Huchuy Qosqo trek to Machu Picchu is one of Peru's most beautiful and rewarding treks. This 3-day/2-night trek will take you through some of the country's most stunning scenery, sweeping mountain vistas, beautiful lakes, and lush green valleys. You will also experience a wide variety of Inca ruins, including the little-visited site of Huchuy Qosqo, which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding area and the Sacred Valley. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Machu Picchu in a completely different light, so don’t miss out!
Enjoy the beautiful scenery near Cusco, visit native Andean villages, and experience spectacular views of the Sacred Valley. Huchuy Qosqo trek is the only tour from Cusco that takes you on a hike to the Sacred Valley.
Trip Details
Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu 3 Days - Overview
Huchuy Qosqo Trek takes you to one of the most important archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley. Explore Huchuy Qosqo’s impressive Inca terraces, patios, esplanades, squares, pedestrian paths, three-story buildings, and advanced hydraulic system, and finish the tour at Machu Picchu Inca Site.
Tour Highlights:
- Hike from Cusco to the Sacred Valley using an ancient Inca Trail.
- Explore local villages, lakes, llamas, and the alpaca land.
- Visit the Huchuy Qosqo Inca Site and its natural wonders.
- Return on the panoramic trains (Vistadome or 360°)
- Book with Confidence and Flexibility
Huchuy Qosqo Trek at a Glance
Day 1: Cusco – Tambomachay – Kenko Village
TreXperience team will pick you up from your hotel at around 7:00 am and drive for 20 min to Tambomachay, just outside Cusco. Here, you will start with a 4-hour uphill trek to our lunch spot at Koricocha Lake, 3700m (12139ft). Then, hike another 3 hours to Kenko Village (3800m/12,467ft). We camp in comfortable tents under the stars.
Day 2: Pukamarca – Huchuy Qosqo – Aguas Calientes
After breakfast, hike for 3 hours to Huchuy Qosco Inca Site 3600m (11811ft). Explore this beautiful archeological place built by the Inca Empire more than 500 years ago. After Exploring Huchuy Qosqo, you will descend for 1 hour into the Sacred Valley, where lunch will be served. Afternoon train to Aguas Calientes and spend the night in a hotel.
Day 3: Discover Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco
Explore the great Inca city of Machu Picchu with an expert tour guide, and learn the history of this spectacular Inca citadel with your tour guide. Take the Vistadome panoramic train to return, arriving at the door of your hotel around 7.30 pm.
Included
- Pre-departure safety briefing
- Professional Tour Guides
- Second Tour Guide for groups of 9+
- Pick up from your hotel on the day of the tour
- All transportation is Included during the 3 days
- Trekking Chefs, Porters, and horsemen
- Horses to carry food, equipment
- Duffle bags where you can put up to 7 kilos
- 1-night camping
- 1 night 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes
- 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
- Drinkable boiled water during the 1st and 2nd day
- Snacks, tea times, and hot water were provided during the hike
- Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available
- 4-men Eureka tents for each two travelers
- Sleeping bags, mattresses
- Sleeping foam mattress, pillows, hot water bags, warm blankets
- Comfortable Camping equipment (tents, tables, chairs, portable toilets)
- First aid kit, oxygen tank, satellite phones
- Entrance ticket to Huchuy Qosco and Machu Picchu
- Bus ticket to Machu Picchu (Round trip)
- Panoramic Vistadome trains to return
Not included
- Breakfast on the first day
- Lunch on the last day after the Machu Picchu tour
- Entrance ticket to Huayna Picchu Mountain
- Entrance Ticket to Machu Picchu Mountain (Different from Machu Picchu Citadel)
- Gratuities (optional)
Optional hikes after the Machu Machu Picchu tour
- Huayna Picchu Mountain – Additional US$ 68 per person. To book this mountain, you need to book far in advance; climbing takes 2 hours round trip.
- Montaña Machu Picchu – Additional US$ 68 per person. It is the highest mountain around Machu Picchu, and the hike round trip is 3 hours. You need to book in advance.
Huchuy Qosqo Trek To Machu Picchu Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Tambomachay – Kenko Village
TreXperience team will pick you up from your hotel around 7:00 am and drive you the short distance to Tambomachay, just 20 minutes outside Cusco city. Here you will start trekking to Machu Picchu! The first part starts with a 4-hour uphill trek to our lunch spot at Koricocha Lake 3700m (12139ft). You will pass beautiful lakes and local communities and see numerous llamas, alpacas, and birds along the way. Lunch will be served at the banks of the lake. Then you will continue for another 3 hours, gradually uphill and downhill, until we reach Kenko Village, beautifully nestled in the Peruvian Andes at (3800 m/12,467 ft). Here you will spend the night. Kenko is a small village with few inhabitants who survive and live mostly from agriculture, producing potatoes and beans and raising llamas, alpacas, and sheep. You will have warm water to wash, tea time, dinner, and sleep in comfortable tents.
- Campsite Altitude: 3800 m / 12,467ft
- Distance: 13 km / 8.1 miles
- Duration: 7 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner
- Accommodation: Camping
- Difficulty: Moderate
DAY 2: Kenko Village – Huchuy Qosqo – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
Today is a relatively comfortable and relaxing day. After breakfast, we can interact with local children or visit their houses. The hike starts with a 3 hours hike to Huchuy Qosco Inca Site 3600m (11811ft). A spectacular Inca Site anchored on top of the Sacred Valley, the Inca Empire built this beautiful archeological complex more than 500 years ago. The ancient citadel boasts farming terraces, temples, storehouses, water channels, big plazas, and spectacular views controlling the Sacred Valley, Urubamba River, and the Peruvian Andes.
You will have plenty of time to explore and enjoy this beautiful Inca site’s beauty and energy. After exploring Huchuy Qosqo, hike for another hour downhill to Lamay, where your trekking chef will be waiting for a delicious picnic lunch. After lunch, our private bus will take you to Ollantaytambo, “Last Living Incan City,” also known as the “World Capital of the Native Americans.” Explore this Inca city's ancient streets that have been continuously inhabited since the 14th century. After dinner in a local restaurant in Ollantaytambo, you will take the 7:00 pm train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) to spend the night in a hotel.
- Aguas Calientes Altitude: 2000 m / 6560 ft
- Hiking Distance: 8 km / 5 miles
- Duration: 6 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner
- Accommodation: Hotel
- Difficulty: Easy
DAY 3: Machu Picchu – Cusco
On our final day, we have to get up very early to prepare for the highlight of your TreXperience, visiting Machu Picchu – the Lost City of the Incas. After breakfast in the hotel, take the 30-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu and explore the fabulous Inca city with our expert guides. The tour starts the best in Machu Picchu, with ancient stone buildings, temples, palaces, and streets, and take time to relax on your own. After the guided tour, which usually takes around 3 to 4 hours, you can take an extra hike to Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain (tickets must be booked as far in advance as possible, and you can only choose one of them). Once you finish with the Inca citadel, you will take the bus from Machu Picchu back to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). In the afternoon, take the Vistadome Panoramic Train back to Ollantaytambo. Our team will wait for you and transfer you back to Cusco. The drop-off will be back at your hotel around 7:30 pm.
- Guide tour duration: 3 – 4 hours
- Meals: Breakfast (hotel)
- Difficulty: Easy
Price for the Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu
Price per person:
Price is based on room occupancy
- Twin shared room: US$ 540
- Triple room: US$ 460
- Private room: US$ 570
To book the Huchuy Qosoq Trek to Machu Picchu, you need to make an initial payment of US$ 200 per person; the remaining balance can be paid online or at our office in Cusco with any card and without booking fees.
Student Discount:
- 40$ off per person
All travelers under 17 have a $40 discount. If you are 25 years old or under when traveling, you can get the discount with your Student ID. Please send us an email to receive a code for the discount.
Valid Student ID for Machu Picchu
To get the student discount, travelers should have a Valid ID with the following:
- 25 years or less at the time of entering Machu Picchu. Older than 25 can not enter as a student
- The ID must have the Name of the university, name, and photo of the student
- The ID must have a valid expiration date
Invalid Student IDs
Student IDs are not eligible for a discount when:
- Traveler is older than 25
- Expired ID
- Student Id without expiration date
- ISIC cards are not valid.
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Packing List for the Huchuy Qosqo Trek
The Huchuy Qosqo Trek is a beautiful and challenging trek in the Cusco region of Peru, and it is important to be prepared with the right gear. Here is a recommended packing list:
Clothing:
- Waterproof jacket
- Fleece jacket or warm sweater
- T-shirts
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Hiking pants
- Thermal underwear
- Hiking socks
- Sun hat
- Warm hat or beanie
- Gloves
Footwear:
- Hiking boots or shoes
- Sandals or comfortable shoes for camp
Equipment:
- Backpack (35-40 liters)
- Sleeping bag (rated for at least 0°C/32°F)
- Sleeping pad or inflatable mattress
- Headlamp or flashlight (with extra batteries)
- Trekking poles
- Water bottles or hydration system
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Personal toiletries
- Basic first aid kit (including any necessary medication)
Optional:
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Book or journal
- Snacks or energy bars
Note: Please be aware that the weather in the Andes can change quickly, so it is important to bring appropriate layers and gear to stay comfortable and safe.
Huchuy Qosqo Trek - Frequently Asked Questions
What is Huchuy Qosqo?
Huchuy Qosqo is an Inca site located in the Cusco Region of Peru. The site consists of a series of terraces, buildings, and plazas and is thought to have been used as a royal estate or country retreat. The name Huchuy Qosqo means "Little Cusco" in Quechua, the language of the Inca. Huchuy Qosqo was built in the 15th century during the reign of the Inca emperor Pachacuti. It is believed that Pachacuti ordered the construction of the site as a summer retreat for himself and his family.
The Huchuy Qosqo was likely abandoned after the fall of the Inca Empire in the 16th century. Today, it is a popular tourist destination. Visitors can explore the site's ruins, including several buildings and plazas. There is also a museum on-site that contains artifacts from the Huchuy Qosqo and other Inca sites.
Why is the Huchuy Qosqo Trek the best way to see Machu Picchu?
The Huchuy Qosqo Trek is the best way to see Machu Picchu because it takes you through some of Peru's most amazing scenery. The trek starts in Cusco, where you will spend a few days acclimatizing to the altitude before embarking on the 3-day journey to Machu Picchu. The first two days are spent trekking through the stunning mountains of Cusco and the Sacred Valley. On the third day, you will reach the ancient Inca site of Machu Picchu.
What will you see on the Huchuy Qosqo Trek?
On the Huchuy Qosqo Trek, you will see llamas, alpacas, Andean lakes, local villages, canyons, ancient Inca Sites, and finally, arrive at Machu Picchu.
How to get to the Huchuy Qosqo Trek starting point?
To begin the Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu, you must make your way to Tambomachay, located just 15 minutes outside Cusco City.
How difficult is the Huchuy Qosqo Trek?
The Huchuy Qosqo Trek is challenging due to the altitude, but it is doable for people with moderate fitness levels. The first day is the most difficult, with a steep ascent to the highest mountains of Cusco. After that, the remainder of the trek is relatively easy. However, there are still some challenges along the way. The scenery is breathtaking, though, and well worth the effort required to complete the trek.
What is the best time of year to do the Huchuy Qosqo Trek?
The best time of year to do the Huchuy Qosqo Trek is from April to October. The weather is dry and warm during these months, making for ideal trekking conditions. Plus, you'll have the chance to see some of the area's most beautiful flora and fauna in bloom.
What are the highlights of the Huchuy Qosqo Trek?
The Huchuy Qosqo Trek is a must-do for any traveler to Peru. This popular trek takes you through some of the most stunning scenery in the country, from the Andes Mountains to Machu Picchu. Highlights of the tour include:
- The Andes Mountains: The Huchuy Qosqo Trek takes you through the majestic Andes Mountains, offering incredible views of snow-capped peaks and glacial valleys.
- Andean Lakes: You will visit 2 important lakes for locals, and you can see many species of birds.
- Local Villages: You will interact with locals, learn about their lifestyles, and camp next to them.
- Machu Picchu: The highlight of the trek is undoubtedly a visit to the world-famous Inca site of Machu Picchu. Situated high in the mountains, this ancient city is truly breathtaking.
- Inca Sites: Huchuy Qosqo Trek is located on the top of the Sacred Valley. To reach this place, you must pass through beautiful valleys and canyons.
- Sacred Valley: After the trek, you will travel along the Sacred Valley until Ollantaytambo, enjoying the fantastic views of the most important town in the area.
How long does it take to complete the Huchuy Qosqo Trek?
The Huchuy Qosqo trek, including Machu Picchu, takes approximately 3 days to complete.
The total distance covered is around 25 km in the first two days of hiking.
Are there any age or fitness requirements for the trek?
No, there are no age or fitness requirements for the trek. This trek is doable for people of all ages and fitness levels. The total distance of the tour is 25 kilometers (16 miles) and can be completed in 2 days. On the 3rd day, you visit Machu Picchu.