Sign up for this fun way to see Cusco and Peru. SUP or Kayak to a remote beach for a night under the stars. Trek to Waqrapukara, a little known pre-Inca fortress.
Explore Peru in a safe and fun way, discover places you never knew existed. Travel in a private group with friends or family.
Leaving Cusco early, we follow the Rio Vilcanota to the small village of Chuquicahuana before heading into the hills to the first and largest of the “4 Lagunas”, Lake Pomacanchis.
Here we load up our overnight gear and after lunch and full instructions in the art of Kayaking or Stand up paddleboarding, we set off across the crystalline waters of the lake in search of adventure.
We set up camp on the far side of the lake, collect firewood, and enjoy watching the sunset over the lake. Dinner, maybe a Pisco Sour or cold drink follows, before relaxing around the campfire and stargazing under the pitch-black Andean Sky before turning in for a great night’s sleep.
Drive time 3 hrs
Paddling distance 3km
Night camping
Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, water, all watersport, and camping equipment (except sleeping bags)
Waking to the sounds of coots and moorhens on the lake, you enjoy a leisurely breakfast on the lakeshore, before heading out onto the lake once again, to cross back to your waiting vehicle
Leaving the beautiful Lake Pomacanchis we take a dirt road to the small village of Pitumarca and climb further to the road head at just over 4000m.
Here you meet your muleteers and load up your trekking gear to start the hike to Waqrapukara, following an ancient Inca trail and passing small lakes with big views back to the Ausanagate mountains and even the mountains above the Sacred Valley.
A mainly flat trail brings you to your camp for the night, high above the Apurimac Canyon, next to Waqrapukara itself. The name means “Horned Fortress”, though it is thought to have been a ceremonial center.
Whilst camp is being set up, you can explore this impressive site. While part of the site is Inca, its origins go back to the Chanca culture, famous for its bloodiness in battle. Captured enemies were sometimes hung up and skinned alive, and their skulls made into drinking vessels.
After a hearty dinner, you camp under the stars. There is virtually no light pollution here, making it ideal for seeing the Andean Milky Way.
Paddling distance 3km
Drive time 45 mins
Hiking distance 11km
Hiking time 4 hrs
Night camping
Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, water, all watersport, and camping equipment (except sleeping bags)
This morning you hike, a mainly flat and downhill trail, to the small village of Campi. Your path passes beneath huge rock walls and has a canyon lands feel to it and there are big views out across the mountains.
You arrive at a beautiful lake above Campi to meet your vehicle in time for lunch. Then you can relax for the drive back to Cusco.
Hiking distance 7km
Hiking time 3 hrs
Drive time 3 hrs
Included: breakfast, lunch, snacks, water, transport
In order to fully enjoy your trip it is very important that you choose the right trip for you and fully understand what it involves.
There are risks inherent in travelling in Peru, as indeed there are in most of the activities that we provide. Many of the activities we offer also involve a significant level of effort on your part. After all, it is called Adventure Travel for a reason.
It is really important that you read both the trip notes above and the Risk and Safety Section on our website, to enable you to choose the best trip for you. Once you have read them both, please make sure you ask if there is anything you do not understand. We classify this trip as:
We create safe, responsibly run adventures in Cusco and the Sacred Valley for lovers of the great outdoors. We are a Certified B Corps and hold all Adventure Licenses for the activities we offer.
Sitemap
Enquiries:
US/CANADA Toll Free 1 (888) 696-0505
Email: [email protected]
Whatsapp: +51 954165014
Emergency:
Maria Del Pilar Handa- Operations Manager
Tel:+51 984765446
Address:
Avenida Collasuyo 910, Miravalle, Cusco
Hours:
9am-4pm local time (GMT-5)
Amazonas Explorer Ⓒ 2022 Peru Adventure Experts Since 1985 .