Horseback Riding to Inka Raccay and Ascent to the Legendary Apu Wanakaure

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Tipo de Tour

Horseback riding

Dificultad

Easy

Duracion

Full Day

Edad Disponible

All ages

Altitude

4,100 meters / 13,451 feet

Distance

13 km

Travel time

Approximately 7 hours

Difficulty

Class IV

Experience

Intermediate – advanced

Do you seek an adventure on horseback amidst the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Andes? Embark on an unforgettable journey to explore the mystical heights of Apu Wanakaure, starting with a scenic ride to Inka Raccay. Enjoy:

An exhilarating journey: Traverse ancient trails and witness panoramic views of the Sacred Valley.
History and adventure: Discover the cultural richness of Inka Raccay and ascend to the legendary Apu Wanakaure.
Guaranteed enjoyment: Whether you’re a novice or experienced rider, our gentle horses and expert guides ensure a safe and enriching experience.

Itinerario
Places to visit
Development of the program
Incluye / No Incluye
Recomendaciones

Itinerary

Horseback Riding to Inka Raccay and Ascent to the Legendary Apu Wanakaure

08:30 am: Pickup from the hotel
09:00 am: Visit to the stables, safety briefing, and horse riding instructions
09:30 am: Start of the horseback ride
11:00 am: Visit to the Inka Raccay archaeological site
12:00 pm: Horseback ride and ascent to the Wanakaure mountain
01:30 pm: Box lunch and rest
02:00 pm: Return ride via the Ayar brothers' route
04:30 pm: End of the ride at the stables
05:00 pm: Transport back to your hotel
05:30 pm: End of services

Places to visit

The Majestic Apu Wanakaure and Its History:

The Apu Wanakaure mountain is located 15 kilometers south of Cusco, at an altitude of 4,100 meters or 13,451 feet. This massive rocky outcrop is one of the largest mountains in the Cusco Valley. It features archaeological structures with walls up to 60 cm wide and 2 meters high, built with carved rocks and mortar. These religious edifices were used to worship the sun god. The surrounding area contains roads of high symbolic value to the Incas. According to Spanish chronicles and Andean mythology, Wanakaure is the most important huaca (sacred place) and oracle of the Inca culture. Historically, it represents Ayar Huchu, the mythical brother of Ayar Manco, the founder of the Inca Empire, who – according to legend – turned into a rock that remains on the mountain.

Garcilaso de la Vega, in his Royal Commentaries of the Incas, states that Wanakaure is where the golden rod given by the sun god to Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo sank, signifying their mission to civilize pre-Inca peoples. They shared their culture and knowledge, teaching traditions and strengthening their domains over centuries. This eventually led to a confrontation with neighboring nations from the Apurímac Valley, known as the war against the Chancas.

Development of the program

We will start our excursion by picking you up from your hotel and heading to our stables at the Molleray estate, just 15 minutes from Cusco airport. Here, we will introduce you to our horses and provide a safety briefing, explaining some route details during the trip.

Each rider will have their own horse with personalized equipment. After a test ride and a practice session, we will begin our horseback ride on a flat trail surrounded by fields of corn, potatoes, barley, and more. We will descend to cross streams and a eucalyptus forest, reaching the Wilcarpay community, where we will observe Andean-style houses and friendly locals going about their daily chores.

We will rest by a nearby stream before starting the first ascent of approximately one hour along an Inca path used by the Ayar brothers, arriving at the first archaeological site, Inka Raccay. We will visit this site, admiring its architecture and limestone constructions with stones shaped up to 11 angles. We will continue the ride through Inca quarries in a rocky mountain, observing the ecological transition from the valley to the highlands. We will reach Puna Cancha pass at 3,932 meters or 12,900 feet, continuing along a narrow and steep path to the rear of Apu Wanakaure. We will ride along the mountainside through grasslands.

We will dismount to show respect to the legendary Apu Wanakaure and visit the archaeological remains before climbing to the mountain summit at 4,100 meters or 13,451 feet. At the top, there is a chullpa or royal tomb, where we will make an offering to this sacred Apu to express our gratitude. From this vantage point, we will enjoy a 360-degree view of the Cusco Valley, with breathtaking mountain and snow-capped peaks.

After a photo session, we will rest and have lunch, regaining energy before our return. We will ride back down the mountain, passing a stream and the Ayar brothers’ narrow path. On the way, we will see eucalyptus forests, native trees like chachacoma, queuña, and chilca, and a variety of birds and flowers like red and yellow kantu. Sometimes, we may even spot deer, Andean foxes, and viscachas.

Returning to the stables, we will transport you back to your hotel, concluding our service.