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Discover the majestic pre-Inca construction of Waqrapukara or Fortress of the Horns located in the mighty Apurímac River’s canyon. If you’re looking for something completely different and with few people, Waqrapukara is ideal for you. This beautiful sacred place combines advanced architecture and impressive natural formations in a dream landscape. In addition, it’s surrounded by small and crystalline lagoons. These gigantic horns rise to 4,300 masl / 14,107 fasl.
Waqrapukara Trek is a must for anyone wanting to visit this stunning archaeological site before the crowds discover it. Waqra is “horn” in Spanish. Pukara is equivalent to strength. These “horns” rise 4,300 meters above sea level, on top of a huge ravine covered with forests. The archaeological monument is surrounded by impressive platforms, plazas, and a forest of stones that resemble mythological giants that contemplate the Andean landscape.
Today starts very early. We will pick you up from your hotel between 3:30 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. to start a 2.5-hour car trip to the town of Marcaconga. Then we’ll continue to the Pitumarca district where we’ll enjoy a delicious and nutritious breakfast.
We will continue for 30 minutes towards Punta Carretera. There we’ll have a few minutes to organize all our things and get the last details to be ready to start our excursion. We’ll walk for 2 hours while observing glorious landscapes dotted with small glacial lakes.
Once we reach the Waqrapukara viewpoint, we’ll stop to take the first photos of this incredible fortress perched on the edge of a canyon. Then we’ll descend for about 40 minutes on a steep path, at the edge of the cliff, to the archaeological site itself while the Apurímac River roars below us.
We’ll have a guided tour to discover all the mysteries of this archaeological site for approximately 1.5 hours. You can walk through the remains of a temple, take photos of the incredible scenery that forms the canyon, and rest on the cliffs, under the shadow of the stone walls. Once the group is ready, we’ll begin our journey back. We’ll walk for 3 hours before being picked up by our mobility. We’ll arrive in the city of Cusco at approximately 6:00 p.m.
We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as easy as possible. In this section, you will find speedy answers to all those questions you had about Waqrapukara trek in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.
Has another question that we haven’t answered here? Drop us a line, and we will get back to you asap!
All information meetings are held in your hotel at 6:00 p.m., one night before the tour begins. If you cannot attend, you must coordinate another time at the (Peru Hike) offices. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes and there you will be given a small duffel bag, in which you’ll put all the belongings you intend to bring on the trek that won’t be in your day pack.
The trek has to be paid for in full by at least 7.30 pm two days before departure. For example, if your tour departs on a Wednesday, then you must come to our office before 7.30 pm on Monday.
It would be much appreciated if you pay the trek balance in cash US dollars or local currency. You can withdraw some money from several ATMs along Avenida Sol (either in US dollars or local Peruvian Soles). You can pay by credit card or PAYPAL online, but you will have to pay an 8% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. We do not accept bank checks or payment of the balance by traveler’s checks.
Of course! During the travel, your main luggage can be stored at our office(you can organize briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment that you are not going to need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags, put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (In the unlikely case of theft many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing all the items). Best put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Peru Hike Company can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it’s in the Historic Center of Cusco. The pickup time will be coordinated with your guide in the briefing. The pickup time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic. Cusco is a very old city, therefore, it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. We strongly recommend that you book accommodation with good access.
Group tours are made up of different types of people. Physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route. It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, it will be the guide who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if said modifications can be made.
Strikes and demonstrations are usually frequent in Peru and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your excursion as planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date. Under these circumstances, tours may also be cancelled. In case of changes or cancellations, all situations will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority and our decisions will be made to protect it.
You’re responsible for your objects during the tour. Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our trucks, tents, or restaurants.
