Waqrapukara Trek
FULL DAY TOUR | Starting from US$150 per person
Breakfast & Lunch
MEALS
Up to 10 People
GROUP SIZE
4,140 m / 13,583ft
MAX. ALTITUDE
Moderate
DIFFICULTY
ACOMAYO - MARCACONGA - PITUMARCA - WAQRAPUKARA
Waqrapukara One Day Tour
How does the idea of escaping the city and large crowds to visit a unique off-the-beaten-path site sound? The Waqrapukara One-Day Trek is the ultimate choice for some peace and quiet and to discover an incredible site that very few people get to visit—locals and tourists!
Join us on an epic hike to the majestic pre-Inca construction of Waqrapukara, or Fortress of Horns, located in the mighty Apurímac canyon. This beautiful sacred place combines advanced architecture and impressive natural formations in a wonderful landscape—almost like something from a dream—surrounded by small crystalline lagoons. The gigantic horns rise as high as 4,140 m / 13,583 ft.
- OVERVIEW
- ITINERARY
- INCLUSIONS
- BEFORE YOU GO
- PRICING
- ENQUIRE NOW
When you travel with your partner or a large group of family or friends, you can join us on this one-day trek. You’ll come with us on an adventure through the Peruvian Andes and escape the hustle and bustle of the city to an amazing Inca fortress.
The Waqrapukara Trek is a must for anyone wanting to visit this incredible archaeological site before the crowds discover it and it becomes busy. Waqra means “horn” in Quechua, while Pukara means “fortress.” These “horns” rise up to 4,140 m / 13,582 ft on top of a huge ravine covered with forests.
The archaeological monument is surrounded by impressive platforms, plazas, and stone forests that resemble mythological giants looking like they’re contemplating the Andean landscape.
You’ll also get to soak in the incredible landscape of the mountains, canyon, and crystalline lagoons. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the unique flora and fauna of the region. Why wait longer to immerse yourself in the wild Andes and see a very special site? Get in touch with us and learn more about this fun one-day adventure.
Highlights.
- Explore a unique Inca fortress and temple in Waqrapukara.
- Be astounded by the extensive, well-preserved agricultural terraces and walls, staircases, and stone chambers carved in the classic Inca style.
- Walk through the incredible Andes, get breathtaking canyons views, and take some stunning photos.
- Observe the local flora and fauna and learn more about them from your expert guide.
- Glimpse into traditional Andean life in the rural communities.
- Enjoy a day off-the-beaten-path and away from the large crowds.
Day 1: Cusco | Quiquijana - Pomacanchi - Santa Lucia - Waqrapukara - Cusco.
Highlight of the Day: Exploring the impressive site of Waqrapukara.
Be Impressed by the Amazing Inca Fortress of Waqrapukara
This striking one-day adventure starts bright and early. We'll pick you up from your accommodation at around 4:00 am. and follow a two-hour drive to the town of Quiquijana. From there, and once you’ve enjoyed a wholesome breakfast to boost your energy, we'll continue bordering the shimmering Pomacanchi lagoon, one of the largest in the area. This beautiful lagoon is also flanked all over by pastures and plenty of local agricultural fields.
After that, we’ll follow our route for one hour and a half along an unpaved road until the town of Santa Lucia, witnessing some amazing scenery all around and even looking at the lagoon in the distance. From the town, we’ll take a final 30-min drive to our hike's starting point. There, you’ll have time to get your things together before we start. The first section is around 3 hours long, observing the magnificent Apurimac Canyon, one of the deepest in Peru, and the dramatic landscapes studded with cliffs along the way.
When we reach the Waqrapukara viewpoint, you'll be able to rest a little and take your first photos of the impressive fortress emerging on the edge of a canyon. Next, we'll descend for about forty minutes along a steep path on a cliff's edge towards the site while you appreciate the Apurimac River flowing rapidly downwards.
You'll get to explore the archaeological site for about an hour and a half; you’ll climb through the temple's remains and take photos of its famous horned-shaped rock formation and the fantastic canyon landscape. The site itself also boasts enigmatic constructions from pre-Inca and Inca periods, terraces, and incredible background history, which makes this a perfect location to learn about the ancient Andean culture. Without a doubt, the place will surely take your breath away from start to finish.
Finally, when the group is ready, we'll begin the hike back the way we came. We'll arrive at the private transport after about three hours of walking, and we'll return to Cusco, arriving at 7:00 p.m. approximately.
At Pacha Peru Explorers, we specify the included and non-included services under all the tour itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please pay attention to the details to avoid missing anything. Some items may be different for specific programs, so please read carefully before booking with us.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
Pre-departure Briefing: You’ll meet your trekking guide and group in our office for an orientation before your tour. The meeting will be at 5:00 pm the evening before the trip begins.
Experienced Tour Guide: English and spanish speaking, professionally educated, and official tour guide. Your guide will explain the culture and surroundings along the entire route, including leading your group in ancient ceremonies! He or she will keep you safe, sound, and comfortable on your trek so that you can enjoy your time worry-free!
Medical Kit or First Aid Kit: All Pacha Peru Explorers guides have received specialized training in first aid. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit to face basic emergencies (altitude sickness, travelers' diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) as well as oxygen. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the path as quickly as possible and ensure that you arrive at a clinic for treatment.
Extras Included in our Services: We believe that attention to small details is what sets us apart from other local companies. You’ll receive a pair of walking sticks with rubber tips (for trekking poles) and a rain poncho.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.
Snack and Water: Before starting your trekking, your tour guide will provide you a cloth bag with local fruits, cookies, chocolate, caramels, etc. In addition, you'll receive a bottle of water.
Private Transport: All your transportation is included in this package. We will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the starting point of the hike. Once you complete the tour, we will take you back to the door of your hotel in Cusco.
Entrance Tickets: Entrance ticket to Waqrapukara Archaelogical site.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
Dinner.
Hiking Clothes.
Travel Insurance.
Additional costs or delays beyond our control: Landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to a safety concern, illness, pandemic, government policy changes, political instability, strikes, act of God, etc.
We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as carefree as possible. In this section, you’ll find the answers to all the questions you have about traveling with Pacha Peru Explorers in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.
Briefing or Informative Meeting: All information meetings and briefings are held in our main office in Cusco (or your hotel) at 5:00 pm, one night before the tour begins. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. If you’re unable to attend, you must coordinate another time by email, by phone or at the Pacha Peru Explorers office.
Trek Balance Payment (in Cusco): The trek has to be paid for in full at most 7.30 pm one day before your departure (generally after the briefing).
It would be much appreciated if you pay the trek balance in cash US dollars or local currency at our office in Cusco. You can withdraw some money from several ATMs along Avenida Sol (either in US dollars or local Peruvian Soles). You can pay by credit card or PAYPAL online, but you will have to pay an 6% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. We do not accept bank checks or payment of the balance by traveler’s checks.
Can I store my luggage at your office?: During the trip, your main luggage can be stored at our office (you can organize it with us on the briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment that you won’t need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags; put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (in the unlikely case of theft, many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing everything). It’s best to put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Pick up of guests: Pacha Peru Explorers can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it’s in the Historical Center of Cusco. Your guide will coordinate the pickup time in the briefing session, but please keep in mind that the time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic.
Cusco is an old city, meaning it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. We strongly recommend that you book accommodation with good access.
Group Tours: Group tours are made up of different types of people, then physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route.
It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, the guide will be the one who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if such modifications are possible.
Strikes and demonstrations: Strikes and demonstrations are usually common in Peru, and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked, and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your trip as originally planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date. Under these circumstances, tours may also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, everything will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority, and our decisions will be made to protect it.
Lost Objects: Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our transport or restaurants. You’re the only one responsible for your objects during the tour.
"Waqrapukara Trek" can leave any day of the week, from January through December.
2022 Land Cost:
Group Price: US$ 150.00 per person
Required Pre-payment: US$ 50.00 per person
Balance (Cusco): US$ 100.00 (Commonly paid in Cusco after the briefing).
This small-group journey is guaranteed to operate with just two guests.
Notice that PayPal charges a fee of 6%, which we ask the client to cover since it's due to the use of its service. This tax is just for online deposits so that you will pay the remaining in cash (the briefing day in Cusco) without charges.
Please, after your deposit, send us the transfer number to contact@pachaperu.tours; only after that, we'll be able to confirm your deposit and reservation.
Extensions & Offers: There are several extensions you can include to your Peru Adventure.
- Rainbow Mountain: US$ 120.00
- Sacred Valley: US$ 90.00
- City Tour: US$ 60.00
Price Guarantee: Once your booking has been confirmed, we guarantee the price won’t increase, whatever the circumstances. So please, before booking, ensure you’ve read all our important tour information.
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