LIMA, Peru: The former mountaintop refuge of Incan royalty has elegant halls and plazas much like those of fabled Macchu Picchu just 50 kilometers away. Yet only a handful of tourists visit the ruins each day, those willing to make a two-day hike to reach its majestic solitude.
That is about to change: The national government has approved what would be Peru’s first aerial tramway. Bridging the deep canyon of the Apurimac River, it is expected to make Choquequirao reachable in just 15 minutes from the nearest highway.
The 3-mile (5-kilometer) long cable car will be designed to whiz 400 people an hour in each direction a half mile (nearly a kilometer) above the river. The president of the Apurimac state government, Elias Segovia, anticipates the $45 million tramway will bring about 3,000 tourists a day after it opens in late 2015.
“This is going to generate tourist services. It will generate great investment” in hotels, restaurants and other amenities, he says.
The idea is to shift some of the tourist burden from Machu Picchu, where authorities have a limit of 2,500 daily visitors and where reservations are now required for people who wish to hike the famed Inca Trail to the ruins.
Currently, most visitors to Choquequirao must fly to Cuzco, the former Inca imperial capital, then drive four hours on mountain roads. Then it’s another 12 to 16 hours on foot.
It’s little wonder Choquequirao (CHO-kay-keer-ow) gets only about five visitors a day.
“When we went there it was the two of us and the two rangers,” said Jeff Widman, a 27-year-old Internet entrepreneur from Menlo Park, California, who trekked there with his wife, and continued on to Machu Picchu.
Choquequirao, which means “cradle of gold” in Quechua, is believed to be the last refuge of Incan rulers who fled Cuzco after its leader Manco Inca was defeated by Spanish conquistadors. It is draped over the fold of a lesser mountain in the shadow of Salcantay peak, surrounded at 9,950 feet (3030 meters) by steep precipices. Its buildings and irrigation canals meticulously hewn into rock are as well-preserved as those of Machu Picchu, its “top-of-the-world” views equally spectacular.
Only about 30 percent of Choquequirao has been cleared for tourism. The rest, for now, remains covered in vegetation.
David Ugarte, regional director of culture in Cuzco, predicts the tramway will open up to broader tourism not just Choquequirao but also other archaeological sites in the region. It is the first of 24 that President Ollanta Humala envisions building in each of Peru’s states to boost tourism.
Not everyone is happy about it.
Arturo Almiron, of the travel agency Tours a Cuzco, believes it will put off the kind of tourist who wants to be thrown back spiritually to the epoch when the city was the Inca capital.
He fears visitors to Choquequirao will be robbed of the possibility of watching condors soar in the quiet stillness of untrammeled hills.
“Cuzco’s very character is in the preservation of its historical center and archaeological sites,” he said. “If we build a tramway, that preservation is altered. A touch of modernity is added that isn’t very attractive. Authenticity is lost.”
Mandy Kalitsis of Toronto, operations manager for the Cuzco-based Apus-Peru tour company, acknowledged that Choquequirao “will lose some of its charm.”
“But as long as the government manages (the tramway) properly, I think it can bring some good into the area,” said Kalitsis, whose company organizes treks to Choquequirao.
Peru’s Housing Ministry and Apurimac’s regional government are about to begin taking bids for construction. Companies from Switzerland and Andorra have already expressed interest.
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Associated Press writer Frank Bajak contributed to this report.
Tramway planned for Machu Picchu’s ‘sister city’
Tramway planned for Machu Picchu’s ‘sister city’
Where we are going today: An early look inside Six Flags Qiddiya City
- Kingdom’s largest amusement park with world record rides
- Incredible experience to visit before its opening on Dec. 31
RIYADH: Six Flags Qiddiya City opened its doors to a select number of visitors for its soft opening earlier this month before its official opening on Dec. 31, and the experience was incredible.
Six Flags is one part of Qiddiya City, the upcoming hub for entertainment, sports and innovation located an hour’s drive from Riyadh.
The city is the largest amusement park in the Kingdom with a world record five rollercoasters and rides.
Six Flags Qiddiya City’s beginnings track back to 2021 when Qiddiya Investment Co. signed a SR3.75 billion ($1 billion) contract to build the park.
The short journey on the bus to the entrance foreshadowed the unique experience we were in for: breathtaking mountains, chilling desert wind and peaks of rollercoaster trails all around and through a mountain.
The park is brightly lit with Saudi Arabia-themed architecture. Souvenir stops and small shops are all around in traditional Najdi-style buildings.
Past the entrance, the park splits into six areas: City of Thrills, Grand Exposition, Steam Town, Twilight Gardens, Discovery Springs and Valley of Fortune. Each of these features a mix of child-friendly rides and large rollercoasters for thrill seekers.
As an adrenaline junkie myself, I was excited to kick off the night in City of Thrills, where the theme was rather futuristic.
City of Thrills features two of the park’s iconic and record-breaking rides: Falcon’s Flight and Sirocco Tower.
Falcon’s Flight is the world’s longest, fastest and tallest rollercoaster yet. Sirocco Tower is the highest drop-tower ride in the world, going up to an astonishing 145 meters.
While neither were open during the soft launch, I will definitely be revisiting the park to try both. To set the tone for my experience at City of Thrills, I chose Adrena-Line to start.
The ride is classified as a mid-level thrill, but the setup of a suspended rollercoaster really amplified the experience as my legs hung free and the trail took us upside-down.
I headed over to Grand Exposition, where the overall theme was past-meets-future. This area is particularly diverse in its rides and dining options.
One of the most notable rides is the Arabian Carousel, which features camels and Arab paintings.
Grand Exposition is a blend of history that has varying dining options including Taste of Asia and Fish & Chippery.
I could not leave without trying Colossus, an extreme-thrill wooden ride that left me speechless. Although it lacks upside-down twists, Colossus is perfect for those looking for speed and drops.
Steam Town was up next, which was especially exciting because it is home to the infamous Iron Rattler, a record-breaking rollercoaster.
I grabbed a hotdog from Steam Town Grill as I watched those on the Iron Rattler scream as they reached the tilt at the end before dropping.
Steam Town has a lot of shopping options, from ride-inspired souvenirs to toys. Although not yet open for visitors to shop, the merchandise was enjoyable to see.
Twilight Gardens and Discovery Springs have dazzling themes. Twilight Gardens is a lovely experience for kids as the land is decorated with glittering and neon-lit artificial plants and flowers.
It features a soft rollercoaster called Twilight Thrill that is lady-bug themed for kids to enjoy. Discovery Springs is where to go for a quick splash and thrill.
Although rides such as Zoomafloma were closed until the official opening day, Discovery Springs is definitely the land for water-ride fans.
Home to Spitfire, another record-breaking rollercoaster in Valley of Fortune was a great way to wrap up my visit.
This final land offers a treasure hunt experience with a jungle-like theme and matching dining and souvenir stops, which is a great balance for both adult thrill-seekers and kids.
Overall, the park’s carefully curated themes, ambitious rides and unique location offer an experience unlike any other that I have experienced across the world.
There is something special about seeing the highest coaster drops stand tall in the desert landscape.
