Wakra Pukara Short Walking Tours

Overview
A very unique, totally off the beaten track walking trek to Wakra Pukara, a massive, horn-shaped Inca site standing above the Apurimac Canyon, three hours south of Cusco. Walk through an unforgettable, breathtaking beautiful landscape to this impressive Inca site which is said to serve as a fortress, a sanctuary or an astronomic observatory, the theories vary.
Go on this guided private tour of a whole day (English and Spanish) and discover this real hidden gem!
- Start: 4.00 am
- Ends: 6.00 pm
- Departure: On request (April until November)
- Service: Private tour
- Language guide: English and Spanish
- Tour Category: Cultural, Historical, Nature, Walking
Tour description
In the morning around 4 am you will be picked up from your hotel and we will drive around two and a half hour drive towards Marcaconga village, then continue into the district of Pitumarca, where we will eat breakfast in a little local restaurant.
After breakfast, we will return to the car for thirty more minutes of driving along a zig-zagging, unpaved mountain road.
Then we will make our final preparations for the trek. We will walk across gently rolling terrain for about two hours, observing gorgeous landscapes studded with small glacial lakes along the way.
Once we arrive at the Wakra Pukara Overlook, we will pause briefly to take our first photos of this incredible fortress perched on the edge of a canyon. We will then descend for about forty minutes along a steep, cliffside path into the site itself, while the Apurimac River runs swiftly below.
We will explore the ruins for approximately an hour and a half, climbing through the remains of the temple complex, taking photos against the incredible canyon scenery, and resting on clifftops in the shadows of the stone walls enjoying our box lunch.
Then we will begin the ascent back the way we came. We will reach the car after about three hours of trekking, and return to Cusco at approximately 6:00 pm.
Included in the tour:
Professional bilingual guide (English and Spanish)
Transportation in a comfortable tourist bus
Breakfast and box lunch. Breakfast will be in a local little restaurant. They typically serve a simple home cooked dish.
Not included:
Dinner and snacks. As hiking in the mountains makes hungry, we recommend to bring plenty of snacks and water.
Price of this private tour is 145 USD per person.
Difficulty
The level of this day hike could be described as moderate. The maximum altitude is around 4500 m.a.s.l. For the weather you can expect is cold temperature in the morning, warm and sunny at midday and chilly winds towards evening. Layered clothing adaptable to different conditions is highly recommended.
What to bring
Hiking boots
Small daypack or backpack (approximately 20L)
Comfortable, lightweight trekking clothes or active wear (layers recommended)
Waterproof jacket or rain poncho
Warm coat, hat and gloves
Sun hat and sun glasses
Sunscreen, hand sanitizer
Water bottle or Camelbag and some snacks
Toilet paper, personal medication
Camera
Some extra money in soles