins to descend to the tropical geography of Peru. You can see the ‘Totora’ area and the ‘Collpa’ camp. The day is not demanding.
Day 6: The day goes through 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 we reach the so-called ‘Hydroelectric Station’. The walk continues to the town of Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu. There he spends the night in a hotel or lodging.
Day 8: The day begins with an ascent to Machu Picchu. That morning, and part of the afternoon, he is dedicated to touring the Wonder of the World. Then, the return to Cusco is by train and bus.