Hike the Hidden Huchuy Qosqo Trail and Escape the Heavy Crowds
Ditch the massive tourist groups and step right into one of the best kept secrets in the Sacred Valley. The huchuy qosqo trek 2 days takes you entirely off the beaten path where you will find total peace and quiet high up in the Vilcabamba mountain range. Sitting at a staggering 3650 meters above sea level this incredible royal estate looks straight down over the beautiful town of Lamay. Known affectionately as the huchuy qosqo small little cusco trek this is your chance to walk ancient trails that most visitors to Peru never even get to see.
Standout Moments of Your Mountain Trip
- The Royal Inca Palace Walk freely through the massive stone walls of a private mountain estate built exclusively for an ancient emperor
- Original Inca Trails Hike along the exact same stone pathways used by the Incas hundreds of years ago crossing beautiful deep canyons
- Highland Lakes and Passes Challenge yourself by climbing up to the Apacheta Pass and soaking in the gorgeous views of Qoricocha Lake
- The Sacred Valley Overlook Stand on the absolute edge of the mountains and look straight down into the lush green farming town of Lamay
- Expert Local Guidance Learn the wild history of the ruins from our passionate local founders who know every single detail of the area
The Wild History of the Royal Palace
You are not just looking at old stones you are walking through a massive historical battleground. This beautiful complex was originally built as a private royal getaway for the famous Inca emperor Viracocha. When a fierce rival tribe called the Chancas attacked the capital Viracocha actually fled and hid right here behind these walls. His brave son Pachacutec stayed behind defeated the invaders and took over the entire empire. Pachacutec later expanded this site building massive farming terraces and huge stone storehouses called Qolqas where the locals kept dried meat and quinoa. The history up here is absolutely wild and walking through this trek de huchuy qosqo feels like traveling back in time.
Connecting Your Hike to the World Wonder
A lot of our hikers use this quiet route as the perfect warmup before heading to the famous Inca citadel. While this two day trip brings you safely back to the city you can easily upgrade to the huchuy qosqo trek to machu picchu option. On that three day trip instead of driving back to town we simply drop down to Ollantaytambo and catch a highly scenic train straight to Aguas Calientes turning your hike into an epic jungle adventure.
Why Hike With Our Local Founders
Because this is a serious high altitude trek going over high mountain passes we highly recommend spending three or four days hanging out in Cusco before you hit the trail. The Andean weather changes fast but hitting the trail during the dry season between March and November gives you the absolute best clear views.
We are not just a giant corporate agency. We are a fully locally owned team of professional guides and founders who actually grew up walking these exact mountains. We have a massive passion for sharing our real history speak fluent English and are fully trained in high altitude first aid. When you check out our reviews on Tripadvisor you will see exactly why travelers completely trust our local team to deliver a super safe and mind blowing mountain experience.
What is Included in Your Trek de Huchuy Qosqo
We handle all the heavy lifting and tricky logistics so you just get to enjoy the hike and the beautiful mountain air.
- Local Expert Guides who speak great English and know exactly how to handle high altitude safety and first aid
- Safe Tourist Transportation covering your pick up from your Cusco hotel the drive to the trailhead and your ride back from Lamay
- Premium Mountain Camping including a high quality four season tent and a thick comfortable foam sleeping pad
- Fresh Chef Prepared Meals covering your lunch and dinner on day one plus breakfast and lunch on day two
- Pack Horses and Handlers who will carry all the heavy camping gear and food supplies from spot to spot
- All Entrance Tickets fully paying for your official access to the archaeological sites and community lands
What is Not Included
We keep our pricing totally transparent so there are no surprises when you book.
- Day One Breakfast which you should grab at your hotel or a local cafe before we pick you up in the morning
- Extreme Cold Sleeping Bags which you need to bring yourself or easily rent a high quality winter bag directly from our office
- Tips and Gratuities which are totally optional but a great way to say thank you to your hardworking guide and chef
Crucial Packing List for the High Altitude Mountains
The weather up in the Andes changes constantly. You will be sweating while hiking up the hills but the wind gets freezing the second you stop walking. Here is exactly what you need to bring.
- Original Passport carried in a waterproof bag since you need it for the official checkpoints
- Warm Winter Layers including a thick fleece jacket thermal underwear and cozy sleepwear to handle the cold night at camp
- Sun Protection like a wide brimmed hat polarized sunglasses and SPF 50 sunscreen to fight the aggressive high altitude solar radiation
- Comfortable Hiking Boots giving you solid grip to safely walk the steep rocky pathways without getting massive blisters
- Extra Soles in Cash allowing you to buy extra water or snacks from the small local houses we pass along the trail
Pricing and Huchuy Qosqo Trek Cost
We offer highly competitive rates while paying our local chefs and guides fairly providing excellent service all around. When checking your huchuy qosqo trek cost you will see we include premium camping gear and top tier food.
Small Group Tour Fun and Social
- 2 to 3 People 370 USD Per person
- 4 or more People 350 USD Per person
- Children and students 320 USD Per person
Our shared group service is perfect for travelers wanting to meet other people while keeping costs manageable. We strictly limit our group sizes so the guide can keep a close eye on everyone making sure nobody gets left behind.
Exclusive Private Tour
- 2 to 3 People 430 USD Per person
- 4 or more People 410 USD Per person
- Children and students 380 USD Per person
We specialize in highly personalized private trips. If you want to explore entirely at your own pace booking a private trip is the way to go. This option gives you a dedicated guide meaning you control the photo stops and the overall hiking speed.
Additional Information for Your Hike
Taking a trip over four thousand meters requires a bit of prep. Here is how to make sure you have a great time up in the high Andes.
Beating the High Altitude
You are going up incredibly high so giving your body time to adjust is the absolute smartest thing you can do.
- Take it Easy Spend at least three full days hanging out in Cusco before you start this trek to let your lungs adapt to the thin air
- Stay Hydrated Drink way more water than you normally do because high altitude dehydrates you incredibly fast
- Listen to Your Guide If you feel dizzy or get a headache tell your guide immediately so they can help you out with natural coca tea
Trail Safety and Why Go With Local Experts
Because these trails are so quiet a lot of adventurous backpackers look for a huchuy qosqo trek map to try and do it themselves. While doing the huchuy qosqo trek alone sounds fun we heavily advise against it. The mountain weather drops below freezing at night the trails are totally unmarked and cell service is nonexistent. Hiking with our local team guarantees you have emergency oxygen hot chef prepared meals and zero stress about getting lost in the wild.
FAQs Huchuy Qosqo Trek 2 Days
It is a two-day hike along lesser-known Inca paths to the archaeological site of Huchuy Qosqo, ending on day two back in Cusco.
Many routes ascend to around 4,100 meters at mountain passes like Sicllaccasa. Some versions cite maximum altitudes near 4,200 m.
The trek is classified as moderate difficulty, appropriate for travelers with trekking experience and good fitness, considering steep sections and altitude.
Yes. It is recommended to spend 3 to 4 days in Cusco before the trek to adjust to the altitude.
Essentials include:
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Original passport
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Layered clothing (thermal base, warm mid-layers)
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Waterproof jacket / poncho
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Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots
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Hat, gloves, buff
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Sunscreen and sunglasses
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Headlamp and extra batteries
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Sleeping bag (if not provided)
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Reusable water bottle and snacks
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Chargers, power bank
It completely depends on your schedule. The huchuy qosqo 1 day trek is a super fast express hike where you drive up high see the ruins and head straight back to Cusco on the same afternoon. Our huchuy qosqo trek 2 day option is the most popular because you get to camp under the stars and actually enjoy the mountain lakes. If you want to extend the trip you can book a huchuy qosqo trek 3 days which takes a longer route and slows the pace down even more.
Yes absolutely. A lot of travelers want to do the huchuy qosqo trek to machu picchu instead of going back to Cusco. If you book the huchuy qosqo peru trek to machu picchu itinerary we finish the hike in the Sacred Valley and immediately jump on a train to Aguas Calientes. You spend the night in a hotel and wake up the next morning to explore the world wonder before heading back to the city.
If you are looking for a great huchuy qosqo trek in peru this is rated as a solid moderate hike. You are not dealing with the brutal five day exhaustion of longer trails but the uphill sections on day one and the high passes will definitely make you breathe hard. As long as you have decent fitness and acclimatize properly in Cusco you will do great.
