Classic Ancascocha Trek To Machu Picchu 5 Days

When you travel with Peru Hike Company, you don’t need to worry about setting your alarm clock. We always wake you up with a warming cup of hot tea or coffee. Then, you’ll head to enjoy breakfast with the rest of the group before setting off for the day.

This morning, we’ll go uphill for about 1.5 hours to the Kuychiccasa Pass (4,500 m / 14,764 ft) and enjoy some more wonderful views along the way. You can expect to see cultivation fields, alpacas, sheep, and if you’re lucky, even the flight of a condor with the perfect backdrop of Andean snowy mountains behind.

You don’t need to rush to get to the top. It’s not a race, and remember that you’ll be at a high altitude, so slow and steady is always the best way to go. We’ll take a break and enjoy spectacular views of the Chancachuco Valley and the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You’ll then need to continue for another hour to get to our lunch spot (4,350 m / 14,272 ft), where our chefs will be waiting with another incredible feast.

This afternoon, we’ll continue ascending to enjoy some more astounding landscapes and enjoy stunning views of La Veronica glacier (5,682 m / 18,642 ft). We’ll then begin a well-welcomed descent for 3 hours that’ll take us to the Ancascocha community (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), which is where the trek is named after.

Our camp is located in a truly stunning location in a beautiful valley with a crystal clear stream running through the middle. Spend the evening unwinding after a long day of hiking and enjoying a tasty meal before settling in for the night in your tent.

After another amazing breakfast to get you going, your hike starts with a 1-hour climb today. You’ll be rewarded with some of the most spectacular landscapes and breathtaking views of surrounding glaciers, Inca archaeological sites, and the brilliant blue of the Ancascocha Lagoon.

We’ll then keep climbing up for 2 hours to the highest point of the entire route, Huayanay Pass (4,650 m / 15,256 ft). After your grand effort, we’ll make sure we have plenty of time to rest at the top and take in the gorgeous surroundings from the summit before we continue to the Incaracay Inca site and have our lunch.

The walk in the afternoon will be much easier on your legs as we descend to the Quesqa community and then onto another Inca site, Paucarcancha (3,120 m / 10,236 ft). You’ll notice how the landscape and climate change at this altitude as the vegetation becomes greener and thicker. From here, you’ll get an amazing view over some of the original Inca Trail in the distance and the quaint, remote villages of the Quesqa Valley.

Once we get to Paucarcancha, your guide will take you on a tour to get to know more about the site and its relevance to the Inca empire before settling in at our camp. Of course, there’ll also be another delicious dinner waiting for you.

You’ll be pleased to hear that our last day of trekking is the easiest of them all. You’ll be enjoying a 5-hour hike along the Classic Inca Trail to KM 82, which is where those that hike this route starts from. You’ll be walking in the opposite direction to all the other trekkers. Along the way, we’ll pass through little villages and get to see the large archaeological site of Llactapata. On the other side of the river, you’ll see the Inca citadel of Canabamba. You’ll enjoy your last nutritional lunch made by our chef at KM 82 before saying goodbye to our hiking team.

From there, we’ll transfer in private transport to Ollantaytambo (2,792 m / 9,160 ft), which is a quaint Inca town in the Sacred Valley. You’ll catch a train here to Aguas Calientes (2,040 m / 6,693 ft) at the base of Machu Picchu. Along this train ride, you’ll be able to enjoy the mountainous landscape from a different perspective and get some excellent opportunities for some wonderful photos to take home as memories.

Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, we’ll take you to your comfy hostel, where you can enjoy a hot shower and relax until dinner. Alternatively, and if you still have energy, you can explore the small town or head to the hot springs to relax your tired muscles. We’ll meet for dinner in a top-quality restaurant and chat about tomorrow before heading to our rooms early to get some rest. We’ll need to be up bright and early in the morning.

The day you’ve been waiting for since you set foot on the Ancascocha Trek is finally here. Today, you’ll be heading up to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu. You’ll need to set your alarm and be up before the sun today to grab a quick breakfast. We like to beat the crowds at the Lost City of the Incas so that you can enjoy the site in peace and take some amazing photos before more visitors arrive.

The entrance to Machu Picchu opens at 6:00 am, so we catch the bus from Aguas Calientes at 5:30 am. or we will hike to Machu Picchu. Upon entering, you’ll feel a sense of magic and mystery wash over you as you look out at the whole site for the first time. Take some time to ponder how the ancient culture could construct such a feat on the mountainside.

After you’ve soaked it all in, your guide will take you on an informative and exciting tour of all the important sectors and let you in on the best-kept secrets of the Incas. You’ll then have two more hours to continue exploring by yourself. At this moment, you’ll climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if you got tickets in advance. Don’t worry if not, though, as you can hike up to the Sun Gate or Inca Bridge without a ticket. From any one of these spots, you’ll get an amazing view over the whole Inca citadel.

Around midday, it’ll be time to head down from Machu Picchu and back to the small town of Aguas Calientes. You’ll have a bit of time to choose a restaurant of your choice and enjoy a nice lunch before heading to the train station to board your train to Ollantaytambo. Your train time will depend on availability at the time of booking.

Once we get to Ollantaytambo, you’ll find our driver and private transport waiting to collect you and take you back to your accommodation in Cusco. You can finally put your feet up and rest. Take some time to reflect on your trip of a lifetime that you, for sure, will never forget!