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Ancascocha Trek + Short Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 5 Days

5 Days and 4 Nights
Multi-day hike
-18%
From$790$650
-18%
From$790$650
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Reservations for the great year 2024 - 2025 have already started, more than 5000 clients with reservations secured!

Are you thinking about taking a trip to Machu Picchu? What are you waiting for, make your reservation now and secure the best place to see Machu Picchu completely and live an unforgettable experience!.

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Spanish, English
Departure city: Cusco, Peru
Ends in the city: Cusco, Peru
Group Size: 12 PER GROUP
Availability: Daily Departures
Trip Styles: Hiking
Max Altitude: 4650 M. / 15255 FT.
Lodging Type: Camps & Hotel
Difficulty: Vigorous
Overview

Ancascocha Trek 5 Days

The 5-day Ancascocha trek and the Inca Trail was definitely designed for adventure-loving people who want to learn more about Inca history, since in this adventure you can combine the Ancascocha and Inca Trail trek. The Ancascocha trail was chosen as the dream trek one of the top 20 best treks in the world by National Geographic.

Ancascocha Trek 5 days + short Inca trail is a real experience that will take you to know Beautiful landscapes and Lake Ancascocha, this trek is considered as the Alternative Inca Trail, it is even much better than the Original Inca Trail, since on this route you will be away from the crowds of people, and you can enjoy complete tranquility.

On this 5-day itinerary, we have combined the most spectacular highlights of Ancascocha with an incredible 2-day Trek on the famous Inca Trail. Spending our first three days on Ancascocha, far from the beaten path and the typical tourist trails, you will be treated to irresistible vistas of the majestic snow-capped The Andes. We will walk amongst well-preserved ruins, marveling at the ancient tribes’ engineering feats, and we will pass remote communities who still live and work simply as they have for many generations.

Why Take the Ancascocha Trek & Short Inca Trail?

  • Arrive at Machu Picchu on foot via the Gate of the Sun.
  • Exploring the famous and lesser-known Inca sites with your knowledgeable local guide
  • Relaxing each night at a comfortable hotel
  • Following in the footsteps of the Incas on your trek to Machu Picchu
  • The Ancascocha route is one of the least known, less crowded, excursions among Cusco’s tourist circuits.
  • National Geographic declared Ancascocha Trek as one of the 20 dreams walks on its list of the world’s best walks.
Itinerary

DAY 1Cusco – Soqma – Rayan – Chancachuco Valley

Visit places
Cusco
Soqma
Perolniyoc waterfall
Racaycancha
Rayan
Chancachuco Valley Camp

We’ll pick you up early from your accommodation to begin your adventure today. We’ll set off on a one-and-a-half-hour journey to the start point of our hike at 3,000 m / 9,843 ft. Our transport is very comfortable, and we provide you with warm blankets to keep you cozy and for you to catch a bit more sleep if you need it.

You’ll have time to enjoy a tasty breakfast while we meet the rest of our hiking team of cooks and horsemen that’ll be with us the whole way. Next, we’ll start our 3-hour hike to the tranquil and relaxing site of Perolniyoc waterfall. The place is beautiful, and you’ll have some time to cool off in the falling cascade and capture some great photos from the site.

Afterward, we’ll continue on for another hour or so to get to Racaypata Inca archaeological site, which was constructed on a cliff and offers wonderful views over the valley all around. All our guides are experts in Inca history and really love what they do, so you can be sure you’ll be learning quality information. Then, we’ll have a bit of lunch, and you’ll get to try our chef’s delicious cooking for the first time, which will surprise you in the middle of the mountains.

This afternoon, we’ll ascend to the Kuychiccasa Pass (4,500 m / 14,764 ft) and observe some farming fields and alpacas, and maybe even some condors midflight. The snowy mountain peaks will be with us all the way.

You don’t need to race to the top, and we’ll also have some time to enjoy a rest at the top while we look out over the gorgeous Chancacucho Valley and the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Finally, we’ll head down for another hour and forty-five minutes to get to our camp for the evening in the Chancacucho Valley (4,350 m /14,764 ft). When we arrive, you’ll have time to rest and enjoy looking up at the clear Andean night sky to see constellations and shooting stars before you have a well-deserved dinner and night’s sleep.

  • Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation:Camps
  • Difficulty:Moderate
  • Walking Distance:16 km / 9.9 mi
  • Campsite Elevation:4,350 m / 14,272 ft
  • Highest Elevation:4,500 m / 14,764 ft

DAY 2Chancachuco Valley – Ancascocha – Quesqa valley

Visit places
Chancachuco Valley
Ancascocha Lake
Quesqa valley Camp

We’ll wake you up bright and early with a warming cup of hot tea or coffee to help you get out of bed, and then you’ll enjoy a nourishing breakfast to give you energy for the day’s hike.

We’ll set out on a 45-minute rolling path and then a 20-minute uphill climb for you to enjoy the incredible views of the enormous La Veronica glacier (5,682 m / 18,642 ft). We’ll then descend for around 3 hours to the Ancascocha community (3,900 m / 12,795 ft). We’ll cross a lovely little valley here with a crystal stream running through the middle. The landscape is like something from a fairytale.

Then, we’ll continue for another hour trekking uphill to a spot that’ll reward you with amazing views everywhere you look of glaciers, Inca archaeological sites, and the stunningly blue Ancascocha lake. Ensure you have your camera to hand to shoot some fantastic photos.

Afterward, we’ll enjoy another scrumptious lunch made by our chefs before we go on to the highest point of the whole trip, the Huayanay Pass (4,650 m /15,265 ft), over a 2-hour ascent where you’ll also get to know a bit of the original Inca Trail. The views at this height certainly don’t disappoint.

Walking down is much easier, as we take it slowly while surrounded by more astounding views. We’ll get to our camp at Quesqa Valley (3,850 m / 12,631 ft) and have time to relax before it’s served. Finally, you’ll settle into your cozy tents for another great night’s slumber.

  • Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation:Camps
  • Difficulty:Challenging
  • Walking Distance:15 km / 9.32 mi
  • Highest Elevation:4,650 m / 15,256 ft
  • Campsite Elevation:3,850 m / 12,631 ft

DAY 3Quesqa Valley – Kilometer 82 – Ollantaytambo

Visit places
Quesqa valley
Kilometer 82
Ollantaytambo Hotel

You’ll need to be up early again today to be able to enjoy another filling and nutritious breakfast before we begin our descent from the Quesqa Valley for two hours. We’ll be walking to the Paucarcancha Inca site (3,120 m / 10,236 ft), and you’ll notice that your surroundings change with vegetation becoming greener and thicker.

When we get to the archaeological site, you’ll see the original Inca Trail in the distance and the remote Quesqa Valley communities. Your guide will take you around Paucarcancha, and you’ll learn all about the site and its secrets.

Afterward, we’ll make our way onto the Classic Inca Trail for around 5 hours, heading down to KM 82, which is where the trail begins for those who opt to walk it. Along the hike, you’ll see small villages as well as the Llactapata and Canabamba archaeological sites. Once we reach KM 82, we’ll enjoy our lunch and a rest before we continue.

In the afternoon, we’ll take you to Ollantaytambo (2,792 m / 9,160 ft) and get you checked in to your hostel. If you’ve still got some energy, you can explore the quaint town before enjoying dinner in a restaurant. Make sure you head to bed early, as we’ll begin our final adventure along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu tomorrow.

  • Meals:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation:Hotel
  • Difficulty:Challenging
  • Walking Distance:18 km / 11.18 mi
  • Accommodation Elevation:2,792 m / 9,160 ft
  • Highest Elevation:3,850 m / 12,631 ft

DAY 4Ollantaytambo – KM 104 – Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu

Visit places
Ollantaytambo
Train to Km 104
Chachabamba
Wiñay Wayna
Sun Gate
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

You’ll enjoy an early breakfast in the comfort of your hotel before we pick you up around 5:30 am to go to the train station in Ollantaytambo. As you journey along the tracks, you’ll be surrounded by some wonderful scenery and get a different perspective of the mountains you were hiking through the previous days.

After about one and half hours, you’ll reach KM 104, from where you’ll start our amazing hike on the historic Inca Trail. This morning, we’ll start with an uphill hike for about three hours until we reach the Wiñay Wayna archeological site (2,650 m / 8,694 ft), the most important citadel along the original Inca Trail. You’ll enjoy an in-depth history lesson and a tasty box lunch as we gaze up at the towering mountains that shoot up between trees and deep valleys.

In the afternoon, we’ll continue walking toward the Sun Gate (2,720 m / 8,924 ft). From this incredible vantage point, we’ll get our first amazing views over the magnificent Inca City of Machu Picchu. This is the official end of the Inca Trail and the place that the Incas would have gotten their first glimpse of the astounding fortress from when they arrived.

We’ll end our first day by heading down to Aguas Calientes by bus. We’ll check into our hostel and enjoy dinner in a restaurant. You’ll need to sleep early again to get up before sunrise tomorrow.

  • Meals:Breafast, Box Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation:Hotel
  • Difficulty:Easy
  • Walking Distance:9 km / 5.59 mi
  • Accommodation Elevation:2,040 m / 6,693 ft
  • Highest Elevation:2,040 m / 6,691 ft.

DAY 5Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu –Cusco

Visit places
Machu Picchu Pueblo
Machu Picchu
Train to Ollantaytambo
Cusco Hotel

The hotel we use provides a very early buffet or boxed breakfast so that we can be in the queue for the bus as early as the group would like. It is about 25-minute drive along the winding road to Machu Picchu, and on a clear day the sunrise can be spectacular.

As we enter through the gates of this new wonder of the world, you may well be breathless again – but this time from the views of one of the most famous sites in South America, if not the world. Your guide provides a 2-hour walking tour of the site, and then you are free to wander through the ruins yourself, perhaps finding a solitary spot to just sit, look and take in the spirit of the ruins!

If you have elected to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountains (ticket not included) you can begin the hike once your guided tour concludes.

Your guide will arrange the time for you to return to Aguas Calientes by bus in time to make your train connection back to Poroy or Ollantaytambo. From here you will travel by van to Cusco and back to your hotel. Arrival times will vary depending on traffic and connections, but should be around 8 pm.

  • Meals:  Breakfast
  • Difficulty:Moderate
  • Tour in Machu Picchu: 2-3 hours exploring
  • Machu Picchu Site Elevation: 2,430 m / 7,972 ft
  • Huayna Picchu Mountain Elevation: 2,720 m / 8,924 ft
  • Machu Picchu Mountain Elevation: 3,000 m / 9,843 ft
Trip Info
Inclusions
Packing List
Before You Go

High Quality Service & Safety

  • Pre-departure briefing
  • Experienced Guide speaks English and Spanish
  • A professional cook only for our group
  • Medical Kit – First Aid Kit
  • Private Camping Equipment
  • One duffle bag per person
  • Customer Service 24/7
  • Extra oxygen

Permits & Entrance Tickets

  • Entrance Ticket to Machu Picchu Archaeological Site
  • Entrance Ticket to Inca Trail

Transportation

  • Private transportation from Cusco to the start of the trek
  • Horses, and muleteers horses carry your 8-kg / 16-pound personal items.
  • Private transportation from the end of the walk to the Ollantaytambo train station
  • Day 4: Train Ticket from Ollantaytambo To KM 104 Chachabamba
  • Day 5: Round-Trip Bus Ticket Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu
  • Day 5: Train Ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
  • Day 5: Private transport from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco.

Meals

  • Meals: 5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, and 4 Dinners
  • Meals: vegetarian and vegan
  • Water to drink on the trail every day
  • Wake up tea
  • Tea Time or Happy Hour
  • Snacks on the trail daily
  • Products for hygiene

Accommodation

  • Personal Accommodation in Private Campsites
  • Hostel in Ollantaytambo
  • Hotel in Aguas Calientes

Extra inclusions

  • Pillows throughout the tour
  • PRO Air sleeping pad, Therma-Rest brand
  • Sleeping bag
  • Trekking stick

What Is Not Included?

  • Travel Insurance
  • Tips for our staff
  • Additional costs or delays out of control of the management
  • Original Passport
  • Walking boots
  • Waterproof jacket / rain poncho
  • Warm jacket
  • Hat and gloves
  • T-shirts
  • Comfortable trousers
  • Sun hat
  • Sun cream (factor 35 or higher)
  • Insect repellant
  • Toiletries and hand sanitiser
  • Personal medication
  • Camera and film with extra batteries
  • Torch with spare batteries
  • Daypack

Information Before leaving for the Ancascoccha trek

We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as easy as possible. In this section, you will find speedy answers to all those questions you had about Ancascocha trek 5 days in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.
Has another question that we haven’t answered here? Drop us a line, and we will get back to you asap!

Briefing or informative meeting

All information meetings are held in your hotel at 6:00 p.m., one night before the tour begins. If you cannot attend, you must coordinate another time at the Peru Hike offices. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes and there you will be given a small duffel bag, in which you’ll put all the belongings you intend to bring on the trek that won’t be in your day pack.

Duffel bag or canvas case

ou’ll receive a canvas case or duffel bag during your briefing. The porters will take them on the way and will deliver them to you when you get to each camp. They measure 66 cm / 2 ft. Long x 36 cm / 1 ft. Wide.

A maximum of 5 kg is allowed for each duffel bag that includes the weight of your sleeping bag, mat, clothes and other personal items.

Payment of Trek Balance (in Cusco)

The trek has to be paid for in full by at least 7.30 pm two days before departure. For example, if your tour departs on a Wednesday, then you must come to our office before 7.30 pm on Monday.

It would be much appreciated if you pay the trek balance in cash US dollars or local currency. You can withdraw some money from several ATMs along Avenida Sol (either in US dollars or local Peruvian Soles). You can pay by credit card or PAYPAL online, but you will have to pay an 8% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. We do not accept bank checks or payment of the balance by traveler’s checks.

Can I store my luggage at your office?

Of course! During the travel, your main luggage can be stored at our office(you can organize briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.

Any equipment that you are not going to need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags, put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (In the unlikely case of theft many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing all the items). Best put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.

Pick up of guests

Peru Hike can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it’s in the Historic Center of Cusco. The pickup time will be coordinated with your guide in the briefing. The pickup time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic. Cusco is a very old city, therefore, it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. We strongly recommend that you book accommodation with good access.

Return to Cusco

Returning from Machu Picchu requires quite a bit of logistics, but don’t worry. Everything is included in your tour!

  • In Machu Picchu you’ll board a bus that will take you for 25 minutes to the small city of Aguas Calientes. The buses are boarded according to your arrival.
  • In Aguas Calientes you’ll board a train to Ollantaytambo or Cusco. Your guide will give you the train tickets where the boarding time will be shown. Make sure you’re on the platform 30 minutes early. The train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo takes 2 hours.
  • Once you arrive at the station, our representative, identified with the Peru Hike clothing, will be waiting to transfer you to Plaza San Francisco, in Cusco. The trip from Ollantaytambo to Plaza San Francisco takes 2 hours.
  • In San Francisco, depending on your hotel’s location, we will take you to a smaller car from our company (Hyundai H1) to transfer you faster to your hotel in Cusco.

Group tours

Group tours are made up of different types of people. Physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route. It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, it will be the guide who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if said modifications can be made.

Strikes and demonstrations

Strikes and demonstrations are usually frequent in Peru and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your excursion as planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date. Under these circumstances, tours may also be cancelled. In case of changes or cancellations, all situations will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority and our decisions will be made to protect it.

Lost objects

You’re responsible for your objects during the tour. Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our trucks, tents, or restaurants.

7 Reviews
Sort By:RatingDate

anc

Group Traveller

We have just concluded our 4 day Ancascocha Trek with (Peru Hike) and we had a great experience with this local company. Our experience started with our first email and finished with our great guide Rox. He was an amazing tour guide during our 4 day trek and I would highly recommend him and his crew.

27 May, 2021

Clara A

Family Traveller

It was an amazing experience and the organization was perfect. The porters were really incredible and when we arrived at our campsite everything was always prepared including excellent food. We were experiencing the most comfortable days during our four months trips in the middle of nowhere.Covid didn’t make any troubles to come to Peru it was really easy. We had no quarantine and the negative tests were very easy to get, the staff was very careful and we had not even to be worried about Covid 19 for one second!

18 May, 2021

anc

Group Traveller

We have just concluded our 4 day Ancascocha Trek with (Peru Hike) and we had a great experience with this local company. Our experience started with our first email and finished with our great guide Rox. He was an amazing tour guide during our 4 day trek and I would highly recommend him and his crew.

15 April, 2021

John D

Family Traveller

My wife and I did the Ancoscocha Trek with (Peru Hike) in Sept 2018. Action Peru handled all arrangements efficiently and professionally. Our guide Christian was excellent and the support team was fantastic. They took care of all the details, preparing great meals and getting camp setup and broken down efficiently three times per day so we could enjoy the trekking. Can’t say enough good things about the crew who took care of us during this trek. Scenery was stunning and hope to do the same trek again some day.

31 March, 2021

Jenny

Couple Traveller

Ancascocha trek was the best trail I ever walked in my life, the agency is without a doubt very reliable and 100% recommendable, all the Peru Hike company team were experts and very friendly.

3 March, 2020
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