Ancascocha Trek + Short Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 5 Days

Visit places

We’ll wake you up bright and early with a warming cup of hot tea or coffee to help you get out of bed, and then you’ll enjoy a nourishing breakfast to give you energy for the day’s hike.

We’ll set out on a 45-minute rolling path and then a 20-minute uphill climb for you to enjoy the incredible views of the enormous La Veronica glacier (5,682 m / 18,642 ft). We’ll then descend for around 3 hours to the Ancascocha community (3,900 m / 12,795 ft). We’ll cross a lovely little valley here with a crystal stream running through the middle. The landscape is like something from a fairytale.

Then, we’ll continue for another hour trekking uphill to a spot that’ll reward you with amazing views everywhere you look of glaciers, Inca archaeological sites, and the stunningly blue Ancascocha lake. Ensure you have your camera to hand to shoot some fantastic photos.

Afterward, we’ll enjoy another scrumptious lunch made by our chefs before we go on to the highest point of the whole trip, the Huayanay Pass (4,650 m /15,265 ft), over a 2-hour ascent where you’ll also get to know a bit of the original Inca Trail. The views at this height certainly don’t disappoint.

Walking down is much easier, as we take it slowly while surrounded by more astounding views. We’ll get to our camp at Quesqa Valley (3,850 m / 12,631 ft) and have time to relax before it’s served. Finally, you’ll settle into your cozy tents for another great night’s slumber.

Visit places

You’ll need to be up early again today to be able to enjoy another filling and nutritious breakfast before we begin our descent from the Quesqa Valley for two hours. We’ll be walking to the Paucarcancha Inca site (3,120 m / 10,236 ft), and you’ll notice that your surroundings change with vegetation becoming greener and thicker.

When we get to the archaeological site, you’ll see the original Inca Trail in the distance and the remote Quesqa Valley communities. Your guide will take you around Paucarcancha, and you’ll learn all about the site and its secrets.

Afterward, we’ll make our way onto the Classic Inca Trail for around 5 hours, heading down to KM 82, which is where the trail begins for those who opt to walk it. Along the hike, you’ll see small villages as well as the Llactapata and Canabamba archaeological sites. Once we reach KM 82, we’ll enjoy our lunch and a rest before we continue.

In the afternoon, we’ll take you to Ollantaytambo (2,792 m / 9,160 ft) and get you checked in to your hostel. If you’ve still got some energy, you can explore the quaint town before enjoying dinner in a restaurant. Make sure you head to bed early, as we’ll begin our final adventure along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu tomorrow.

Visit places

You’ll enjoy an early breakfast in the comfort of your hotel before we pick you up around 5:30 am to go to the train station in Ollantaytambo. As you journey along the tracks, you’ll be surrounded by some wonderful scenery and get a different perspective of the mountains you were hiking through the previous days.

After about one and half hours, you’ll reach KM 104, from where you’ll start our amazing hike on the historic Inca Trail. This morning, we’ll start with an uphill hike for about three hours until we reach the Wiñay Wayna archeological site (2,650 m / 8,694 ft), the most important citadel along the original Inca Trail. You’ll enjoy an in-depth history lesson and a tasty box lunch as we gaze up at the towering mountains that shoot up between trees and deep valleys.

In the afternoon, we’ll continue walking toward the Sun Gate (2,720 m / 8,924 ft). From this incredible vantage point, we’ll get our first amazing views over the magnificent Inca City of Machu Picchu. This is the official end of the Inca Trail and the place that the Incas would have gotten their first glimpse of the astounding fortress from when they arrived.

We’ll end our first day by heading down to Aguas Calientes by bus. We’ll check into our hostel and enjoy dinner in a restaurant. You’ll need to sleep early again to get up before sunrise tomorrow.

Visit places

The hotel we use provides a very early buffet or boxed breakfast so that we can be in the queue for the bus as early as the group would like. It is about 25-minute drive along the winding road to Machu Picchu, and on a clear day the sunrise can be spectacular.

As we enter through the gates of this new wonder of the world, you may well be breathless again – but this time from the views of one of the most famous sites in South America, if not the world. Your guide provides a 2-hour walking tour of the site, and then you are free to wander through the ruins yourself, perhaps finding a solitary spot to just sit, look and take in the spirit of the ruins!

If you have elected to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountains (ticket not included) you can begin the hike once your guided tour concludes.

Your guide will arrange the time for you to return to Aguas Calientes by bus in time to make your train connection back to Poroy or Ollantaytambo. From here you will travel by van to Cusco and back to your hotel. Arrival times will vary depending on traffic and connections, but should be around 20:00 pm.