Virtually Explore the Ancient Ruins of Peru’s Choquequirao

The mountaintop ruins of Choquequirao in Peru are often compared to the country’s more famous Machu Picchu, but without the crowds that visit the Incan ruins each year.

Peru is trying to draw more travelers to the lesser-known site through a new virtual reality app called Choquequirao 360, available now for downloads on smartphones. The app takes users on a virtual tour of the ruins, ideally inspiring a real-life visit. The app uses 360-degree video and virtual tours to bring the site to life.

But Choquequirao isn’t as easy to get to in real life as it is in the app. The ruins, actually much larger in scale than those of Machu Picchu, are accessible through a four-day, round-trip hike. Machu Picchu, on the other hand, is accessible by train for anyone who wants to skip the grueling hike on the Inca Trail.

Lately there has been talk of building a cable car to Choquequirao, which would reduce the trek to a 15-minute ride that would also likely bring the crowds.