The new Machu Picchu?

A new archaeological site in Peru to rival Machu Picchu is being uncovered in the south of the country.

Choquequirao is an Inca city located at an altitude of 3,100 metres in the Vilcabamba mountain range and is thought to be substantially bigger than Peru's well-known Machu Picchu archaeological site.

It is thought the city was home to an estimated 1,000 people during the 1400s and is expected to reveal important information about the lives of the Incas during this time.

Relatively off the beaten track for most visitors to the country and an excellent opportunity for walking adventure holiday, the site can be accessed from Cachora, reached from Cusco by bus or other road transport.

Currently, around 30 per cent of the city has been excavated, giving visitors an early chance to see what promises to be a top South American visitor attraction a long time before it becomes as a busy as its sister site, Machu Picchu.

From Cachora travellers can trek their way Choquequirao (using a bilingual guide is recommended) through the thick forest greenery of the Sacred Valley.

The challenging two-day hike through the valley is a great way of getting an understanding of why the Incas settled there, as well as take in the rivers, gorges and villages on the way.

However, the real reward comes once holidaymakers reach the ruins of Choquequirao, where visitors are given access to almost all of the site and can take in the high-altitude mountain views.

There are two sacred areas of Choquequirao dedicated to the worship of the sun and ancestors of the city, as well as a main square, multi-storey living quarters and intricate features such as burial grounds, and plumbing and ventilation systems.

A large decorative drawing of a llama can also be seen on the western side of the main square, made using white stone.

The trip is available as an add-on to a tailor-made itinerary that includes Cusco.

Tour operators with holidays to Peru include Audley Travel, Exodus, The Real Peru and Responsible Travel.

For more information on Peru see www.peru.info