ANCASCOCHA TREK 5DAYS

The Ancascocha Alternative trek is definitely one of the less touristed routes around Cusco which enables you solitude and also some contact with the local people, particularly herders. This is a true adventure specially prepared for people who love nature, Andean high places, and spectacular mountain scenery. This hike is offered only by few companies, which gives you the opportunity to encounter well preserved landscapes. Ancascocha alternative trail offers visitors beautiful Andean high Valleys, snow-covered peaks such as: (Salkantay, 6.271m. Humantay, Huayanay and others), and also colorful lakes such as Salkantay, Ancashqocha and others. In this adventure we can see Original Inca trails in to the mountains and covered by the passing of time.

DAY 1. CUSCO – SOCMA VILLAGE – PEROLNIYOC INCAN RUINS – CHANCACHUCO

We head out to Soqma Village 10,512 ft, early in the morning, by driving for about 1 hour and 45 minutes, which is the trailhead to start our hiking. At this point we’ll meet up our horses and muleteers, get ready our hiking gears, and we’ll have our breakfast, then we’ll start hiking up following a small valley to Perolniyoq a small Incan site perched a top the mountain, but previously we’ll see a nice waterfall, a perfect place to shoot some pictures.

Once our arrival to the Incan site, you’ll have an explanation about the history of this site by our Tour Guide. We will then continue to our lunch spot for about 1 hour overlooking to a great scenery around. After the lunch, we’ll continue hiking up for about 2 hours to reach the first pass Called Kuichicasa 15,250 ft, at this point we’ll have stunning vistas of the Urubamba range where some snowcapped mountains are located, and the Sacred Valley of the Incas below us. From the pass we’ll hike downhill for 1 hour to get the first camp site called Chancachuco 14,268 ft.

Hiking Time: 7 – 8 hours

Hiking Distance: 7.45 miles / 11 km

Minimun Altitude: 3,205 m / 10,512 pies

Maximun Altitude: 4,450 m / 15,250 ft

Physical Rating: Moderate – Strenuous

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

DAY 2. CHANCACHUCO – ANCASCOCHA LAGOON

Today’s breakfast makes us ready for a great adventure day, after having our breakfast at 6:00 am, we’ll start hiking on a highland plain with great views around, after trekking for about 3 hours we’ll arrive at next lunch spot located in Ancascocha community. After lunch we’ll hike up for about 2 hours to reach the second camp site 14,432 ft, located close by to Ancascocha lagoon.

Hiking Time: 7 – 8 hours

Hiking Distance: 7:45 miles / 12 km

Camping site Elevation : 4,800 m / 14,432 ft

Physical Rating: Challenging

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

DAY 3. ANCASCOCHA LAGOON – PAUCARCANCHA

We start the day having a nutritious breakfast at 6:00 am, we then start our trek, following the switchback trail up to the highest point with amazing vistas in every direction, snow-capped mountains. After 2-hour hiking, we reach the highest pass on the whole trail, Wayanay pass 15,252 ft, with stunning views around, where we’ll take our snacks, before making our way to lunch spot. Next, the trail goes downhill to lunch spot for about 2 hours, on the way we’ll see a small Incan ruins, and walk close by to some alpacas. In the afternoon, once we enjoy our meals, we’ll continue with our trek trough the highland valley to the next camp site Paucarcancha 10,335 ft for 2 more hours, on this section of path we’ll walk on the ancient Inca trail which is connecting to Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley with stunning glacier peaks beyond. Close by to this camp site is located the Paucarcancha Incan Site a great place to learn about the Inca history while exploring with our Guide.

Maximun point : 4,647 m / 15,252 ft

Camping site elevation : 3.230 m / 10,335 ft

Hiking Time: 8 – 9 hours

Hike Distance: 8.70 miles / 14 km

Physical Rating: Challenging

DAY 4. PAUCARCANCHA – KM 82 – OLLANTAYTAMBO – MACHU PICCHU TOWN (AGUAS CALIENTES TOWN)

We take our breakfast early in the morning to hike down to km 82, this section of the trail is pretty much the section of the Classic Inca Trail, we’ll see Llaqtapata, a beautiful Incan ruins nestled in the Sacred Valley with amazing crop terracing around, and other small Inca ruins. After, 5 hours hiking, we’ll have arrived to km 82 where we’ll have our last lunch prepared by our chef, and a place to say goodbye to our horses, muleteers, and chefs. Then  we’ll drive for 45 minutes to Ollantaytambo town, from this place we’ll have a train ride to Machu Picchu Town for about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Hiking Time: 5 hours

Hiking Distance: 6.83 miles / 11 km

Physical Rating: Moderate

DAY 5. TOUR IN MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO

We start the tour at 4:30 am, with our breakfast in the hotel, then we will do the line for the bus to Machupicchu, after 30 minutes ride, we will arrive to the main control of the sacred citadel, we have to show our original Passport and entrance tickets to machupicchu. Into the ruins we will have a 2 hours tour guiding, all the most important places. After the tour you will have a 3 hours more for your  own experience, you can go to Huaynapicchu in case you make teh reservation in advance, or free places like sun gateo r inca bridge. For this year machu picchu has a new regulation that we can visit only for 6 hours. At midday we have to leave the ruins and go down to the town of aguas calientes.

Our train backs to Ollantaytambo will be at 14:30 pm or 19:00 pm; is according the availability. So the total time from Aguas calientes  to Cusco is aproximatly  4 hours. The final place in cusco is the small plaza of san francisco wich is located in Cusco’s downtown.