The Huchuy Qosqo trek to Machu Picchu is an unforgettable experience as you wander through the eclectic Sacred Valley. Simply put, it’s one of the best options for seeing Andean villages, picturesque lagoons, scenic landscapes, vibrant plants, stunning animals, and iconic Inca archeological sites.
Hiking from Huchuy Qosqo — also known as Little Cusco — to Machu Picchu offers a fairly easy way to trek through the Andes. From admiring the Golden Lake to exploring Ollantaytambo, there are so many reasons to join this hiking tour.
Huchuy Qosqo was one of the first Inca capitals and is synonymous with King Pachacuteq (Inca Yupanqui Qhapaq). In other words, this is a destination teeming with history, culture, and intrigue.
So, if you’re looking to soak up some spectacular scenery, dive into Incan history, and visit some of the most popular sites in Peru, you’re in the right place. Find all the details you need to know about this epic 3-day Huchuy Qosqo hike to Machu Picchu below.
Get ready to enjoy life without regret on this adventure!
3-Day Huchuy Qosqo Hike to Machu Picchu Tour Details
Here are all the essential details you need to know before booking your Huchuy Qosqo tour with Sparrow Explorer.
Highlights for Your 3-Day Huchuy Qosqo Trek
Type of Tour: Culture, History, Adventure, Hiking, luxury camping, and a Hotel stay.
All Distance: 20 km / 13 miles.
Huchuy Qosqo Trail Elevation Difference: 2,220 m / 7,283 ft (Only around 500 m / 1,640 ft will be uphill)
Good For: Hikers who love to walk in the mountains and enjoy nature and culture. It is also great for history lovers and those looking to get a better understanding of Incan culture.
Consideration: AVAILABLE ALL YEAR ROUND
Useful Information About Our Huchuy Qosqo Tour
- Above all else, your safety is our top priority.
- This is a short and much easier trek to Machu Picchu. With views of lagoons, valleys, snow-capped mountains, and Incan sites, the photo opportunities will be endless.
- Enjoy the unique pathway through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu.
- Enjoy the amazing Inca Trail to Huchuy Qosqo (Little Cusco) in two days.
- Hike by the same trail that the Incas used to help build their empire.
- Camp the first night in an Andean village.
- Spend the last night in one of our partner hotels.
- Enjoy a fully guided tour from Cusco to Huchuy Qosqo to Machu Picchu.
- You must be prepared for short uphill, but there will be more downhill walking throughout the trek.
- We are a team of local staff with a deep love for Incan history.
- We aim to use natural resources wherever possible.
- As a local company, we practice sustainable responsibility.
- You will have a briefing by your professional tour guide the night before your trek in our office or at your hotel.
Top Tip: If you are looking for a slightly shorter experience, consider our 2-day Huchuy Qosqo trek. Alternatively, have a look at our range of Cusco City tours.
Our 3-Day Huchuy Qosqo Tour Itinerary
To help you get an idea of what to expect, here’s a breakdown of our Huchuy Qosqo hiking tour itinerary.
Day 1 : Cusco — Tambomachay — Golden Lake — Q’enqo
Starting at around 06:00, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and begin driving via our private vehicle to the Tambomachay Community (3,750 m / 12,303 ft). This quaint town is located just 30 minutes away from Cusco, but along the way, you’ll be able to enjoy some lovely landscape views.
Before starting the trek, we’ll make sure that everything is in order and complete a checklist at Tambomachay. The hike starts with a gentle uphill walk for two hours as we slowly move up toward the first pass. We’ll make a couple of stops along the way, including a guided walk through the Tambomachay Archeological Complex.
From here, we’ll venture to the first pass (4,100 m / 13,615 ft), where unforgettable views of Cusco await. This is a great spot to snap some stunning photos of the city with its evergreen valleys in the distance.
After this, we’ll continue walking through the hilly landscape, where alpacas and baby llamas are often seen. We may even spot some other animals, including pigs, sheep, and cows. All these areas are puna grassland, which is the perfect environment for these beautiful animals.
We’ll stop at Queullacocha for lunch, which has a beautiful lake teeming with local birds such as Andean Geese, Lapwings, Partridges, and a variety of birds of prey. After a hearty lunch, you’ll have an opportunity to enjoy a short siesta before we continue hiking toward Q’enqo.
On the way, we’ll pass Coricancha (Golden Lake), where your tour guide will explain the interesting history of this beautiful setting. A further hour’s worth of walking and we’ll arrive at the traditional Andean Village, Q’enqo, which also happens to be our camping spot for the night.
The day’s adventures aren’t over yet. We’ll also visit a local family at Q’enqo, who will show you the traditional customs of the town in a unique experience not many tourists get to have. After visiting the family, you’ll have some free time to relax, and your guide will teach you more about Andean life.
If you’re interested in taking home gifts or souvenirs home, there is a good opportunity to find them in this lovely town. After some free time, we’ll indulge in a delicious dinner that our personal chef will prepare for us. At dinner, your guide will give you a short briefing for the following day, where more adventure and amazing places are waiting for you. Then it’s time to go to your tent for a good night’s rest.
Day 2 : Q’enqo – Huchuy Qosqo – Lamay – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
To get day two started, we’ll wake you up with a cup of hot coca tea. While you are packing your belongings into the duffle bags, our chef will cook up a filling breakfast. After your meal, it’s time to start the hike from Q’enqo.
We’ll enjoy a short 30-minute uphill trek before reaching a fairly flat section, which then starts heading downwards. During the trek, we’ll also pass through Pucamarca (Red Village). From here, it’s possible to merge onto the Inca Trail, which the Incans regularly used at the height of this civilization.
The views of the canyon below are truly spectacular from here and offer yet another great opportunity to snap some memorable photos. Even more alpacas and llamas can be seen along this path, as well as the stunning microclimate of lush vegetation that the Sacred Valley is so well known for. There are many small birds that can be seen, including a variety of hummingbirds.
After a while, we’ll reach Huchuy Qosqo Archeological Site (3,600 m / 11,811 ft), where we’ll stop off and enjoy a tour of the grounds. You’ll spend some time exploring the Inca building with your guide, who will explain its history and provide many pieces of information about the Incas.
Shortly after the tour of Huchuy Qosqo, we’ll take a two-hour downhill trek to Lamay Town. At Lamay, we’ll tuck into a classic buffet lunch with our Sparrow Explorer staff, who have helped porter your belongings and prepare your campsite and food. This is a great opportunity to say thank you to the team before we jump into our private transportation and head towards Ollantaytambo.
At Ollantaytambo, you’ll have a chance to explore the town for a little bit before having dinner and taking the 19:00 train with your guide to Aguas Calientes. After just under two hours on the train, we’ll reach the tourist hotspot of Aguas Calientes.
From here, your guide will take you to our partner hotel — most likely the Inti Punku Hotel or something similar. Your guide will then tell you the itinerary for the next day, in which we’ll visit the iconic Machu Picchu and Huchuy Picchu.
Day 3 .- Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – Cusco
Day three entails a very early wake-up as we aim to reach Machu Picchu for sunrise. We’ll start with breakfast at the hotel and then head to the bus that will take us to Machu Picchu Archaeological Site.
Just after getting into Machu Picchu we’re going to take you to our secret spot to soak up the incredible sunrise and take the best possible photos of the area. Afterward, your guide will take you on a two-hour tour of the entire Machu Picchu Site. The tour will include visits to Huchuy Picchu, the royal courts, and much more.
At the end of the tour, your tour guide will give you the bus tickets back to Aguas Calientes. This isn’t the end, though, as you’ll also have some time to explore the grounds alone, visit the top photo spots, and just soak it all in.
Once you’ve taken the bus back into Aguas Calientes, you’ll meet your tour guide, who will help you to the train station, where you’ll head back to Ollantaytambo. From here, it’s a short car drive back to Cusco, where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel.
Note: If you’d like to climb up Huayna Picchu Mountain, it’ll take around 50 minutes to reach the summit. You’ll be able to admire Machu Picchu from a completely unique perspective, just be aware this is not included in the original tour. If you want to add this hike to your tour, just let us know in advance — it will cost an additional 20 US$ per person for permits.
What Is Included in Your Huchuy Qosqo Trail Tour
- Professional Tour Guides: All of our tour guides have attended university and are trilingual (can speak Spanish, English, and Quechua). All our tour guides are local people who grew up in the Andes and have a wealth of ancient knowledge. They are a lighthearted, funny group of professionals who are always happy to teach you about our ancestral traditions. Most importantly, our team will make your safety and happiness throughout the tour their top priority.
- Permits: After receiving your deposit and information about you, our staff will get all the permits you’ll need to trek the Inca Trail. These permits are for a specific date and will have your name, which will need to align with your passport details. These permits are for all the archeological sites, including Huchuy Qosqo and Machu Picchu.
- Briefing: One night before the start of your trek, you will be debriefed either at our offices or at your hotel by our tour guides. During the debrief, we´ll give you the duffle bag that our porters will carry for you — weighing up to 7 kg / 14 pounds. We’ll also discuss the plans for each day and any health and safety precautions for the hike ahead.
- Chefs: Our food will be cooked by our professional chefs according to the things that you eat. If you have any allergies or dietary requirements, just let us know and we’ll make meals accordingly. VEGETARIAN FOOD IS OPTIONAL WITHOUT EXTRA COST!
- Porters: Our staff includes porters who are in charge of carrying the weight of the entire team’s food, tents, plates, bowls, chairs, clothes, etc. If you need assistance with anything during the trek, they will always be happy to help.
- Transportation: Transportation for the entire tour is included from the beginning to the end via car and train. This includes hotel pickup, car transportation from Lamay Town to Ollantaytambo, train tickets from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, bus tickets to and from Machu Picchu, train tickets from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, and hotel dropoff.
- Accommodation: Your stay throughout this three day tour will be included. The first night will be a luxury camping experience at the Q’enqo campsite. The second night will be spent at one of our luxury partner hotels — most likely Inti Punku Hotel or a similar 3-star hotel at Aguas Calientes.
- Equipment: Sparrow Explorer has the best equipment that you need to have a safe and comfortable experience. The equipment we provide includes: tents, foam mattresses, tables, chairs, cutlery, plates, bowls and cups, and duffel bags for your belongings.
- Food: Our healthy and organic food will be prepared by our professional chef, who has a lot of experience cooking in the high Andes mountains. The meals included in the tour are two breakfasts, two snacks, two lunches, two dinners, and one happy hour.
- Water: We´ll start to supply water for you from the first lunch to the last breakfast, providing refills for your bottles or camelback. We collect the water from the natural springs throughout the trek. This is then filtered, boiled, and finally cooled before being given to you for refilling, so the water is extremely safe. Remember that it is really important to drink plenty of water for your hike.
- First Aid Kit: Your safety is one of our first priorities. In that way, we provide a first aid kit that will have all the basic necessities to stay safe when hiking the Andes. This includes an oxygen tank if you are struggling with the elevation difference during the trek.
- Extras: While extras like tips aren’t included, we do provide you with a few more helpful things. This includes a recommended packing list, an itinerary, and tour guide photos to ensure you and your friends or family can all be in those memorable photos.
What Is Excluded From Your Huchuy Qosqo Trail Tour
- Daypacks: While we will provide a duffel bag for the majority of your belongings (which our porters will carry), it’s a good idea to bring your own daypack. We recommend bringing a small to medium-sized daypack and packing light with all the things you’ll want to have easy access to. This may include your phone, camera, water, sunscreen, sunhat, a few warm layers, personal snacks, your headlamp, and any other necessities.
- Headlamps: Based on our experience, we recommend bringing a personal headlamp for the trek. This is largely due to high fog that can occur during the hike, in which case, the headlamps can prove helpful. They are also handy for the early morning and late afternoon hikes, as well as navigating around the campsite at night.
- Packing List: We suggest you bring warm layers for the nights, three T-shirts, and hiking pants. Jackets or rain ponchos are great, but make sure they are waterproof. Also, remember your hiking boots, sandals or sneakers, toiletries, and any other important clothing you may need. We will also provide a more extensive packing list closer to your tour time.
- Extra Snack: You can bring your own snacks or get them throughout the tour at the local towns.
- Meals Not Included: The meals not included in the tour are the first day’s breakfast and day three’s lunch and dinner.
- Tips: These are not included in the original price but are greatly appreciated by the entire team.
- Rentals: Each hiker needs basically a sleeping bag and mattress. A walking stick is also a great help during the trek. While we do provide a foam mattress, you can upgrade to an inflatable air mattress, which we offer to rent. You can also rent sleeping bags and walking sticks from us if needed.
- Sleeping bag: 20 US$
- Inflatable air mattress: 15 US$
- Walking sticks (pair): 15 US$
- Travel Insurance: Our tours do not include travel insurance. While it is recommended, you are still more than welcome to join our tours if you do not have travel insurance.
- Huayna Picchu: This is the name of one of the mountains next to Machu Picchu, which offers nice views of the archeological site and the Urubamba River. While a hike up here is not included in the original tour, you can add this trek to your itinerary at an additional 20 US$ per person for the trail permit. If you don’t get this permit, you don’t need to worry, as you’ll still have the chance to go to the Inca Bridge and enjoy the ruins of Machu Picchu from an alternative viewpoint.
Helpful Information for Your 3-Day Huchuy Qosqo Tour to Machu Picchu
Before booking your tour, here are a few more things we’d recommend you keep in mind.
Altitude Sickness
It’s common to start wondering about altitude sickness when planning a trip to Peru, especially in Cusco. However, it’s easy to see the signs of altitude sickness.
Headaches, tiredness, dizziness, nausea, tingling, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, and vomiting are all common symptoms of altitude sickness. If you suffer from one of these symptoms, please contact our company or a doctor for assistance.
It’s worth noting, though, that altitude sickness is usually temporary, and staying hydrated with water and coca tea will help a lot. However, some of our customers prefer pills, in which case we suggest you have acetazolamide or dexamethasone and come to Cusco a few days before you intend on taking this tour.
Training for hiking in Peru can also be done by staying in high-altitude regions of the country for a couple of days before the trek. You can also spend a few days in Cusco drinking plenty of water and coca tea.
Weather
In general, the Andes’ weather is unpredictable, so we suggest being prepared for anything. This is why having waterproof clothes will be a big help, as it can be sunny one minute and rainy the next.
First Aid Kit
All of our mountain guides have their first aid kits and a lot of training in first aid in the mountains. Every year, they receive classes from doctors on how to treat the most frequent problems — diarrhea, cuts, headaches, scrapes, etc.
They will also have an oxygen tank to help you feel much better should you need it. You’re more than welcome to bring your own first aid kit for the trek.
Travel Insurance
It is always a good idea to have travel insurance during your travels. Our tour doesn’t include travel insurance, so we highly recommend getting insurance before you leave for Peru. This will come in handy if you have any serious illness or if something happens while you’re on holiday.
If you don’t have travel insurance, this is also fine, and you are still more than welcome to book this tour.
Environmental Impact
This company is a travel agency that protects our environment. We’re a sustainable company that uses biodegradable packaging for meals. We also consider the leave-no-trace principles during our tours as a way to help reduce the effects of global warming and ensure everyone protects our home (planet Earth).
Community
Most important for us is our amazing team. As we are a local company, the families and communities of our team feel proud of everyone involved at Sparrow Explorer. By sharing the culture and knowledge of our ancestors, everyone who joins our tours can better understand our traditions, behaviors, and customs.
By doing this, we can help protect everything left by our ancestors, as we believe in “Love just the things that you know.” This way, in our own small way, we can help preserve the amazing Inca culture for generations to come.
