Waqrapukara – The most spectacular Inca ruin you’ve never heard of!
Peru is dotted with Inca marvels – temples, terraces, fortresses and lost cities – wherever you turn, you can see their indelible mark on the country, Machu Picchu is just the tip of the iceberg! Tourists rightly flock to the Inca capital Cusco and visit the nearby sites of Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Sacsayhuaman and Moray (just to name a few!) while the adventurous take to the iconic Inca Trail, South America’s most famous trek. Yet, these are just a fraction of the country’s estimated 26,000 registered archaeological sites. And herein lies the beauty of Peru! For wherever there is a bustling tourist centre such as Machu Picchu, there is also a Waqrapukara, lonely, remote, overlooked yet truly magical!!!
The “horned” Inca temple of Waqrapukara stands watch over the vast Apurimac Canyon framed by soaring mountains and jaw-dropping panoramic views. Just three hours from Cusco, the complex sits at 4100m above sea-level and is the perfect destination for a unique, off-the-beaten-track 2 day mini-trek adventure.
The trailhead lies high in the Andes past the beautiful Lake Pomacanchis above the small village of Sangarara. Here, you meet your muleteers and expert guides and set off on a stunning hike along an ancient Inca trail that winds its away around aquamarine lakes, tumbling waterfalls and lonely herds of alpacas. Soon the vast Ausanagate range opens up and in the distance the emblematic “horns” of Waqrapukara itself, a straight-forward downhill stretch that has you camping right next to the site under a blazing Andean starscape. An early start has you visiting Waqrapukara at sun-rise, a truly magical moment as the light sets the landscapes ablaze! Best of all – just you and a handful of other visitors with this magnificent site all to yourselves!
From here, you begin the hike out following a magnificent trail that sweeps across the face of the mountains – a highlight in itself! Past ancient rock art and burial tombs, the views become ever more impressive. Eventually, you reach the small community of Campi for lunch and your return to Cusco.
For walkers who don’t have the time or acclination for the full Inca Trail (or better still Choqueiquirao), the 2 day Waqrapukara walk is the fitting climax to any Peru trip. The walk itself is straightforward, around 12km over two days and mostly downhill. Admittedly, it does take you as high as 4500m above sea-level, but tacking this on to the end of a trip that includes Lake Titicaca, will be the ideal way to acclimatise.
For an overview of the trek, do take a look at this spectacular drone footage or to see how it might fit into your itinerary, please refer to our Inca Peru by Oasis Travel itinerary,
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