Full Day tour from $ USD
"Discover the fifth oracle of the Inca Empire, which is just as important as Machu Picchu"
Escape the crowds and discover one of Cusco’s best-kept secrets! Travel from Cusco to the Taqrachullo (also known as María Fortaleza) and Maukallaqta fascinating archaeological sites, surrounded by spectacular Andean landscapes, and admire the dramatic Three Canyons of Suykutambo.
This private full-day adventure includes professional guiding, private transportation, and meals, giving you a seamless and unforgettable experience beyond the usual tourist routes.
Maria Fortaleza Taqrachullo full day tour. Embark on an unforgettable full-day adventure from Cusco to discover the archaeological treasures of Taqrachullo and Maukallaqta and the spectacular landscapes of the Three Canyons of Suykutambo. This experience takes you far from the usual tourist routes, offering a unique combination of Andean history, culture, nature, and adventure.
Your journey begins between at 3:30 – 4:30 am from Cusco, traveling through beautiful Andean landscapes to Cusipata, where you’ll enjoy breakfast before continuing the approximately 5-hour journey to Suykutambo.
Once there, explore Taqrachullo and Maukallaqta, ancient archaeological sites surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery. Then, marvel at the dramatic rock formations and spectacular views of the Three Canyons of Suykutambo, one of the region’s most impressive natural attractions.
After the visits, at 13:30 h, enjoy a well-deserved lunch in Espinar before beginning the journey back to Cusco. You’ll arrive in Cusco at approximately 8:00 PM, completing an extraordinary day filled with history, nature, culture, and adventure.
Taqrachullo one-day tour, with daily departures year-round; we offer only private tours. We do not offer group tours, as this tourist attraction is unknown to many travelers.
Get ready for an unforgettable day trip to Taqrachullo? also known as T’aqrachullo, Maria Fortaleza, or Ancocagua.
Taqrachullo ceremonial area
Maria Fortaleza archaeological site
Get ready for an unforgettable day trip to Taqrachullo, also known as T’aqrachullo, Maria Fortaleza, or Ancocagua.
To begin this Taqrachullo full day tour from Cusco, your private guide and tour vehicle will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 4:00 a.m. We’ll then take a 1.5-hour drive to the Cusipata town, where we’ll enjoy a nutritious breakfast prepared with local ingredients. Afterward, we’ll continue our journey by tour bus, passing through high-Andean landscapes, canyons, and livestock and agricultural fields in the Espinar province until we enter the impressive Suykutambo Canyon.
We will arrive at the Maria Fortaleza or T’aqrachullo archaeological site at 9:40 a.m. We will take a guided tour of this stunning archaeological complex, set amid imposing rock formations and cliffs. We’ll explore the most important areas, such as the residential, religious, and agricultural sectors, among others, and from its natural viewpoint, we’ll admire the breathtaking landscape of the three Suykutambo canyons, carved primarily by the Apurímac River. Then we’ll travel for 10 minutes to Maukallaqta, another impressive archaeological site famous for its stone structures, tombs (chullpas), and ceremonial gateways.
Next, we’ll visit the Devil’s Gorge, a stunning small natural canyon carved by the Apurímac River waters. This river cuts through a massive rock outcrop, forming a narrow, deep gorge.
After this visit, we’ll return to the Espinar city (Yauri) to enjoy an à la carte lunch.
At 3:30 p.m., we’ll set out on a long, nonstop drive to Cusco. We’ll arrive around 8:00 p.m.
B&L
1, Easy
2 h
3350m/10,991ft, Cusco
4100m/13452ft, Taqrachullo
Important: When you’re at the top of the Suykutambo Three Canyons overlook, don’t jump around and don’t lean too far over the cliff; any carelessness can be fatal, as the rock formation is part of the deep canyon.
Our prices are listed in U.S. dollars (US$) and are per person. The price varies depending on the number of travelers: the more people traveling together, the lower the price.
We offer only private tours.
This option is exclusive for you who prefer to do the Taqrachullo full day tour with your partner, family, children or friends and don’t want to meet with strangers. You can start this tour any day of the year. The tour will be in English or Spanish.
| Pax number | Price per person | |
| 1 Persons | $ USD 465.00 | |
| 2-3 Persons | $ USD 245.00 | |
| 4-5 Persons | $ USD 160.00 | |
| 6-7 Persons | $ USD 115.00 | |
| 8 + Persons | $ USD 99.00 |
This is probably the most interesting place to start. T’aqrachullo, also known as María Fortaleza, is an important archaeological complex where evidence of Wari, Qolla/Cana, and Inca occupations has been found. Following restoration work, more than 300 structures were uncovered, including enclosures, stairways, fountains, kallankas, walls, and funerary structures.
What makes it special is its location: it sits atop a cliff and also serves as a natural viewpoint overlooking the Suykutambo Three Canyons. In other words, not only will you learn about history there, but you’ll also enjoy one of the best views of the landscape.
It’s worth visiting because it offers insight into another chapter of Espinar’s pre-Hispanic history. The site preserves temples, enclosures, and funerary structures or chullpas and is part of an archaeological complex that demonstrates this area was significantly inhabited long before and during the Inca period.
Furthermore, visiting it along with T’aqrachullo helps you understand that the Three Canyons are not merely a scenic attraction: the entire region was part of a long Andean cultural history.
Here lies a magnificent natural spectacle. These are enormous rock formations of volcanic origin, with walls reaching approximately 80 meters in height, where the Apurímac, Callumani/Cayumani, and Cerritambo rivers converge.
It is an ideal place to appreciate the geology, go hiking, and enjoy the high-Andean landscape. In addition, the surrounding area preserves native vegetation such as queñuales and thola, making this an experience that combines nature and adventure.
More than just a stop along the way, Suykutambo is the region that connects these attractions. Its importance lies precisely in the combination of landscape, archaeological heritage, and local culture. The Three Canyons area was designated a Regional Conservation Area, protecting a vast expanse of high Andean territory.
Taqrachullo archaeological site is located in the Suykutambo district, in the Espinar province, in the southern part of the Cusco region, 260 km/ 161.5 miles and a 5½-hour drive from the Cusco city.
The tour lasts a full day, departing at 4 a.m. and returning to Cusco at 8 p.m.
The María Fortaleza or Taqrachullo archaeological site is located at an elevation of approximately 3,900 to 4,100masl / 12,795 to 13,451ft, so it is recommended that you be acclimated.
The difficulty ranges from easy to moderate. The tour includes short and medium-length hikes over uneven terrain and Andean trails.
Visitors explore the Maria Fortaleza or Taqrachullo archaeological complex—the main destination—as well as the impressive Suykutambo three canyons, the Maukataqta archaeological site, and the Devil’s Gorge.
No. The tour is designed for people with basic physical fitness and does not require prior experience with mountain hikes.
We recommend comfortable clothing for cold and changeable weather, a windbreaker or rain jacket, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and sneakers with good traction.
It generally includes tourist transportation, a professional guide, breakfast, lunch, snacks, a basic first-aid kit, and assistance throughout the tour. Services may vary depending on the tour operator.
Yes, provided they are in good health and able to walk on uneven terrain and at high altitudes. Recommended for children ages 3 and up and adults up to 80 years old. If you wish to travel with a child under 3 years old, you must carry them.
Restroom facilities are limited. It is recommended to use available restrooms before starting the hikes and to bring toilet paper and personal items.
The dry season, between April and October, offers the best conditions for visiting, with less chance of rain and safer trails.
Water, snacks, personal documents, cash, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat or cap, warm clothing, and a camera.
Due to the altitude, some people may experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness. It is recommended to acclimate in Cusco for at least one or two days before the tour and to drink coca leaf tea.
Yes. The site offers excellent opportunities for photographing landscapes, pre-Hispanic architecture, and Andean nature.
Because on a single tour, you can walk through ancient Andean settlements, learn about the history of the Wari, Qolla, and Inca cultures, admire archaeological ruins perched on massive cliffs, and end up facing one of the most breathtaking geological landscapes in Cusco.
Contact us—our professional team will be happy to answer them.
WhatsApp: +51914229882 / Email: machupicchuandestours@gmail.com
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