MEALS

3B, 3L, 3D

GROUP SIZE

Up to 12

MAX. ALTITUDE

4200 msnm.

DIFFICULTY

Moderate

Huchuy Qosqo and Short Inca Trail

4 Days / 3 Nights

Huchuy Qosqo + Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Want a different way to get to Machu Picchu? On our four-day Huchuy Qosqo + Short Inca Trail trip, you’ll be away from the crowds and right in the middle of Inca history. You’ll begin high in the Andes near Cusco and follow ancient paths through the Sacred Valley. Then you’ll join the famous Short Inca Trail and arrive at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate (Intipunku). If the Classic Inca Trail is sold out, this is a great option that gives you beautiful mountain views, fewer people, and an unforgettable trip to the lost city of the Incas.

4-Day Huchuy Qosqo & Short Inca Trail Trek

Huchuy Qosqo + Short Inca Trail (The Alternative Inca Trail) is a four-day trek to Machu Picchu across the Mountains near Cusco city. It explores an ancient Inca Trail that connects with the Sacred Valley, follows the Urubamba River, and joins the Short Inca Trail, arriving at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate (Intipunku) right before sunset.

Along the way, you will have a fantastic view of Cusco from the Mountains, visit local communities, hike along with Llamas and alpacas, and visit beautiful archaeological sites such as Huchuy Qosqo, Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Wiñaywayna, and Machu Picchu. The Last Inca King, Manco II, used this trail to move his rebel army in 1536 from Cusco to the Last Capital of the Incas (Vilcabamba) during the XVI century.

 

Tour Highlights:

  • Hike from Cusco to the Sacred Valley following an ancient trail.
  • Explore the Short Inca Trail; Chachabamba, Wiñaywayna
  • Arrive hiking to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate.

 

Alternative Inca Trail Tour at a Glance:

Day 1: Cusco – Tambomachay – Kenko Village (13 Km, 8 Hrs)

Depart your hotel at 7:00 am, drive to Tambomachay, and start the 8-hour hike to Kenko Village at 3800m (12467ft). You will see mountains, grasslands, birds, and beautiful lakes along the way. We will spend the night camping with comfortable equipment.

Day 2: Kenko Village – Huchuy Qosco – Lamay – Ollantaytambo (8 km, 7 hrs)

Wake up in your tent with a hot cup of coffee or tea and prepare for the second hike day to the Huchuy Qosqo Inca Site, a spectacular ancient city on top of the Sacred Valley. Along the way, you pass lakes and beautiful canyons. Spend the night in a hotel in Ollantaytambo.

Day 3: Ollantaytambo – Km104 – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes (16km 7hrs)

After breakfast in the hotel, you will take the first train to km 104 to start the Short Inca Trails, passing Chachabamba, Wiñaywayna, and Sun Gate (Intipunku). You will arrive at Machu Picchu late in the afternoon and have the unique opportunity to see it almost empty. After exploring the upper part and enjoying the sunset, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes and check into your hotel to spend the night.

Day 4: Machu Picchu (Lost city of the Incas)

On the last day, you’ll have breakfast, take the first bus up to Machu Picchu, and explore its highlights—terraces, urban areas, temples, and palaces. You will also have time to hike either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain before taking the expedition train to return. You’ll arrive at your hotel around 7:30 pm.

Full itinerary of Huchuy Qosqo + Short Inca Trail

Day 1: Cusco – Tambomachay – Kenko Village

We will depart from your hotel in Cusco at 7:00 am and drive to Tambomachay, just 20 minutes outside of the city. Once at the trailhead, we will start hiking slowly up to the highest mountain passes of Cusco, with vast grasslands, birds, and beautiful lakes along the way. The hike is about 4 hours to lunch in Koriccocha Lake at 3700m (12139ft). Our trekking chef will prepare delicious meals using fresh local products.

Once lunch is over, we will start the second part of the day with 2 hours hike to Kenko Village at 3800m (12467ft); along the way is possible to sport herds of Llamas and alpacas that belong to villagers; Kenko is a small village with few hundred inhabitants who survive from the agriculture.

  • Distance: 10 km/8.1 miles
  • Duration: 6 hours
  • Meals: lunch, dinner (Breakfast not included)
  • Accommodation: Camping
  • Difficulty: Moderate

 

Day 2: Kenko – Huchuy Qosqo – Lamay – Ollantaytambo

Enjoy the beautiful views from the Local Village early in the morning with a cup of coffee while you enjoy the first rays of the sun. After breakfast, we will start a gradual 1-hour uphill to the highest mountains with spectacular views of the Sacred Valley; then, we will go 2 hours downhill to Huchuy Qosqo, 3600m (11811ft), a stunning ancient city on top of the Sacred Valley.

On the way, you pass refreshing streams, beautiful canyons, and breathtaking views of the Andes mountains. After exploring the Inca Site, we will continue for 1.5 hours into the Sacred Valley for our last picnic lunch. The final part will be traveling by van along the Sacred Valley until we arrive in Ollantaytambo, where we will explore the town and check in at a hotel.

  • Distance: 8 km/5 miles
  • Duration of hike: 5 hours
  • Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Accommodation: Hostel
  • Difficulty: easy
Day 3: Ollantaytambo – Km 104 – Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes)

Wake up early at your hotel and take the first train from Ollantaytambo to Km 104 to begin the Inca Trail. Once you pass the checkpoint, you’ll enjoy a delicious, freshly prepared breakfast before starting the Short Inca Trail. The first place you visit is Chachabamba, a beautiful Inca site located next to the Urubamba River. Next, you’ll begin a gentle four-hour hike until you arrive at the Wiñaywayna Inca Site, one of the most impressive Inca sites on the Inca Trail. Box Lunch will be served at a nearby campsite.

The second part of the day starts with an easy one-hour hike to the Sun Gate, from where you’ll have your first and most breathtaking view of the great Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. If we plan our timing correctly, we can arrive after 4:00 pm, when most visitors have already started leaving, so you’ll find the place almost empty.

After enjoying a full day on the Inca Trail and at Machu Picchu, you’ll take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, check in at the hotel, have dinner in a local restaurant, and get an early night’s rest for the following day.

  • Highest altitude: 2700m / 8858ft.
  • Distance: 15km, 7 hours.
  • Meals: Breakfast, Box lunch and Dinner at a Local restaurant.
  • Accommodation: Ferre Machu Picchu or similar.
  • Difficulty: Moderate.

 

Day 4: Machu Picchu (The Lost City of the Incas)

On the final day, you will wake up early in your hotel, have breakfast, and take the first buses up to Machu Picchu. If the weather is good, you will be able to witness the fantastic sunrise over Machu Picchu, which is truly an unforgettable experience.

The guided tour takes about 2 to 3 hours, and your tour guide will show you the best of Machu Picchu. Later, you will have time to hike either Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Montaña. These tickets need to be booked in advance. After you are done exploring Machu Picchu, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included) and then take the Expedition train and bus back to Ollantaytambo and a Private van to Cusco. Pacha Peru Explorers Team will return you safely to your hotel around 7.30 pm.

  • Guided Tour: 2 – 3 hours
  • Meals: Breakfast (hotel)
  • Accommodation: not included
  • Difficulty: Easy

At Pacha Peru Explorers, we specify the included and non-included services under all the tour itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please pay attention to the details to avoid missing anything. Some items may be different for specific programs, so please read carefully before booking with us.

 


 

Included:

  • Safety briefing the day before the tour
  • Pick up from your hotel for the tour
  • All transportation during the duration of the Trek
  • Duffle bag up to 7 kilos for your stuff
  • Professional tour guides
  • Experienced chefs, porters
  • 1-night camping with comfortable equipment
  • Sleeping bags, foam mattresses
  • 1-night Hostel in Ollantaytambo
  • 1 night hotel in Aguas Calientes
  • All meals during the Trek, except the ones not mentioned
  • Entrance ticket to the Inca Trail
  • Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
  • Buses in Machu Picchu
  • Train to the Inca Trail (Expedition)
  • Expedition train to return To Ollantaytambo.

 

 


 

What is Not Included?

Extras and Important Equipment

All our travelers need a sleeping bag to camp. Inflatable mattresses and walking sticks (with rubber tips) are optional but highly recommended. If you do not have them, don’t worry, you can rent them with Pacha Peru Explorers.

  • Sleeping bag: US$ 25.00
  • Inflatable mattress: US$ 25.00
  • Walking poles (pair): US$ 25.00

Huayna Picchu Mountain

You can climb the famous mountain you always see in the photos behind the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It’s 45 minutes uphill, and coming back down can be scary if you fear heights. You can take this excursion once your guided tour to Machu Picchu ends. The permit must be issued at least two to three months in advance due to high demand. Consider that there could be changes to protect your integrity, mainly due to weather conditions.

The ticket for Huayna Picchu Mountain has an extra cost of US$ 80.00 per person.

Machu Picchu Mountain

Machu Picchu Mountain is another of the mountains that surround the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It offers less steep, wider, and visually less frightening trails than Huayna Picchu, and it takes 1.5 hours to reach the top. This walk requires an entrance ticket which we can secure for you if we have time in advance.

The ticket for Machu Picchu Mountain has an extra cost of US$ 80.00 per person.

Lunch in Aguas Calientes and Dinner in Cusco (Day 4)

Personal Hiking Clothes and Gear

Travel Insurance

Tips for our staff

Tipping is the norm on any excursion to Machu Picchu. Although we pay good salaries to our entire team, something extra is always welcome, especially considering the hard work they do. Typically, group participants collect their tips to hand out to the horsemen and chefs together.

Additional costs or delays beyond our control

Landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to a safety concern, illness, pandemia, government policy changes, political instability, strikes, act of God, etc.

 


 

Packing List for the Huchuy Qosqo Trek + Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days

The Huchuy Qosqo Trek is a beautiful and challenging trek in the Cusco region of Peru, and it is important to be prepared with the right gear. Here is a recommended packing list:

Clothing:
  • Waterproof jacket.
  • Fleece jacket or warm sweater.
  • T-shirts.
  • Long-sleeved shirt.
  • Hiking pants.
  • Thermal underwear.
  • Hiking socks.
  • Sun hat.
  • Warm hat or beanie.
  • Gloves.
Footwear:
  • Hiking boots or shoes.
  • Sandals or comfortable shoes for camp.
Equipment:
  • Backpack (35-40 liters).
  • Sleeping bag (rated for at least 0°C/32°F).
  • Sleeping pad or inflatable mattress.
  • Headlamp or flashlight (with extra batteries).
  • Trekking poles.
  • Water bottles or hydration system.
  • Sunglasses.
  • Sunscreen.
  • Insect repellent.
  • Personal toiletries.
  • Basic first aid kit (including any necessary medication).
Optional:
  • Camera.
  • Binoculars.
  • Book or journal.
  • Snacks or energy bars.

Note: Please be aware that the weather in the Andes can change quickly, so it is important to bring appropriate layers and gear to stay comfortable and safe.

“The Huchuy Qosqo trek + Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days can leave any day of the week, from March through December.

 


 

2025 Land Cost

Group Price: US$ 790.00 per person

Required Pre-payment: US$ 300.00 per person

Balance (Cusco): US$ 490.00 (Commonly paid in Cusco after the briefing).

This small-group journey is guaranteed to operate with just two guests.

Notice that PayPal, credit cards charge a 6% fee for the use of their secure payment gateway. This tax is just for online and card payments. You can also pay the remaining balance in cash (the briefing day) without charges.

 


 

Extras & Upgrades

There are complementary services and upgrades you can include in this trip.

  • Huayna Picchu Mountain: US$ 80.00
  • Machu Picchu Mountain: US$ 80.00
  • Single Supplement (Hotel at Aguas Calientes): US$ 40.00
  • Extra Night at Aguas Calientes: US$ 60.00
  • Vistadome Train (Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo): US$ 90.00

 


Price Guarantee

Once your booking has been confirmed, we guarantee the Price won’t increase, whatever the circunstances. So please, before booking, ensure you’ve read all our important tour information.

 


 

Student Discount

US$20.00

Student discounts apply to anyone 17 years old or younger. To receive the discount, we require a copy or clear photo of the passport at the time of booking. It must be valid and not expire within the travel dates. Please send it to [email protected]

Huchuy Qosqo + Inca trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days – Important Information

We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as carefree as possible. In this section, you’ll find the answers to all the questions you have about traveling with Pacha Peru Explorers in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.

 

How many days do I need to acclimate in Cusco before the Trek?

It’s very important to be well acclimated to the altitude before exerting yourself on a trek. We recommend that you arrive in Cusco at least 2 or 3 days before the trek starts to help you adjust and avoid possible problems with altitude sickness while on the trek.

You might have already been in another area of Peru at a high altitude before arriving in Cusco. In that case, we still recommend you have a whole day in Cusco to rest, recover from your travel, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Cusco before departing for the trek.

 

Briefing or Informative Meeting

All information meetings and briefings are held in your hotel at 5:00 pm, one night before the tour begins. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. If you’re unable to attend, you must coordinate another time by email, by phone or at the Pacha Peru Explorers office.

Trek Balance Payment (in Cusco)

If you still have a pending balance, you must pay it 2 days before your hike/tour. Otherwise, your trip reservation will not be confirmed.

If possible, it would be greatly appreciated if you could settle the remaining balance for the trek/tour in cash, either in US dollars or the local currency, at our office in Cusco. You can withdraw funds from various ATMs located along Avenida Sol, offering both US dollars and Peruvian Soles. Alternatively, you have the option to pay using a credit/debit card or PAYPAL, either online or in person, but please note that a 6% service charge will be applied by our payment gateway (Niubiz) and PAYPAL. We regret to inform you that we are unable to accept bank checks or traveler’s checks as forms of payment for the balance.

Duffel Bag or Canvas Case

You’ll receive a canvas case or duffel bag during your briefing. Our horses will carry them, and the horsemen will hand them to you when you get to each camp. They measure 60 x 24 x 22 cm (23.6 x 9.45 x 8.66 in).

A maximum of 7 kg / 15.4 lb is allowed for each duffel bag, including the weight of your sleeping bag, sleeping mat, clothes, and other personal items.

Can I store my luggage at your office?

Of course! During the trip, your main luggage can be stored at our office (you can organize it with us on the briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.

Any equipment that you won’t need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags; put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (in the unlikely case of theft, many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing everything). It’s best to put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.

Pick up of guests

Please note:

  • All pickups are within Cusco City, but we recommend booking a hotel in the historic center for its convenient location.
  • Our guide or staff will confirm the pickup time the day before the tour.
  • Due to traffic conditions, the pickup time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes.
  • Cusco is an old city and has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs are located on streets without car access or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. For such reasons, we strongly advise you to book accommodation with good access.
Return to Cusco

Returning from Machu Picchu requires quite a bit of logistics, but don’t worry. Everything is included in your tour!

  • In Machu Picchu, you’ll board a bus that’ll take you for 25 minutes to the small city of Aguas Calientes. The buses are boarded according to arrival.
  • In Aguas Calientes, you’ll board a train to Ollantaytambo. Your guide will give you the train tickets where the boarding time will be shown. Make sure you’re on the platform 30 minutes early. The train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo takes 1:45 hours.
  • Once you arrive at the station, our representative, identified with the Pacha Peru Explorers clothing, will be waiting to transfer you to Cusco or directly to your hotel. The trip from Ollantaytambo to Cusco takes 1:30 hours.
  • In Cusco, depending on your hotel’s location, we’ll take you to a smaller car from our company to transfer you faster to your hotel.

Note: Your tour includes a One-Way Consettur Bus Ticket Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu, so you can choose to use it from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu or from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes. If you want a round-trip bus ticket, you’ll need to pay an extra of US$ 12.00.

Group Tours

Group tours are made up of different types of people, then physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route.

It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, the guide will be the one who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if such modifications are possible.

Strikes and Demostrations

Strikes and demonstrations are common in Peru, and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked, and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your trip as originally planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date.

Under these circumstances, tours may also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, everything will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority, and our decisions will be made to protect it.

Lost Objects

Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our transport, tents or restaurants. You’re the only one responsible for your objects during the tour.

Thank you for your interest in having and adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Pacha Peru Explorers. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.

 

Our Pledge | Your privacy is respected and protected. the Pacha Peru Explorers Company will never share, sell, or make public any of your personal contact information to third parties.

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Remember | One of our Travel Experts will contact you soon to confirm the availability of the trip you chose, give you more information, and/or provide you alternative options. Once availlability is established, we will ask for a deposit and a completed online registration to confirm your spot on the trek. Please call us at (+51) 950 705034 with any questions or to confirm availability over the phone.

Tour Price
Huchuy Qosqo and Short Inca Trail

Price

790

USD

Per Person

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The Pacha Peru Explorers Difference

Pacha Peru Explorers is a 100% peruvian, separates ourselves by our dedication to both our customer and our team. We work very hard to make sure that all our clients needs are taken care of throughout the tour with us. At the same time, we never forget about our brothers and sisters working tirelessly for us to make all of this possible. Responsible and sustainable tourism that gives as much to our community as to our clients.

Camping Equipment

Persinal Porters of 7 kg Included

Private Toilet Tents

Safety on the Trail Satellite Phone

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The Best Trekking Food in Peru!

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