Cusco never ceases to amaze, discover today the Faraglioni and the Tecsecocha waterfall, both located 1 hour and a half away in the Ccorca district, starting from the city of Cusco; This attraction will surprise you due to the geological formations, the waterfall, the cave paintings and tombs dating from the Inca period located at the base of the Faraglioni.
If you are looking for something alternative to the classic destinations of Cusco (Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Mountain of 7 Colors); the Tecsecocha cliffs are an excellent option. This destination combines the beautiful Andean landscapes with mysticism and history. There you can enjoy a refreshing waterfall 50 meters high. There are also cave paintings belonging to cultures that are 2,000 years old. It is even possible to practice adventure sports. Learn more about this new destination in Cuzco.
The Farallones de Tecsecocha have a unique characteristic due to their location in the Andes, normally you can explore rocky elevations (farallones) on the sea coasts.
For your good luck, this magical-natural place is only 1.5 hours away in the Ccorca district — by car from the city of Cusco. If you are not from Cusco or are not used to living in high-Andean areas such as Cusco, Cajamarca or even the city of Arequipa, we tell you that this attraction is located at 3600 meters above sea level, therefore it is advisable to acclimatize first in the city of Cusco or the sacred valley.
The Farallones de Tecsecocha in Cusco have a height from 35 meters to 85 meters, climbing to the crests of the Farallones you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view over the mountains and the entire Ccorca valley. The waterfall measures approx. 50 meters.
According to studies carried out mainly in the 20th century, this place had already been occupied by humans thousands of years ago when Andean man was still a hunter (approximately 8,000 years ago), this can be confirmed thanks to the presence of cave paintings on Andean auquénidos with the llama.
cemetery for important indigenous caciques or curacas; today you can still see skeletal remains that confirm this fact. The skeletal remains are accompanied by offerings such as flowers, beers, coca leaves, etc. that many local and visiting people do.
Access to the cliffs and the waterfall is 100% free!
Like almost all natural or outdoor attractions in Cusco, it is recommended to visit in the dry season (April – November); however, it depends a lot on the expectations of each tourist, if you want to visit them in the rainy season (December - March), do not forget to bring raincoats and non-slip shoes.
To carry out sports activities in this place, please contact a travel agency specialized in adventure tourism — we recommend this requirement mainly for security reasons. Here we recommend the following activities:
The tours include a round trip transportation service to the Tecsecocha Faraglioni. If you want to go on your own you must follow the following steps:
From a rock formation almost 50 meters high, you can see a waterfall that is the great tourist attraction of Tecsecocha.
The Municipality of Ccorca implemented paths, wooden stairs as well as tables and sculptures to improve the visitor experience.
The main waterfall ends in a beautiful chacana-shaped construction where visitors can cool off.
The chacana is known as 'the Andean cross'. It represents the Inca worldview of the three worlds: the hanan pacha (the heavenly world), the kay pacha (the earthly world) and the uku pacha (the underworld).
The Tecsecocha cave paintings are up to two thousand years old. The figures show llamas, probably the animal that served as food for the first men – hunters from Cusco.
The cave paintings are located 15 minutes walk from the town of Ccorca. They are in good condition.
In the immediate vicinity of the place there are the remains of what was an important Inca cemetery. The Incas carried out the burial of their dead inside a hole in the rocks. The deceased were buried along with their most precious personal belongings.
The Incas settled there between 1,100 AD. and 1534 A.D. Upon the arrival of the Spanish at the end of the 16th century, the cemetery was looted.
However, until today many visitors arrive to leave their offerings of coca leaves, beers and more.
The presence of this cemetery, as well as a section of Inca roads, indicate that the site was an important point of the immense empire of the Incas.
The visit also offers an approach to the varied Andean flora and fauna.
During the walk you can see different types of trees, plants and flowers such as: eucalyptus, molles, kantu, queñua, mutuy, ferns and more.
Among the most representative wildlife species are: the llama, the alpaca, the Andean condor, the Andean sparrow, the Andean fox, the cow, sheep and more.
The 1-day tours to the Tecsecocha Faraglioni have a cost that varies between 10 to 20 dollars per tourist. Includes: transportation and tour guide.
Many visitors also decide to go on their own. The cost of this adventure without a tour is approximately 10 dollars per person.
Remember that the entrance to the Tecsecocha Faraglioni is totally free.