📌 Clothing & Footwear ✅ Thermal clothing (it’s cold in the morning)✅ Windproof and waterproof jacket✅ Comfortable hiking pants✅ Hat or cap for sun protection✅ Gloves and a scarf (it can be windy)✅ Hiking boots or shoes with good grip 🎒 Accessories & Gear ✅ Small, comfortable backpack✅ Trekking poles (optional but helpful)✅ Sunglasses (the sun is strong)✅ Sunscreen and lip balm✅ Camera or phone with a full battery✅ Power bank (optional)✅ Personal Medicine✅ Water (at least 1 liter)✅ ID and some cash

Waqra Pukara and Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain – 2D/1N

Arrival City
Canyon of Ananiso
Departure City
Waqra Pukara
Maximum Altitude
4900
Minimum Age
6
Maximum Age
80

Overview

Itinerary

Details

FAQs

Map

Description

Set off on an unforgettable adventure in the Andes: discover the multicolored mountains of Palcoyo, the Stone Forest, and the Ananiso canyon, then explore the mysterious Inca fortress of Waqra Pukara, perched above the Apurímac Canyon.

Highlights

Waqra Pukara
Cusipata
Palcoyo

Day 1 :

Cusco - Waqra Pukara - Cusipata

We leave early in the morning toward the south of Cusco, heading to the province of Acomayo, in the district of Pomacanchi. After about 3 hours of driving, we will reach the starting point of our hike to Waqra Pukara, a still little-known archaeological site that offers a unique immersion into Andean history and nature.

Access to Waqra Pukara can be done through several trekking routes. Depending on your physical condition and the day’s conditions, your guide will choose the most suitable itinerary. On average, it takes around 5 hours of walking to reach this hidden gem of Peru, offering exceptional panoramas over the Apurímac Canyon.

This adventure is a physical challenge, but the spectacle awaiting you at the top is unforgettable! Perched on the cliffside, the Inca fortress of Waqra Pukara intrigues with its architecture and its history. This ancient astronomical observatory, also used as a place of worship and defensive fortress, reflects the strategic and spiritual importance of the region during Inca times. Your guide will reveal all the secrets and legends of this exceptional archaeological site.

Night at Cusipata River Lodge in a standard room.

Day 2 :

Cusipata - Palcoyo and canyon of Ananiso - Cusco

We leave early this morning for a unique adventure in the Palcoyo Rainbow Range, a less visited alternative to Vinicunca, offering breathtaking landscapes of multicolored mountains with shades of red, ochre, and violet.

Before beginning our hike, we will make a stop at the spectacular Stone Forest, a fascinating geological site with impressive rock formations. We will then start a panoramic hike mainly downhill, heading toward the village of Ananiso. During approximately 4 hours of walking, we will enjoy incredible views of the majestic Ausangate range, one of the most impressive peaks in Peru.

Before arriving in Ananiso, we will take a well-deserved break to enjoy a lunch in the heart of nature, surrounded by a stunning landscape. In the afternoon, we will set out to explore the fascinating Ananiso Canyon, a geological wonder dating back several million years.

Finally, we will climb back up to the village, where our driver will be waiting for us.