ANCASCOCHA TREK 5D/4N
The Ancascocha Trek to Machu Picchu in the Peruvian Andes is a remarkable trail that remains off the beaten path. It is listed as one of National Geographic’s 20 dream hikes on their World Best Hikes list. The trek wanders through traditional villages like Chillipahua and its namesake Ancashcocha (3,700 m/12,136 ft). Along the way, it humps over big passes, including the high point at the Huayanay Pass (4,550 m/ 14,925 ft), and takes in views of towering 20,551 foot (6,266 m) Apu Salkantay.
This Ancascocha Trek to Machu Picchu option. You spend 4 days hiking through this beautiful landscape and tour Machu Picchu on the 5th day. On the fourth day you spend more than half of the day hiking a portion of the Classic Inca Trail.
DAY 1: CUSCO – SOQMA – RAYAN
After to pick up you from your hotel, we leave Cusco early in the morning and drive 1 hour and 45 minutes to Soqma (3,205 m / 10,512 ft), located in the sacred valley of the incas. This is the starting point of our Ancascocha Trek and where we meet the horsemen that will join us .We will begin the hike with a 1 ¾ hour walk to the Perolniyoc cascade lookout. This is a perfect opportunity to stop for photos and eat our snack. The waterfall that you will see at this location is breathtaking.Then we will hike a further 35 minutes until we visit the Inca site of the same name, where we will have a brief tour. There we will have our lunch.
After a refueling lunch, we will ascend 45 minutes until our camp at Rayan Village (3,700 meters/12,136 ft).
Lowest Elevation: 3,205 m/ 10,512 ft
Highest Elevation: 3,700 m/ 12,136 ft
Distance to walk: 8 km/5 miles
Approximate walking time: 4 to 5 hours
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Area: Dry Mountain
DAY 2: RAYAN VILLAGE – ANCASCOCHA
We leave our camp at about 6:30 a.m, then we have to hike for a 4 hour uphill trek with incredible views of the “snow-capped peaks, llamas, valleys”, and if we are lucky, a passing condor, the largest bird in the Andes with a wing-span of up to 10 feet across. Here we reach the Kuychicassa pass (4,450 m /14,596 ft) where we take a break and soak in the magnificent views of the Chancachuco Valley on one side of the pass and the Sacred Valley of the Incas on the other side.
Then we start our descent for another hour until we reach the location where we will take our lunch break. After the lunch we will ascend for 30 min by way of a narrow trail following a stream with beautiful views of Veronica Snow Mountain (5,822 m/ 19,100 ft).
This is followed by a 4 hour walk downhill to reach the small community of Ancascocha (3,700 m/12,136 ft), our campsite for the evening, in a small, gorgeous wooded valley with a stream running through it.
Highest Elevation: 4,450 m/ 15,250 ft
Campsite elevation: 3,700 m/ 12,136 ft
Distance to walk: 16 km/ 10 miles
Approximate walking time: 8 to 10 hours
Level of Difficulty: Challenging
Area: Dry Mountain
DAY 3: ANCASCOCHA – HUAYANAY PASS – MUYU MUYU COMMUNITY
Views of a nearby glacier and well preserved Inca remains are the highlight of this day. After a good breakfast we are ready for this challenging day. Ascending towards the Huayanay Pass (4,650 m/ 15,298 ft) for 4 hours, the highest point of our Ancascocha Trek to Machu Picchu, which is a steep zigzag trail uphill, we find an original cobblestone paved Inca trail. On the way, we see the beautiful waterfall that feeds into the Ancascocha lake
After this stunning view, we descend for 45 minutes until the Inca site of Incaracay. Where we will have lunch.
At this point we will embark on 4 hours descent into greener vegetation. During this stretch of the trek we will have views of the classic Inca trail to Machu Picchu appear in the distance, and fascinating views of the communities. Then we’ll reach our campsite in the Muyu Muyu community (3,850 m/12,628 ft).
Highest Elevation: 4,650 m/ 15,298 ft
Campsite elevation: 3,850 m/12,628 ft
Distance to walk: 13 km/ 7 miles
Approximate walking time: 8 to 9 hours
Level of Difficulty: Challenging
Area: Dry Mountain
DAY 4: MUYU MUYU – PAUCARCANCHA – KILOMETER 82 – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES
From Muyu Muyu we will descend for 2 hours until the Inca site of Paucarcancha. We will explore this small inca remain. After the tour we will hike downhill for 5 hours until we reach Km 82, which is the start of the classic Inca trail. Along the way we will be able to see the Inca site of Llactapata. This is the first site on the Classic Inca Trail. Our chef will make us a delicious lunch at Kilometer 82. After lunch we will be picked up by private van at Km 82 and transported to Ollantaytambo (2,792 m/9,158 ft) where we will catch the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes.
When you reach Aguas Calientes you will check in to your hotel room. The natural hot springs in town are a great place to relax if there is time before dinner. Dinner will be at the finest restaurant.
Highest Elevation: 3,850 m/12,628 ft
Lowest Elevation: 2,792 m/9,158 ft
Distance to walk: 12 km/ 7 ½ miles
Estimated walking time: 7 hours
Level of Difficulty: Easy
DAY 5: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
You will have breakfast at your hotel before we take a very early bus (5:30 am) along the winding road to Machu Picchu to see the magnificent sunrise. Once there you will be given a 2 hour walking tour of the site.If you have reserved to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain you will begin the hike at 10 am. If you don’t climb the mountain, you will have free time to explore Machu Picchu before your return to Aguas Calientes by bus.
When you arrive in Aguas Calientes you will board the expedition train to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo you will travel by private car to Cusco and we will drop you off at your hotel. Arrival time in Cusco depends on the time of your train ticket.
Lowest Elevation: 2,040 m/ 6,691 ft
Highest Elevation: 2,440 m/ 8,052 ft
ANCASCOCHA TREK TO MACHU PICCHU INCLUDES:
- Bilingual English speaking tour guide (additional tour guide for groups of nine people or more)
- Pre-Departure Briefing 1 or 2 days before your Ancascocha trek.
- Pick up from your hotel and transportation to Soqma
- Four-person tent for every 2 people.
- Inflatable Mattress
- Kitchen tent
- Dining tent with tables and chairs
- Toilet tent
- Chef
- Wranglers and horses to carry all the equipment (food, tents, chairs, table, etc)
- Horse to transport 5 kg of your personal gear
- Duffle bag for your personal gear
- Emergency horse in case we need it
- Four breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners
- Hot water for washing.
- Daily morning boiled and cold water to fill the water bottles.
- Emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit.
- Train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- One night hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes (double occupancy)
- Entrance to Machu Picchu
- Round trip bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
ANCASCOCHA TREK NOT INCLUDES:
- Sleeping bag – you can rent one from us ( $ 20 usd )
- Day 1 Breakfast
- Day 5 Lunch in Aguas Calientes
- Tips for the crew (guide, chef, wranglers)
- Huaynapicchu Mountain ticket ( $ 30 usd )
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
- Extra mule to carry your things
- Sleeping Bag – US$20 per person per trek (It will be clean and warm)
- Air Mattress – US$20 per person per trek (Therm-a-rest mattresses)
- Walking Poles – US$15 per pair per trek (Professional Poles that can be extended)
- Personal Tent – US $30 (Tent for single trekkers only)
- Vistadome Train Upgrade – US$57 per person (For the return to Cusco)
- Huayna Picchu Mountain – US$35 per person (Please request when you book your Trek)
- Machu Picchu Mountain – US$30 per person (Please request when you book your Trek)
AVAILABLE DISCOUNTS (these discounts are not cumulative)
Students: US$ 30.00 (students require a valid International Student Identity Card. Please beware that Youth Travel Cards are not valid)
Teenagers: US$ 20.00 (up to 15 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)
Children: US$ 45.00 (up to 10 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)
TO MAKE A BOOKING
You will need to email us to check availability, receive booking forms and then make your deposit. For our payment conditions and booking please refer to our Make a Booking page.
For organisational reasons, we require one week to organise your booking, prior to departure.
YOU SHOULD BRING:
- A light day pack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek – prepare for a vast range of changes in temperature
- Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho. Plastic ponchos can be bought for about $1 in Cusco.
- Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended. Extra socks are a must.
- Sandals or plastic slip on thongs are also good to give your feet a chance to breath in the evenings if you wish to carry them.
- Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces, gloves, scarf and beanie/touk. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping.
- Sleeping bag (we can hire these to you)
- Torch/ Flashlight and spare batteries
- Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
- Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
- Sun block
- After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
- Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – although no malaria risk has been reported
- Toilet paper, pack in & pack out
- Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
- Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning.
- We advise you to bring water sterilizing tablets in case you collect water from streams.
- Your own medical kit with any special medications that you might require, paracetamol, second skin for blisters etc.
- Small towel or sarong
- Bathers/swimsuit (if you intend on swimming in hot springs )
- Cash – sufficient for snacks, tips and souvenirs.
- Original passport & ISIC (International Student Identity Card) if you have one.
- Walking sticks or poles (we can hire these to you. Please note poles with metal tips cannot be carried into Machu Picchu and should be left at your hotel on the final day)
- Binoculars (if you have them)
CANCELLATION:
- Because of the strict regulations of the Machupicchu Park, once you have made your reservation, you cannot cancel the space that you have reserved. You also may not alter the name or date of the reservation. If you are unable to come on the date you have reserved, we cannot reimburse you.
- The $200 deposit is non-refundable. We cannot reimburse the entrance fee to the Inca Trail because the permits are non-refundable and ECO PATH TREK purchases the tickets from Machupicchu Park when you reserve your spot.
- If you cancel between 30 and 10 days before your trek, you must pay 50% of the total cost.
- If you cancel between 10 and 3 days before your trek, you must pay 80% of the total cost.
- If you cancel one or two days before your trek, you must pay 100% of the total cost.
- In the exceptional case that you decide to head back once you have started the trail, you must pay extra expenses such as food and transportation. You may join the group in Machupicchu for the walking tour and use all of the services onward.
