Choquequirao chosen as the best travel destination in 2017

The citadel of Choquequirao was placed as one of the 30 destinations in the world to visit in 2017 in the Regions category by the prestigious Lonely Planet, one of the largest travel guides in the world.

When talking about Cusco, immediately the Citadel of Machu Picchu comes to mind, one of the 7 wonders of the world dating back to the Inca period. But in addition, this department in the Peruvian highlands has Choquequirao, which has just been chosen as the top destination in its category in a Best in Travel 2017 list, one of the most renowned rankings on tourist destinations recommended by international travel experts.

This list was published by Lonely Planet, considered the leading travel guide worldwide. The ranking describes the citadel of Choquequirao as a perfect place to sit, unwind, enjoy a spectacular view of the mountains, follow the extensive course of the Apurímac River, and witness the impressive flight of condors.

Choquequirao has surpassed tourist spots like Taranaki in New Zealand, North Wales, South Australia, North Wales, etc. To create this ranking, travel guide authors and specialized users are called upon to recommend places of interest that, in their opinion, must be visited the following year. This is how this challenging list was determined.

BEST IN TRAVEL 2017 - TOP REGIONS

1. Choquequirao, Peru
2. Taranaki, New Zealand
3. The Azores, Portugal
4. North Wales, UK
5. South Australia
6. Aysén, Chile
7. The Tuamotus, French Polynesia
8. Coastal Georgia, USA
9. Perak, Malaysia
10. The Skellig Ring, Ireland

Choquequirao has structures very similar to Machu Picchu with terraces for agriculture, central plazas for gatherings, and also served as a bastion of resistance against the Spanish attack. Due to all these characteristics and importance, it is considered the "Sacred Sister".

The site was discovered around 1768, but was not considered important at the time. It was even mentioned by two Frenchmen between 1834 and 1847, but it remained in the same situation. Hiram Bingham, the discoverer of Machu Picchu, highlighted the site's relevance during his 1911 expedition, but restoration work on the complex was not carried out until the 1970s.

It is believed that Choquequirao was built with the function of being a place to control access to Vilcabamba and to serve as an administrative center. According to legend, what also makes the place important is that it is said to have functioned as a refuge for the Inca people after the Spanish invasion. This archaeological complex covers an area of 2 hectares.

What are you waiting for? For all these reasons, you must visit Choquequirao, one of the top recommended places to visit in 2017 worldwide. We recommend embarking on the adventure of trekking to this citadel, a unique activity that we are sure you will not regret.