Waqrapukara is a lesser known Inca archeological site located in the Acomayo province, south of Cusco city. It is situated at 4140 meters (13582 feet) above sea level. Waqrapukara is built on top of a rocky hill, which gives the complex the appearance of a castle. For this reason, Waqrapukara is often referred to as an Inca fortress.
According to some historians, Waqrapukara was an Inca temple. It served as the final destination of an ancient Inca pilgrimage that included the Tambopukara, Yactapukara, and Ayapukara Inca ruins. The buildings found inside the archeological site suggest that this was a temple of great importance during the Inca Empire.
Waqrapukara was initially built by the Canchis civilization. After the war between the Incas and Chancas in the middle XV century, the Canchis became allies to the Incas. According to some chroniclers, the current buildings of Waqrapukara were built under the government of Tupac Inca Yupanqui, in the late XV century.
This Inca archeological site is often overlooked by most tour operators in Cusco. However, the site is one of the most enigmatic and beautiful places in the region. Join us in this adventure and visit Waqrapukara accompanied by our expert tour guides.
At Sanvil Turismo we offer the best travel packages in the Cusco region. Our tour guides are professionals authorized by the local government to guide treks and tours in the region. They are experts in the history and traditions of each destination you will be visiting.
We also offer day tours to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Humantay Lake, and the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain. We also plan treks to the Inca trail to Machu Picchu. Enjoy a unique vacation in Peru with us and explore the Inca historical sites of South America.
Your Hotel in Cusco City
5:00 am
This day trip takes you to the hidden Inca site of Waqrapukara. We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 5:00 am. Then, we will drive through the South Valley of Cusco to the Pomacanchi lagoon. We will stop there to have breakfast.
Afterwards, we will continue our trip to Huayqui town. Once there, our tour guide will give you a short briefing about the trek to Waqrapukara. Then, we will begin our adventure to this almost forgotten Inca archaeological site.
We will be hiking along the Apurímac river. Also, we will find some ancient cave paintings along the route. We will be walking for around 1.5 hours before reaching Waqrapukara.
Once in Waqrapukara, you will have a guided tour of the place. You will visit the temples, the cavern, and the stone terraces. Then, we will hike back to Huayqui town, where we will stop to have lunch. Finally, we will drive from Huayqui town to Cusco city. We will be arriving in the city of Cusco around 7:00 pm.
