The Ancashcocha to Machu Picchu Trek stands out for its remoteness, stunning scenery, and authentic cultural encounters. This lesser-known route offers pristine lakes, glaciers, original Inca paths, and traditional Andean communities rarely seen by travelers.
Unlike crowded trails, this trek delivers true solitude, diverse landscapes, and a meaningful journey that naturally leads to Machu Picchu. It’s the perfect choice for hikers looking for adventure, history, and one of Peru’s most rewarding trekking experiences.
We recommend booking hotels in the center of Cusco.
The pickup time is between 04:00 and 04:30 am.
We start early with pick-up from your accommodation and travel for an hour and a half to Soqma (3,000 m / 9,843 ft).
Upon arrival, we will enjoy a delicious breakfast and meet our team.
Then, we begin a three-hour hike to the Perolniyoc waterfall, where you will have time to enjoy the scenery and take pictures. We continue for another hour to Racaypata, located at the top of the waterfall, where the guide will share information about this important Inca site. We will take a break for lunch, prepared by our mountain chefs. In the afternoon, we ascend for approximately three hours to the Kuychiccasa pass (4,500 m / 14,764 ft). During the hike, we will see farm fields, alpacas, and, with a little luck, Andean condors. From the pass, we will descend for about an hour and forty-five minutes to the camp (4,350 m / 14,764 ft), where a comforting dinner and a well-deserved rest under the Andean sky await us.
We start the day with an energy-packed breakfast before setting off on a 65-minute hike to a viewpoint with breathtaking views of the La Verónica glacier (5,682 m / 18,642 ft). Then, we descend for approximately three hours through a beautiful valley, crossing a stream, until we reach the community of Ancascocha (3,900 m / 12,795 ft). After a short break, we ascend for an hour with views of the surrounding glaciers until we reach Inca archaeological sites and the spectacular blue lake of Ancascocha.
We enjoy a snack and lunch prepared by our mountain chefs before continuing with a two-hour ascent to the highest point of the hike, the Huayanay pass (4,650 m / 15,265 ft), located on a section of the original Inca Trail. Finally, we descend, surrounded by breathtaking scenery, to the camp in the Qesqa Valley (3,850 m / 12,631 ft), where a delicious dinner and a well-deserved rest await us.
We start the day early with a delicious breakfast before beginning a descent of approximately two and a half hours through the Qesqa Valley to the Inca archaeological site of Paucarcancha (3,120 m / 10,236 ft). Here you can see a section of the original Inca Trail, while the guide shares the history and mysteries of the place.
We continue with a descent of about five hours along a section of the Classic Inca Trail, passing through Llactapata and Cajabamba, until we reach km 82, the starting point of the traditional Inca Trail. Upon arrival, we will take a short break for lunch and rest.
In the afternoon, we will transfer to Ollantaytambo (2,792 m / 9,160 ft) to board the train to Aguas Calientes (2,040 m / 6,693 ft).
Upon arrival, we will accompany you to your hotel, and if you still have energy, you can explore this charming town. Later, we will meet for dinner at one of the best local restaurants before resting up for the next day.
We wake up very early to prepare for our visit to Machu Picchu. We enjoy an early breakfast before boarding the bus to the citadel.
Upon entering, the guide leads us through the main circuit, sharing historical and cultural information, and then provides free time for photographs and personal exploration. Those who have booked an additional hike can climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain.
Around noon, we return to Aguas Calientes, where you will have free time for lunch and souvenir shopping.
In the afternoon, we board the Expedition train to Ollantaytambo.
In Ollantaytambo, our private transportation will take you comfortably back to your accommodation in Cusco.
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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