Waqrapukara Trek Full Day
A full-day hike from Cusco to Waqrapukara, the pre-Inca Fortress of the Horns, perched at 4,300 m (14,110 ft) on the edge of the Apurímac River canyon. Highlights: small glacial lakes on the trail, a cliff-edge descent and a 1.5-hour guided tour of the site.
About this Expedition
Pristine Biodiversity
Immersion in primary forest trails and macaw or tapir clay licks with privileged viewing.
Native Guides
Bilingual guides from the native communities of Manu and Tambopata, with spotting scopes and binoculars.
Logistics and Lodges
Private transport and boats, a cook on the trip and nights in rainforest lodges.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Early Morning: Drive from Cusco and Breakfast
The day starts very early. We pick you up at your hotel between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m. for a 2.5-hour drive to the town of Marcaconga. We continue to the Pitumarca district for breakfast, then drive 30 more minutes to Punta Carretera, where we take a few minutes to get ready for the hike.
Morning: Hike to the Waqrapukara Viewpoint
We hike for about 2 hours through landscapes dotted with small glacial lakes. At the Waqrapukara viewpoint, we stop for the first photos of this fortress perched on the edge of a canyon. Then we descend for about 40 minutes on a steep path along the edge of the cliff to the archaeological site, with the Apurímac River below.
Midday: Guided Tour of Waqrapukara
Waqrapukara, the Fortress of the Horns, is a pre-Inca site whose stone horns rise to 4,300 m (14,110 ft) above a huge forested ravine. The monument is surrounded by platforms, plazas and a forest of rock formations that look like giants watching over the Andean landscape.
Our guide leads a tour of the site for about 1.5 hours. You can walk through the remains of a temple, photograph the canyon and rest in the shade of the stone walls.
Afternoon: Return Hike and Drive to Cusco
When the group is ready, we start back: about 3 hours on foot to where our transport picks us up. We arrive in Cusco at about 6:00 p.m.
Included & Not Included Services
What this trip includes
- Round-trip tourist minivan with hotel pickup
- Meals: 1 breakfast and 1 box lunch
- Professional tour guide (English and Spanish)
- Walking poles
- First aid kit and oxygen
Not included in the price
- Entrance ticket (ask for the current amount when booking)
- Mineral water
- Tips
- The price is for a shared group tour.
- Private tours depart any day with a minimum of 2 travelers.
- For private tour prices, contact us on WhatsApp at +51 972 727 516 or by email at amazontripperu@gmail.com.
Questions about this tour
What time is pickup and when do we get back to Cusco?
We pick you up at your hotel between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m. and arrive back in Cusco at about 6:00 p.m.
How much hiking is involved?
About 2 hours to the Waqrapukara viewpoint, then a steep 40-minute descent along the cliff edge to the site. The return walk to the transport takes about 3 hours.
How high is Waqrapukara?
The stone horns of Waqrapukara rise to 4,300 m (14,110 ft), above the canyon of the Apurímac River.
Is the entrance ticket included?
No. The entrance ticket is paid separately; ask for the current amount when booking. Mineral water and tips are not included either.
What is included in the tour?
Round-trip tourist minivan with hotel pickup, breakfast, a box lunch, a professional guide in English and Spanish, walking poles, and a first aid kit with oxygen.
