The Soqma Hike to Machu Picchu is a spectacular trail that remains in the mountains. It is less traveled and more rewarding path. it offers you espectacular views to high pick mountains, valleys, water falls, Inca buldings full of history. In this hike we offer you one camp and one night hotel before you visit Machu Picchu.
This Soqma Hike is highly recommended for those who don’t like crowds. It is where you find the solitude, just hearing the wind blowing in the campsite, bird calls during the hike, but also learn about the Incas while you hike with your guide.
Overview
Soqma Hike to Machu Picchu – Overview
- Type of tour: Hike and camp
- Distance covered: 25 km (15.5 miles)
- Lowest elevation: 3000m (9,843 feet)
- Highest elevation:43800m (14,370 feet)
- Level of difficulty: Moderate to chalenging
- Good for: Anyone with moderate fitness
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Soqma – Rayan – Charcahuaylla
Early morning meeting with your guide in your hotel in Cusco for a drive to Soqma for about one and a half hours where your Soqma Hike will begin. Stop at the town called Huarocondo where you can purchase the last minute supplies such as water or snacks. This town is very well known for the LECHONES (roasted pork), which is considered the best in Cusco area, so we can have a taste of that local cuisine if you are interested. Our adventure begins with one hour and half uphill, but offers you beautiful views and we will also encounter a beautiful waterfall called Perolniyoc as well as beautiful Inca ruins up in the hills. Your guide will show you some medicinal plants that the locals use along the way. You can collect some plants and make your own tea like locals do. From here you will continue onto the campground that will take you for couple more hours. In Rayan we will stop for a delicious lunch with our trekking chef. From here we continue up to the highest point for about 2 more hours for 40 minute down to the end of the day where we camp surounded by espectacular mountains.
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Distance covered: | 11 km (6.8 miles) |
| Time: | 7 to 9 hours |
| Lowest elevation: | 3000m (9,843 feet) |
| Highest elevation: | 43800m (14,370 feet) |
| Level of difficulty: | Moderate to chalenging |
Day 2: Charcahuaylla – Stone quarry – Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu
Early wake up call with cup of coca tea in your tent by one of the members of Peru by Locals. After a great breakfast, we leave the campsite towards the secong pass, which will take us about one hour, it has an amzing vew to sacred valley and the mount Veronica that is over 19,000ft . From here we descend for about 5 hours down to Ollabtaytambo with a stop at Inca stone quaryy for history lesssons. We begin with our hike again for another 2 more hours of gradual uphill to the next pass named Kuychicasa (4,450 m / 14,600 ft). That has one of the most spectacular views of Urubamba mountain range and the Sacred Valley. We will be arriving to the town for the last lunch by 2pm. You will have some time in this town to explore it or visit the local bar, where the local ladies serve Chicha or corn beer, considered sacred by the Incas. In the afternoon you will catch a train to Aguas Calientes, where we spend the night in a hotel.
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Distance covered: | 15 km (10 miles) |
| Time: | 8 to 9 hours |
| Lowest elevation: | 3500m (11,500 feet) |
| Highest elevation: | 2700m (10.000 feet) |
| Level of difficulty: | Demanding |
Day 3: Machu Picchu Tour
Today starts early when we pick you up from your hotel and take you to the bus station for a 30 minute drive to Machu Picchu. Make sure to either have breakfast at 5am or pack one, so that you arrive at the citadel in time to witness a magnificent sunrise. We will then have a two hour guided tour of the most important sites in the citadel, after which you will have time to explore it at your leisure. If you are brave enough, you can discover the heights of Huayna Picchu that offers spectacular views of Machu Picchu and surroundings, or Machu Picchu mountain. After spending the day in Machu Picchu, the bus will take you back to Aguas Calientes to collect your luggage and from there you will take the train to Cusco. Once you arrive to Cusco, one of our representatives will be at the train station to take you to your hotel.
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Inca ruins: | Machu Picchu tour |
Inclusions & exclusions
Included in the Ancascocha Hike to Machu Picchu:
- Transport to and from your hotel in Cusco
- Organic meals while on the trek
- Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu (does not include Huayna Picchu, but can be arranged for extra fee)
- Horses to carry all the equipment for the Soqma Hike to Machu Picchu (food, tents, chairs, table, etc)
- Chef
- Boiled drinking water on day 2
- Trekking guide, knowledgeable in history, tradition, fauna and flora
- First aid kit, carried by your guide
- Equipment for the trek (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 Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (expedition, can be upgraded to vistadome for an extra fee)
- Train tickets from Aguas Calientes to Cusco (expedition, can be upgraded to vistadome for 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)
Excluded in Ancascocha Hike to Machu Picchu:
- Sleeping bag (can be rented from us for $10)
- Lunch on the last day at Aguas Calientes
- Tips for muleteers and guides
- Huayna Picchu tickets (if you would like to hike this mountain, advise us in time so we can arrange it for an extra cost of US$ 65)
Additional options
Soqma hike to Machu Picchu
Additional Options
- Personal horse: you can have a horse every day to ride. The cost is USD 40 per day.
- Huayna Picchu: in order to climb Huayna Picchu, you must book in advance since permits are limited to 400 tickets per day. The cost is USD 65 per person.
Extra night in Aguas Calientes
Some pople want to spend more time in Machu Picchu and even with a great tour they still want to spend an extra day at it. If that is your case, let us know so we can arrange the hotel for you or get the entrance fee for Machu Picchu for extra fees.
Prices
US$ 630 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.
Note: A minimum of two people is required to run the trek, and there is a maximum of eight people per group.
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 as indicated below:
Once you have sent us the information of each person, make your deposit using PAYPAL. 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 Hike
- 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
