Fantastic holiday, a real adventure. We saw sights I had only dreamed about. Every day there was something new to wonder at, from…
Anonymous | Traveled in MayMost people who come to Machu Picchu take a train, take a bus, and stand in a queue. Some walk the Inca Trail or the Salkantay. Almost nobody walks Huchuy Qosqo.
That’s not because the route is inferior — it’s because it isn’t marketed the way the other routes are. The Huchuy Qosqo Trek crosses a 4,050-meter Andean pass with views across the entire Vilcabamba mountain range, descends through a canyon with intact Inca bridge remains and archaeological sites, and arrives at Huchuy Qosqo — one of the best-preserved and least-visited Inca complexes in the Sacred Valley, sitting on a plateau with agricultural terraces that have been farmed continuously since before the Spanish arrived.
The route is two days. The hike is on day one: 16 kilometers, seven hours, from the highland village of Tauca to the ruins and down to the valley floor. A hotel night in Aguas Calientes, then Machu Picchu on day two with a full guided tour.
Machu Picchu Peru Lovers runs this route with a maximum of 8 hikers, usually 2 to 6. No camping, no horsemen — just a professional guide, a picnic lunch on the trail, and a hotel in Aguas Calientes at the end of a good day’s walking.
Machu Picchu entrance tickets are government-controlled and limited. Book ahead for high-season dates.
Difficulty: Moderate | Max Altitude: 4,050 m (13,287 ft) | Distance: 16 km / 10 mi | Group Size: Up to 8 people | Transport: Private van · Train · Bus
Day highlight: The Huchuy Qosqo ruins on their highland plateau — one of the most underrated and least crowded Inca sites in the Sacred Valley
The private van picks up from your Cusco hotel at 6:00 AM, heading toward the highland village of Tauca (3,750 m) above the Sacred Valley. The drive takes approximately one hour.
At the trailhead, the landscape is immediately different from the tourist circuit of the Sacred Valley below. This is working highland Andean farmland: terraced fields of corn, quinoa, and potatoes, stone walls bordering family plots, agricultural rhythms that have not changed significantly in centuries.
The morning ascent climbs gradually toward the pass. The terrain shifts as altitude increases — the dense farmland gives way to transitional scrub, then opens into the wide, exposed high Andean puna (4,050 m). The vegetation drops to ichu grass and low cushion plants. The air is colder and thinner. At the pass, the panorama of the Vilcabamba mountain range opens completely: Veronica (5,860 m), Pitusiray, Chicon, and San Juan — snow-capped peaks arranged across the horizon above the valley they watch over.
The descent follows the Cauca Ravine, where the vegetation shifts again as altitude drops. Wild plants grow along the trail walls that the Inca harvested and that local families still use: tarwi (a high-protein legume found across Andean highlands), several species of cactus with edible fruit, and other plants your guide identifies by name and use. This section of the trail is the natural history lesson embedded in the day — it doesn’t ask for extra time, it’s just what the path looks like.
The León Punku Ravine channels a small river through geological formations of layered rock and boulders. Inca bridge remains are visible at the canyon crossing — infrastructure from the road network that once connected this route to the broader imperial system. The canyon is narrow, dramatic, and quiet.
Huchuy Qosqo (3,650 m / 11,975 ft) — the plateau opens above the valley. The complex is substantial: a large Kallanka (a rectangular communal hall), residential and defensive structures, multi-story buildings constructed in a combination of stone and adobe, and agricultural terraces on the slopes below. The site sits above the Sacred Valley with views of the Urubamba River and the mountain range beyond. Your guide covers the history and architectural function of the structures — this is not a ruin in the sense of rubble, it is a legible set of buildings whose purpose is still interpretable.
After the visit, the descent to Lamay (2,900 m) takes approximately one hour through farmland and lower valley terrain. The temperature rises noticeably. At Lamay, the private van is waiting.
The drive to Ollantaytambo takes approximately one hour through the Sacred Valley. Dinner together at a restaurant in Ollantaytambo — the best-preserved living Inca town in existence, worth 20 minutes of walking before or after dinner if time allows.
The train to Aguas Calientes follows the Urubamba River through the deepening canyon. Check in to the hotel. The day has been long.
Meals: Picnic lunch on the trail · Dinner in Ollantaytambo | Accommodation: Hotel in Aguas Calientes — Intipunku Machu Picchu or Wiracocha Inn (private room, private bathroom, hot shower)
Day highlight: Machu Picchu at first light, guided through all three sectors — after a day walking the highland road network that once served it
Breakfast at the hotel, then one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu. The 25-minute switchback ride delivers you to the citadel entrance in the early morning before the midday crowds.
The two-hour guided tour covers the three sectors: agricultural, residential, and religious. Temple of the Sun, Intihuatana stone, Room of the Three Windows, the residential compound layout, the terrace engineering. Your guide — who explained the Inca road network and the highland agricultural systems on day one — connects what you’re seeing in the citadel to the broader landscape you walked through yesterday. Huchuy Qosqo, the pass, the Cauca Ravine agricultural terraces — these were not isolated features. They were part of the same system you’re standing at the center of now.
After the tour, free time for personal exploration and photographs. Those who booked Huayna Picchu Mountain in advance check their entry window — the hike is done independently. It involves rope-assisted sections and narrow stone steps, takes approximately 45–60 minutes up, and is not recommended for those with a fear of heights.
Walking poles and large backpacks are not permitted inside Machu Picchu. Stored at the entrance control point.
Bus back to Aguas Calientes in the afternoon. Free time for lunch (own expense), the hot springs, the museum, or the market.
The Expedition Train departs at 2:55 PM or 3:20 PM (subject to availability), back to Ollantaytambo through the canyon. Private van from the station exit to your Cusco hotel.
Arriving approximately 7:00 PM.
Meals: Breakfast at hotel | Accommodation: Return to Cusco hotel
Trip went very smoothly and was very well organized. Easy to highlight is Machu Picchu, but our visit of Amantani island on Lake Titicaca was a real interesting and unique experience. Read more.
This was an excellent well-organized tour at a great value with plenty of variety and lots of free time to explore. Read more.
This was our first trip with Bookmundi and we are extremely happy. From start to finish the experience was excellent. Read more.
We saw all the highlights, the guides were excellent and the trip flowed nicely. The pacing was just right. Read more.
Weeks before the trek:
A few days before:
During the trek:
On payments:
| Per person | $457 USD |
Minimum 2 participants. Available any date. Groups tend to run 2 to 6 people — this is a less-traveled route and the groups are naturally intimate.
Who group service is for:
Group service is the right option for solo travelers, couples, and small groups comfortable sharing the route with up to 8 hikers. The Huchuy Qosqo Trek tends to attract smaller groups — it’s a less-marketed route than the Salkantay or the classic Inca Trail, which means departures typically run with fewer people and a quieter dynamic.
What traveling in group service looks like day to day:
For solo travelers: Contact our reservations team to join an existing departure or open a new group. We need a minimum of 2 participants per departure.
Documents:
For your duffel bag (overnight bag — must fit as carry-on on the train):
For your day pack (carried by you on the trail — approximately 30 liters):
Additional notes:
Airport transfer
Cusco airport to your hotel is included on any arrival date. A Machu Picchu Peru Lovers representative meets you at the arrivals terminal exit with a sign bearing your name. They wait outside — exit the arrivals hall to find them. Send your flight details at least 14 days before arrival.
Hotel pick-up on day one
Pick-up from your Cusco hotel at 6:00 AM on day one. Confirm your hotel name and room number at the evening briefing.
Important luggage note
The train to Aguas Calientes on day one evening only accepts carry-on sized luggage — a standard duffel bag or small suitcase. Your main luggage must stay in Cusco at your hotel or our office. Pack only what you need for the overnight stay in your carry-on bag. The day pack is what you carry on the trail.
Luggage storage
Main luggage can be stored at your Cusco hotel or at our office during the two days. Both options are straightforward — confirm the arrangement at the evening briefing.
Payment conditions
Return from Machu Picchu to Cusco
Day two return: bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes → Expedition Train at 2:55 PM or 3:20 PM → Ollantaytambo → private van to Cusco hotel, arriving approximately 7:00 PM.
Optional upgrade: Vistadome Train for $67 USD per person — panoramic overhead glass, snack service, on-board cultural performance. Runs to Poroy (near Cusco), private van for the final 25 minutes. Must be requested in advance.
Hotel drop-off in Cusco is included. For Sacred Valley accommodation (Ollantaytambo, Urubamba), coordinate at booking.
The Huchuy Qosqo Trek is available year-round on any date, with a minimum of 2 participants.
No government trail permits are required for this route. What is government-controlled is the Machu Picchu entrance ticket on day two:
This route tends to attract smaller groups and runs with very little competition from other agencies. Even in high season, the trail and the ruins are quiet. For travelers specifically looking to avoid the main crowd concentrations while still reaching Machu Picchu, the Huchuy Qosqo Trek is the best-positioned two-day route in the Cusco region.
Huchuy Qosqo Archaeological Site
Huchuy Qosqo — “Little Cusco” in Quechua — is a significant Inca complex located on a plateau above the Sacred Valley at approximately 3,650 m. The site features:
The site is rarely visited compared to the Sacred Valley’s main tourist circuit (Pisac, Chinchero, Ollantaytambo). There are no large tour buses accessing it — the approach is on foot only. This makes the visit substantially more spacious and more engaging than the major Sacred Valley sites.
Trains to Machu Picchu
The train is used on both days:
Early departure trains available on advance request at booking.
Train luggage restriction: Carry-on sized luggage only. Plan your packing accordingly.
Accommodation in Aguas Calientes
One night at the included hotel — Intipunku Machu Picchu or Wiracocha Inn — with private room, private bathroom, and hot shower. For specific hotel preferences or upgrade options, contact our reservations team. Additional nights from $60 USD per person depending on availability.
Transport summary
Circuits at Machu Picchu
The tour includes the standard circuit combination available at the time of booking — typically Circuit 1 and Circuit 3. Circuit 2 is available as an additional purchase ($55 USD) and must be arranged in advance. For specific circuit preferences, contact us at booking.
Physical fitness considerations
The Huchuy Qosqo Trek is rated moderate — genuinely accessible to most reasonably active adults. A few specific things worth noting:
Strikes and demonstrations
Strikes and demonstrations are common in Peru and can affect road access and train services. We will always try to keep the trip as originally planned. If tours must be changed or canceled due to civil disruption, our operations team coordinates directly with you. Your safety is the deciding factor.
Lost items
Pay attention to your belongings on the trail, in the van, on the train, and in Aguas Calientes. Once transport leaves a location, retrieval is not practical. You are responsible for your own items throughout the tour.
If you have a question about this or any other trip, our travel experts are ready to help with dates, availability and private options.
