The hike to the lost Incan city of Choquequirao is one of the most difficult in Peru. From the town of Cachora, which is 161km west of Cusco, it's an 18km walk to Capuliyoc Mountain, then down to Playa Rosalina, where travellers camp for the night. Waking early, travelers then have to cross the Apurímac River and walk uphill to camp close to the ruins. Then, the next morning, it's another 2km walk up to the ruins, 3, 100m above sea level. To get back? Well, it's the same way you came.
“I've had people in their 60s and 70s do it,” said Juan Barrios, a guide from the Adventure Life company. “But some people come out thinking that because it's only 28km from the drop off they can do it in a day. Six or seven days for the hike is best.”
It makes sense, then, that Choquequirao draws only about 30 people a day during the high season (June through August). Compare that to the 2, 500 people who arrive each day at the famous Incan city of Machu Picchu.
But for those who make the journey, the rewards (回报) are great: beautiful mountain views at every turn, and the chance to explore the wonderful ruins nearly alone.
Believed to be created around the same time as Machu Picchu, in 1445, Choquequirao is actually larger than better-known Machu Picchu. But very little has been written about Peru's other lost city and researchers are still uncovering new parts of the ruins, leaving life on the mountain relatively untouched.
But officials say that the building of the first cable car (缆车) to Choquequirao will shorten the several-day walk to a 15-minute cable car ride. As a result, the number of travellers that now make the journey each week could turn into 3,000 visitors per day.
Choquequirao is beautiful now because of how untouched it is. Even though the lost city was discovered by Spanish explorer Juan Arias Díaz in 1710, the ruins still make you feel as though you're the first to find them. Will it be the same when more travellers flood in (大量涌入)?
8. What does the first paragraph centre on?
A.How tall Choquequirao is. | B.How to get to Choquequirao easily. |
C.What great views Choquequirao has. | D.How hard the trip to Choquequirao is. |
9. In what way is Choquequirao different from Machu Picchu?
A.Choquequirao is older. | B.Choquequirao is quieter. |
C.Choquequirao is smaller. | D.Choquequirao is better known. |
10. How are the ruins of Choquequirao?
A.They're still being dug out. | B.They're in a generally poor condition. |
C.They're being renewed at the moment. | D.They've been researched internationally. |
11. What does the author think of Choquequirao in the future?
A.It will be more attractive. |
B.It will develop at a slow speed. |
C.It won't necessarily take a turn for the better. |
D.It won't be more popular than Machu Picchu. |