Pomacanchis Lake and Waqrapukara Trek

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:

• Paddlesport ‘Intro’– Anyone who doesn’t mind getting wet can do any of our paddlesports. Rafting and Duckying can get quite adventurous, but our experienced and qualified guides will be on hand to keep you (mostly) the right way up. We are more interested in your ‘water confidence’ than your ability to swim. The only parameter is that you are mobile enough to help us get you back in the boat – even then if you do suffer with your mobility, let us know what support you might need and maybe the water is calling you!

• Trek ‘Advanced’… This trek is mostly aimed at experienced trekkers – But if you are ‘fit’ (What does that mean? In this case – that you do regular exercise – walk/cycle/jog/squash/ etc) and have an ‘adventurous’ disposition, then you might consider this too! As an experienced trekker you will know that this type of trip will involve some sweating and breathing hard! It will involve steep up and down. There may be sections of rough trail that falling off is not an option! The days are likely to be long, remote and even arduous at times. Make sure you are comfortable with this description (and the remainder of the trip notes), if at all unsure, then drop us an email asking for more clarification. We want you to book the perfect trip for you!