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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.
In order to make the most of the daylight hours ahead of us, we will pick you up early (4-5am) from your hotel to make the 2-hour drive to the trailhead at Soqma. Your trekking crew will have got up earlier though, and they will be there ahead of us with the horses, all ready to start.
It is not long (around 2 hours) before we reach our first major photo opportunity at the Perolniyoc waterfall. Cascading hundreds of feet into a pool below us, you will hear the waterfall long before you see it. For those feeling brave, there is an opportunity to take a short walk down to the base of the falls to cool off, or you may just want to enjoy the view from the lookout point. Either way, as with all of the major view points on the trek, we will have plenty of time to enjoy the views and take photos.
The sights keeps coming, and around 30 mins after leaving the waterfall we arrive at the ancient Inca site of the same name. Like something out of a glossy history book, the ruins sit perched on top of a cliff with incredible views of the surrounding valley.
Your guide will share some history of the site, and maybe discuss what you may have read about these engineering geniuses who lived 500 years ago.
Just before lunch, we need to make a steep ascent for around an hour to Rayan at 3,700m
(9,350ft). This will be your first opportunity to sample the incredible meals that our kitchen team are able to create on the mountainside
To reach the Kuychicassa pass (4,500 m /14,763 ft) it is a challenging 3 hours hike up! But as we walk through remote Fincas where generations of farmers have tended their livestock, as we pass wild Llamas roaming on the mountain, and as the climb reveals spectacular views across snow-capped peaks, perhaps your mind will be distracted from your aching muscles! Certainly, as we rest at the summit surrounded by the Chancachuco and Sacred Valleys, your effort will feel well rewarded.
We arrive at our campsite via an easy 45-minute downhill trail. Our team will have arrived ahead of us to prepare the site, and so you can immediately rest in your tent, or change into warmer clothing and lie back to watch the sky gradually fill with the most incredible display of constellations and shooting stars (clouds permitting!)
The evening finishes with a sumptuous group dinner, where we can relax and share stories of the day before retiring for the night to rest weary limbs.
Every day on our trek begins with our team gently waking you with a cup of fresh coffee or tea, and a bowl of hot water to wash with. We then take breakfast together, making sure everyone is suitably fueled for the efforts of the day ahead.
Hiking with views of Mt. Veronica in the distance, we start with an undulating path for around an hour along the banks of a quiet stream, before descending for around 2.5 hours to the remote community of Ancascocha. You may well marvel at the perfectly simple way of life of these communities.
Then, continuing uphill for about an hour, incredible views emerge of the nearby glacier and well-preserved Inca remains. Finally, we reach the beautiful crystal blue Ancascocha Lake where we stop for lunch.
Taking a deep breath, we make our climb to the highest point of the trek at the Huayanay Pass (4,650 m/ 15,250 ft). This is a challenging 2-hour ascent along a steep switchback trail, but we will take our time taking in the views of the lake and valley behind us as we climb to the summit.
Day 2 ends with a 3-4 hours descent. You will notice the change from barren mountaintop to the lush green vegetation of the lower valley. On a clear day we will have distant views of the classic Inca trail to Machu Picchu as well as the communities of the Quesqa valley. We will also pass the small Inca site of Incaracay.
Finally, reaching our campsite nestled in the Quesqa valley (3,850 m/12,628 ft) dinner awaits!
Day 3, and the hiking is almost all downhill!
After breakfast, we take a 2-hour path to the Inca site of Paucarcancha where your guide will provide a comprehensive commentary about the site. We then join a section of the Classic Inca Trail for around 5 hours until we reach Km 82 (the official start of the Classic Trail). Along the way we will be able to see the Inca site of Llactapata, and this is likely to be the first time that you will have seen other hikers on the trail (although they will all be going the other way!)
At Km82 we will have lunch, and say goodbye to our trekking team. Your guide will then take you by private local van to Ollantaytambo.
After checking into the comfortable hotel that we have booked, there should be time to walk around this charming town, sampling some local cuisine, or perhaps buying some locally made souvenirs from the Artesian street sellers.
We will dine together in the evening at one of the local restaurants in town (drinks not included) before retiring for a good night’s sleep, since Day 4 starts early!
After an early breakfast at your hotel, we will collect you around 6 AM to transfer you to the nearby train station. The train journey is stunning and provides yet another unique perspective of the surrounding mountains and countryside. We carve along the valley floor in the early daylight for almost 2 hours until reaching Kilometer 104, and the start of the Short Inca Trail.
Our hike starts with a 3-hour trek up to the Inca site of Wiñay Wayna (‘Forever Young’) located at 2,605m (8,546ft). After catching our breath and enjoying the views, we then join the path to Machu Picchu. Arriving at the famous Sun Gate of ‘Inti Punku’ (2,700 m / 8,858 ft) we get our first breathtaking panoramic views of this spectacular site.
Taking plenty of time to take in the view, and take some incredible photos, we walk down the last portion of the trail to reach the ancient city itself.
Saving our tour of Machu Picchu for fresh legs and fresh eyes, we take the 25-minute bus journey to Aguas Calientes. After checking into the hotel that we have booked for you, you may want to wander around the town, or even visit the hot baths after which the town is named. We then regroup for dinner at one of the great local restaurants in town (drinks not included) before retiring for a well-deserved rest, and to prepare for our early start and Machu Picchu tour.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Returning from Machu Picchu requires quite a bit of logistics, but don’t worry. Everything is included in your tour!
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 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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
