Waqrapukara 1-Day Tour from Cusco

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. The tour begins with pickup from your hotel between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m. Once the group is complete, we will start the tour. We will travel for approximately three hours by tourist transport to the town of Santa Lucia. Along the way we will make a stop in Cusipata to enjoy a delicious breakfast before continuing our journey.

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2. From Santa Lucia we will take a detour that will take us, in about 15 minutes, along a zigzagging road to the point known as Punta Carretera. There we will make a short 10-minute break to get ready and finalize the details before starting the hike to the Waqrapukara archaeological complex. With everything ready, we will start our hike towards Waqrapukara. It will be about 90 minutes of tour of ancient paths and landscapes that seem to be taken from a dream. Throughout the 2.5 kilometers, the energy of the Andes will accompany every step.

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3. Waqrapukara, also known as the Horn Fortress, is an archaeological gem of Cusco located above the imposing canyon of the Apurimac River. This Inca site consists of platforms, ceremonial squares and spectacular rock formations that create a unique landscape in the world. Despite its beauty and mystery, Waqrapukara remains a destination little explored by travelers. Its name comes from Quechua — “Waqra” (horn) and “Pukara” (fortress) — and reflects its sacred and defensive character. Built by the ancient Qanchis and later incorporated into the Inca Empire, Waqrapukara was recognized in 2017 as a National Cultural Heritage Site by the Ministry of Culture of Peru.

   40 min

4. After visiting Waqrapukara, we will return along the same trail to Punta Carretera, where our transport will be ready to take us back to Cusipata. In this picturesque village, we will enjoy a semi buffet lunch with Andean delights. Then we will continue the journey to the city of Cusco

   1 h

5. After lunch and a short break we will return to the city of Cusco, arriving at approx. 18:00 (service ends 1 block from the Plaza de Armas del Cusco)

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Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 1 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Cusco

• Its from-price is 72% below the median of the 4460 experiences we list in Cusco.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 2623 of 4460.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Cusco

Cusco, the old Inca capital high in the Peruvian Andes, blends massive stone walls with colonial churches and is the gateway to Machu Picchu.

The Plaza de Armas is the heart of the city, framed by the cathedral and the Jesuit church of La Compañía. Inca stonework survives throughout the centre, most famously at the Qorikancha, the sun temple on which the Spanish built a monastery, and in the twelve-angled stone on Hatun Rumiyoc street. San Blas, the artisans' quarter, climbs steeply with workshops and cafés.

Top-ranked sights in Cusco: Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo Ruins.

See all 4460 experiences in Cusco