Day Hike to the Fortress of Horns
How does the idea of escaping the city and large crowds to visit a unique off-the-beaten-path site sound? The Waqrapukara One-Day Trek is the ultimate choice for some peace and quiet and to discover an incredible site that very few people get to visit—locals and tourists!
Join us on an epic hike to the majestic pre-Inca construction of Waqrapukara, or Fortress of Horns, located in the mighty Apurímac Canyon. This beautiful sacred place combines advanced architecture and impressive natural formations in a wonderful landscape—almost like something from a dream—surrounded by small crystalline lagoons. The gigantic horns rise as high as 4,140 m / 13,583 ft.
When you travel with your partner or a large group of family or friends, you can join us on this one-day trek. You’ll come with us on an adventure through the Peruvian Andes and escape the hustle and bustle of the city to an amazing Inca fortress.
The Waqrapukara Trek is a must for anyone wanting to visit this incredible archaeological site before the crowds discover it and it becomes busy. Waqra means “horn” in Quechua, while Pukara means “fortress.” These “horns” rise up to 4,140 m / 13,582 ft on top of a huge ravine covered with forests.
The archaeological monument is surrounded by impressive platforms, plazas, and stone forests that resemble mythological giants looking like they’re contemplating the Andean landscape.
You’ll also get to soak in the incredible landscape of the mountains, canyon, and crystalline lagoons. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the unique flora and fauna of the region. Why wait longer to immerse yourself in the wild Andes and see a very special site? Get in touch with us and learn more about this fun one-day adventure.
Highlight of the Day: Exploring the impressive site of Waqrapukara.
Be Impressed by the Amazing Inca Fortress of Waqrapukara.
This striking one-day adventure starts bright and early. We’ll pick you up from your accommodation at around 4:00 am. and follow a two-hour drive to the town of Quiquijana. From there, and once you’ve enjoyed a wholesome breakfast to boost your energy, we’ll continue bordering the shimmering Pomacanchi lagoon, one of the largest in the area. This beautiful lagoon is also flanked all over by pastures and plenty of local agricultural fields.
After that, we’ll follow our route for one hour and a half along an unpaved road until the town of Santa Lucía, witnessing some amazing scenery all around and even looking at the lagoon in the distance. From the town, we’ll take a final 30-min drive to our hike’s starting point. There, you’ll have time to get your things together before we start. The first section is around 1.5 hours long, observing the magnificent Apurimac Canyon, one of the deepest in Peru, and the dramatic landscapes studded with cliffs along the way.
When we reach the Waqrapukara viewpoint, you’ll be able to rest a little and take your first photos of the impressive fortress emerging on the edge of a canyon. Next, we’ll descend along a steep path towards the site on a cliff’s edge while you appreciate the Apurimac River flowing downwards.
You’ll get to explore the archaeological site for about an hour and a half; you’ll climb through the temple’s remains and take photos of its famous horned-shaped rock formation and the fantastic canyon landscape. The site itself also boasts enigmatic constructions from pre-Inca and Inca periods, terraces, and incredible background history, which makes this a perfect location to learn about the ancient Andean culture. Without a doubt, the place will surely take your breath away from start to finish.
Finally, when the group is ready, we’ll begin the hike back the way we came. We’ll arrive by private transport after about one hour and a half of walking, and we’ll return to Cusco, arriving at approximately 5:00 p.m.
At Pacha Peru Explorers, we specify the included and non-included services under all the tour itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please pay attention to the details to avoid missing anything. Some items may be different for specific programs, so please read carefully before booking with us.
Our official tour guides speak English and Spanish and are professionally trained and certified. We choose them for their experience, responsibility, unbridled passion for exploring, and pride in sharing our culture and history. In every experience, they will keep you safe and comfortable so you can enjoy your time worry-free!
All Pacha Peru Explorers guides have received specialized training in first aid. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit to face basic emergencies (altitude sickness, travelers’ diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) as well as oxygen. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the path as quickly as possible and ensure that you arrive at a clinic for treatment.
We have telephone service available 24 hours/day for ease of communication with Pacha Peru Explorers leading up to your trek.
Tipping is the norm on any excursion to Machu Picchu. Although we pay good salaries to our entire team, something extra is always welcome, especially considering the hard work they do. Typically, group participants collect their tips to hand out to the horsemen and chefs together.
Landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to a safety concern, illness, pandemia, government policy changes, political instability, strikes, act of God, etc.
Note: Please be aware that the weather in the Andes can change quickly, so it is important to bring appropriate layers and gear to stay comfortable and safe.
Waqrapucara Trek Tour can leave any day of the week, from January trought December.
2025 Land Cost
Group Price: US$ 120.00 per person
This small-group journey is guaranteed to opérate with just two guests.
Notice that PayPal or other plataforms charges a fee of 6%, which we ask the client to cover since it’s due to the use of its service. This tax is just for online deposits.
Price Guarantee
Once your booking has been confirmed, we guarantee the Price won’t increase, whatever the circunstances. So please, before booking, ensure you’ve read all our important tour information.
We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as carefree as possible. In this section, you’ll find the answers to all the questions you have about traveling with Pacha Peru Explorers in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.
Briefing or Informative Meeting
All information meetings and briefings are held in your hotel at 5:00 pm, one night before the tour begins. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. If you’re unable to attend, you must coordinate another time by email, by phone or at the Pacha Peru Explorers office.
Can I store luggage at your office?
Of course! During the trip, your main luggage can be stored at our office (you can organize it with us on the briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment that you won’t 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 everything). It’s best to put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Pick up of guests
Please Note:
Group Tours
Group tours are made up of different types of people, then 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, the guide will be the one who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if such modifications are possible.
Strikes and demostrations
Strikes and demonstrations are common 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 trip as originally planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date.
Under these circumstances, tours may also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, everything will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority, and our decisions will be made to protect it.
Lost Objects
Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our transport or restaurant. You’re the only one responsible for your objects during the tour.
Thank you for your interest in having and adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Pacha Peru Explorers. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.
Our Pledge | Your privacy is respected and protected. the Pacha Peru Explorers Company will never share, sell, or make public any of your personal contact information to third parties.
Remember | One of our Travel Experts will contact you soon to confirm the availability of the trip you chose, give you more information, and/or provide you alternative options. Once availlability is established, we will ask for a deposit and a completed online registration to confirm your spot on the trek. Please call us at (+51) 950 705034 with any questions or to confirm availability over the phone.
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Inca Trail ( Classic ) 4D/3N Group tour
Experimente a famosa Trilha Inca por 4 dias incríveis e passe pelo Portão do Sol para ter a primeira visão mágica de Machu Picchu…
Preço, a partir de
$ 795.00
por pessoa
Inca Trail ( Classic ) 4D/3N Group tour
Experimente a famosa Trilha Inca por 4 dias incríveis e passe pelo Portão do Sol para ter a primeira visão mágica de Machu Picchu…
Preço, a partir de
$ 795.00
por pessoa
Inca Trail ( Classic ) 4D/3N Group tour
Experimente a famosa Trilha Inca por 4 dias incríveis e passe pelo Portão do Sol para ter a primeira visão mágica de Machu Picchu…
Preço, a partir de
$ 795.00
por pessoa
Pacha Peru Explorers is a 100% peruvian, separates ourselves by our dedication to both our customer and our team. We work very hard to make sure that all our clients needs are taken care of throughout the tour with us. At the same time, we never forget about our brothers and sisters working tirelessly for us to make all of this possible. Responsible and sustainable tourism that gives as much to our community as to our clients.
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