2 or 3 DAYS

Day 1

Cusco to Tambo Machay to Huchuy Qosqo

We pick you up from your hotel at 5:30 am and drive 30 minutes to Tambomachay, the starting point of our trek. Daypacks on, we ascend a beautiful path that is surrounded by tall mountain peaks.

In the distance, we can see Ausangate and the snow-capped mountains of Veronica, Pitusiray, Chicon, and San Juan. Close by, we see grazing llamas and alpacas.

During the hike, we hike over 4 mountain passes. Lunch is taken afore four hours of hiking. In the afternoon, we descend towards the Andean village of Pukamarca. We join an ancient path and walk into the Leon Punku ravine. This is not a huge ravine yet it is a beautiful one, steeped in history, and with enormous walls of rock to admire. The Inca stairs here match any, anywhere in Peru.

The afternoon’s hiking lasts 3-4 hours, and the day’s total distance is 16 km or 10 miles.

We arrive at the house of a local family in Huchuy Qosqo where we share dinner and time before going to bed for the night in their house. You will be able to experience the life of local farmers living in remote areas high above the Sacred Valley, the lifestyles their ancestors were living during Inca times.

DAY 2

Huchuy Qosqo to Lamay to Machu Picchu

After breakfast with the family, we have an in-depth tour of the archaeological site of Huchuy Qosco.

We visit the Inca king’s palace, the Temple of Water, and ceremonial altars, taking in the best of these wonderful ruins.

More about Huchuy Qosqo

Huchuy Qosqo lies above the Sacred Valley at 3,650m/11,980ft. The area was first settled between 1000 and 1400 AD.

Emperor Viracocha established it as a royal estate around 1420AD. The Inca Empire did not tax its citizens. Leaders preferred to control land and labor. Royal estates were formed and acquired to strengthen this grip on the people and the land, as well as being sites to create elegant country palaces and fortresses.

Huchuy Qosqo is very well preserved and offers some fascinating insights into Inca culture. There are a large number of buildings to see, some made of some and some of adobe. The striking Kallanka (great hall) is one as is the Inca-built irrigation channel.

The Spanish knew of Huchuy Qosqo and made some changes, including the building of the larger reservoir that can still be seen.

Storehouses, called Qolqos, are positioned below the main site. Qolqos were used to store many products, from dried meat to quinoa and potatoes. The Incas also invented a cooling storage system, which can be seen here.

Huchuy Qosqo can only be reached by hiking, adding to its appeal. The highest point is 4,200m/13,780ft. The uphill sections are fairly gentle, making this a perfect walk for acclimatization to high altitudes.

Urubamba market and Ollantaytambo

We then descend to Lamay in the Sacred Valley. As you walk down, you’ll be glad to be descending this way and not ascending! It takes 2-3 hours to reach the floor of the Sacred Valley. The total distance of hiking this day is 8 km or 4 miles, mostly downhill.

Our transport will be waiting and take us to Urubamba market.

Here we see local families selling things such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, and natural medicinal plants. Your guide shows you the market and you can taste Peruvian fruits and foods such as passion fruit, lucuma, and chirimoya.

Then we continue driving to Ollantaytambo, a town with original Inca walls and cobblestone streets.

Ollantaytambo is one of the best-preserved Inca towns in all of Peru. Many of the original buildings from the 15th century are still standing. Ollantaytambo was an important town – it was home to the Inca emperor Pachacutec – and was the base for military victories against the Spanish.

We have time to walk and visit the house of a local family located in a former Inca mansion.

We offer a 2 and 3-day Huchuy Qosqo tour. Here are the options:

Option 1 (2 days): End the tour with a night in the Sacred Valley, or return by train to Cusco.

Option 2 (3 days): We catch a train to Aguas Calientes and spend the night in a 3-star hotel (Tierra Viva or equivalent).

Day 3

Machu Picchu and return to the Sacred Valley or Cusco

The first entry into Machu Picchu is at 6 am. After that, entrance is available on the hour, every hour, until the last entry at 2 pm. Please ask about which time is best for you.

With your guide, you head to the bus stop. From here, it’s a 20-minute bus ride up a zig-zag path to the entrance to the Machu Picchu ruins. All guided tours last around two hours. There is free time to take pictures and add on a visit to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (early morning entry required).

Below are some of the highlights you will see.

Intihuatana (Sun Clock)

This mysterious and beautiful sundial was carved directly into the bedrock of Machu Picchu. Much is not known about its unusual design and markings. What is known is that it aligns with the sun during the winter solstice (June 21 in Peru). At midday, the main stone casts no shadow at all.

The Temple of the Sun

The Temple of the Sun was the most sacred of all temples at Machu Picchu. It was most likely only accessed by priests and high-ranking Incas.

It is built over an enormous rock in a unique semi-circular fashion and features a tower and a trapezoidal window. It is believed that the Incas worshipped their sun god, called Inti, and other theories exist, too.

These range from being a royal tomb to being an observatory or a sacrificial center.

Temple of the Condor

This is one of the most spectacular sites at Machu Picchu. The Incas took a large, natural rock formation and sculpted it to take on the appearance of a condor in flight, wings spread and magnificent.

There are details alongside its majesty; a condor’s head and neck feathers complete the condor. A mummy was found in a small cave under the rock and there is speculation that sacrifices happened here, too. Behind the temple are a prison complex and dungeons.

Temple of the Three Windows

We will see this temple in the Sacred Plaza area of Machu Picchu. It is a large structure, with three walls and the main attraction is the three large windows. 

There are many theories as to why there are three windows. Your guide will discuss their and your opinions during the tour.

Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain

Huayna Picchu

You need to buy a permit (numbers limited) to climb Huayna Picchu and it does sell out a long way in advance.  Please ask us for more information.

It is well worth the entry fee. It’s an energetic 1-2 hour walk to the top with steep staircases and steel cables to help at points. In wet weather, it can be slippery.

Once you make the top, you have a new and wonderful perspective over Machu Picchu. Huayna Picchu also offers access to the Temple of the Moon, one of the three main temples at Machu Picchu.

The peak of Huayna Picchu sits at 2,693m/8,835ft, around 260m/850ft higher than Machu Picchu.

Huayna Picchu is not recommended for people with vertigo or fear of heights. There are some steep stairs and vertiginous areas.

Machu Picchu Mountain

Like Huayna Picchu, you need a pre-bought permit for Machu Picchu Mountain. It doesn’t sell out as fast, but it is still recommended to buy the ticket as soon as possible.

The Machu Picchu Mountain trek is considered to be a moderate to challenging trek. You follow an original stone Inca Trail up to its peak, at 3,082m/10,111ft, which offers breathtaking views of the ruins and the valleys, and is 652m/2,139ft about Machu Picchu.

We recommend around 90 minutes to climb up and an hour to descend. During the wet season, the trail can become more slippery. Again, this is not suitable for people with a fear of heights - in places the trail is very steep and often follows the mountain edge.

Aguas Calientes hot springs

The town of Aguas Calientes sits at the foot of Machu Picchu. It is named after the warm, thermal waters that come to the surface. If you have time, it’s well worth paying the entry fee for an hour or two to soak in the warm waters.

Extend or end your tour

Having visited the ruins, we retrace our steps to Aguas Calientes for lunch. From here, you have many choices.

• End the tour in Sacred Valley or Cusco (2 days)

• Extend the Sacred Valley Tour (to 3 or 4 days, see below)

• Add more of our exciting tours

Don’t forget to read our FAQs, covering altitude, money, COVID, and more.

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