Tour overview
The Waqrapukara Full-Day Tour is our full-day excursion from Cusco to Waqrapukara, the “fortress of the horns” (in Quechua, waqra means horn and pukara, fortress): a pre-Inca and Inca sanctuary and fortress built on a rocky spur shaped like two horns that overlooks the canyon of the Apurímac River, in the district of Acos, Acomayo province, at about 4,140 m a.s.l. It was occupied first by the Qanchis and later by the Incas, and in 2017 the Ministry of Culture declared it Cultural Heritage of the Nation. We pick you up before dawn at your hotel, have breakfast in Cusipata, skirt Pomacanchi lake, and reach the start of the walk via Santa Lucía; we walk about 1 hour and 30 minutes to the complex, take the guided visit, have lunch, and return by the same trail to get back to Cusco at the end of the afternoon. We include tourist transport, a professional guide, breakfast, lunch, walking poles, a first-aid kit, and oxygen for emergencies.
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Best time to travel Approx. May to September (dry season)
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Maximum altitude 4,300 m a.s.l. (route); site at 4,140 m
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Physical difficulty Moderate; ~5 km of walking; altitude
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Minimum number of passengers 2 adults
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Maximum number of passengers 10 adults
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Booking lead time 1 day in advance
Overview
- Approx. 4:00 – 5:00 a.m. – Pickup in Cusco: we collect you at your hotel in the historic center and head south of Cusco.
- Approx. 7:00 a.m. – Breakfast in Cusipata: breakfast at a restaurant in the town (3,310 m a.s.l.).
- Route along Pomacanchi lake and Santa Lucía: drive across the high plateau skirting Pomacanchi lake to Santa Lucía and Punta Carretera.
- Approx. 9:30 a.m. – Walk to Waqrapukara: about 2.5 km uphill, roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- Mid-morning – Waqrapukara archaeological complex: guided visit and time for photos above the Apurímac canyon.
- Midday – Walk back and lunch: return by the same trail to the starting point and lunch.
- Approx. 6:00 – 6:30 p.m. – Arrival in Cusco: the service ends in the city center.
Itinerary
Approx. 4:00 – 5:00 a.m. – Pickup in Cusco and breakfast in Cusipata
We pick you up very early at your hotel in the historic center of Cusco; we confirm the exact time the day before, usually between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. We board our tourist transport and travel south of Cusco, watching dawn break over the Andes.
After about two hours on the road we reach the town of Cusipata (3,310 m a.s.l.), where we have breakfast and take a short pause before continuing. It is a good moment to use the restrooms, because there are no facilities on the trail or at the archaeological site.
Route along Pomacanchi lake and Santa Lucía
After breakfast we continue across the high plateau and skirt Pomacanchi lake, one of the largest in the region, surrounded by pastures and the crop fields of the communities. We continue to the town of Santa Lucía (around 3,620 m a.s.l.).
From Santa Lucía we take a zigzag gravel road to Punta Carretera, the start of the walk, where we arrive at about 9:30 a.m. There you have a few minutes to get ready, receive your poles, and hear our guide’s instructions.
Approx. 9:30 a.m. – Walk to Waqrapukara
We start the walk toward Waqrapukara on a trail of about 2.5 km uphill, which we cover in around 1 hour and 30 minutes at a steady pace. The difficulty is moderate: the trail is not technical, but the altitude and the uneven ground call for walking calmly.
Along the way we enjoy high Andean landscapes, rock formations, small lakes, and views of the canyon, until the silhouette of the two rock “horns” that give the fortress its name appears.
Mid-morning – Waqrapukara archaeological complex
When we reach the complex, at about 4,140 m a.s.l., our guide explains its history: it was a space of the Qanchis that, after strong resistance, passed to the Incas, and it combines the functions of sanctuary and fortress. The site has two groups of buildings: in the upper part, on the rocky spur, enclosures separated by a wide central space, with passages, double-jamb gateways, and niches; in the lower part, eight terraces about 153 meters long adapted to the slope, with finely fitted enclosures at their ends.
After the guided visit you have free time to walk the place and take photos with the Apurímac canyon behind you. Waqrapukara was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation in July 2017, so we ask you to respect the structures and not leave waste.
Midday – Walk back and lunch
We start back along the same trail to Punta Carretera, in about 1 hour and 30 minutes, where our transport is waiting.
Depending on the day’s logistics, we have lunch with a boxed lunch overlooking the canyon or at a restaurant in Cusipata on the way back. After lunch we continue the drive toward Cusco.
Approx. 6:00 – 6:30 p.m. – Arrival in Cusco
After about three hours on the return drive, we reach the city of Cusco between about 6:00 and 6:30 p.m.
We end the service in the city center, after a full day of walking, history, and Andean landscapes.
Recommendations
General
- Wear trekking shoes or sneakers with a good sole for the uneven ground.
- Wear warm clothing in layers (fleece, a windbreaker or waterproof jacket), a hat, and gloves: dawn is cold and at midday the sun is intense.
- Protect yourself from the sun with sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.
- Bring at least 1 liter of water, energy snacks, toilet paper, and hand gel.
- Carry a small backpack, a rain poncho, your camera, and some cash.
- Walk at your own pace and always follow the guide’s instructions; there is no reliable phone signal in the area.
- Respect the archaeological structures and do not leave waste.
Acclimatization
- Waqrapukara is at about 4,140 m a.s.l. and part of the route approaches 4,300 m a.s.l.; we recommend spending at least 2 days in Cusco before this tour.
- Drink coca tea, stay hydrated, and avoid heavy meals and alcohol the night before.
- If you have any health issue, tell our agency before the tour; our guide carries a first-aid kit and oxygen for emergencies.
Inclusions
Included
- Pickup from your hotel in the historic center of Cusco.
- Tourist transport Cusco – Santa Lucía (start of the walk) – Cusco.
- Professional guide (Spanish / English).
- Entrance to the Waqrapukara archaeological complex.
- Walking poles.
- First-aid kit and oxygen for emergencies.
- Breakfast in Cusipata.
- Lunch (boxed lunch on the way or lunch at a restaurant in Cusipata).
Not included
- Dinner.
- Meals and drinks not mentioned.
- Tips.
- Extra or personal expenses (souvenirs, additional snacks).
- Travel insurance.
- Pickup outside the historic center of Cusco (arrange it with our agency).
Frequently asked questions
What is Waqrapukara?
It is a pre-Inca and Inca archaeological complex, a sanctuary and fortress, built on a rock formation shaped like two horns that overlooks the canyon of the Apurímac River, in the district of Acos, Acomayo province. Its name means “fortress of the horns,” and it was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation in 2017.
How long is the tour?
It is a full day of about 12 to 13 hours: we pick you up between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. and return to Cusco at about 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.
How much walking is there, and how hard is it?
From Punta Carretera (Santa Lucía) it is about 2.5 km out and 2.5 km back, roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes each way. The difficulty is moderate, mainly because of the altitude and the uneven ground.
How high is Waqrapukara?
The complex sits at about 4,140 m a.s.l.; some points on the route approach 4,300 m a.s.l.
Which meals are included?
We include breakfast in Cusipata and lunch (a boxed lunch on the way or lunch at a restaurant). Dinner is not included.
Are there restrooms or shops at the site?
No. On the trail and at the complex there are no restrooms, shops, or drinking water; use the breakfast stop and bring enough water.
What is the best time to go?
The tour operates year-round, but the dry season (roughly May to September) offers the best conditions. In the rainy season the trail can be slippery and afternoons often bring storms.
