GENERAL INFORMATION
Duration: 1 Day
Starting point: Cusco (Pick up from your hotel).
Point of Arrival: Cusco (historic dawtown).
Travel style: Adventure, hiking, nature and cultural.
Level of difficulty: Intermediate
Distance from the Walk: 14 Km. approx.
Travel Dates: daily.
Hike Altitudes:
• Cusco City: 3,400 meters above sea level. (Main Square).
• Waqrapucara: 4,140 meters above sea level.
TOUR DETAILS
Information
INTRODUCTION
The name Waqrapucara comes from two Quechua words that together mean Fortress of the Horns, referring to the rocky formations that resemble the horns of cattle, which arrived in the area relatively recently. There is also a local alternative name used by the surrounding communities: Llama Pucara, meaning Fortress of the Llama, a name that aligns more closely with the Andean culture of the region.
This journey begins in Cusco and travels through well-preserved landscapes, with clear rivers and wide panoramic views, until reaching the Inca Fortress of Waqrapucara.
Before setting out on this route, we invite you to get a glimpse of what awaits: one of the most rewarding hikes in the region. Breathe, imagine, and get ready: the Inca Fortress of Waqrapucara is waiting for you. Welcome!
HIGHLIGHTS
- Discover the Quechua culture and its traces across high-altitude landscapes.
- Explore sites of historical significance and learn about life in Andean communities.
- Visit the Inca Fortress of Waqrapucara, one of the least known and best preserved in the Cusco region.
- Travel with a knowledgeable local guide with deep familiarity with the area.
- Walk through open landscapes with views of valleys, canyons, and snow-capped peaks.
- Hotel pickup included from accommodations in central Cusco.
- Suitable for couples, groups of friends, families, and nature travelers.
- Free luggage storage during the tour. An off-the-beaten-path experience on one of the least visited circuits in the region.
IS THIS TOUR FOR ME?
If you have a day to spare and want to visit the Inca Fortress of Waqrapucara, the answer is yes. This tour is designed for travelers with a moderate level of fitness, with no prior hiking experience required.
It is a accessible route for a wide range of visitors: couples, families, groups of friends, and independent travelers looking for something beyond the main Cusco circuit. Regardless of your age or usual activity level, the route is entirely manageable at a comfortable pace with the guidance of a knowledgeable local guide.
If your time in Cusco is limited and you want to make the most of a full day in a quieter, less crowded destination, this tour is a solid choice.
DETAILED ITINERARY
Between 4:30 and 5:00 in the morning we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco. From there we head south of the city by paved road in our tourist transport to the town of Cusipata, where we stop for breakfast at a local restaurant. This first leg of the journey takes approximately 2 hours.
After breakfast, we continue by transport for another 2 hours, passing through picturesque towns and open landscapes with lakes and grasslands, where you can spot native flora and fauna of the area. We reach the end of the road at the Santa Lucía sector.
From Santa Lucía we begin the hike to the archaeological site of Waqrapucara. The distance is approximately 2 km along a comfortable and quiet trail, accessible for most travelers, with remarkable views throughout.
Upon arriving at Waqrapucara we carry out the guided visit, exploring its structures, enclosures, and plazas, with wide panoramic views of the canyon and explanations from our local guide.
After the visit and a rest, we make our way back on foot to the town of Wayqui along a mountain trail of about 2 hours.
Upon arriving in Wayqui we stop for a box lunch before boarding the transport back to Cusco. The return journey takes approximately 4 hours, with an estimated arrival back in Cusco at 6:00 p.m.
NOTES
- The schedules of this itinerary are for reference only, this may vary according to the physical condition of each person.
- One day before the tour, please contact us by phone or email to let us know the name of your accommodation in Cusco. This allows us to arrange your pickup on the day of the excursion.
Included services
THIS TOUR INCLUDES
- Round-trip tourist transport from Cusco to the Santa Lucía area (starting point of the hike) and back from the town of Wayqui to Cusco.
- Bilingual professional tour guide (Spanish and English).
- Entry ticket to the Waqrapucara Archaeological Site.
- All meals during the tour: 1 breakfast and 1 box lunch.
- Vegetarian meals or special diets available upon request at no additional cost.
- First aid kit and emergency oxygen cylinder carried by the guide.
NOT INCLUDED
- Travel insurance.
- Optional tips for your care and service team (only if you wish, at the end of the Tour, you can give a voluntary tip for the guide).
What should you bring
LIST OF PERSONAL ITEMS YOU SHOULD BRING TO THIS TOUR
Please check this list and remember that everything is very important to the success of your trek.
Documents
- Passport.
- Printed or digital Tour voucher, issued by our company.
Essential
- Small backpack.
- Bottle of water and some snacks such as: cookies, candies, chocolates, cereals, fruits, among others.
- Extra cash, if you want to buy some souvenirs.
Clothes and shoes
- Jacket for the cold.
- Waterproof clothing: rain jacket and/or rain poncho.
- Hat to cover yourself from the Sun.
- Hiking boots or comfortable sneakers.
Pharmaceutical products
- Sunscreen.
- Lip cream.
Other articles
- Sunglasses.
- Rubber-tipped hiking sticks (optional).
We recommend prior acclimatization, at least arriving in our city 1 day before this hike, and good health in general.
* If you have any Questions or Queries about the Items you should bring to the Tour, please contact us at WhatsApp: +51 984 525 006 / +51 984 683 047 or write to: info@incredibleperutours.com
Frequent questions
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here you will find the Most Frequently Asked Questions from our Clients. Before asking anything, we invite you to carefully read these questions and answers, as well as all our links about this Tour. This will help you obtain information in a simple, fast and practical way.
1. CAN YOU VISIT WAQRAPUCARA WITHOUT A GUIDE?
Visiting Waqrapucara without a guide is not recommended. Access to the fortress requires knowledge of mountain trails that are not clearly marked, so having a specialist guide ensures your safety and enriches the visit with historical and cultural information about the site.
2. WHAT MEALS WILL I HAVE DURING THE TOUR?
All meals are included in the tour. Breakfast is served at a local restaurant in the town of Cusipata, and lunch is provided as a box lunch during the route.
All ingredients are fresh and sourced from the Cusco market on the morning of the tour. No canned or rehydrated food is used. Meals are prepared by a trained cook who travels with the group.
Breakfast: scrambled eggs, bread, pancakes, omelettes, cereals, fruit salad, toast, orange juice, milk, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, butter, and jam.
Lunch (box lunch): chicken with rice, grilled meat, fried rice, french fries, steamed vegetables, salads, or omelettes.
If you have any dietary requirements, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or food allergies, we can accommodate you at no additional cost. Please let us know at the time of booking.
3. WHY ARE TICKETS SOLD OUT SO FAST?
We offer daily departures on this route, with a maximum capacity of 19 travelers per trip. Access to the Waqrapucara archaeological site is only permitted through tour operators authorized by the Peruvian government, which limits the number of available spots on the market.
If you have a set date for your visit, we recommend booking in advance to secure your place.
4. WHAT WILL THE WEATHER BE ON THE ROUTE?
The weather in the area is variable and can change throughout the day. Regardless of the month you visit the Inca Fortress of Waqrapucara, we recommend bringing a waterproof jacket or rain poncho, along with sunscreen and a hat.
During the dry season (April to November), early mornings can be cold and cloudy. As the morning progresses the sky tends to clear and temperatures rise. Sun protection is important during this period.
During the rainy season (December to March), rainfall is frequent, although clear days are possible. February has the highest rainfall of the year, so we do not recommend doing this tour during that month.
5. WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET ILL DUE TO ALTITUDE SICKNESS?
Don’t worry! All our Guides are trained in case you get sick with this condition. All our Guides carry an oxygen tank and a First Aid Kit, this ensures that you are very well evaluated and cared for, which will allow you to continue with the Trek. In addition, all our staff are prepared in case of Emergency. After being treated, if you still feel very bad and cannot continue with the hike, the Guide will make the best decision for you: whether to continue or return. For us, your Safety and Health always come first.
6. DO I NEED TO BRING ADDITIONAL MONEY TO THE TOUR?
Yes, if you want to buy snacks such as: cookies, dried fruit, chocolates, candies or an additional drink such as soda, beer or an energy beverage, for it is possible to purchase these products in small stores in the area. Also, if you want to buy some souvenirs or handicrafts from the trip, you can buy them directly from local artisans.
7. WILL I HAVE ACCESS TO TOILET SERVICES ON THE ROUTE?
Yes, you will have the opportunity to access toilet services: at the beginning and end of the tour, at the Restaurant where you will have breakfast and lunch. These facilities also can be found in some areas during the hike.
8. WHAT TIME WILL WE RETURN TO CUSCO CITY?
Tour return time is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. This time is only a reference, for there may be some unexpected delays that affect the arrival time such as: traffic, a traveler may have suffered a setback, poor road conditions, among others; so there may be the possibility of arriving later.
9. HOW DO I BOOK MY TOUR?
Booking this tour is straightforward and can be done up to one day before the departure date.
Steps to book:
- Fill out the booking form available at the Reserve link.
- Make your payment: we accept credit and debit cards from any bank, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, and Union Pay.
- Receive your voucher: we will send it to you by email immediately after your payment is confirmed.
Other payment methods: if you prefer to pay via PayPal, Western Union, bank deposit, or bank transfer, contact us and we will provide all the necessary details.
10. IF I ALREADY PAID FOR MY TOUR AND DECIDE TO CANCEL, WILL I BE REFUNDED?
We understand that unexpected things happen that are out of your control, therefore, we have designed a Refund Plan in case you want to Cancel the Trip.
Only for 1-day tours, as is the case, the refunds we will make will be subject to the date of the trip cancellation that you decide, and will be applied in relation to the date before the start of the tour, according to the box below:
| CANCELLATION DATE OF THE TOUR BY THE CUSTOMER | PERCENTAGE TO BE RETURNED BY OUR COMPANY |
| From 0 to 3 days before the Tour | 0% |
| From 4 to 10 before the Tour | 25% |
| From 11 or more days before the Tour | 50% |
In addition to this, and in our desire to always seek the best for our customers, consider that if you wish to change the date of excursion you can do so without any additional cost, up to 2 days before the Tour.
11. WHY SHOULD I BOOK MY TOUR WITH INCREDIBLE PERU TOURS?
Here are some of the reasons to book your tour with us:
- Convenient office location. Our office is located in the historic center of Cusco, making it easy to coordinate with us at any time before or during your trip.
- Peruvian-owned and government-authorized agency. We are a 100% local team, proud to share our culture and region with visitors from around the world. With over 15 years of experience organizing tours across the region, we hold all required permits and are recognized as an “Authorized Operator of the Region – 2023.”
- Best price with no hidden fees. We are a direct tour operator, managing costs locally and working exclusively with local staff, with no intermediaries involved. This allows us to offer a fully inclusive service at a competitive price.
- Travel with experts. Our guides, cooks, and drivers are highly trained to assist all types of travelers, including groups, families, couples, and solo visitors.
- All meals included. All food is prepared with fresh ingredients. We do not use canned or dehydrated products. Vegetarian and special diet options are available at no additional cost.
- Guaranteed departures. We operate 100% of our own tours. Even with a single traveler on a given date, the tour runs at the published price with no surcharge. Our groups typically range from 4 to 8 people.
- Fair treatment of our staff. We provide accommodation, transport, uniforms, and meals to all our team members. Cooks and porters have health insurance and receive fair wages. We also support social programs in local communities focused on health and education.
- Sustainable and responsible tourism. We are committed to environmental care and the sustainable use of natural resources. Our kitchen staff uses biodegradable detergents and we regularly participate in trail clean-up campaigns on the route to Machu Picchu.
- Personalized service and support. We respond to every inquiry. You can call or email us from anywhere, at any time.
12. IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, CAN I CONTACT INCREDIBLE PERU TOURS?
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
You can contact us anytime, we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We will be very happy to assist you, call us at Cell: +51 984 525 006 / WhatsApp: +51 984 683 047 or send us an email to: info@incredibleperutours.com. You can also check the Contact Us link on this website.
Availability and prices
IMPORTANT:
- We recommend you book the tour as soon as possible, to avoid missing out on this great experience.
- If, there is no longer availability for your tour date, you can search for other similar excursions.
- If you are interested in doing this route and want to book, or would like more information, please contact us: Cell phone: +51 984525 006 / WhatsApp: +51 984 683 047 or write to: info@incredibleperutours.com
PRICES
Our rates are stable and include no hidden fees. We are committed to offering the best service at the best price.
We have 2 CLASSES OF SERVICES for the TOUR TO THE WAQRAPUCARA FORTRESS – 1 DAY:
1. GROUP SERVICE:
Traveling with other people in the same group (Maximum of 19 travelers).
| By person: | $40 for each person |
2. PRIVATE SERVICE :
Traveling only with your friends and/or family, according to the number of people that make up the group.
| From 2 to 3 people: | $140 for person |
| From 4 to 5 people: | $120 for person |
| From 6 to 7 people: | $100 for person |
| From 8 to 10 people: | $80 for person |
| From 10 to more people: | $60 for person |
OPTIONAL SERVICES
If you want, for an additional cost you have the option of adding to this tour, up to one day before the trip, some extra services such as:
- A pair of walking poles for the route (Can be rented at our Head Office, USD 5.00 per day).
- Pick up from Cusco city airport and transfer to your hotel, for USD 5.00
- Pick up from the hotel and transfer to the airport for USD 5.00
TO CONSIDER:
- Prices are shown in American dollars (USD)
- Our passion is group travel, so if you are coming with friends or family, please get in touch to offer you our promotions.
- Our company also has promotions and discounts for student groups. Please contact us to receive our offers.
- For your peace of mind and comfort, our tours do not have any hidden charges or expenses.
- If you are interested in doing this route and would like to reserve, or want more information, please contact us:
- Cell: +51 984 525 006
- WhatsApp: +51 984 683 047
- Email: info@incredibleperutours.com
