Huchuy Qosqo Trek is easily the shortest hike in Peru and the most suitable for those with limited time, but who would still like to do some hiking before exploring Machu Picchu.
Huchuy Qosqo is an Inca archaeological site located north of the city of Cuzco; its name in Quechua means “Little Cuzco”. It is located at an altitude of 3,600 meters, above the town of Lamay, 3,000 meters above sea level, and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Huchuy Qosqo Trek enters the remote areas of Cuzco and is a recently opened trekking route located north of the city of Cuzco.
The hike adorns several beautiful peaks such as Sawasiray, Pitusiray, La Veronica and Chicon; it is also a pilgrimage route and it is believed that the father of the Inca Pachacutec (Inca wiracocha) built his palace here, a temple that used to be as close as possible to mother nature.
This Huchuy Qosqo trek is one of the favorite short trekking destinations in the Cusco region for its wide range of panoramic views along the trails. It is the lifelong dream of passionate hikers, as the quest offers the opportunity to witness a beautiful mountain range from the end. The ordeal of the fascinating place is composed of ascents and descents through lush lowlands, alpine forests, rivers, picturesque communities, temples and Inca palaces.
The trekking route is loaded with panoramic views of the majestic mountain range that add luster to the splendid beauty of the region. Huchuy Qosqo Trek takes you to explore the treasure of the Andes in a short time, it is perfect for people who do not want to spend a lot of time in the mountains, but still want to feel the charm of the Andes.
On this excursion we will see splendid landscapes and learn about the history of the Incas. We will visit Huchuy Qosqo, a popular Inca construction in the highest part of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It has impressive mountain scenery and fertile places to grow various agricultural products; at the end we will explore Machu Picchu.
Starting from the Inca site of Tambomachay, just outside Cuzco, our trail takes us over high passes, through valleys and small communities and alongside beautiful mountain lakes. With large expanses of grasslands and large open lakes, the area is home to a wide variety of birds, including Andean geese, partridges and lapwings, as well as a variety of birds of prey, all of which are seen regularly throughout the day.
Our target for today is the village of Qenko located near Lake Qoricocha (Agua Dorada). Qenko is a traditional Andean community; located high above Cusco and the Sacred Valley, the people here still maintain the customs and traditions of times past and most villagers earn their income from herding llamas and alpacas. As few tourists pass through here, the people are always intrigued to see who has come to visit their village and welcome them with open arms.
Today has two main focuses, learning about the customs and culture of the Andean people and a visit to the Inca site of Huchuy Qosco. Waking up early, our guide will take us to one of the houses where we will meet a local family. The people are incredibly welcoming and are as eager to hear from you as you are from them; they don’t get many visitors in this area and are always interested in hearing from you. After the visit, you will have the opportunity to deliver the gifts you have brought with you to the local people and also to buy some of the products made in the area.
After the visit we will head to Huchuy Qosco. The route follows an original Inca Trail that takes us through a beautiful and isolated valley that is full of native plants, flowers and birds. It really seems like another world compared to the high grasslands we have left behind. In total, it will take about two and a half hours to reach Huchuy Qosco and, after a break to rest and enjoy the views of the Sacred Valley, we will take a guided tour of the site to learn about the Inca people and their culture. In the afternoon we will descend into the Sacred Valley to the village of Lamay, where we will take a bus to Ollantaytambo and then a train to Aguas Calientes.
Waking up early we will take the first bus back to Machu Picchu to enter the site as soon as it opens. We will have a 2 hour guided tour of the site during which you will learn about the Incas and visit all the most important areas of the citadel. After the tour you will have free time to explore the site on your own and if you have permission to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain. In the afternoon you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo from where you will continue by bus back to Cusco.
This is very difficult to answer definitively, but if you are reasonably fit, the hike is moderate but not challenging. Most treks are designed so that each day you walk a comfortable distance and still have enough energy for the next. It is very important to acclimatize to the altitude.
Yes, you must be in moderate physical condition and exercise regularly to do this hike. In preparation, try to walk five kilometers a day or go to the gym in the months leading up to the trek. It is also important to be well acclimatized to the altitude.
We offer standard meals as well as a vegetarian meal option. Just let us know if you would like vegetarian meals when you book your trip.
Vegetarian meals do not contain red meat, poultry or fish. We assume eggs and dairy are fine. We cannot cater specifically for vegetarians because it is too complicated for our cooks (remember they cook in a tent). Most of our dinners are served buffet style, so you can always leave out what you don’t like. We can also prepare meals for lactose intolerant and gluten free diets.
The Huchuy Qosqo Trail does not require permits like the Inca Trail, but it is important to book in advance, as the trip requires train tickets and entrance to Machu Picchu, which are once limited.
It is very important to be well acclimatized before undertaking a trek. This is why we require everyone to be in Cusco for a minimum of 1 day before regular treks such as the Inca Trail and the Inca Jungle, Huchuy Qosqo. However, if you are doing the Salkantay trek, you will need at least 3 days to acclimatize because this trek occurs at much higher altitudes than Cusco. You can take advantage of this acclimatization time to visit the city of Cuzco, nearby Inca ruins and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
We will arrive at Machu Picchu early in the morning on day 4; we will try to take the first bus from Aguas Calientes town to Machu Picchu (25 minutes); Once at Machu Picchu, your trekking guide will take you on a 2-3 hour informative tour, where you will visit the most important places of Machu Picchu and have enough time to take pictures. After the tour, you will have free time to explore. When you finish everything in Machu Picchu, you will take the bus to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you can have lunch in one of the restaurants.
No, pack mules and/or horses will be provided to carry your personal belongings in duffel bags that we will provide you with one night before the excursion (during the briefing period). The duffel bags will be transported from camp to camp. You will still need to bring a daypack (30 lts) to carry all the essentials you want or need, such as water, snacks, camera, sweater, raincoat.
The duffel bags provide your personal belongings that will be transported by the Horses to the camp during the Huchuy Qosqo Trail.
Yes, the entrance fee to Machu Picchu is included in the tour package. However, if you wish to add additional activities such as climbing Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, it will cost you an additional $25 per person, but please note that the $25 is only valid before booking the entrance fees. If for some reason you wish to add this additional climb once you have booked the entrance tickets, it will cost you $70 per person.
During the trek from Huchuy Qosqo to Machupicchu, we will use tents for the night and a hostel for one night in the town of Aguas Calientes. The tents are for 4 people with capacity for 2 people. Hikers will be served a bowl of hot water (and a hot drink) in their tents during the morning hours.
Of course you can. During the Choquequirao 4 Days and 3 Nights Tour, your main luggage can be stored in our office or at your hotel, both are free of charge.
We recommend bringing between 70 to 100 soles in case you are not good at walking uphill so you can rent a horse on the route.
Our cooks prepare excellent meals of appropriately high energy.
CONTACT
chaskitrek2@gmail.com
Address: Calle del Medio N° 135 Plaza de Armas Cusco – Perú
Phone: +51 984 295 630
Phone: +51 984 556 303
OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. &
3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
RUC:
10416206606
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CHASKI TREK
Chaski Trek is a professional licensed adventure and cultural tour operator and is owned by a Peruvian family. With the assistance of our well-trained team of professional tour guides and office staff we do our best to offer our clients a high quality service.
Our office is located right on the beautiful Plaza de Armas in the historic capital of the ancient Inca Empire, Cusco.
Our office is located right in the beautiful Plaza de Armas of the historic capital of the ancient Inca Empire, Cusco.