WAQRAPUKARA

You will be collected from your selected pickup location between 4:15-4:45am. Heading south-west out of Cusco for a drive lasting around 1^1/2 hours until you reach Cusipata, where there will be a quick breakfast before continuing the journey. You can use the duration of drive time to sleep or enjoy the cloud-shawled mountain views. The drive will last for approximately 2 more hours. As you approach the trailhead, you ascend the mountain road which overlooks the valley of the Apurimac river; on the other side, waterfalls cut deep grooves through the lush mountainsides, leading their way to the river hundreds of meters below. The final stretch of road isn’t for the faint-hearted, but our driver guides us through comfortably, arriving at approximately 9am.

The hike to Waqrapukara (4300m / 14,100ft.) takes only 40-60 minutes, depending on your own pace, and is relatively flat for the majority. It’s like walking through a garden: the path is teeming with plant, bird, and insect life. Frequent waterfalls do make it quite boggy in parts, so boots are recommended over trainers. Finally, a steeper climb takes you to the site entrance. You will have around an hour to explore the ruins, take photos, and learn about the area, which currently only 15 or 20 people visit each day. The site has multiple entrances including a part of an Inca Trail, and the surrounding area is littered with terraces, cemeteries, and cave paintings – the kind of thing you simply won’t learn from Google. It’s astounding how much has been achieved in such a remote spot.

The hike back is a little faster and easier as it is downhill. The bus departs around 12:30pm, and you will enjoy a lunch approximately 2 hours later. The long gap between breakfast and now builds quite an appetite, so definitely consider bringing snacks with you. After lunch you will head back to Cusco – arriving a block over from the main square at approximately 5:00pm.