Huchuy Qosqo Trek + Short Inca Trail (The Alternative Inca Trail) is a 4-day trek to Machu Picchu across the Mountains nearby Cusco city, exploring an ancient Inca Trail that connects with the Sacred Valley, follows the Urubamba River, and Joins the Last section of the Classic Inca Trail arriving at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate right before the sunset.
Along the way, you will have a fantastic view of Cusco from the Mountains, visit local communities, hike with Llamas and alpacas, and visit beautiful archaeological sites such as Huchuy Qosqo Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Wiñaywayna, and Machu Picchu. This trail was used by the Last Inca King Manco, who moved his rebel army in 1536 from Cusco to the Last Capital of Incas (Vilcabamba) during the XVI century.
Highlights of the Alternative Inca Trail
- Book with Confidence and Flexibility
- Explore the mountains around Cusco
- Follow the ancient Inca Trail from Cusco to Sacred Valley.
- Arrive hiking to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate
- Ride the panoramic trains on the way back (Vistadome or 360°)
- Support social projects in the Andean Villages
Price per person: 680.USD [payment_system_code]
To book the Alternative Inca Trail, you need to make an initial payment of 200.USD per person, the remaining balance can be paid online, in installments, or Cusco with any credit card at no booking fees at all.
You can also book this tour as a private service!
Student Discount:
All travelers under 17 will have a $40. If you are 25 years old or under at the time of traveling, you can get the 40$ discount with your student ID. Please advise by email to give you a code for the discount.
Day by Day Summary:
Day 1: Cusco – Tambomachay – Qenqo (13 Km, 8 Hrs).
Depart from your hotel at 7:00 am, drive to Tambomachay, and start the 8-hour hike to Quenqo Village at 3800m (12467ft). Along the way, you will see mountains, grasslands, birds, and beautiful lakes. Spent the night camping with comfortable equipment.
Day 2 Qenqo – Huchuy Qosco – Lamay –Ollantaytambo (8 km, 7 hrs).
Wake up in your tent with a hot cup of coffee or tea and get ready for the second day of the hike to the Huchuy Qosqo Inca Site, a spectacular ancient city on top of the Sacred Valley. Along the way, you pass lakes, beautiful canyons. Spend the night in a hotel in Ollantaytambo.
Day 3: Ollantaytambo– Km104 – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes (15km 7hrs).
After breakfast in the hotel, you will take the first train to Km 104 to start the Inca trail, passing Chachabamba, Wiñaywayna, Sun Gate, and finally arrive at Machu Picchu late in the afternoon and have the unique opportunity to see almost empty. After Exploring the upper part and enjoying the sunset, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes check in to your hotel to spend the night.
Day 4: Machu Picchu (Lost City Of The Incas).
On the last day, you will have breakfast, take the first buses up to Machu Picchu, and explore the citadel with your tour guide; the guided tour starts with a visit to the Inca Bridge, terraces, urban areas, temples, palaces, and a free time to explore by yourself before taking the train back to Cusco. Arrive at your hotel around 7.30 pm
Included:
- Safety briefing the day before the tour at 6:00 pm in our Office
- Pick up from your hotel on the morning of the tour.
- All transportation during the duration of the Trek
- Duffle bag up to 7 kilos for your stuff to be carried by porters
- Professional tour guides
- Experience happy chefs, porters
- 1-night camping in the mountains with comfortable equipment
- Sleeping bags, air mattresses, camping cots
- 1 night 3-star hotel in Ollantaytambo
- 1 night 3-star hotel in Agua Calientes
- All meals during the Trek except last lunch
- Entrance ticket to Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
- Bus down to Aguas Calientes from Machu Picchu
- Train to the Inca Trail (expedition or Voyager)
- Panoramic Train to Return (Vistadome or 360°)
- All booking fees and taxes
Not Included:
- First Breakfast & Last Day Lunch
- Huayna Picchu or Montaña entrances
- Tips for porters, chefs, guides
Optional:
Huayna Picchu Mountain – Tickets must be booked in advance at $75 per person. It takes 2 hours round trip.
Machu Picchu Montaña – Tickets must be booked in advance at $75 per person. It takes 3.5 hours round trip.
Covid-19 measures to keep you safe during traveling
- Temperature checks for all travelers are mandatory.
- Face masks are required for travelers and staff in public areas
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff at all times
- High traffic places and equipment are sanitized regularly between use.
- Printed material such as maps or vouchers will be avoided.
- 100% online payments with no booking fees at all
- Flexible bookings during COVID – 19 outbreak
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Day 1: Cusco – Tambomachay – Qenqo Village
We will Depart from your hotel at 7:00 am and drive to Tambomachay, just 20 minutes outside Cusco. We will start slowly hiking up to the highest mountain passes with vast grasslands, birds, and beautiful lakes along the way. The hike is about 4 hours to lunch at Koriccocha Lake at 3700m (12130ft).
Once lunch is over, we will start the second part of the day at Qenqo Village at 3800m (12467ft); along the way is possible to sport herds of Llamas and alpacas that belong to villagers, Quenqo is a small village with few hundred inhabitants who survive from the agriculture.
- Distance: 10 km/8.1 miles
- Duration: 6 hours
- Meals: lunch, dinner
- Accommodation: Comfortable Camping
- Difficulty: moderate
Day 2: Qenqo – Huchuy Qosqo – Lamay –Ollantaytambo
Enjoy the beautiful views from the Local Village early in the morning with a cup of coffee while you enjoy the first rays of the sun. After breakfast, we will start a gradual uphill to the highest mountains with spectacular views of the Sacred Valley; then, we will go 2 hours downhill to Huchuy Qosqo 3600m (1118127ft), a stunning stunning stunning ancient city on top of the Sacred Valley. Along the way, you pass refreshing streams, beautiful canyons, and breathtaking views. After exploring the Inca Site, we will continue for 1.5 hours into the Sacred Valley for Lunch. The last part will be traveling by van along the Sacred Valley until we arrive in Ollantaytambo, where we check-in in a hotel.
- Distance: 8 km/5 miles
- Duration of hike: 5 hours hike
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Accommodation: Sol Miranda or Similar
- Difficulty: easy
Day 3: Ollantaytambo – Km 104 – Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes)
Wake up early in your hotel, have breakfast, and then take the first trains from Ollantaytambo to Km 104 to begin the Inca Trail. Once you pass the checkpoint, you will start the Short Inca Trail for 7 hours until you arrive at Machu Picchu in the afternoon. You will visit astonishing Inca Sites such as Chachabamba, Wiñaywayna, Sun Gate and see a wide variety of flora and fauna.
The Short Inca Trail Trek allows you to visit the most important sites inside the Classic Inca Trail, and you will have the chance to arrive twice at Machu Picchu; if you plan the times correctly, you can arrive after 4:00 pm to Machu Picchu and find the place almost empty since everybody starts leaving the citadel early.
After enjoying a full day in the Inca trail and Machu Picchu, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, check-in in the hotel, have dinner in a local restaurant, and sleep early for the next day.
- Highest altitude: 2700m / 8858ft
- Distance: 15km, 7 hours
- Meals: Lunch, snacks, and dinner
- Accommodation: Susanna INN, Intipunku, or similar
- Difficulty: Moderate
Day 4: Machu Picchu (The Lost City of the Incas)
On the final day, you will wake up early in your hotel, have breakfast, and take the first buses up to Machu Picchu. If the weather is good, you will be able to witness the fantastic sunrise over Machu Picchu, which is truly an unforgettable experience. You will have the chance to go to the Inca Bridge or spend some time in the upper part of Machu Picchu before starting the tour.
The guided tour takes about 2 to 3 hours, where your tour guide will show you the best of Machu Picchu. Later you will have time to explore by yourself or either climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Montaña. These tickets need to be booked in advance. After you are done exploring Machu Picchu, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch ( not included) and then take the Panoramic train and bus back to Ollantaytambo and Private van to Cusco. TreXperience Team will return you safely to your hotel.
- Guided Tour: 2 – 3 hours
- Meals: Breakfast (hotel)
- Accommodation: not included
- Difficulty: Easy
