Waqrapukara Inca Fortress

All briefings are done at our office at 5:00 PM one or two nights before your trek. If you are unable to make this time, you need to coordinate another time with a member of the Xtreme Tourbulencia office team. Briefings are approximately 40 minutes long.

Xtreme Tourbulencia is one of the only companies to pick you up directly from your hotel. As long as your hotel is in the center of Cusco city, we will coordinate this pickup based on a time that your guide will discuss at the briefing. Pick up times may vary 30 – 45 minutes based on traffic conditions and previous pickups.

Cusco is an old city with cobblestoned streets and very narrow passageways. Smaller hotels and Airbnbs are often located on streets that cars can’t pass through.

They also are frequently on hillsides with long steep climbs, making it difficult to carry luggage. We highly recommend that you book accommodations with better access. We have a list of hotels that are all comfortable with easy access to pick up and drop off.

You must be honest with your guide about any health conditions or concerns you might have. While our guides are not medical professionals, they do have first aid training. We also work with a clinic in Cusco that can help assist our team.

You are responsible for assessing whether a tour is suitable for you. You should consult your physician to confirm your fitness for travel and participation in any planned activities. You should seek your physician’s advice on vaccinations and medical precautions.

Xtreme Tourbulencia will not provide medical advice. It is your responsibility to assess the risks and requirements of each aspect of the tour based on your unique circumstances, limitations, fitness level, and medical requirements.

If you develop extreme altitude sickness or any other illness that prevents you from hiking, and you still wish to visit Machu Picchu by train, we will work with you to coordinate this trip. Since this will be a new trip, it may require additional fees. We will use as much of the original itinerary to keep costs low.

If you experience issues while hiking and can not continue, a porter will accompany you to the closest road and wait while a car comes to pick you up and bring you to the nearest health clinic.

Group tours are made up of all different types of people, with various hiking skills and ages. By agreeing to a group tour, you agree that some people might be slower or faster than you are.

Everyone can go at their own pace for the trek, and the guide will work with the group to spend time with everyone. Groups might request some modifications to the tour, and the guide will work with everyone to make the best decision for the group.

Unfortunately, strikes are frequent in Peru and can disrupt our tours. Roads are often blocked, and trains stopped. We will make sure your trek continues as planned, even if that means leaving the night before your start date.

Under these circumstances, tours might need to be canceled. But our operations department will coordinate with you in this situation. Your safety is always our top concern and will dictate how we decide.

You are responsible for your items throughout the tour. Please be diligent about where you leave your things and remember to remove all items from our vans, your tents, restaurant, etc.

Do not leave anything unintended during your hike. Other trekkers or teams might pick it up not knowing whose it is.

Tipping is part of the tradition of any trek to Machu Picchu. While we pay good wages to our entire team, anything extra is always appreciated. Please know that this is not obligatory and that you should never feel pressured into this.

Typically the participants in a group pool their tipping money together for the porters and chef. The amount recommended is $20 USD per person per trek.

For the guide, this is more personal and needs to be decided based on your relationship with them and done separately from the group. Porters and Chefs prefer soles if possible. Guides are happy with U.S. dollars, Peruvian Soles, or even your credit card.

Travel insurance is inexpensive and strongly recommended. With trips being planned months ahead of time, you never can predict what could happen. Adventure travel includes more risk than the average trip.

Insurance is a way to protect the investment you have made on this journey. We can help recommend an agent to walk you through this type of insurance if needed.

Of course, the weather is unpredictable. Typically the dry season in Cusco is from April through October, but this does not stop rain from falling in June or the sun from coming out in December so just be prepared.

No matter what month you are doing the trek, make sure that you have rain gear that includes a waterproof jacket, pants, poncho, and waterproof gloves. Many people forget about gloves, but being cold and wet makes hiking very unpleasant.

Also, prepare for four seasons. Several of the treks through the Andes involve various microclimates and you will need to be prepared. Layers are always key since they are easy to adjust to different temperature changes. Be prepared with a warm packable down jacket since the evening will be cold.

It’s also important to note that the weather can change a listed itinerary. There are times that routes become impassable, and our guides will be forced for your safety to rework your tour.

More Information About the Weather

When traveling to Cusco, altitude sickness (soroche) is a factor to consider due to the region's high elevation. Since the air contains less oxygen, your body needs time to acclimatize. To ensure a pleasant experience, we recommend spending two days resting in the city before embarking on any tour, whether it involves sightseeing or hiking. Stay hydrated, drink the traditional coca infusion, and move at a leisurely pace; our expert guides will accompany and assist you at every stage of the journey.

The airport in Cusco currently is only for domestic flights, so all international travelers by plane must disembark in Lima and go through Customs. Even if your flight to Cusco is the same day by the same airline carrier, you must grab your bags in Lima and then check them back in.

The best way to get to Cusco is by air, and there are several options in airlines. LATAM tends to be the most expensive but has the most options and flights. Expect delays or flight cancellations. Due to the high altitude of Cusco, it tends to be difficult to land, and any inclement weather will stop air traffic.

Bus travel is always available, and while the trip can be long, especially from Lima, the buses in Peru are very well maintained and comfortable. This option is strongly encouraged if coming from a city closer to Cusco, like Puno. Lima buses will take about 20 hours to arrive.

Waqrapukara is an impressive Inca and pre-Inca archaeological complex perched on the edge of the Apurímac River canyon. Its name comes from two Quechua words: Waqra (horn) and Pukara (fortress), which translates to "Horn Fortress", referring to the two imposing rock formations that resemble a bull's horns.

The archaeological site is located at approximately 4,300 meters above sea level (14,100 feet). Due to this high elevation, weather conditions can change rapidly, and physical exertion will feel higher than usual.

The difficulty is considered moderate to challenging, not only because of the distance (approximately 16 km / 10 miles round trip), but mainly due to the high altitude. The hike takes about 3.5 hours to reach the site and 3 hours to return over mild to moderate slopes.

Yes, acclimatization is essential. We recommend spending at least 2 days in Cusco prior to taking this tour to properly adjust to the high altitude, rest well, and stay hydrated.

The tour starts early with a hotel pick-up in Cusco between 4:00 AM and 4:30 AM, returning to the city between 7:00 PM and 7:30 PM.

• Ground Transportation: Approximately 3 hours each way (including a breakfast stop in Cusipata).
• Trekking: Between 6 and 7 hours in total (round trip) starting from the village of Sangarará.

The service includes an energizing breakfast in Cusipata to start your morning and a box lunch enjoyed near the archaeological site surrounded by stunning Andean landscapes.

This tour is recommended for people aged 12 to 60 years with good physical condition and previous hiking experience at high altitudes. It is not recommended for young children or individuals with severe heart or respiratory conditions.

• Clothing: Dress in layers (thermal jacket/fleece, windbreaker, and waterproof jacket), and comfortable trekking pants.
• Footwear: Broken-in hiking boots or trail shoes with good traction.
• Accessories: Beanie/wool hat, gloves, sun hat, UV protection sunglasses, sunscreen, and a rain poncho.
• Gear: Trekking poles (highly recommended) and a small daypack (20–30L).

Basic restroom facilities are available at the starting town (Sangarará/Cusipata) and near the entrance checkpoint at Waqrapukara. There are no sanitary facilities along the trail itself.

The best time to visit is during the dry season (May to October), which offers sunny days and minimal rainfall. During the rainy season (November to April), the landscape is lush and green, but the trails can become muddy and slippery.

Cellular coverage and internet connections are very limited or non-existent along the trek and at the archaeological site. It is a great opportunity to disconnect and enjoy nature.

Unlike Machu Picchu or the Sacred Valley, Waqrapukara is an off-the-beaten-path destination. It offers dramatic canyon scenery, tranquility, mysticism, and the unique experience of exploring ancient Inca ruins without crowds.

We recommend bringing plenty of water, coca or lemon candies, electrolyte supplements, and personal altitude medication (after consulting your doctor). Walking at a steady, comfortable pace is key.

Access to the archaeological site is managed by local communities in coordination with authorities. Most guided tour packages include the community admission fee in the total price.