The Ancascocha Trip & Hidden Inca Trail amazing hiking route. But one of the lesser traveled trail to Machu Picchu. It is a perfect blend of Nature and some beautiful Inca sites. An ideal trip for those people seeking for off the beaten path routes in the proximity of Sacred Valley. Our Ancascocha Trip takes you on parts of the Peruvian Andes, travelers will be able to walk on the rarely visited ancient Inca road to Machu Picchu, spectacular mountain passes, and authentic little villages located high up on the Andes Mountains. This trail has great views of some tall snow-capped peaks.
The beautiful Ancascocha Trip is not a very well known route yet; Top Peru Trips offers this trekking option as one of the authentic hiking trails to Machu Picchu, due to excessive demand for the classic Inca Trail and Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu; converts to Ancascocha trip as the best trekking option between numerous alternative trails to Machu Picchu.
Our Ancascocha Trip & hidden Inca Trail was designed to be hiked in 5 day and 4 nights including the final day at Machu Picchu. But experienced people can do it in 4 days. All our Ancascocha trek options do not require any trek permits from the government office. So those are open and available anytime of the year, except Feb.
After the pick-up from your hotel we will leave Cusco and drive by bus to the town of Huarocondo, 5 minutes away from this town is the trail-head at the place called Molino or Parpishu. located in the valley of Pachar in the Urubamba province; at Molino we will meet our muleteers and after they get to load all our camping gear, the Ancascocha Trip will start.
We will walk across the footbridge of Parpishu. Following the beautiful footpath we will slowly start ascending from the Valley, 3 hours of slow hike will let us arriving to the mountain top; where Incas built a big fortress on the hill-top, called in the present day as W´ata which is a beautiful lookout point, where our guide will introduce us some of the Inca history.
After to explore the site we will have our first lunch in the proximity of the W´ata ruins (3,800 m.). After lunch we will walk 2 hours to arrive to the village of Chillipahua, a long the way we will enjoy stunning views of Vilcanota mountain range and some deep valleys. This first day of our Ancascocha hike is relatively easy. We will camp at Chillipahua village.
After breakfast we will leave camp and continue with our Ancascocha trip, following a lovely stream the trail will lead us to the community of Incaraqay, inhabited of sheepherders in the high Andes. 2 more hours of uphill hike will take us to the next pass at Quychiq´asa (4,500m) with astonishing views of the glaciers mountains around.
After to enjoy a relaxing moment we will walk down to another small valley for lunch. In the afternoon 50 minutes’ walk along the Silque River will let us to arrive to the village of Ancascocha with its beautiful farmlands. Following the ancient Inca pilgrimage trail we will walk to our camp above the beautiful Ancascocha lake, which gave the name for this trail. This second night camp is very scenic (4150m) with the full view of Mt Wayanay. But it is one of the coldest nights in our Ancascocha trip.
After a delicious breakfast we will start our 2 hours hike towards Wayanay pass (4,650 m/ 15,300 ft.). Along the way we will have great views of Ancascocha Lake and Mt Wayanay. Reaching the highest point we will feel the magical sensation of surviving one of the top passes on the hikes to Machu Picchu. We then walk down for 3 hours to the lunch place at Muyu muyu village. On the way we will pass the small Inca site called Incaraqay.
In the afternoon we will walk down for another 3 hours to arrive to our camp at Paucarcancha. Which has a beautiful Inca site, this is the meeting point with Salkantay trail and the beginning of the Machu Picchu National Sanctuary. Our guide will explain us more about the Inca history at this beautiful site.
Our cook will serve us a good breakfast. We then walk 30 minutes to join to the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. This portion of the Ancascocha trip is very easy. On the way to km 82 we will visit Wilcaraqay a well preserve Inca site with a view of Llaqtapata to the lower part. As we hike to our lunch spot we will meet all the groups hiking the classic Inca Trail.
Arriving to km82 we will have our final lunch on the hike. We then have transfer to the train station of Ollantaytambo. Later we will have the train ride to Aguas Calientes, where we stay in a hotel.
After breakfast you will board the bus. Which will take us to the gate of the legendary lost city of the Incas, “Machu Picchu”. The same professional tour guide from the Ancascocha trip will teach you about all the history of this mysterious and mystical place. We will visit the Sun Temple, Royal palace, Main Temple, Three Windows Temple and Sun Dial. It will be an unforgettable experience. After the guided tour, you will have free time to admire the site.
If you have booked Huayna picchu, you will need to coordinate with your guide for Machu Picchu tour depending on your scheduled time to the mountain. For people not hiking any of the mountains there are some other optional activities on your own (not included in the price.)
Train back to Cusco: In the afternoon you will return to the train station in Aguas Calientes for the trip back to Ollantaytambo. Upon your arrival to train station you will be transferred by car to your hotel in Cusco.
Note: For Huayna Picchu hike, we highly suggest you to book it in advance. The spaces are limited to 400 people per day.
