Ccorca Half-Day Trek: The Tecsecocha Cliffs & Waterfall
A half-day hike to the Tecsecocha Cliffs, a seasonal waterfall, and an ancient Inca cemetery.
Tecsecocha is genuinely both things at once: a dramatic cliff formation — locally called the Farallones — and the site of a seasonal waterfall that cascades roughly 50 meters down, ending in a chakana-shaped rock structure at the base. The chakana, the Andean cross, represents the Inca’s three-tiered cosmos: hanan pacha (the world above), kay pacha (this world), and ukhu pacha (the world below).
This half-day trek follows a preserved royal Inca road — part of a route that once connected Cusco to the Pacific coast — through open Andean countryside to the cliffs themselves, passing pre-Inca cave paintings and the remains of an ancient Inca cemetery along the way, in a district some visitors specifically seek out for what they describe as its genuinely mystical atmosphere.
| 💰 From | $42 USD per person (group of 10+) |
| ⏱️ Duration | Half day, 8:30 AM–~3:30-4:30 PM |
| ⛰️ Altitude | Trail start: 3,884 m, descending toward Ccorca town at 3,665 m |
| 🚶 Physical level | Easy to Moderate |
| 📏 Distance | 6 km / 3.7 miles, ~2 hours walking |
| 📅 Season | Mid-April–December |
| 👥 Group size | Private, 1-10 travelers |
| 🎂 Recommended age | 6-75 years |
A half-day trek along a preserved royal Inca road to a genuinely striking cliff formation. – Walk a section of the Inca road that once connected Cusco to the Pacific coast. – Pass pre-Inca cave paintings depicting llamas, condors, pumas, and deer. – Reach the Tecsecocha Cliffs, with a seasonal waterfall over a chakana rock structure. – See the remains of an ancient Inca cemetery at the base of the cliffs.
Ccorca sits along a route the Inca considered strategically significant—part of the empire’s road network connecting Cusco to the coast and, historically, a site for rituals tied to water, fertility, and agriculture. The trail itself, preserved for roughly 500 years, follows this original royal road through open valleys and dramatic rock formations toward the Tecsecocha Cliffs (also called the Farallones).
Along the way, a small cave holds pre-Inca paintings depicting llamas, condors, pumas, and deer, alongside geometric shapes and human figures. At the cliffs themselves, a seasonal waterfall—stronger during the rainy season and fed by snowmelt from the surrounding peaks—cascades roughly 50 meters down, ending in a chakana-shaped rock structure the Municipality of Ccorca has developed with paths and viewing platforms. At the base of the cliffs, the remains of an ancient Inca cemetery draw some visitors specifically for what they describe as the site’s genuinely mystical atmosphere — a quieter, more contemplative counterpart to the busier archaeological circuits closer to Cusco.
This trek starts at its highest point — 3,884 m, at the trailhead — and descends gradually toward Ccorca town at 3,665 m, a comfortable altitude range with no significant elevation gain along the way.
Private transport heads to the Ccorca Valley, roughly 30 minutes from Cusco, arriving at the trailhead of the Ccorca Inca Trail.
The trek follows a preserved section of royal Inca road, historically part of a route connecting Cusco to the Pacific coast.
What you’ll see:
The trail reaches the Tecsecocha Cliffs, where several alternative paths branch off for walking and rock climbing.
What you’ll see:
The group retraces the route to the trailhead and returns to Cusco by approximately 1:30-2:00 PM.
Day 1 stats
Npne
Moderate
6 km / 3.7 miles
2 hours
3,884 m (12,742 ft)
3,665 m (12,024 ft)
3,884 m (12,742 ft)
Both — Tecsecocha is a dramatic cliff formation (locally called the Farallones) that also features a seasonal waterfall, stronger during the rainy season, cascading roughly 50 meters down over a chakana-shaped rock structure at the base.
The Andean cross — a symbol representing the Inca’s three-tiered cosmos: hanan pacha (the world above), kay pacha (this world we live in), and ukhu pacha (the world below). At Tecsecocha, the waterfall ends in a rock structure naturally shaped into this form.
Pre-Inca rock art showing llamas, condors, pumas, and deer, alongside geometric shapes and human figures — found in a small cave near the cliffs.
Yes — the remains of an ancient Inca cemetery sit at the base of the cliffs, one reason some visitors describe the site as having a genuinely mystical atmosphere.
Easy to moderate — 6 km over roughly 2 hours, on a well-preserved trail with no significant elevation gain, following a section of the original royal Inca road.
Yes — the trail’s gentle pace and modest altitude range make it a reasonable option for easing into higher elevations during your first days in Cusco.
No — it’s seasonal, fed by snowmelt from the surrounding peaks, and considerably stronger during the rainy season (roughly November-March) than in the drier months.
We recommend travelers between 6 and 75 years of age, given the trail’s easy-to-moderate nature.
Not as standard, but we’re glad to arrange a box lunch for you if you’d like one.
Llamas and alpacas are common, alongside Andean sparrows and foxes; Andean condors are occasionally spotted as well.
In the Ccorca district, roughly 23-30 km from Cusco, reached by a roughly 30-minute drive from the city.
Yes — given its short duration, it pairs well with a Cusco city tour or another light activity on the same day; let us know if you’d like to combine it with your broader itinerary.
Yes — the easy-to-moderate difficulty and the recommended 6-75 age range make it a reasonable choice for families with children.
| Persons | Price (p/p) | |
| 1 | $ 158.00 USD | |
| 2 | $ 99.00 USD | |
| 3 | $ 71.00 USD | |
| 4 | $ 55.00 USD | |
| 5 | $ 46.00 USD | |
| 6 | $ 39.00 USD | |
| 7 | $ 35.00 USD | |
| 8 | $ 31.00 USD | |
| 9 | $ 28.00 USD | |
| 10 | $ 26.00 USD |
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