Overview
If you can not hike for four days and want to taste a trek to Machu Picchu, we really recommend the Huchuy Qosqo trek, scenic trek with the superb views of local mountain villages, lazy llamas and alpacas, golden grasslands, snowcapped mountains and the rolling hills and valleys. You will walk along the footpaths of the ancient Incas towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas and arrive at the Huchuy Qosqo Complex.
The place was built as the Palace of the eight Inca king Wiraqocha. It was also used as fortress when Chancas, the rivals of the Incas, threatened Cusco in 1438, so the Incas abandoned Cusco and took refuge in the palace of Huchuy Qosqo.
Itinerary
Day 1: Up to Qoriqocha or the Golden lake
After breakfast in your hotel, you will be picked up from your hotel and transported to Tambomachay (3,700 m / 12,139 ft), which is only twenty minutes drive from Cusco. Here we will meet the horses that will accompany us during the trek, and also here is where your Huchuy Qosqo Trek begins. We will gradually ascend through grassy highlands for 2 hours of uphill trekking, then you will reach the first pass of the day at 4,100 m / 13,451 ft and have the fantastically uninterrupted bird’s-eye view of Cusco below. You should reach the lake Qoricocha (Golden lake) by 1pm, where you will stop for a delicious lunch and of course the siesta.
After lunch, you will ascend for 30 minutes to the next pass at 4,200 m / 13,779 ft. From here we begin our descent through scenic valley down to a beautiful canyon where the picturesque village of Pukamarca nestles among llamas and Inca ruins. You will also have the experience to trek part of the Inca trail that once connected Cusco to Sacred Valley and the day ends at Huchuy Qosqo where you will have the privilege to camp at one of the Inca ruins at Huchuy Qosqo with a view of the Sacred Valley below.
Keep your cameras ready and be sure to bring along spare batteries, as today you may be lucky enough to see Andean CONDOR, falcons and giant hummingbirds.
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Distance covered: | 13km (8 miles) |
| Time: | 7 to 8 hours |
| Lowest elevation: | 3,550m (11,646 feet) |
| Highest elevation: | 4,200m (13,77 feet) |
| Level of difficulty: | Moderate |
Day 2: Huchuy Qosqo to Chinchero
After getting a cup of coca tea in tent as a wakeup call and early breakfast, we will have a guided tour at Huchuy Qosqo for about forty five minutes and then you will start ascending to the second pass for about three to four hours. After reaching the mountain pass, you will hike downhill for about two to three hours to our last lunch stop near lake Huacarpay. Your hike ends around 1pm. After lunch a car from PERU by LOCALS Travel will pick you up to transport you towards Ollantaytambo to catch your train to the town of Aguas Calientes where we will spend the night in a hotel.
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Distance covered: | 12km (7,4 miles) |
| Time: | 5 to 7 hours |
| Lowest elevation: | 3,550m (11,646 feet) |
| Highest elevation: | 4,200m (13,77 feet) |
| Level of difficulty: | Moderate to demanding |
Day 3: Machu Picchu Tour
The morning begins with an early 30-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu. Getting up so early will be worth it because you will be able to get to Machu Picchu for the sun rise. Here in Machu Picchu you will have three hour guided tour. After the tour you will be free to explore the ancient city and take pictures at your leisure or climb Huayna Picchu mountain if you have reserved your ticket. When you are ready to leave Machu Picchu, you can take the bus back to the town of Aguas Calientes to collect your luggage from your hotel and return to Cusco by train in the afternoon. PERU by LOCALS Travel representative will meet you at the Cusco train station and transport you to your hotel.
Services
SERVICES INCLUDED
- Transport to and from your hotel
- Organic meals on Huchuy Qosqo trek to Machu Picchu
- Entrance tickets to Huchuy Qosqo Inca Archeological Complex
- Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu (excluding Huayna Picchu)
- Horses to carry all the equipment (food, tents, chairs, table, etc.)
- Emergency horse in case we need it
- Chef
- Boiled drinking water on day 2
- Trekking guide (knowledgeable in history, tradition and wildlife)
- First Aid Kit, which will be carried by your guide
- Equipment (sleeping tent, dining tent, kitchen tent, table, chairs, air mattresses)
- Duffle bag if needed
- Round-trip bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
- Train tickets from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and from Aguas Calientes to Cusco (expedition)
- One night hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes (Terrazas del Inca hotel)
SERVICES EXCLUDED
- Sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
- Lunch on the last day at Aguas Calientes
- Tips for muleteers and guides
- Huayna Picchu tickets
Packing list
- Original passport– – Please remember to bring your original passport, which should be the current one; if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both (the one you used for booking your trip and the new one). The information you provided us in time of your booking the information have to match your tickets in time entering Machu Picchu
- Hiking shoes – these should be comfortable/broken in.
- Warm jacket or fleece – early mornings and evenings can be cold, so it is good to have layers of clothing
- Waterproof Jacket or wáter proof poncho, especially if you are travel between Octuber to March
- T-shirts / Lightweight shirts – suggested one for the hike and one for the Machu Picchu day.
- Socks– suggest one per day
- Sun hat / Baseball cap– we often get long, hot, sunny days hiking
- Lightweight long pants– we recommend hiking pants that you can zip off at the legs and that dry quickly when wet
- Sunscreen– SPF 35+ recommended
- Sunglasses
- Camera or phone may be enough
- Bug repellent– there are mosquitos all year round so make sure you pack your bug spray.
- Extra cash – for your lunch on the second day, gratitudes.
- Day bag – recommended 30lt where you put extra clothes, wáter and other ítems during the hike. NOTE: If you have a big suitcase you can live it in the Cusco hotel (all hotels have storage for free)
- Bug repellent – There are mosquitos all year round so make sure you pack your bug repellent
- Water bottle – Machu Picchu national park does not allow to bring plastic bottles, please make sure you have a Nalgene bottle or camel bag, before we leave the hotel in Cusco make sure you have filled up your water bottle for the hike.
- Toiletries
- Prescription medicines, please inform your trip leader of any medications you are taking
- Food restrictions – If you have any allergies or preferences, make sure you add in the booking form.
- Book to read – you will have some spare time at every camp to read your favorite book or those that are about Machu Picchu that may make your journey more interesting (the following books are recommended by us: Last Days of the Incasby Kim MacQuarrie, Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time by Mark Adams
Important information
OFTEN ASKED QUESTIONS
How long before should I book this tour?
This tour does not require to book permits with long in advance but Peru by Locals still needs at least booking a week in advance to put everything together.
What is the weather like during the year?
The Cusco area has only 2 well-defined seasons: the wet season and dry season. The wet season starts in November and ends in March. During this period, it rains almost every day for three or four hours, but also there are several sunny days. The dry season begins around March and lasts until October. June and July are the coldest months. Paradoxically at noon the temperatures can reach 23 °C (77°F), the annual highest temperature.
Should I tip to the guide and driver? If I do, how much I should I tip?
Our guides are paid fairly according to Peruvian labor laws – that is why, we don’t force our clients to tip the crew. However, most of our clients want to give them an appreciation for the work they do and the service they receive so, if you feel like giving them an appreciation or tip them, feel free to do it at the end of their work. If that’s the case we recommend to tip with 15% of the total cost.
Is there any age limit?
In this tour there is not minimum age or limit,- any person can join this tour including a person in a wheelchair.
Peruvian Currency
The Peruvian sole is the currency of Peru, and usually fluctuates in the 3.3 to 3.8 Nuevo sol to 1 US Dollar.
Language
Spanish is the national language of Peru, also a 20% of Peruvians speak Quechua (Inca language) Our guides are fluent in Spanish and English.
Why Peru by Locals
- Peru by Locals offers tailor-made treks and tours and we cater to your interests when we plan your tour
- We are committed to providing world-class tours based on exceptional customer service.
- We are a locally owned and highly experienced travel company based in Cusco, Peru.
- Our staff consists of members which have decades of first-hand experience in the Peruvian tourism sector.
- All the management and staff in Peru by Locals speak English, Spanish, and Quechua (the language of the Incas).
- Our guides and staff members are professionally trained and educated in the history of the Incas, Peruvian history, culture and traditions, first aid in the wilderness, guiding treks and tours, the fauna and flora of the region, and tourism management.
- We are committed to protect our environment.
- We are committed to creating Jobs and empowering local people. We believe in fair labor practices and honor and treat all our employees with dignity.
- We have programs to help with the development of the porters’ families and communities, such as planting trees and buying school books and school equipment for poor local communities.
- We honor native communities that have stewarded the land you visit
- We have also started an Education Fund to support the education of the children of porters. A percentage of income from every tour and trek goes to education of needed once.
- Our trips are designed carefully to your needs and we create diverse unique itineraries from 1 to 15 days in length, a we offer wide range of tours and treks and all the tours. We guarantee you the experience of a lifetime!
- Peru By Locals organizes free worry trips for you to enjoy fully.
Peru small group specialists
Our tours are designed for those who love adventure, want to explore new places, experience the local culture, love food, like history or photography for all ages whether you are traveling alone, with friends, in couples, family. At Peru by Locals there is not
Small groups are the best and the average tour or trek group is around 4 to 8 people. Why is this great? Well, have you ever waited in line while 40 other people get a coffee in the morning? Believe it or not, it is not fun. Taking small groups allows us the flexibility to take you on an adventure to places that nobody else goes.
Prices
| Terrazas del Inca 2* | Casa andina 3* | Sumaq hotel 4 * | Pueblo hotel 5 * |
| $490 | $590 | $1240 | $2140 |
Note:
Students: discount of $20, but you have to supply us with a copy of your ISIC card when booking the Huchuy Qosqo trek with us.
Children up to 15 years of age will be considered as students, under the condition that you supply us with a copy of the passport at the booking time.
BOOK NOW
In order for us to reserve your spot on this Huchuy Qosqo Trek, you are required to send us the following information: full names, passport number, age, gender, nationality and make the relevant deposit of US$200 per person using PAY PAL as indicated below:
When you have sent us the information of each person, made your deposit using PAYPAL and once we have both, we will confirm your tour. Thank you so much for choosing PERU by LOCALS.
If you have any questions, send us an e-mail to: info@perubylocals.com
