Huchuy Qosqo Trek 2 Days / 01 Night
The trek to Huchuy Qosqo is something you should really try to fit in time for when visiting Cusco. It’s a beautiful route far less traveled and you get to see some very interesting things along the way.
If you are a person who doesn’t like crowds and enjoys to be surrounded by pure nature instead of a group, this is the hike for you. The groups tend to be very small or it may even just be you. You also rarely see others along the way. It’s perfect for some peace and quiet while walking.
Along the route, you will also pass through small villages where you’ll often see locals who will say hello to you. They are very friendly people and it’s an experience that a lot of visitors don’t get. It’s perfect for witnessing the day to day lives of those who live up in the hills.
This is perfect for the tourists who don’t have a lot of time in town but still want to see Huchuy Qosqo and Machu Picchu while doing a trek. Huchuy Qosqo is an incredible archaeological site that very few visitors actually get to see. A lot of people like to get opportunities like these, and going on this trek is a wonderful way to see something different.
Sign up and see for yourself what this beautiful route has to offer and discover more about the Inca culture as well as getting an incredible insight into the lives of the folk that lives in the hills.
Day 1: Cusco – Tauca – Huchuy Qosqo – Lamay – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
You’ll start driving from your hotel in Cusco (3,400 m / 11,154 ft) to the small village of Tauca, (3,750 m / 12,303 ft), the beginning of your trek will be on level terrain, and the landscape will be that of typical Andean valleys rich in corn, potatoes, barley, quinoa and other Andean tubers. As you ascend towards the pass at (4,100 m / 13,451 ft), the landscape begins to change dramatically to that classic of high Andean savannah or Puna, with scant vegetation, mainly “ichu” or high altitude grass. The views of the Cordillera Urubamba peaks are spectacular: Veronica, Pitusiray, Chicon and San Juan snow peaks. Soon after the pass you’ll start the descent towards the Huchuy Qosqo plains hiking along a path that leads to the Cauca ravine, where you’ll be able to see archaeological remains and wild crops, such as tarwi, and a large quantity of cacti. You’ll walk downhill towards the Leon Punku ravine, where remains of an Inca bridge and trail can be found. This canyon boasts geological formations surrounded by majestic rocks and boulders that direct the river to Huchuy Qosqo.
Huchuy Qosqo (3,600 m / 11,811 ft) or “Little Cuzco” is a noteworthy Inca complex. It boasts very fine stonework in a large Kallanka (rectangular hall), some residential and defensive quarters and interesting two-story buildings in stone and mud bricks. Huchuy Qosqo is located on a plateau, surrounded by Inca agricultural terracing and commanding superb views of the Urubamba range. Then you’ll go down hill to Lamay (2,940 m / 9,645 ft), to get your transport through the valley to Ollantaytambo (2,800 m / 9,186 ft), from here you’ll continue by train to Aguas Calientes (2,000 m / 6,551 ft), where you’ll check into your hotel to rest and relax in anticipation of a very interesting guided tour the following day.
- Meals included: boxed lunch & dinner
- Maximum altitude: 4,100 m / 13,451 ft
- Minimum altitude: 2,940 m / 9,645 ft
- Aguas Calientes altitude: 2,400 m / 7,874 ft
- Distance hiked: 16.00 km / 9.94 ml
- Approximate walking time: 6 – 7 hours
Day 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
Early morning after a good breakfast you’ll be ready to re-live the history and the mysterious world of the Incas, you’ll take a 25-minute bus ride up to Machu Picchu (2,400 m / 7,874 ft) and arrive to this world wonder. Soon after you’ll start the guided tour of Machupicchu. This enigmatic city is explored for approximately two hours and all the mysteries and archaeological information will be explained by your expert guide, who also will show you the most important sites within the citadel. After the guided tour you’ll have free time to explore and take photos on your own. You can enhance your experience of Machu Picchu by taking up the option to hike to the summit of Huayna Picchu (2,720 m / 8,923 ft) mountain.
Later on, at the appropriate time, you’ll take the bus down to Aguas Calientes town, where you can have lunch in one of the many restaurants.
After lunch, you’ll head out to the train station where you’ll board the train back to Ollantaytambo train station, where your private transport will be waiting for you to take you back to the city and drop you off at your hotel in Cusco.
Note: Huayna Picchu Mountain tickets are subject to availability
- Meals included: breakfast at the hotel
- Machu Picchu altitude: (2,400 m / 7,874 ft)
- Huayna Picchu altitude: 2,720 m / 8,923 ft
- Cusco altitude: 3,400 m / 11,154 ft
Transportation and tickets
- Hotel pick up in Cusco
- Private transport to the trailhead in Tauca community
- Entrance fee ticket to Huchuy Qosqo
- Private transport from Lamay to Ollantaytambo
- Tourist train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- Entrance fee ticket to Machu Picchu
- Round trip bus Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu
- Tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Private transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
- Hotel drop off in Cusco
Accommodation
- One night hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes 3***
Team
- Pre-departure briefing
- Professional trekking Tour Guide
- Personalized service
- Small group tour max 8 people
- Private walking tour in Machu Picchu
- Emergency medical first aid kit
- Emergency oxigen bottle
- Guaranteed departure
Food
- High quality meals 1B, 1L, 1D
- Drinks while on the trek
- Huayna Picchu Mountain entrance fee ticket
- Machu Picchu Mountain entrance fee ticket
- Rain poncho
- First day breakfast and lunch at Aguas Calientes
- Hotel upgrade
- Gratuities
- Thermal baths in Aguas Calientes
- Travel insurance
- DNI – original PASSPORT
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Lip moisturizer
- Cap (Arabic model)
- Rain poncho
- Waterproof jacket
- Shorts – waterproof
- Sleeping bag grade (-5)
- Photographic camera
- Candy, kiwicha cookies, dried fruits
- A bottle of water, and / or canteen
- High-top mountain shoes, rubber sole, sandals
- Headlamp
- Money in soles
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