The Ancascocha trek to Machu Picchu 5 day, offers you jaw-dropping views across the beautiful Andes mountains. This trail is cataloged by National Geographic as one of the most epic trekking routes and specially for people seeking for off the beaten track hikes in the world. The Ancascocha Adventure hiking Trail is the ultimate trek in Cusco and it takes you to the little visited places of Cusco in Peru. During the trip youwill hike through some remote Andean villages as Soqma, Rayan, Ancascocha, Kesqa and Paucarcancha. This fantastic hiking trail can be also combined with other Inca road system or Salkantay trek.
On this great Trekking in Peru, hikers will walk across some high mountain passes with breath-taking views, being the most spectacular one Wayanay pass (4655m/14940ft), which is the highest point for the entire trip. From here is visible the tall towering Mt Salcantay (6300m/20620ft). The great Ancascocha Inca Trail is ideal for travelers looking for the tranquility and quiet places.
This amazing Ancascocha tour is usually done in 5 day including the day visit to Machupicchu. But we also offer the shorter option for experienced people in 4 days of hiking. On the final part of this great Peru trek, you will go on the beginning section of the Classic Inca Trail.
In the morning your guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel in Cuzco, we then travel through the Sacred Valley 1 hour and 40 minutes to reach the picturesque village of Soqma (3,205 m / 10,512 ft), where you will start the Ancascocha tour, the muleteers will be meeting us at this village ready to join us for this adventure hiking trail.
You begin the Ancascocha Peru Trek from Soqma following one of the side valleys, there will be one hour of hiking until you reach the waterfall of Perolniyoc, which is one of the nicest falls in the proximity of the Sacred Valley. You will continue walking for one more hour uphill to arrive in the archaeological site of Perolniyoc, located above the waterfall. After having the explanation of the Inca history with your guide, you will walk for one hour to arrive to our lunch spot and the campsite for the first night.
The beginning part of this Trekking will serve you as part of the acclimatization to the high altitude, so after lunch we will relax and have rest for the following days; we spend the night camping at Rayan village (3,700 meters/12,136 ft).
This part of our Ancascocha Peru trek begins with a delicious breakfast served by our expert cook, we then set off from the campsite, 3 hours of slow walk will lead us to the highest point of the hike in Ancascocha Puka kasa pass (4,450 m /14,596 ft), for many people this is the hardest section because the altitude but is the most spectacular day, we will see many of the snow capped mountains and the Sacred Valley down below us. Once we reach the mountain top you will have the sensation of surviving one the highest passes on this mountain range. After we enjoy all the wonderful and scenic views, we will continue to Chancachuco, it will be an hour and a half gentle walk to the lunch place.
As we hike on the spectacular picturesque trail we’ll see some beautiful snow capped mountains in front of us, Veronica Mt (5,950 m/ 19,600 ft) will accompany us for many hours, after to turn some of the grassy hills we will enter in the Valley of Ancascocha Tour, with interesting farming land of the local people. We then go across the stream called Yawarmaki and hike uphill for another 2 hours to arrive in our campsite around Ancascocha Lake (4,090 m/13,100 ft.).
After a good breakfast, you will continue with this great Ancascocha Inca Trail; the morning hike is up-hill for 2 hours until we reach the highest point of the entire trek called Huayanay Pass (4,650 m/ 15,300 ft.). The views along the way are very impressive. It is amazing how the Incas managed the rugged geography of this area to build the Inca Road System which is still visible in some parts. After to enjoy the magnificent views from the pass, we will hike down into the little valley with a little Inca site called Incaraqay. Where a delicious lunch will be waiting for us. If we are lucky we will spot the Andean Condors flying around the highest point.
After a refueling lunch we will continue hiking for 3 hours downhill until to reach the community of Qesqa. On the way down, there will be a constant views of Huayanay peak in the distance. Qesqa is a very peaceful community, where local people rise animals and it is located to the tree line. So the night here will not be too cold as the earlier two nights of Camping (3,650 m/11,910 ft).
The day 4th of the Ancascocha trek Peru, begins with an early breakfast. You will continue descending through the valley for approx. 2 hours until you arrive to Paucarcancha, an extraordinary Inca fortress, the guide will transmit you all the history of this charming ruins. After 30 minutes of down-hill hike you will reach Huayllabamba Village and from here you follow the famous Incan Trail, walking for 4 hours until to reach Km 82. This last portion of our hike goes on the beginning section of the Classic Inca Trail, on the way to km 82 we will stop at Willcarakay, a great Inca site, with great views to Patallaqta another remarkable Inca ruin in the lower part of the valley. You will meet many trekkers starting the classic Inca Trek. At Piscacucho, our chef will be waiting for us with a delicious lunch.
After lunch you will be picked up by our transfer and then he will transport us to the train station at Ollantaytambo (2,792 m/9,158 ft.) from where you will have a beautiful the train ride. At your arrival you will check in to the hotel, later you can visit the Hot- spring
After breakfast we will board the bus, which will take us to the Majestic lost city of the Incas. As part of our great hike the same professional tour guide from the Ancascocha trek to Machu Picchu will transmit us all the history of this mysterious and mystical place. We will visit the Sun Temple, Royal palace, Main Temple, Three Windows Temple and Storage houses. It will be an unforgettable experience. After the guided tour, you will have free time to explore the site on your own.
Booking Huayna Picchu works only in advance, in case you have got this ticket, you need to coordinate with your guide for a private tour depending on your scheduled time to the mountain.
Train back to Cusco: In the afternoon you will return to the train station for the trip back to Ollantaytambo. Upon your arrival to train station you will be transferred by car to your hotel in Cuzco.
Note: for people hiking the Ancascocha Inca Trail, we recommend to climb up to Wayna Picchu, but we suggest you to make your booking in advance, because the spaces sold by the government office is only for a group of 400 people per day.
The Ancascocha Inca Trail is cataloged from moderate to difficult trek. Due its high elevation on the passes as Huayanay. Where you reach 4,650 m / 15,255 ft. So travelers planning to hike this trek need acclimatization to the altitude. In some sections of Ancascocha trek you will go for 2 or 3 hour up-hill. Which means you need to be relatively fit. So you can enjoy this scenic hiking trail.
The start of the Ancascocha Inca Trail is 3,205 m / 10,512 ft. at the village of Soqma and the highest elevation you get is 4,650 m / 15,255 ft. at Huayanay pass. The rest of the hike is still in the high altitude. Remember the plan B for this trek is riding a horse for the difficult parts, So you can still make it to the highest point and then continue the hike down-hill.
This 5 day Ancascocha trek to Machu Picchu is truly remarkable hiking trail. It was named by National Geographic as one of 20 dream hikes on their World Best Hikes list. So this means a lot to trekkers trying to choose the best alternative trek.
Those 2 treks are equivalent in their 5 day version, going in the same area close by Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Both have Glacier Mountains, Lakes and sections of green cloud-forest. But why you should hike Ancascocha Tour is because this is extremely remote and you will rarely see other hikers. Salkantay trek is totally opposite, busy camping sites and many hikers everywhere.
To hike the Ancascocha tour permits are not required. But if you want to link up with the Classic Inca Trail 7 day hike, you need it for this second part. Salkantay trail can be liked up with Ancascocha Peru Trek in 5 days. The classic Ancascocha trek to Machu Picchu gives you the chance to walk the beginning section of the 4 day trek to MachuPicchu and that is another great reason why you should choose Ancascocha.
