5 Days
The Ancascocha Trek, also known as the Hidden Inca Trail or the Super Inca Trail, is a strenuous and less traveled trek. If you’re looking for off the beaten path trails, pristine wilderness, and a challenging trek, this is the one for you! National Geographic recently named Ancascocha Trail as one of the World’s 20 Best Hikes.
In Ancascocha Trail you will feel the magic of the Andes and at the same time discover the history that surrounds the great empire of the Incas. hiking in the mountains of the Southern Andes. Nature, geography, flora and fauna will surprise you with its beauty and diversity, filling your eyes and spirit with their unique characteristics. The story of The Incas will be present at each step towards the end point of our journey. Archaeological sites dotted throughout our journey will help us to better understand the Andean civilization and way of life.
On Ancascocha trail to Machu Picchu, the trail goes through very remote Andean communities, where locals try to keep living in happiness moving their llamas and alpacas as they’ve been doing so far. This trail forms part of the network of classic Inca Trail which is linking Machu Picchu from the other towns located in the highlands, therefore, we’ll have the chance to witness ancient Incan ruins along the path to Machu Picchu, Inca ruins that are still covered by shrubs waiting for becoming uncovered by you.
DAY 1:ANCASCOCHA TRAIL: CUSCO – SOCMA VILLAGE – PEROLNIYOC INCAN RUINS – RAYAN
We will begin with a gentle walk along the Valley (approx. 1 hr. and 30 min.) until you reach the waterfall of Perolniyoc, stopping to enjoy one of the most beautiful waterfalls within the Sacred Valley. We will continue walking for an additional hour reaching the archaeological site of Perolniyoc, perched atop of the mountain, after listening to our tour leader revealing the remnants of the Inca history, we will walk for one more hour to reach our camp and have lunch. On this first day, we will have the opportunity to acclimate to the high altitude. After lunch, we can relax and rest (R & R) for our next day.
Overnight camp in the village of Rayan (3,700 meters / 12.136 feet).
Accommodation: Comfortable Camping Tents
Included Activities:
- Ancascocha Trail – The sacred river of Vilcanota, Viewpoint photo stop
- Ancascocha Trail – Perolniyoc, Archeological Site
- Ancascocha Trail – Soqma Community, Viewpoint photo stop
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
DAY 2:ANCASCOCHA TRAIL : RAYAN – PUCA C’ASA – ANACASCOCHA LAKE
Our second day begins with a delicious breakfast prepared & served by our chef. We leave camp, hiking gently for 3 hrs., reaching the highest point into the passage of Puka Kasa (Alt. 4,450 m / 14,596 ft.). For most individuals, this is the most difficult section due to the altitude. However, it’s also the most spectacular part of the tour, you’ll enjoy the snow-covered mountains, in addition to vista of lower landscape of the Sacred Valley. In reaching the peak of the mountain you’ll have the feeling of surviving one of the highest mountain ranges. After enjoying all the wonderful and picturesque views, you’ll continue trekking to Chancachuco, hiking for one hour and a half until lunch time.As we continue our walk, you’ll appreciate several spectacular snow-capped peaks and one that you’ll appreciate throughout this hike is “Veronica” mountain (Alt. 5,950 m), till arriving to the Valley of Ancascocha. Here you’ll observe traditional small plantations by inhabitants of the area. After crossing a stream and hiking uphill for another 2 hours you’ll finally reach our campsite, above the Ancascocha Lake (4,090 m).
Accommodation: Comfortable Camping Tents
Included Activities:
- Ancascocha Trail – Puka Q’asa, Viewpoint photo stop
- Ancascocha Trail – Chancachuco, Viewpoint photo stop
- Ancascocha Trail – Valley of Ancascocha, Viewpoint photo stop
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3:ANCASCOCHA TRAIL: WAYANAY PASS – QUESQA VALLEY – PAUCARCANCHA
We start the day having a nutritious breakfast at 6:00 am, we then start our trek, following the switchback trail up to the highest point with amazing vistas in every direction, snow-capped mountains. After 2-hour hiking, we reach the highest pass on the whole trail, Wayanay pass 15,252 ft, with stunning views around, where we’ll take our snacks, before making our way to lunch spot. Next, the trail goes downhill to lunch spot for about 2 hours, on the way we’ll see a small Incan ruins, and walk close by to some alpacas. In the afternoon, once we enjoy our meals, we’ll continue with our trek through the highland valley to the next camp site Paucarcancha 10,335 ft for 2 more hours, on this section of path we’ll walk on the ancient Inca trail which is connecting to Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley with stunning glacier peaks beyond. Close by to this camp site is located the Paucarcancha Inca Site a great place to learn about the Inca history while exploring with our Guide.
Accommodation: Comfortable Camping Tents
Included Activities:
- Ancascocha Trail – Ancascocha Lake, Viewpoint photo stop
- Ancascocha Trail – Wayanay Pass, Viewpoint photo stop
- Ancascocha Trail – Paucarcancha, Archeological site
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4:ANCASCOCHA TRAIL: TARAYOC – KM 82 – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES
We take our breakfast early in the morning to hike down to km 82, this section of the trail is pretty much the section of the Classic Inca Trail, we’ll see Llaqtapata, a beautiful Incan ruins nestled in the Sacred Valley with amazing crop terracing around, and other small Inca ruins. After, 5 hours hiking, we’ll have arrived to km 82 where we’ll have our last lunch prepared by our chef, and a place to say goodbye to our horses, muleteers, and chefs. Then we’ll drive for 45 minutes to Ollantaytambo town, from this place we’ll have a train ride to Machu Picchu Town for about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Accommodation: Hotel in Aguas Calientes
Included Activities:
- Ancascocha Trail – Hatun Chaca, Viewpoint photo stop
- Ancascocha Trail – Challawasi, Archeological site
- Ancascocha Trail – Patallaqta, Archeological site
- Ancascocha Trail – K’anabamba, Archeological site
- Ancascocha Trail – Train ride to Aguas Calientes
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 5:ANCASCOCHA TRAIL: TOUR IN MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO
We start the tour at 4:30 am, with our breakfast in the hotel, then we will do the line for the bus to Machu Picchu, after 30 minutes ride, we will arrive to the main control of the sacred citadel, we have to show our original Passport and entrance tickets to machu picchu. Into the ruins we will have a 2 hours tour guiding, all the most important places. After the tour you will have a free time for your own experience, you can go to Huayna Picchu in case you make the reservation in advance. At midday we have to leave the ruins and go down to the town of aguas calientes.
Your train return to Ollantaytambo will be at 14:30 pm. In Ollantaytambo you will meet with our travel driver, who will transfer until your hotel adress in Cusco.
Included Activities:
- Ancascocha Trail – Machu Picchu, Viewpoint photo stop
- Ancascocha Trail – Machu Picchu Sun temple, Archeological site
- Ancascocha Trail – Inca Royal Houses, Archeological site
- Ancascocha Trail – Temple of the Condor, Archeological site
- Ancascocha Trail – Train ride to Ollantaytambo
Meals Included: Breakfast
INCLUDED IN THE ANCASCOCHA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 5 DAYS:
- Professional english speaker tour guide
- Expert mountain cook
- Private transport from your hotel to the start of the trail.
- Entrance fee to Machu Picchu.
- Bus tickets up from aguas calientes to machu picchu.
- Round trip train ticket Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- Mountain Camping tent
- Hotel in Aguas Calientes 1 night
- Dining tent with table and chairs, and a kitchen tent, manned by a professional cooking staff.
- Transport from the train station to Cusco.
- First-Aid Kits, Oxygen tank.
- Meals: Breakfast (5), lunch (4), dinner (4), with option for vegetarians, gluten free, lactose free.
- Horses and muleteers to carry the equipment and 15lbs of the hikers
- Sleeping pad
- Outdoor toilet tent.
- Emergency horse, that will be staying with us during the hike to upload our personal day gears or ride.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN ANCASCOCHA TRAIL
- Sleeping bags, you might get them rented from us US$ 20
- Hiking poles,you might get them rented from us US$ 20
- Last lunch on 5th day.
- Extra expenditure during the trek, such as: soda, alcoholic drinks, extra snacks, tickets for the hot springs in Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes).
- Tipping.
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain ( $ 80 USD )
- Travel Insurance.
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING FOR THE ANCASCOCHA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 5 DAYS:
When packing for your Ancascocha Trail to machu picchu , you should keep in mind that it is best to dress in layers due to the weather variation. The variety of clothes that you must pack to dress in layers is key to your walk, from the morning when it is quite cold until mid afternoon when the temperatures rise and reach their peak and then freeze again at night. Stratification is also useful as you ascend high passages that are exposed to winds or descend into shady valleys.
Effective stratification only works if each layer allows moisture to pass and escape into the external environment. In fact, the best layered clothing, such as wool, promotes moisture transfer through its absorbent properties. Cotton and denim absorb moisture and, therefore, should be avoided.
