Every other month a new headline appears about the Choquequirao cable car opening "soon." After 12 years of announcements, project changes and political turnover, here is where the project actually stands in May 2026 — written by people who walk this trail every week.
Quick answer
No, the cable car is not operating in 2026. Construction has not started in any meaningful way. Detailed engineering, environmental impact assessment, and final route are still being argued between national and regional authorities. Anyone planning a trip in 2026 or 2027 will reach Choquequirao on foot, as has been the case for the last 500 years.
The original promise (and why it took so long)
The cable car was first announced in 2013 as a joint Cusco–Apurímac regional project. The route would connect Kiuñalla (Apurímac side) to the citadel of Choquequirao in roughly 15 minutes — replacing the 2-day hike on the southern access route. The original target opening was 2016.
Since then the project has been delayed by:
- A jurisdictional dispute between the regions of Cusco and Apurímac about who manages the citadel and who keeps the ticket revenue
- Multiple changes of regional governor and the national Minister of Culture
- Concerns from the Ministry of Culture about visitor capacity — the site is only 30 – 40% excavated and Inca structures could be damaged by mass tourism
- Updates to the proposed route after the initial environmental study was rejected
- Funding gaps between announced budget and actual public investment
What's actually built in 2026
As of May 2026, no cable car infrastructure exists on the ground at Choquequirao. What does exist:
- An access road improved on the Apurímac side toward Kiuñalla
- A basic visitor reception point in Kiuñalla, partially built
- Several rounds of technical studies sitting with the regional government
- A renewed pre-investment file updated in 2024
That's it. There are no towers, no cables, no cabins, no stations. Construction of the physical cable car system has not started.
What hikers should plan for
For the 2026 and 2027 seasons, plan a traditional foot trek. The Capuliyoc – Chiquiska – Santa Rosa – Marampata – Choquequirao route remains the only realistic way in. This is the same route InfoCusco has operated since 2001.
For most travelers, this is actually good news. The remoteness is the point — Choquequirao without crowds is one of the great trekking experiences in South America. Once the cable car opens (whenever that happens), visitor numbers will jump from ~30 – 50 per day to potentially several thousand. The experience will change permanently.
If you want to see Choquequirao the way it's been seen for centuries — quiet, half-excavated, surrounded by Andean canyon silence — visit in the next two to three years. The clock is running.
Will it ever open?
Probably yes, eventually. The political and economic incentive is real — both Cusco and Apurímac want the tourism revenue, and the national government wants the development. But the realistic earliest opening date in our view, based on current progress, is 2029 – 2030, and that assumes no further delays.
Anyone who tells you it will open "next year" has been saying that since 2014.
What this means for your trek
If you book a Choquequirao trek with us in 2026 or 2027:
- You will trek on foot via Capuliyoc — no other option
- You will share the site with very few people — most days fewer than 50 visitors total
- You will see Choquequirao in its current half-excavated, low-tourism state
- You will likely look back in 10 years and be glad you came when you did
For an honest conversation about whether the trek is right for you and your fitness level, see our 40 frequently asked questions or contact our team directly.