Our full-day Waqrapukara Trekking tour will take you to explore an impressive Inca temple located in the Andes mountains of Cusco. This fortress, built atop one of the steepest mountains, is an architectural gem shrouded in mystery. Additionally, this hiking experience will immerse you in an area seldom visited by travelers, taking you off the traditional Cusco trails.
Waqrapukara is a new tourist attraction whose enigmas remain unsolved. This site offers spectacular views of the night sky, filled with constellations, planets, and stars—key elements of the Inca worldview. Fortress, sanctuary, and astronomical observatory are some of the interpretations associated with this fascinating monument of classic Inca architecture, located 4,300 meters above sea level, in the depths of the ApurĂmac River canyon, south of Cusco.
The Waqrapukara Trek is typically conducted as a private tour for a minimum of two people. Travelers undertaking the trip to Waqrapukara should be in good physical condition and properly acclimated to the altitude of the Cusco region. We suggest doing this hike after visiting Machu Picchu.
Travelers should be physically prepared for this tour, as it includes approximately 5.5 hours of hiking (round trip). This tour is ideal for those who enjoy walking, connecting with nature, and venturing beyond traditional excursions.
We recommend avoiding the Waqrapukara tour in January, February, and March due to heavy rains in the region.
Early in the morning, around 4:40 a.m., we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco to begin our Waqrapukara Trekking Tour at 5:00 a.m. We will head southeast of the city on a drive of approximately 2.5 hours. At 7:30 a.m., you will enjoy a hearty breakfast at a local restaurant in the town of Acomayo.
At 8:30 a.m., we will start a 3-hour hike at an altitude of 12,000 feet, crossing the plains of Cusco until we reach the ancient Inca fortress of Waqrapukara.
Around 11:30 a.m., we will arrive at the fortress, where you will have about an hour to explore this mystical and enigmatic archaeological site. You’ll learn about its history and significance as a religious and astronomical center for the Incas.
At 1:00 p.m., we will begin the return hike to the point where our transport will be waiting, a trek of approximately 2.5 hours.
At 3:30 p.m., you will enjoy a delicious lunch at a nearby restaurant. After lunch, we’ll head back to Cusco, a drive that usually takes about 3 hours.
We will arrive in Cusco around 7:30 p.m., concluding this incredible experience.
Waqrapukara (from Quechua: waqra, “horn,” and pukara, “fortress”; “horn-shaped fortress”) or Huacrapucará is an Inca archaeological complex located in the rural community of Huayqui, annexed to Percca in the district of Acos, within the province of Acomayo, in the Cusco region. It is situated near the ApurĂmac River at an altitude of 4,300 meters above sea level.
Originally built by the Canchis people and later conquered by the Incas, it was declared a Cultural Heritage of the Nation in July 2017 by the Ministry of Culture. The site is believed to have been an Inca sanctuary and features structures built on terraces, plazas, and a forest of stone formations.
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