Ancascocha Trek & Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu 7 Days
The Ancascocha Trek is world-renowned and we are the only company in the Cusco area that offers this combination Ancascocha Trek and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The Ancascocha Trek in the Peruvian Andes is a spectacular trail that remains off the beaten path. It is listed as one of National Geographic’s 20 dream hikes on their World Best Hikes list.
The trek wanders through traditional villages like Chillipahua, and its namesake Ancascocha (3,900 m/12,795 feet). Along the way, it humps over big passes, including the high point at the Huayanay Pass (4,650 m/ 15,252 ft), and takes in views of towering 20,551 foot (6,266 m) Apu Salkantay. On day 4 of the hike, we join the Classic Inca Trail.
The Classic Inca Trail is the most famous hike in South America – perhaps the world. It is a must-do and one of the biggest highlights of your trip to Peru. It offers astounding trekking along original paved Inca pathways and a range of spectacular Inca ruins along the way. During the fascinates 7 days you can learn from another view the past of the powerful lords, the Incas. Their stories and legacy to humanity. Also some landscapes taken from the fairy tales, in many places you will see mountains that are about 15,890 feet. Houses of the typical people and descending of the race of Quechuas that still speak the language of the Incas. And they also practice their traditions, agricultural and livestock.
Trip Highlights
- The Ancascocha Trek, also known as the Hidden Inca Trail or the Super Inca Trail, is a 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!
- Best local tour guides who teach you about several ancient Inca ruins, wandering through remote Fincas where generations of farmers have tended their livestock, and passing traditional andean villages like Chillipahua and Ancascocha. But of course the real reason to take this trek is for the unsurpassed views of the majestic Andes.
- We will see spectacular views across the mountains, beautiful clear blue lakes and raging waterfalls, and with the towering 6,266m (20,551 ft.) Apu Salkantay frequently dominating the skyline.
- On our 4th day of hiking we will be on the Classic Inca Trail wich is the most beautiful hike of South America.
- Enjoy a unique sunrise in Machu Picchu, from the Guardian’s house. Where you can take the best photographs of the wonder of the world.
- Explore the most famous and best preserved Inca trails, from the Andes and get lost in the cloud forests, which still hide mysterious Inca citadels.
Inclusions of this tour
CUSCO – SOCMA VILLAGE – PEROLNIYOC INCAN RUINS – CHANCACHUCO
We head out to Soqma Village 10,512 ft, early in the morning, by driving for about 1 hour and 45 minutes, which is the trailhead to start our hiking. At this point we’ll meet up our horses and muleteers, get ready our hiking gears, and we’ll have our breakfast, then we’ll start hiking up following a small valley to Perolniyoq a small Incan site perched a top the mountain, but previously we’ll see a nice waterfall, a perfect place to shoot some pictures.
Once our arrival to the Incan site, you’ll have an explanation about the history of this site by our Tour Guide. We will then continue to our lunch spot for about 1 hour overlooking to a great scenery around. After the lunch, we’ll continue hiking up for about 2 hours to reach the first pass Called Kuichicasa 15,250 ft, at this point we’ll have stunning vistas of the Urubamba range where some snowc
apped mountains are located, and the Sacred Valley of the Incas below us. From the pass we’ll hike downhill for 1 hour to get the first camp site called Chancachuco 14,268 ft.
Camping Tent
CHANCACHUCO – ANCASCOCHA LAGOON
Today’s breakfast makes us ready for a great adventure day, after having our breakfast at 6:00 am, we’ll start hiking on a highland plain with great views around, after trekking for about 3 hours we’ll arrive at next lunch spot located in Ancascocha community. After lunch we’ll hike up for about 2 hours to reach the second camp site 14,432 ft, located close by to Ancascocha lagoon.
Camping Tent
ANCASCOCHA LAGOON – PAUCARCANCHA INCA RUINS
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 Incan Site a great place to learn about the Inca history while exploring with our Guide.
Camping Tent
PAUCARCANCHA - WAYLLABAMBA - LLULLUCHA
Today, we will start with a 1-hour steep downhill trek to the small village of Huayllabamba where we join the classic Inca Trail. Then we will take a hike to the area called ayapata, a place we will use for our lunch. Upon our arrival we will receive with warm applause our porters, who will make their short presentation and the great work that they will play with us. The view from which is fabulous to all the valley of Huayllabamba; to finish the day we will make a 2-hour hike to the Llullucha camp, the trail is surrounded by highland forests where it is possible to even see native species such as colle, queuña, intimpa, tasta, chachacomos, and beautiful ñuqchu flowers, which They visit many species of hummingbirds. This day will end the walk around 5:00 pm.
Camping Tent
LLULLUCHA – DEATH WOMAN PASS – SAYACMARCA – CHAQUICOCHA
Today, we will reach the highest point on the Inca Trail (dead woman pass) (Warmihuañusca) (4200 Meters– 13776 Feets). On reaching the pass we’ll stop for a short break to enjoy the views before setting off again to descend to the next valley (Pacaymayu Valley – Hidden River). It’s another hour and a half down the side of the valley to our lunch spot and a chance to refill our water bottles. After lunch we begin ascending again to the second pass of the trek (Runkurakay) (3970 Meters /13022 Feets), stopping halfway to visit the impressive archaeological site of Runkurakay. Going over the pass, we descend toward Lake Yanacocha and enter into the cloud forest to arrive at the Sayacmarca Inca ruins (3624 Meters/ 11887 Feets). Our campsite is at Chaquicocha (3400 Meters /11154 Feets).
Camping Tent
CHAQUICOCHA – PHUYUPATAMARCA – WIÑAY WAYNACHAQUICOCHA – PHUYUPATAMARCA – WIÑAY WAYNA
Today, we will take an easy climb in the morning to the last pass with its Incan ruins of the same name (Phuyupatamarca, 3700 Meters / 12136 Feets). Here, we will also have remarkable views of the Urubamba River Valley. Afterward, we go into the rain forest. We will walk downhill for 3 hours. During this stretch of the trail we will visit Inti Pata. Along this path you will take the most beautiful pictures of the entire Inca trail. After Inti Pata it is a further 30 minutes to our campsitewe descend to the Wiñaywayna campsite (2650 Meter / 8692 Feets) and visit the archeological site there after lunch.
Camping Tent
WIÑAY WAYNA – SUN GATE – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
Today we arrive at the long-awaited finale of our trek, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu. After an early start to our day, we arrive at the campsite exit gate where we must wait in line until 5 AM. Subsequently, we will hike one hour until we arrive at the Sun Gate (Intipuncu) which looks down onto Machu Picchu. We will arrive early to enjoy its serenity in the soft morning light. From there, we will walk downhill on a stone path to enter the hidden Royal Citadel of the Incas with impressive panoramic views all the way down. We will have a 2-hour guided tour through this incredible ancient city to visit temples, terraces, palaces, priest’s houses, the sundial, the industrial sector, and the farming fields. Be amazed at the engineering ingenuity of the Incas which was so far ahead of their time and still partially a mystery today
When you are finished exploring the extraordinary city of Machu Picchu you will travel to Aguas Calientes by bus. You will then take the train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo where our van will be waiting to transport you back to Cusco. Arrival time in Cusco will according the train back Schedule we have at 14:30 pm and 19:00 pm. So the total time combining trail plus van is like 4 hours.
Best season to travel
The best time to visit Peru is during the dry season, between May and November, when the weather is dry and bright, with more frequent rainfall occurring between November and April.
Ancascocha Trek & Classic Inca Trail 4 Days
Price $ USD 1500 PP or Reserve now with $ USD 200 PPChoose your preferred departure date to proceed
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Essential Trip Information
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View Essential Trip InformationInca Trail Tours
Inca Trail Express to Machu Picchu 1 Day
Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 Days
Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days
Sacred Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days
Luxury Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 5 Days
Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu 5 Days
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