Upon arriving in Cusco, one can appreciate that the city is surrounded by mountains, which the locals call Apus.

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During your visit to Cusco, Perú, you can take a tour of these apus, or mountains, which are on the Qhapaq an route, which is a network of Inca roads leading to the four suyos. 

What is an APU?

The Apus are the spirits or deities found in the Andes mountains. Beings that existed in the Andean worldview and live eternally in the mountain’s heart

Following that, I will show you 5 mountains that you should not miss on your Inca Trail tour.

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Picol mountain

Within the routes of the mountains of Cusco, there is the Picol mountain that is located in the district of San Jerónimo at the height of the whereabouts of Larapa, which is characterized by having a geographical fault.

On this mountain, you can see terraces, which, according to archaeologists, date to the pre-Hispanic era and were built on the slopes of the hill for agricultural reasons.

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The Ministry of Culture is working on its next investigations and enhancements.

On the Picol mountain are the Inca ruins of Rakayrakaynniyoq, near the main square of the San Jerónimo district, you can walk there in 20 minutes, or you can take a bicycle tour and go down to the archaeological site and end up in the square.

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How to get to Picol Mountain?

To get there, it is recommended to take the bus called “Batman,” which will leave you as close to the mountain as possible, at the height of the Andean University.

From there, you can continue the hike to Picol Mountain by taking a wide road to a certain stretch, then continuing along a short path, crossing eucalyptus forests, and finding three viewpoints where you can rest, drink water, and get some food.

Important: We recommend going between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. 11am. 12 p.m. 1 pm. 2 p.m., not later, and also be accompanied.

If you want to enjoy more, you can do adventure tourism on a bicycle through the Picol mountain with a specialized adventure travel agency, which includes bicycles, equipment, guides, etc.

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Huanacaure Mountain

considered the most important huaca of the Inca empire for being the main actor in one of the legends of the founding of the Inca empire of Cusco.

It is also considered the highest hill in Cusco.

The legend of the Ayar brothers

Legend has it that the god Viracocha sent his children to find a land where they could teach the inhabitants to plant corn, for this, the god gave them a golden rod and told them that where it sank would be the fertile place where they would found their empire.

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Thus, the brothers Ayar Manco, Ayar Cachi, Ayar Uchú and Ayar Auca came out of a cave on Cerro Tamputoco with their wives.

The brothers, fearful of the force and bellicosity of Ayar Cachi, decided to trick him into returning to the cave, and once inside, they locked him up again on the Tamputoco hill.

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The three brothers continued on their journey and came across the Huanacaure hill, where they discovered a rock idol and Ayar Uch jumped on it, turning him into stone as punishment.

The very sad brothers continued on their way; Ayar Auca grew wings and flew towards the valley, but when it landed on a stone in Acamama, it also turned into a rock.

The only brother, Ayar Manco, came to some fertile lands with the other wives and sank the golden cane; it was there that they founded the city of Cusco, thus beginning the Inca empire.

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Archaeological Center, Ceremonial

According to archaeological findings, Huanacaure is believed to be a ceremonial center.

A square was found, and around it were enclosures and small buildings. Archaeologists found pottery with ashes and ceremonial dishes buried under a mound of earth. According to certain hypotheses, it is believed that upon the arrival of the Spanish, the Incas destroyed the buildings, trying to hide this enclosure.

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How to get to the Huanacaure Mountain

You must go to the Kayra farm and cross the Huatanay river bridge until you reach the Sunkho community; from there, walk until you reach the base of the Apu. From there, go uphill, where you will find typical Cusco flora; after 4 hours, you will reach the Huanacaure mountain at 4,089 m.

The best option you can choose is to take a bike tour to the mountain of Huanacaure and enjoy the Inca Trail, the landscapes, and the mountains.

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Pachatusan Mountain

Pachatusan, which means “great lord who sustains time and space,” is located to the east of the capital of Cusco.

According to the chroniclers, many offerings were brought here because it is one of the largest hills and of great importance for rituals to the Sun god.

When walking along this route, you will find tourist attractions that are little-known but equally valuable.

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Archaeological site of Raqayraqayniyuq

It is located in the community of Picol, and according to the investigations of this archaeological center, it is believed that this place was a food deposit of the Inca nobility.

Projectile points, vessels, pots, and knives were found, and it is also believed that a funeral center existed there because objects that the Incas would use for their funerals were found.

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Huacoto Chapel

This colonial chapel has a bell tower belfry, and its walls are built with stones. Restoration work is being managed, which is why it can only be seen from the outside; however, you will be impressed by the beauty of this chapel that seems to have stopped in time.

Lord of Huanca

As is known, upon the arrival of the Spaniards, the Catholic religion was imposed, and, in order to disappear, the Inca deities ordered the construction of churches on top of the Apus and huacas to replace Christian images.

The Huanacaure mountain was no exception; here, the church of the Lord of Huanca was built after knowing the story of the Indian Diego Quispe.

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At the time of the colony, Diego decided to escape after suffering mistreatment from the Spanish in the mines. When he escaped to Chinchero, he took refuge inside a cave in the mountain. When he came out of it, he saw Jesus, who told him to build a chapel in his honor in that place.

The Indian, although still fearful, addressed a priest at the place where they found a stone with a painting of Jesus Christ being whipped. Soon they would have an enclosure built in that place. Since then, September 14 has been celebrated with pilgrimages to the Lord of Huanca Chapel.

How to get to the Pachatusan mountain?

You must go to the Plaza de San Jerónimo on the way to Huacoto; after half an hour of walking, you will arrive at Raqayraqayniyuq, where you can rest and enjoy the archaeological center.

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After an hour of walking, you will find the church of Huacoto, and an hour and a half from that point, you will reach the top of Pachatusan. When you arrive, you will find yourself at 4,850 m.

If you like mountain biking, you can take a bicycle tour along the route of the Lord of Huanca. The path you will go down is the Inca Trail, which has stone steps and a distance of 12 km to the town of San Salvador, which belongs to the sacred valley of the Incas.

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Mama Simona Mountain

Mama Simona is located in the community of Quiswarcancha in the northeast, on the route between Cusco and Corca.

On the mountain, you can see a pareidolia in the form of a woman. The Apu Mama Simona is the only female Apu that symbolizes fertility and is considered the grandmother of the Apus.

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History

This mountain was once part of the Qhapaq, which led to the Continsuyo. According to oral sources, all the offerings are placed in this Apu because it is considered a female altar, as a thank you and a request for next year to be productive.

According to the chronicler Sarmiento de Gamboa, they burned a ram in the Qorikancha and took another to the mountain (today called Mama Simona), known for being the place where the sun sits. There they sacrificed the ram to the huacas in baskets made of coca leaves.

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In another of his writings, the same chronicler mentions that in many of the huacas, a sacrifice called Capacocha was made, which consisted of burying children alive.

In the viceregal era, after the extirpation of idolatry, this Apu was called Machu Kimon to refer to it in a derogatory way. Later, she would adopt the name Mama Simona.

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The Haywarikuy

On August 1 of each year, Haywarikuy is celebrated, which is a pilgrimage to thank Pachamama.

The municipality of Ccorca organizes the Haywarikuy with a route that is made towards the Mama Simona mountain as an offering ceremony.

The eight communities of Ccorca dress in their best costumes and go to the community of Quiswarcancha, where the ritual path to the Apu begins. This walk is carried out on an Inca stage.

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How to get to Mama Simona Mountain?

Go to the district of Santiago, where the Puquin tap. The buses will take you along the road to the Ccorca community in approximately 30 minutes, until you reach the Quiswarcancha community.

The path is flat for the first hour; the second hour is uphill.

From there, the path on foot will take 2 hours and a half, and when you reach the top, you will find yourself at 4,300 m.

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Is it possible to do mountain biking in Mama Simona?

Of course, you can cycle to the Mama Simona mountain; the circuit is 41 km long. and a positive slope of 1,280 m along paved roads, a wide dirt road, and short singletrack paths that are super fun.