3 Days 2 Nights
Medium - Challenge
Min: 2 -Max 8 people
Cusco - Machu picchu
The Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu is a beautiful journey through the Sacred Valley of the Andes, full of history, nature and living culture. Huchuy Qosqo, meaning «Little Cusco» in Quechua, was once a royal estate of the Inca emperor Viracocha. Its terraces and stone buildings are remarkably well preserved, and it offers a quiet alternative to the more crowded Inca sites nearby.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 days / 2 nights |
| Starts from | Cusco, Peru |
| Ends in | Machu Picchu |
| Max altitude | 4200 m / |
| Total distance | Approx. 32 km |
| Accommodation | [Camping / hotel] |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Group size | Small groups (Min: 2 – Max. 8) |
| Price | $ 650 USD per person |
Along the trail, you’ll enjoy wonderful views over the Sacred Valley and its towns: Pisac, Lamay, Calca and Urubamba. You’ll also see many medicinal plants that Andean people have used for centuries as their main source of healing, and your guide will explain their traditional uses.
The route passes small Andean communities that still live much as their ancestors did, farming the same valleys for generations. You’ll see llamas and sheep from local farms, and you’ll have a great opportunity to interact with local families and learn about their daily lives.
To make your journey more comfortable, mules carry your bags for the entire trek, so you only need a small daypack. It’s a moderate hike, ideal for travelers who want to combine culture, history and adventure without the extreme altitude of other routes.
We’ll meet you at your hotel the day before departure to walk you through the trip in detail. Your guide will explain each day’s itinerary and answer all your questions.
Looking for a different route? Explore another corner of the Sacred Valley on the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu, or choose a bigger challenge with the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu or the Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu. For the most famous route, see our 5-Day Inca Trail. If you prefer a visit without trekking, try the Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu tour.
Pickup in Cusco. After breakfast at your hotel, we pick you up and drive to the community of Patabamba (3,800 m / 12,467 ft), the starting point of the Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu.
Hike to Pukamarca. We hike for about 3 hours along the trail of the ayllus, the traditional Andean communities, passing farmland, llamas and local families. We reach Pukamarca (4,100 m / 13,451 ft), a small Inca archaeological site and the highest point of the day, where we stop for lunch and rest.
Descent to Huchuy Qosqo. After lunch, we walk downhill for about 1.5 hours on an original Inca path to the archaeological site of Huchuy Qosqo (3,600 m / 11,811 ft). Along the way, you’ll enjoy impressive views of the Sacred Valley and the snow-capped Pitusiray and Sahuasiray mountains. At Huchuy Qosqo, your guide will show you the royal estate of the Inca Viracocha, with its terraces and stone buildings. We camp here for the night.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | Camping at Huchuy Qosqo |
| Min altitude | Huchuy Qosqo – 3,600 m / 11,811 ft |
| Max altitude | Pukamarca – 4,100 m / 13,451 ft |
| Walking distance | Approx. [X] km / [X] mi |
| Walking time | Approx. 4.5 hours |
| Weather | Mild during the day; cold at night |
| Meals | Lunch, dinner |
| Difficulty | 2 – Moderate |
| Start time | 05:00 am |
| End time | Approx. 4:00 pm |
Transportation
Entrance tickets
Accommodation
Meals
Camping equipment
Staff and support
