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Choquequirao Cable Car Project: Boosting Tourism in Peru
Overview of the Choquequirao Project
Peru has confirmed initial steps to develop the Choquequirao Archaeological Park, a significant tourist attraction the country plans to invest in over the coming years. This project is considered essential for Peru to regain its pre-pandemic tourism levels.
After a period of silence regarding the initiative to promote this ‘other Machu Picchu’, President Dina Boluarte announced in her national address on July 28th that the Choquequirao Public-Private Partnership (PPP) will soon be awarded. This includes the construction of a cable car system.
How the Cable Car Will Shorten the Journey
Currently, reaching the Choquequirao archaeological complex can take anywhere from one to four days, according to tourism websites. The experience typically involves trekking and then exploring the hidden wonder. Since there is no road access to this tourist site, visitors need to be physically fit to complete the hike and must carry camping gear for overnight stays during the trek and at the site itself.
To boost tourism and improve access to this “new Peruvian wonder,” as the President has called it, an investment of US$ 220 million has been planned. This information comes from the Private Investment Promotion Agency (Proinversión), which indicates this as the reference investment. The project, officially named ‘Improvement of Public Tourist Services of the Choquequirao Archaeological Park’ but known as the Choquequirao Cable Car, will be the largest Public-Private Partnership in the tourism sector.
This development is expected to significantly increase the demand for lodging, transportation, travel agencies, restaurants, food services, tour guides, and local businesses in the area. This will have a stimulating effect on direct and indirect employment for the Cusco and Apurímac regions, from where the two cable car lines will originate.
The major project includes plans to construct tourist routes, central stations in Cusco (Yanama) at approximately 3,399 meters (11,152 feet) and Apurímac (Huanipaca) at approximately 2,975 meters (9,760 feet), as well as the cable car stations themselves (arrival, departure, and intermediate).
Cable Car Project Timeline: Award in 2025
President Dina Boluarte has announced that the call for bids for the Choquequirao project will be launched in 2024. It was previously known that the awarding of the project was scheduled for the first half of 2025. “To date, Proinversión has approved the Project Promotion Plan, whose objective is to establish the conditions, characteristics, and modality to promote private investment.”
This project is vital for the government, which aims to reach its goal of 4.4 million foreign tourists in 2024 to recover pre-pandemic figures. However, current tourism projections, according to a report on the sector by Casa Andina, suggest that Peru will receive approximately 3.3 million foreign tourists by the end of the year, still short of the target. Despite this, the Minister of Tourism, Elizabeth Galdo, has announced expectations of reaching 10 million tourists by 2030.
Details of the Choquequirao Cable Car
The cableway to Choquequirao aims to create a new access route to the Inca city. This project will connect two regions along the Apurímac Canyon, from the town of Kiuñalla at 2,975 meters (9,760 feet) in the Huanipaca district, Abancay province (Apurímac), to the town of Yanama at 3,399 meters (11,152 feet), Santa Teresa district, La Convención province (Cusco).
This project is expected to be a major development hub for the Cusco and Apurímac regions. With this improved access, Choquequirao will transition from a remote tourist attraction to a readily accessible tourism product, offering visitors another option besides Machu Picchu at approximately 2,430 meters (7,970 feet).
Project Description
According to PROINVERSIÓN, the agency responsible for promoting investment and privatizations, this project will cost USD$ 54.3 million, excluding taxes. The company undertaking this investment will have a concession period of 22 years. This figure is preliminary and may be subject to change.
The Choquequirao cable car will be a reversible system. This means that cabins will be located at both ends of the cable, moving in both directions. While one cabin goes to Choquequirao at approximately 3,270 meters (10,730 feet), another returns. The journey time will be 15 minutes from one end to the other, with a capacity of 400 people per hour. The system will have three stations distributed along the approximately 5.4-kilometer length of the Apurímac Canyon. Here are the sections:
Choquequirao Cable Car – Section 1:
This section starts at the Kiuñalla station at 2,975 meters (9,760 feet) in the town of the same name, Huanipaca district, and goes to the Pajonal station at 2,476 meters (8,123 feet) located in the Yanama district, within the Cusco region. This section is 3.5 kilometers long, with a maximum height of 806 meters above the Apurímac River.
Choquequirao Cable Car – Section 2:
The second section starts at the Pajonal station at 2,476 meters (8,123 feet) in the Yanama district and goes to the Choquequirao station at 3,270 meters (10,730 feet). This section is 1.9 kilometers long. From this point, access to the Inca city of Choquequirao will be just minutes away.
PROINVERSIÓN’s Role and Investment Details
Lima, March 4, 2024 – The Private Investment Promotion Agency (PROINVERSIÓN) reports that the reference investment in the project “Improvement of Public Tourist Services of the Choquequirao Archaeological Park” (Choquequirao Cable Car) will amount to US$ 220 million, making it the largest Public-Private Partnership in the tourism sector.
In its 21 years of operation, PROINVERSIÓN has structured and awarded various tourism sector projects, such as ecological recreational centers, tourist complexes, and the Kuélap Cable Car System, but none with the scale and complexity of the Choquequirao Cable Car project.
This significant investment is expected to create conditions for over one million tourists to visit the Archaeological Park, a considerable increase compared to the current 8,000 annual visitors.
The influx of new visitors will boost tourism and related activities in the southern part of the country. This will lead to higher demand for accommodations, transportation, travel agencies, restaurants, food services, more tour guides, and local businesses, which will stimulate direct and indirect employment in the Cusco and Apurímac regions.
The Choquequirao Cable Car project includes the construction of tourist routes, central stations in Cusco (Yanama) and Apurímac (Huanipaca), as well as the cable car stations (arrival, departure, and intermediate). This will facilitate the development of cultural, adventure, and nature tourism, as currently, a tourist wishing to visit Choquequirao needs to allocate five (5) days for the trip.
PROINVERSIÓN Process
The awarding of the project is scheduled for the first half of 2025. To date, PROINVERSIÓN has approved the Project Promotion Plan, which aims to establish the conditions, characteristics, and modality for promoting private investment.
The project is expected to be tendered under an Integrated Project Competition mechanism, where the winning bidder will be responsible for the design, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of the project. The process is being carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR), which will sign the PPP contract as the owner of the project. At the end of the contract term, the public infrastructure will be transferred to the State.
Anticipation and Excitement in Cusco’s Tourism Sector
With the confirmation of the Choquequirao Cable Car Project, tourism agencies in Cusco, the tourism hub of Peru, are feeling a sense of anticipation and excitement. This project has the potential to significantly energize the regional and national economy, benefiting various sectors linked to tourism.
Joex Travel, a well-known tourism agency in Cusco, expressed their enthusiasm and optimism for this innovative project. “We are thrilled that this project can happen soon. The cable car will not only make it easier to get to Choquequirao but will also improve tourism and, therefore, boost the local and national economy,” commented Bralú Santos, a representative from Joex Travel.
Tourism agencies, in general, hope that this project progresses smoothly and that all the necessary support is provided for its timely completion. The completion of this major undertaking is seen as a significant step forward for tourism in Peru, and those involved are eager to see the positive impact it will have on the region.
Projections and Benefits
The Private Investment Promotion Agency (PROINVERSIÓN) estimates that, once this project is finished, it will encourage more than 1.2 million tourists per year to visit the Archaeological Park, compared to the current 8,000 visitors. This increase in tourist numbers will lead to high demand for related services, benefiting hotels, restaurants, and, of course, tourism agencies like Joex Travel.
A Bright Future
The improvement and modernization of the public tourist services at the Choquequirao Archaeological Park align with the ongoing effort to enhance the tourist experience in Peru. Joex Travel, along with other tourism agencies in Cusco, is ready to adapt and take advantage of the new opportunities that will arise from this project. The expectations are high, and the tourism sector in Cusco is prepared and hopeful about the future possibilities that the Choquequirao Cable Car will offer.
Narrative Itinerary of the Project:
The journey to making Choquequirao more accessible begins with the confirmation of the project. Months of anticipation culminate in President Boluarte’s announcement, signaling the imminent award of the Public-Private Partnership. This partnership will pave the way for the construction of a modern cable car system. Currently, reaching Choquequirao is an arduous trek, taking several days and requiring significant physical fitness. The new cable car aims to transform this experience, offering a swift 15-minute ride connecting Kiuñalla in Apurímac to Yanama in Cusco, with an intermediate stop at Pajonal. This will open up the “new Peruvian wonder” to a wider audience, allowing more people to witness its beauty. The project involves not just the cable car itself, but also the development of tourist routes and the construction of central and cable car stations. With the call for bids expected in 2024 and the awarding in the first half of 2025, the vision of a more accessible Choquequirao is quickly becoming a reality. This development is poised to revitalize the tourism sector in the Cusco and Apurímac regions, creating new opportunities and boosting the local economy.
Additional Context for Benefits:
The Choquequirao Cable Car project is expected to bring numerous benefits beyond just increased tourist numbers. For the local communities in Cusco and Apurímac, it will mean a significant boost in employment, both directly through jobs related to the cable car operation and indirectly through the growth of supporting industries like hotels, restaurants, and local crafts. For tourists, it will provide a much easier and faster way to experience the majestic Inca city, making it accessible to a wider range of travelers, including those who may not be able to undertake the challenging trek. This improved accessibility is also expected to lead to a longer average stay in the region, as visitors can combine a trip to Machu Picchu with a visit to Choquequirao more easily. Furthermore, the project represents a major investment in the region’s infrastructure, which can have long-term positive impacts on the overall development of the area. The government hopes that this project will not only help recover pre-pandemic tourism levels but also establish Choquequirao as a premier tourist destination on par with Machu Picchu, contributing significantly to Peru’s economy and global reputation.
