Huchuy Qosqo means little Cusco in Quechua. It is an Incan ruin perched on a hilltop overlooking the Sacred Valley of Incas. This was a royal estate of the eighth emperor of the Inca empire, Viracocha.
Home / Huchuy Qosqo Trek to machu picchu (3 days)
Unlike Salkantay Trek or Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Huchuy Qosqo Peru Trek to Machu Picchu is not as popular. Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu offers an off the beaten track experience. This is the shortest trek to Machu Picchu.
Huchuy Qosqo means little Cusco in Quechua. It is an Incan ruin perched on a hilltop overlooking the Sacred Valley of Incas. This was a royal estate of the eighth emperor of the Inca empire, Viracocha.
The Incas did not impose a tax system, instead, they controlled the land and labor. This allowed the Incan emperors to obtain a large amount of wealth and power which was inherited by their descendants.
Later during Viracocha’s rule, he faced a revolt from the Chanca people. He took refuge in Huchuy Qosqo and handed over the throne of the Cusco region to his son, Pachacuti. Pachacuti in turn dethroned his father and took over his throne.
On his death, Viracocha’s mummified corpse was stored in Huchuy Qosqo. When the Spanish troops led by Gonzalo Pizarro looted the site, they burnt the mummy of Viracocha.
Huchuy Qosqo Peru Trek is one of the most beautiful treks. On this three-day trek, you will be able to see the beauty of the Andean landscapes. You will also get an insight into the life and culture of the Andean community.
This is a high-altitude trek. It is highly recommended to spend at least 4 days in Cusco City before the trek to avoid altitude sickness. The highest point of the trek is at 4100 meters above sea level.
Huchuy Qosqo is a part of the Peruvian Andes. It is subject to two seasons, dry season and rainy season. Since most of the trek is through dirt roads, it could get slippery during the monsoon.
We offer this experience both as a private tour or as a small group tour.
At 6:00 AM, we will be picking you up from your hotel in Cusco. Then in our private transport, we will be driving you to Tambomachay. It is 20 minutes away from Cusco City. Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu begins here.
We will begin the experience with a two hours uphill hike to our first pass at 13451 ft/4100 m. From the summit, you will get a panoramic view of the valley rimmed with the Urubamba mountain range. We will have free time to take photos and admire the views.
Once you have had your fill of this view, we will descend to the lunch camp. It normally takes three hours.
After relishing a local Andean meal, we will be hiking through some beautiful terrains to our campsite in Quencco (11811 ft/3600 m).
After breakfast, we will begin hiking up the hill for almost an hour and a half. We will then descend for two hours to our lunch camp. Our lunch camp is closer to the archaeological site of Huchuy Qosqo at 1811 ft/ 3600 metres.
From here, you will get a panoramic view of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and snow capped Andean peaks.
After lunch, we will be giving you a detailed tour of the Huchuy Qosqo Archaeological complex. We will be visiting some of the prominent sites. Our local expert will walk you through the ancient Inca buildings, sacred temples, storehouses, and Inca terraces for their agriculture and the Inca reservoir.
After the tour, we will descend for an hour and a half to the village of Lamay. Here we will be taking our private transport for a short drive to Ollantaytambo. Here you will be boarding the train to Aguas Calientes Machu Picchu.
Our local representative will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. You will have the rest of the day to explore the town of Aguas Calientes.
If you love history then the Machu Picchu Museum is a great place to visit. The museum highlights pre-Inca times with a collection of Inca artifacts. The Orchid Gardens is another location to visit which is about a 30 minute walk from Aguas Calientes.
The site has a rustic feel filled with a variety of beautiful orchids on display. Or enjoy the rest of the day relaxing in the thermal waters of the Hot Springs, in Aguas Calientes.
Early in the morning, we will be boarding the tourist bus for a thirty minutes ride up the hill to visit Machu Picchu.
The tour guide will be meeting you at the entrance of the citadel and will assist you in clearing the security control to enter the citadel. Please note that you will have to show your Entrance ticket and original passport that you have used at the time of booking.
We will then give you a detailed two hours guided tour. During the tour, we will take you to the most important temples and enclosures. After the tour, you will have free time for exploring Machu Picchu on your own.
We will then direct you to the trailhead of Huayna Picchu mountain.
After the full day trip of Machu Picchu, you will be taking a bus back to Aguas Calientes. Here you will board the train to Ollantaytambo train station. Here, our representative will be meeting you and will be driving you back to Cusco. We will arrive at Cusco City at around 7:00 p.m.
Cusco Hotel Transfer
Departure Time
4:30 a.m.
The Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu (3 days) is a 3-day trek that connects the archaeological site of Huchuy Qosqo with the famous Inca city of Machu Picchu. It is a less crowded, more intimate alternative to the Inca Trail, perfect for those seeking a unique experience surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, local culture, and the ancient history of the Andes.
The Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu is a moderately difficult trek recommended for people in good physical condition with some trekking experience. While it is not as challenging as the Inca Trail, the high altitudes and some steep sections can pose a challenge for less experienced trekkers.
During the Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu 3 days, trekkers enjoy a fascinating journey through the Huchuy Qosqo archaeological site, spectacular mountain landscapes, local communities, and the famous view of Machu Picchu. Along the way, you can appreciate the biodiversity of the Andes and the living culture of the Andean communities.
For the Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu (3 days), we recommend bringing comfortable, breathable clothing, sturdy trekking boots, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a light backpack with essentials (water, snacks, camera). Camping equipment and meals are provided by the tour operators.
The Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu (3 days) covers a distance of approximately 25 to 30 kilometers (15 to 18 miles). The trek is split over three days, with the first day covering 10 to 12 km from the Valley of Lares or Ollantaytambo to the archaeological site of Huchuy Qosqo. The second day also covers 10 to 12 km as trekkers make their way toward Ollantaytambo. On the third day, the distance is shorter, with the focus on reaching Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu Pueblo and then ascending to Machu Picchu itself. The trek is moderate in length but can be challenging due to the high altitude and rugged terrain.
Yes, the Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu (3 days) is ideal for groups. Many tour operators offer group packages, which can make the experience more affordable and enriching. Additionally, traveling in a group allows you to share this unique experience with friends or family.
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Posted on Ashley PJanuary 21, 2026Verified John is Amazing. Jonathan is amazing. He took care of everything for us making our trip both adventurous, enjoyable, and most importantly stress free.Posted on kelen Fernanda CJanuary 17, 2026Verified Exceeded all my expectations The experience exceeded my expectations. Quick, effective and personalized care. My script was intelligently assembled so I could enjoy without being exhausted. All the punctual transfers, in excellent cars, wonderful guides. Care, concern, follow-up, always peasant. Deliver further!! Note 1,000. An unforgettable trip and the agency made all the difference.Posted on Jovelti MJanuary 4, 2026Verified Achieve an A dream Machu Picchu is an indescribable experience. My guide was excellent, made it even more valuable. It is better to be in warm waters to start the walk early.Posted on Henny MJanuary 1, 2026Verified The BEST guides for MP by far I can’t begin to say how happy I am with the service that Macchu Picchu provided. We were impacted by the train crash and our itinerary had to change. They took care of all the changes, ticket updates, standing in line for information and then getting us on the first train out the next day. The train was still delayed for 4 hours and the station was as chaos. John ran around all morning keeping on top of everything. A stressful situation, but having John taking care of everything was so lucky. We relaxed and left it in his hands. When our family wit teenagers finally made it, The Macchu Picchu tour was conducted by Charly. He was a wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable and passionate about MP. He had so much pride in what the Inca built and he immersed us in the stories. He didn’t rush us and we really got to experience the wonder of Macchu Picchu. I will recommend them to anyone that asks. 1000/10Posted on GénesisDecember 11, 2025Verified Sacred Valley - Machu Pichu Experience Excellent experience with our magnificent guide Luis Alberto. We appreciate your shared knowledge, the patience you had to keep up with us and your constant concern that we are okay. We highly recommend it. ñPosted on Francisca RDecember 3, 2025Verified Organization and KnowHow of the fabric handle in the most touristic exceptional part The day departed very early, we passed Edson before 5 am to get to Ollantaytambo to the train leaving at 6.40 am, the super comfortable scare, we went to sleep 😄, on the way we went to get our lunch (super good!) and Edson left us on the train. We had to get off at km 104, so we warned and everything was super coordinated. We arrived at the stop and met our guide, Luis. We set out on the journey, it was demanding, the one we took was an alternative one because the "normal" one was closed by the rains and could be dangerous (in December it is rainy season). The view always very beautiful, we learned a lot of the Quechua and Inca culture, the plants used for cooking, medicinal, and those we were seeing along the way. We made a stop in Wiñay Waina, a 100% place, Luis was explaining everything about the Inca and its culture while we were walking, and at that stop we could even stay something like 40 min to explore the place. We kept walking and arrived at about 17.00, we had almost sunset, super nice, we took some world photos from the sun gate of Machu Picchu. The day Sgt we went up just to visit the city and Luis there knew all the schedules and tips to bump into fewer people 😄 he told us about the life of the Inca and the life in cities and drums like we went to. Very nice, and super well organized. Lunch 10 out of 10!Posted on Anette VNovember 25, 2025Verified Fantastic, loving and memorable experience Our trip was fantastic from the start to very last minute and even beyond. I started to organize the trip with John already a long time ago and the whole time communication was excellent. I traveled to Machu Picchu with my blind dad. We had the best tour guide on our 4 day trip, Edwin, who was amazingly patient, loving and caring. My father, who can't see a thing, felt safe the whole time and taken care of. We were crazy to do this trip but I am so glad we picked this company. Everything was so well organized- Our cook Alejandro, was very very good and all the staff with us; thank you Marion, Emiliano, Prudencio, Juan, Willy, Alejandro and Rodolfo. Thank you the whole team!!Posted on Nyvia POctober 25, 2025Verified Wonderful I loved the experience with this Enterprise, Elaine is super attentive, careful and very responsible, the team as a whole works very professionally inall tours, ensuring that everything happens safely! I was very happy and recommend to everyone! ❤️❤️❤️Posted on Marinho AOctober 25, 2025Verified Wonderful Elaine and her team were fantastic!! Attention, affection and a lot of responsibility, everything went very well. Thank you for everything!Posted on Sherpa762685October 8, 2025Verified Visit was great but travel coordination not so much The visit to Machu Picchu itself was great! We had a wonderful guide and because another group canceled we had him all to ourselves! The coordination of travel was not great however, on our return to Cuzco we were not met by our guide to return us to our hotel. After waiting 15 minutes we ended up walking about 1.5 miles to our hotel.
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