Huchuy Qosqo is a high archaeological complex, located about (3350m/10,990ft) above sea level in the Sacred Valley. Since this place has a beautiful view across the entire Sacred Valley, we will be able to see the majestic Pitusiray and Chicco glaciers and the town of Calca along your journey in the Sacred Valley.
Peru
Huchuy Qosqo and Machu Picchu Trek 2D / 1N
Summary
Overview Huchuy Qosqo and Machu Picchu Trek
Day 1:
Cusco – Huchuyqosqo – Aguas Calientes.
We will pick you up from your hotel at 6:00 a.m. and travel by car to the village of Cuper, located at (3750m/12,300ft), the beginning of your trek. From here, we will walk for 3 hours through some very beautiful landscapes, lagoons, and indigenous communities until we arrive at the archaeolocial complex of Huch’uyQosqo. Once we arrive, we will stop for half an hour and enjoy a packed lunch. After lunch, you will have a walking tour of this amazing Incan site.
- Places visited on the first day:
- Huchuyqosqo
- Aguas Calientes
Day 2:
Aguas Caliente – Machu Picchu- Cusco
Today you will visit Machu Picchu. You will determine, with your tour guide, the best time to start your day. Most people prefer to rise at 4 a.m. walk to the bus station to take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu. It can be enjoyable to arrive at the ruins as soon as they open, at 6 a.m., to catch the magical mists on the ruins as the sun rises.
- Place visited in the second day:
- A full day visit to Machu Picchu
- We require a minimum of 2 people to depart. With 2 people, we can guarantee you a departure on your desired date.
New Regulations
In January 2019, changes to the Machu Picchu visitation rules were implemented. Now, entrance tickets to the citadel are sold for specific time slots, starting at 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, and 2:00 PM.
With this new entry system, visitors board the bus to Machu Picchu one hour or 30 minutes before the visitation time printed on their ticket. This way, they do not have to endure unnecessary queues in Machu Picchu Pueblo, nor do they contribute to crowding at the entrances to the Inca city.
Meanwhile, visitors who wish to walk to Machu Picchu must depart one and a half hours before their designated visitation time.
In January 2021, new visitation routes or circuits were introduced at Machu Picchu with the aim of preserving the archaeological site for future generations. Each visitor follows a circuit according to the type of entrance ticket they have purchased, whether it’s for visiting Machu Picchu only, Huayna Picchu mountain, or Machupicchu mountain.
For more detailed information about the different circuits and specific entrance schedules, we invite you to read this link on Schedules and New Circuits for Visiting Machu Picchu or to contact us directly. We can provide you with all the necessary information and address any questions you may have.
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco- Huchuy Qosqo- Aguas Calientes.
We will pick you up from your hotel at 6:00 a.m. and travel by car to the village of Cuper, located at (3750m/12,300ft), the beginning of your trek. From here, we will walk for 3 hours through some very beautiful landscapes, lagoons, and indigenous communities until we arrive at the archaeolocial complex of Huch’uyQosqo. Once we arrive, we will stop for half an hour and enjoy a packed lunch. After lunch, you will have a walking tour of this amazing Incan site.
We will spend an hour exploring Huch’uyQosqo before we continue our hike, walking 2 and a half hours downhill to Lamay in the Sacred Valley. Once we reach Lamay, a car will transport us to the town of Ollantaytambo.
In Ollantaytambo, we will catch a 7:00 p.m. train to the town of Aguas Calientes. Depending on your preferances, you can have dinner in Ollantaytambo or later at a restaurant in the town of Aguas Calientes. Once you arrive in Aguas Calientes, we will transfer you to your hostel (this can also be upgraded to a hotel if you wish). In the evening, you will discuss with your guide what time you wish to wake up in the morning.
Day 2: Aguas Caliente – Machu Picchu- Cusco.
Today you will visit Machu Picchu. You will determine, with your tour guide, the best time to start your day. Most people prefer to rise at 4 a.m. walk to the bus station to take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu. It can be enjoyable to arrive at the ruins as soon as they open, at 6 a.m., to catch the magical mists on the ruins as the sun rises. After a 25 minute bus ride to Machu Picchu, your tour guide will take you to the best views before the day trippers arrive. Then, we will start the two hour guided, walking tour, exploring all of the famous places of this impressive citadel: After the tour, you will have time to explore the ruins on your own. If you have booked permits to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, you will head to that adventure. If you chose not to book a hike, you can climb to the Sun Gate and witness its amazing views. At around 12:p.m or 1 p.m., you will need to take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes to enjoy lunch at one of the many restaurants there. Be sure to arrive at the train station 30 minutes before your departure.
Note: Machu Picchu Inca site is different from Machu Picchu Mountain. When most people refer to Machu Picchu, they are referring to the archeological site. Machu Picchu Mountain requires a separate permit to climb. Please notify us if you are interested and we can book this for you. It must be done in advance and is a part of your entry into the site
Price
Group Tour – $385 USD per person
Group Tour – $365 per person (without hotel in Aguas Calientes)
Minimum 2 persons required to open up a new group – single trekkers may join an existing group
Please Note: Our service begins and ends in your hotel in Cusco
Returning train Included in the cost of this tour/trek is the Expedition train, which departs either at 6:20 pm or 7:00 pm and 8:20 p.m. DEPENDING ON AVAILABILITY.
Can I get an early train ticket?
We can also book an afternoon train that departs 2:55 p.m. or 4:22 p.m. at an extra cost of US $35 per person the train we will book DEPENDS ON AVAILABILITY.
Please, notice that 35 dollars extra you will pay also will cover your private transportation to bring you back from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco
There is also an option to upgrade your train to the Vistadome train which is the extra US $75 per person. Please let us know your preference at the time of booking the tour. Unfortunately, none of the trains go straight to Cusco—they run either to Ollantaytambo or Poroy. In either case, we will transfer you back by bus to Cusco.
Can I change my return train ticket by myself?
At the time of your tour, it may be possible to make changes to your return train ticket if you don’t want to take the 18:20 p.m train. You will have to take your train ticket personally to the train station in Aguas Calientes and ask them to change the return ticket for an early one. You will probably be asked to pay an extra administration fee, which will depend on the train service and departure time. Please notice that once you will change your returning train you will responsible to cover your own transportation back to Cusco
How long is the journey back to Cusco?
You will be traveling for approximately 3 hours before you arrive back in Cusco. First, you will travel for 1.5 hours by train to the Ollantaytambo train station. Then you will be picked up by your driver outside of the train station. The driver will be holding a sign with your name on it so that there will be no confusion. If you do not see the driver initially, wait for them outside of the train station. Once the driver has picked you up, you will travel for another 1.5 hours in a private van/car to your hotel/hostel in Cusco. Arrival time in Cusco will depend on train availability. You will receive your return train tickets once your guide has finished your walking tour of Machu Picchu.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO COLLABORATION
In case we do not meet the minimum group size or we do not have enough people to operate the tour ourselves, we reserve the right to occasionally collaborate with other tour operators. In these cases, the client will always be notified in advance.
Important Notice Regarding Student Discounts:
The ISIC card is no longer valid for purchasing Machu Picchu or Inca Trail tickets with a student discount.
Students can still obtain this discount with their student identification card issued by the university where they study, which is the only valid document for this end at this time. For more information, please visit the following link: http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/items/estudiantes.html
Included / Not Included
What is included:
- Professional tour guide who is fluent in English
- Private transport to Cuper on the first day of your trek
- Box Lunch for the first day
- Entrance fee to Huchuy Qosqo
- Private transport from Lamay to Ollantaytambo
- Expedition train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- One night accommodation in Aguas Calientes
- Dinner in Aguas Calientes
- Breakfast on the second day in Aguas Calientes
- One Way Bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
- Machu Picchu entrance fee
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Expedition Train from Aguas Caliantes to Ollantaytambo
- Van tranportation from Ollantaytambo to your hotel in Cusco
Not included:
- Breakfast on the first day
- Lunch and dinner on the last day
- A ticket to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. Please let us know if you would like to do this when you book the trek. Tickets to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain cost an extra (US $40 per person) added to the trek price
- Tips for the guide and drivers
What do you need to take?
- Original passport (needed to enter Machu Picchu)
- Warm jacket
- Rain gear (especially for December-March)
- Water
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Extra money for lunch and shopping
FAQ
Is there a minimum group size? What happens if Inti Sun Trek does not meet the minimum size?.
We require a minimum of 2 people to depart on this trek. With 2 people, we can guarantee a departure for you on your desired date. However, if there are other people interested in the same trek on the same date, we will add them to your group. If there are no others interest, you will have a private tour.
Please Note: We will not combine you with another trekking company.
Is the Huchuy Qosqo Trek difficult? Do I need to be fit?
Not at all, although this Trek does require you to be moderately fit, since the first day is spent hiking.
Can I use trekking poles on the Huchuy Qosqo Trek day trek?
Yes. We highly recommend you bring trekking poles or walking sticks for this trek as they provide stability and support.
What time is the train to Agues Calientes on Day 1?.
On the first day of the tour, the train departs from Ollantaytambo train station at 7:00 p.m. and arrives in Aguas Calientas at approximately 8:30 p.m. You will be picked up by our driver to take you to Cusco outside of the train station. Our driver will be holding a sign with your name on it so that there will be no confusion. If you do not see the driver initially, just wait for him outside of the train station. Once the transfer has picked you up, he will take you to your hotel/hostel in Cusco.
Do we take the 5:30 a.m. bus to Machu Picchu on Day 2 of the trek?
Yes, you can take the 5:30 a.m. bus, or you many choose to hike for one and a half hours from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, by way of the famous stairs.
Important: You will recieve your return train tickets once your guide has finished your walking tour of Machu Picchu.
