The Ancascocha Hiking Machu Picchu is a spectacular trail that remains in the mountains known also as the Hidden Inca Trail or the Super Inca Trail. It is less traveled and more rewarding path. It was listed as one of the world’s best hikes by National Geographic. Along the way you will encounter Inca ruins, villages and snowcapped mountains of both main mountain ranges of Cusco, the Vilcabamba and the Urubamba mountain range.
This Ancascocha Hiking Machu Picchu is highly recommended for those who don’t like crowds. It is where you find the solitude, just hearing the wind blowing in the campsites, bird calls during the hike, but you will also learn about the Incas while you hike with your guide.
Overview
Ancascocha Hiking to Machu Picchu – Overview
Day 1: Cusco – Parpiso – Chillipajawa
Day 2: Chillipajawa – Acocasa – Ancascocha
Day 3: Ancascocha – Chancachucho – Cachijata
Day 4: Cachijata – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
Day 5: Machu Picchu tour
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Parpiso – Chillipajawa
Early in the morning your guide will meet you in your hotel in Cusco for a one hour drive to Parpiso (3,100 m / 10,171 feet). You will have a short stop at the town called Huarocondo where you can purchase the last minute supplies such as water, snacks and similar. This town is very well known for the LECHONES (roasted pork), which is considered the best in Cusco area. The journey by car goes though small towns and fields of corn, potatoes and quinua.
Our adventure begins with three hours of the Ancascocha Hiking Machu Picchu going uphill, which also offers you beautiful views of the Urubamba mountain range. By the end of the uphill you will find an Incan site called Wat’a (3,800 m / 12,400 feet), where we will have a short tour and enjoy a lunch. The hike then continues for 3 more hours to the end of the trek called Chillipijawa. You should expect to arrive to camp by 5pm.
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Distance covered: | 12 km (7,4 miles) |
| Time: | 8 to 9 hours |
| Lowest elevation: | 3100m (10,171 feet) |
| Highest elevation: | 3700m (12,139 feet) |
| Level of difficulty: | Moderate to demanding |
Day 2: Chillipajawa – Accocasa – Ancascocha
After waking up with a nice cup of coca tea in your tent given by one of our members of Peru by Locals and having a good breakfast, your Ancascocha Hiking begins towards the highest pass of the trek called Accocasa (4,450 m / 14,600 feet). This pass offers you one the best views of the trek to snowcapped mountains such as Ausangate (6,300 m / 20,931 feet), Chicon (5,530 m / 18,143 feet) and others. From the top we trek down for one hour until we reach the lunch spot. In the afternoon we will trek on gradual downhill for another two and a half hours towards the campground at Ancascocha Village (3,800 m / 12,400 feet).
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Distance covered: | 12 km (7,4 miles) |
| Time: | 8 to 9 hours |
| Lowest elevation: | 3700m (12,139 feet) |
| Highest elevation: | 4450m (14,600 feet) |
| Level of difficulty: | Demanding |
Day 3: Ancascocha – Chancachuco pass – Cachijata
We leave the campsite early for hiking though narrow path for about three hours towards the second pass of the trek, Chancacucho pass (4,200 m / 13,780 feet). This is a perfect place for pictures of snowcapped mountains. We especially have a great view of mount Veronica (5,750 m / 19,193 feet), the tallest of Urubamba mountain range. After enjoying a little rest here, we hike down for 40 minutes until lunch place. We trek for the next one and a half hours towards Kuychicasa pass (4,450 m / 14,600 feet), a spectacular spot that offers the view of the Sacred Valley and Veronica mountain. From here the way down gets very steep for about one hour, and the very last section becomes gradual downhill. Along the way down you will see Punkuyoc or the Sun Gate with amazing view of mount Veronica. We will arrive to Camicancha (3,600 m / 11,811 feet) campground by 5pm.
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Distance covered: | 15 km (9,3 miles) |
| Time: | 8 to 10 hours |
| Lowest elevation: | 3600m (11,811 feet) |
| Highest elevation: | 4450m (14,600 feet) |
| Level of difficulty: | Demanding |
Day 4: Cachijata – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
Today we will explore the stone quarry of Cachicata, an extensive site that served as a stone quarry for the construction of Ollantaytambo Incan site. Here you will be able to see all the work of the Incas, large rocks left half-finished and abandoned in the entire area, Inca burial houses also called Chullpas etc. After a guided tour of the site, you will descend down for about 3 hours to Ollantaytambo following the original ramp that Incas built for transporting the stones to this city. Arriving to the town you will have the last lunch with our trekking chef. Also there will be some extra time to explore this town or visit a local bar where the local ladies serve Chicha or corn beer considered sacred drink by the Incas. In the afternoon you will catch train to Aguas Calientes town where we will spend the last night in the hotel before going to Machu Picchu.
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Distance covered: | 10 km (6,2 miles) |
| Time: | 8 to 10 hours |
| Lowest elevation: | 2700m (8,8 feet) |
| Highest elevation: | 3600m (11,811 feet) |
| Level of difficulty: | Moderate to demanding |
Day 5: Machu Picchu tour
We will take a bus from Aguas Calientes early and arrive at Machu Picchu to watch the spectacular sun rise over one of the most amazing places on Earth. Be prepared for a flood of emotions or goosebumps at the very least, as you gaze at the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu!
Here you will have a three-hour guided tour of the most important sites in Machu Picchu. After the tour, you will have the time to explore the ancient city and take pictures at your own leisure If you are brave enough and still have the energy, you can hike up the steep Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain, or just find a shady spot instead and relax, meditate and soak up the inspiring and spiritual energy of Machu Picchu. When you are ready to leave, you can catch the bus back down to Aguas Calientes town to collect your luggage from the hotel, and enjoy a farewell lunch with the rest of the group before you return to Cusco by train in the afternoon. One of the Peru by Locals representatives will meet you at the Cusco train station and transport you back to your hotel.
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Distance covered: | 15 km (9.3 miles) |
| Time: | 7 to 8 hours |
| Lowest elevation: | 3650m (11,975 feet) |
| Highest elevation: | 4200m (13 800 feet) |
| Level of difficulty: | Moderate to demanding |
Inclusions & exclusions
Included in the Ancascocha Hiking Machu Picchu:
- Transport to and from your hotel in Cusco
- Organic meals on trek
- Machu Picchu tickets (does not include Huayna Picchu)
- Horses to carry all the equipment (food, tents, chairs, table, etc) from day 1 to day 3
- Emergency horse in case we need it until day 4
- Chef
- Boiled drinking water from day 2 onwards to the end
- Trekking guide, knowledgeable in history, tradition, fauna and flora
- First aid kit, carried by your guide
- Equipment (sleeping tent, dining tent, kitchen tent, table, chairs, air mattresses)
- Duffle bag if needed
- Round-trip bus tickets from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
- Train tickets from Aguas Calientes to Cusco (expedition) – it can be upgraded to vistadome train with an extra fee
- One night hotel (2*) accommodation in Aguas Calientes (if you have preferences of hotels, we can arrange it at an additional cost)
- Eight kilos (17,6 pounds) free bag for the horses where you can put your personal belongins
- Hot water bottle for the night ( you can use it as heater)
Excluded in the Ancascocha Hiking Machu Picchu:
- Sleeping bag (can be rented from us for $ 20)
- Lunch on the last day at Aguas Calientes
- Tips for muleteers and guides
- Huayna Picchu tickets (it can be arranged at additional cost)
Additional options
Ancascocha Hiking Machu Picchu
Additional Options
- Huayna Picchu: In order to climb Huayna Picchu, you must book well advance since permits are limited to 400 tickets per day. The cost is USD 20 per person.
Prices
Prices for Ancascocha Hiking Machu Picchu
Regular:
$ 710 per person
Students: Discount of $20, but you have to supply us with a copy of your ISIC card when you make the booking.
Children up to 15 years of age will be charged as students, under the condition that you supply us with a copy of the passport at the time of booking.
Book Now
In order for us to reserve your spot on this trek, you are required to send us the following information: full names, passport number, age, gender, nationality and make the relevant deposit of US$200 per person using PAY PAL as indicated below:
When you have sent us the information of each person, made your deposit using PAYPAL and once we have both, we will confirm your tour. Thank you so much for choosing PERU by LOCALS.
If you have any questions, send us an e-mail to: info@perubylocalstravel.com
What to bring
What to bring for the Ancascocha Hiking Machu Picchu
- Original passport (if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both)
- Down sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
- Clothes (trekking boots, warm fleece jacket, few t-shirts, socks, sun hat, warm underwear, light long pants, gloves, rain jacket)
- Toiletries (toilet paper, wet wipes, personal towel)
- Sunscreen SPF 35+ recommended
- Head lamp
- Sunglasses
- Camera with spare batteries (batteries run down faster at high altitudes)
- Book to read (you will have some spare time at every camp to read your favorite book)
- Trekking poles (recommended especially for the steep descents, can be rented from us)
- Bug repellent for Machu Picchu
