Hike To Waqrapukara Full Day
Dificulty
Moderate
Duration
1 Day
Group Size
14 a 19 People
Max Altitude
4100 msnm
Description
Whether you are traveling alone, with your partner, or in a large group of family and friends, you can join us on this day hike. We will start this adventure through the Peruvian Andes, moving away from the hustle and bustle of the city to discover an incredible Inca fortress.
The hike to Waqrapukara is a must for those who want to visit this incredible archaeological site before it becomes more crowded. In Quechua, ‘Waqra’ means ‘horn’ and ‘Pukara’ means ‘fortress’. Its imposing ‘horns’ rise up to (4,140 m 13,582 ft) above a huge ravine covered in forests
The archaeological monument is surrounded by impressive terraces, plazas and a forest of stones that look like mythological giants contemplating the Andean landscape. In addition, you will be able to immerse yourself in the amazing natural environment of the mountains, canyon and crystal-clear lagoons. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the unique flora and fauna of the region.
Why wait any longer to explore the wild Andes and discover an exceptional archaeological site? Get in touch with us and find out more about this incredible day-long adventure.
Waqrapukara Tour | Cusco - Cusipata - Pomacanchi - Santa Lucia - Waqrapukara - Cusco
The tour begins with the pickup of passengers from their hotels between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m. Once the group is complete, we will start our journey by tourist transport to the town of Santa Lucia. During the approximately 3-hour drive, we will make a stop in Cusipata to enjoy a breakfast before continuing the trip.
Upon arrival in Santa Lucia, we will take a detour and travel for an additional 15 minutes along a winding road to reach Punta Carretera. At this point, we will prepare and finalize our last preparations before starting our hike to Waqrapukara.
We will begin the hike, which will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes, covering a distance of 2.5 km. During the ascent, we will be able to admire the stunning rock formations that give depth to the Apurímac River Valley.
Upon reaching Waqrapukara, the guide will provide an explanation about the importance of this archaeological site, considered an ancient religious sanctuary due to its finely worked granite stone constructions. Then, we will have free time to explore the site at our own pace, take photographs, and enjoy the impressive Andean landscape.
After the visit, we will return via the same path to Punta Carretera, where our transport will be waiting to take us back to Cusipata. There, we will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch before beginning the return journey to Cusco, where we will arrive at approximately 6:00 p.m.
Tour Details:
- Meals: Breakfast, Buffet Lunch
- Total Distance on Foot: 5 km / 3.11 miles
- Total Walking Time: 3 hours
- Difficulty Level: Moderate
- Minimum Altitude: 3,700 m / 12,139 feet
- Maximum Altitude: 4,140 m / 13,583 feet
Incluye
✓ Meeting Prior to Departure:
- You will have an informative meeting before the tour departure to discuss all the necessary details and ensure you’re fully prepared for the journey.
✓ Entrance Ticket to the Waqrapukara Archaeological Site:
- The ticket for entry to the Waqrapukara archaeological site is included in the tour package.
✓ Field Staff:
- Professional Guides:
Our guides are trekking specialists, selected from accredited universities. They are fluent in English and have between 3 to 10 years of experience leading various hikes in the region. They are experts in managing groups under pressure, as well as in first aid and rescue techniques. Most of them come from different Andean communities and bring their cultural heritage to the experience. Along with the rest of the field team, our guides will make your journey a unique experience.
✓ Meals:
- Food: 1 breakfast, 1 buffet lunch.
Our chef prepares the best dishes in the middle of the mountains, providing a unique gastronomic experience. Our adventurer and explorer team loves our food, and we ensure that each meal is delicious and nutritious. We respect all diets and offer vegetarian, vegan, or any special dietary requirements at no additional cost. If you have any allergies or food restrictions, please inform us in advance so that our guide can take them into account during the information session.
Transportation:
- Day 1: Pick-up from your hotel in the morning and travel in private transport with the group to the starting point of the hike.
- Day 1: Return transport to Cusco.
✓ Emergency Equipment & Remote Medical Assistance:
-
Radios:
Our radios have a range of 10 km and 8 frequencies, allowing our guides, cooks, and porters to communicate with each other. The radios can also be used to contact park rangers in case of emergency. -
First Aid Kit:
The kit contains alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine tincture, germicidal soap, cotton, gauze, bandages, medical adhesive tape, surgical gloves, pain relievers for muscular and stomach pains, and antipyretics. If you are on prescription medications, you may bring your own. -
Portable Oxygen Tank:
Oxygen is available in case of altitude-related issues.
✓ Important:
- Please note that only a licensed medical professional can write a prescription. Our guides are not authorized to prescribe treatments to clients during the hike. All medications will be administered with your consent and at your own responsibility. If you have a medical prescription, it is recommended to bring your own medication.
No Incluye
× Dinner in Cusco:
- Dinner will be provided in Cusco as part of the tour.
× Clothing and Personal Hiking Equipment:
- Make sure to bring comfortable clothing and the appropriate personal hiking gear for the trek.
× Travel Insurance:
- While not a requirement, we strongly recommend that our clients purchase travel insurance in case of flight delays or unexpected health issues. Please be aware that some travel insurance policies have altitude restrictions, and may be void above 4,000 meters (13,123 feet).
× Additional Costs:
- Delays beyond the control of the tour operator, such as scenic stops, bad weather, itinerary changes due to safety concerns, illness, government policy changes, political instability, or strikes, may result in additional costs.
✓ Tipping for Your Crew:
- Tipping is customary in tourism and on any excursion. Although we pay our team good wages, an extra tip is always appreciated, especially considering the hard work they do. Typically, group participants collect tips for the crew.
- Original ID or Passport.
- Sun hat and wool hat for different temperatures.
- Warm clothing (jacket, scarf, gloves, hats).
- Short-sleeved T-shirt.
- Trekking shoes or waterproof boots for your comfort, if they are sneakers with rubber or thick soles it is an excellent option.
- Rain gear: A good raincoat, rain pants (only for the rainy season).
- Long pants.
- Sunglasses.
- Small backpack to carry water, snacks, camera, etc.
- 2 liters of water (there are options to buy along the route).
- Snacks such as apple, cereal bar, candy and chocolates.
- Personal medical kit.
- Sunscreen.
- Cash in soles for personal expenses.
✓ Price per person:
- $45 USD – Adults
✓ Price Guarantee:
- Once your reservation is confirmed, we guarantee that the price will not increase, regardless of any circumstances. Therefore, make sure to read all the important information about the tour before booking.
✓ How to book:
- You can reserve your spot online through our website, where our booking platform will guide you step by step. Payment for the tour can be made with any credit or debit card, and you can also pay in the currency of your home country for added convenience.
Please note that IZIPAY charges a 5% commission, which we ask the customer to cover due to their service. This tax applies to online deposits only.
✓ Cancellation Policy:
- Partial Refund: If you cancel within 24 hours but before 5:00 p.m. the day before the tour, you will receive a 50% refund.
- No Refund: Cancellations made after 5:00 p.m. the day before the tour are not eligible for a refund.
✓ Recommendations:
- We strongly recommend that you fully understand all booking and cancellation policies before making your payment to ensure your investment is protected and you have a smooth booking experience for your adventure.
✓ Customer Pickup:
- Please note: All pickups are made within the city of Cusco. However, we recommend booking a hotel in the historic center with a good location. Our guide or staff will confirm your pickup time the day before the tour. Due to traffic conditions, pickup times may vary by 30 to 45 minutes. Cusco is an ancient city with many narrow and cobblestone streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs are located on streets without transport access or on long and steep hills, which makes it difficult to transport your luggage. We strongly recommend booking accommodation with easy access.
✓ Lost Items:
- Please pay attention to where you leave your belongings and remember to collect everything once you leave our transportation, campsites, or restaurants. You are solely responsible for your belongings during the tour.
✓ Weather:
- The weather can be unpredictable. The dry season in Cusco is generally from April to October, but this doesn’t mean there won’t be rain in June or sunshine in December. Regardless of the month, make sure you have rain gear that includes a waterproof jacket, pants, poncho, and waterproof gloves. Many people forget gloves, but the cold and humidity can make walking very uncomfortable.
Also, be prepared for four seasons. Hiking in the Andes involves multiple microclimates, so you must be prepared. Layers are always essential, as they can be adjusted to different temperature changes. Bring a warm jacket, as the nights can be cold.
✓ Altitude Sickness (Soroche) and Stomach Pain:
For those coming directly from sea level, we recommend arriving 2 days before your hike. Two of the most common health problems among tourists in Cusco are: Altitude Sickness (Soroche) and stomach pain caused by slow digestion.
- Altitude Sickness:
Symptoms include headache and nausea. There are over-the-counter medications (such as Aspirin, Diamox, Soroichi Pill, Alti Vital, etc.) that help minimize the symptoms of this issue. If symptoms persist, the next step is the use of oxygen. We have the necessary equipment and staff available to assist our hikers. - Stomach Pain:
We recommend drinking 3-4 liters of water per day to stay hydrated. Hot drinks like coca leaf tea are especially helpful, as well as soups, vegetables, and carbohydrates (avoid fried or heavy foods). Sweets, chocolates, cookies, and fruits are also good options. In general, all foods that are easy to digest are recommended. Avoid alcohol and smoking.
Make sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep and avoid strenuous exercise. Keep your body at a comfortable temperature by wearing warm clothing to protect yourself from the cold. During the acclimatization process, the general rule is to eat only what is necessary and drink plenty of liquids.
For the excursion, you will only need a small, light, and comfortable backpack. Since you won’t be carrying many items, a backpack of approximately 20 liters will be enough. If you decide to bring a larger one, keep in mind that you will have to carry it throughout the whole hike.
The Waqrapukara tour is a one-day excursion to visit this stunning Inca fortress located at the top of a mountain overlooking the Apurímac Canyon, with Inca-era constructions such as buildings, temples, and agricultural terraces. We will explore a little-known archaeological gem up close, with a moderate ascent that allows you to enjoy the Andean landscapes and views of the canyon. The Waqrapukara Tour is a great opportunity to get out of the usual hikes.
Our Waqrapukara tour begins with a pickup from your hotel, as long as it’s located within the Historic Center of Cusco. At the end of the adventure, we will drop you off near the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, so you can enjoy a stroll through the heart of the city.
We recommend booking the tour in advance, as we have two seasons (high and low), and the number of tourists we operate with differs between them. For this reason, it’s better to book early to avoid any issues with tour availability.
We always recommend using the lightest trekking shoes possible. Those that provide ankle support are particularly useful, especially for inexperienced hikers, as you will be ascending and descending many stairs made by our Inca ancestors.
Any luggage that is not necessary for the trek should be left in Cusco. All hotels in Cusco are accustomed and prepared to store luggage. If you don’t have a place to store your luggage, you can leave it in our offices until the end of your adventure. We will make sure your luggage is stored safely, don’t worry!
We offer a variety of local superfoods and traditional Peruvian dishes such as rice, chicken, beef, salads, potatoes, vegetables, and fruits, freshly prepared by our local chef. We also offer excellent vegetarian and vegan options. We cater to specific dietary requests with proper preparation and good communication.
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