Pallay Punchu & Raqchi Tour The Poncho Mountain + Inca Temple of Wiracocha
The sharp, striped ridges of Pallay Punchu (4,770 m) — Cusco’s newest viewpoint — with a 45-minute hike, plus the great Inca Temple of Wiracocha in Raqchi. Breakfast and lunch included — from $50.
Pallay Punchu — “the patterned poncho” in Quechua — is a ridge of razor-sharp rock blades striped in red, ochre, white and turquoise, like the folds of an Andean textile laid over the mountain. It is one of the newest viewpoints near Cusco and still far quieter than Rainbow Mountain. We pick you up at 4:30 AM, have breakfast in Cusipata and drive via Marangani to Cachiocca (4,550 m), where a hike of about 45 minutes leads to five natural viewpoints at up to 4,770 m.
On the way back we visit Raqchi and its Temple of Wiracocha, one of the largest buildings of the Inca world, with a central wall up to 15 m high and long rows of round storehouses. After lunch you are back in Cusco between 5:30 and 6:00 PM. Transport, breakfast, lunch, the Pallay Punchu entrance and a professional guide are included for US $50. Learn about its meaning in the legend of Pallay Punchu.
Tilted blades of striped rock that look like a woven poncho — a landscape unlike any other near Cusco.
Five viewpoints at 4,770 m
A short, steep hike from 4,550 m to natural lookouts over the ridges and the high plateau.
The Temple of Wiracocha
At Raqchi, a central wall of stone and adobe up to 15 m high, one of the great Inca buildings.
Inca storehouses
Rows of round colcas at Raqchi, the largest group of its kind in the southern Andes.
Far from the crowds
An emerging viewpoint that few tours visit yet.
Breakfast and lunch included
Breakfast in Cusipata and lunch on the way back to Cusco.
Tour at a glance
Duration
Full Day · 13 h
Price
From US $50 per person
Hotel pickup
4:30 AM
Back in Cusco
6:00 PM
Max altitude
4,770 m
Walking
≈45 min each way
Difficulty
Moderate
Drive from Cusco
about 3.5 h
Meals
Breakfast + lunch
Entrance fees
Pallay Punchu included
Group size
Small group, max 14 travelers
Last-minute booking
Until 11:30 PM the night before
Book today, travel tomorrow
Online booking stays open until 5 hours before hotel pickup (Cusco time). With a 4:30 AM pickup you can book until 11:30 PM the night before — the calendar updates by itself. You receive your confirmation by email as soon as you pay. Need a seat even sooner? Message us on WhatsApp and we will check availability for you.
A spectacular off-the-beaten-path day — a short climb to the sharp-edged Pallay Punchu viewpoints, the Inca Temple of Wiracocha at Raqchi, lunch and return to Cusco by evening.
FULL DAY
Full Day · Pallaypuncho & Raqchi
04:30 AMHotel pickup. We collect you from your hotel and begin the journey south toward Cusipata.
06:30 AMBreakfast. A breakfast stop in Cusipata before continuing toward Marangani (3,700 m), about 1.5 hours on.
07:30 AMTravel to Cachiocca. From Marangani we continue to the Cachiocca sector (4,550 m), the starting point of the hike.
09:30 AMClimb to Pallay Punchu. A roughly 45-minute hike leads to the highest point at 4,770 m, with about an hour of free time at the five viewpoints.
12:30 PMRaqchi — Temple of Wiracocha. We visit the Raqchi complex (3,500 m), admiring its stone-and-adobe constructions and Inca granaries.
02:30 PMLunch & return. After lunch we begin the return to Cusco, arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 PM.
Good to know: A high-altitude, cold-weather excursion (up to 4,770 m). Bring warm, waterproof clothing, hat, gloves, sun protection, water and energy snacks. The hike is about 45 minutes each way.
Inclusions & exclusions
Exactly what is covered in your Pallaypuncho & Raqchi tour — and what to budget separately.
What's Included
Professional tourism guide.
Round-trip tourist transport.
Entrance tickets to Pallaypuncho.
Breakfast & lunch.
First aid kit on board.
Not Included
Dinner.
Hotel accommodation.
Tips for guide and staff (optional).
Before you go
A few essentials we recommend to make your Pallaypuncho & Raqchi day the most rewarding possible.
Acclimatize first
This is a high, cold excursion up to 4,770 m. Spend 2–3 days in Cusco beforehand, dress in warm, waterproof layers and bring gloves and a hat. Hydrate well and pace yourself.
Physical fitness
The hike is moderate and short: about 45 minutes each way from 4,550 m to 4,770 m, with some steep stretches near the ridges. Take it slowly — the altitude is high — and avoid going close to the edges in strong wind.
Best time to go
Dry season: April to October. Skies are clearer, trails firm, colors most vibrant. Avoid the rainy season (Dec–Mar), when colors mute under cloud cover. We run tours year-round but recommend the dry months.
Sun & weather
The Andean sun is intense at 4,770 m. Bring sunscreen SPF 50+, a wide-brim hat, sunglasses and lip balm with SPF, and dress in layers: early morning is close to freezing, midday can feel warm in the sun.
Cancellations & weather
You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour if a verifiable emergency keeps you from joining — an illness, an accident or a cancelled flight, for example, with a document that shows it. If weather or road conditions make the trip unsafe, we will offer you a new date or a full refund. See our refund policy.
What to pack
Travel light but smart. Here's exactly what we recommend bringing for a comfortable, safe day at altitude.
Essentials
Passport — required for the entrance ticket.
Hiking boots (broken in) — terrain is rocky & uneven.
Transparent pricing — no hidden fees. The more travelers in your group, the lower the price per person.
Group Type
Group Size
Price / Person
What's Different
Shared Group Most popular
2 – 14 travelers
US $50 / pp
Mixed international group · set departure
Private Group ★ Best experience
2 – 6 travelers
US $120 / pp
Your group only · personalized pace
Family Package
4+ adults & kids
US $48 / pp
5% discount for adolescents & children
Group of 8+
8 or more travelers
From US $45 / pp
Automatic group discount at checkout
Group discounts apply automatically. Book 4+ travelers and we'll send a custom quote within 2 hours. Larger groups (10+) qualify for additional savings — message us on WhatsApp.
Payment & refund highlights
Secure online payment
Pay with Visa, MasterCard, American Express. All transactions SSL-encrypted via Izipay.
Cancellation policy
We accept cancellations up to 24 hours before the tour when a verifiable emergency prevents you from attending. Refunds go back to your original payment method and are processed by your bank, not by us: any bank fees are applied by the bank, and the money can take up to 30 business days to reach your account. Thank you for your patience. Read the full policy.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we hear most often. More? See the full FAQ page or reach us on WhatsApp.
The highest viewpoint reaches about 4,770 m, with the hike starting from Cachiocca at 4,550 m.
About 45 minutes each way, depending on your pace, plus around an hour at the five viewpoints.
The Temple of Wiracocha — one of the most important Inca administrative centres in the southern Andes, famous for its great walls and granaries.
Warm clothing, a waterproof jacket, hat, scarf and gloves, suitable walking shoes, a rain poncho, sunglasses, sunscreen, water and energy snacks.
Cold and high-altitude — dress in warm layers. The dry season (May–September) offers the most stable conditions.
US $50 per person in a shared group, including hotel pickup, round-trip transport, breakfast, lunch, the Pallay Punchu entrance and a professional guide. Private service is US $120 per person.
Yes. Online booking for the Pallay Punchu & Raqchi stays open until 5 hours before hotel pickup (Cusco time). Pickup is at 4:30 AM, so you can book until 11:30 PM the night before. Pick your date in the calendar — any date still shown as available can be booked — and you will get your confirmation by email as soon as you pay.
In the highlands of southern Cusco (province of Canas), about 3.5 to 4 hours by road from the city, reached via Cusipata and Marangani.
Rainbow Mountain is the classic and has the most intense colors; Pallay Punchu has dramatic sharp ridges, a much shorter hike and far fewer visitors, plus the Raqchi temple on the way. For Rainbow Mountain with little walking, try the ATV Express.
