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The Huchuy Qosqo to Machu Picchu Trek (2 Days) is a journey that departs from Cusco. If you are looking for a short and unusual alternative to reach Machu Picchu, this is the one for you.
The Huchuy Qosqo Trek will take you to these intriguing historical sites amidst the stunning Andean landscapes.
This hike is ideal for those travelers who truly want to be away, in the middle of nature, while camping in an area rarely visited by tourists. Huchuy Qosqo (Little Cusco) is an archaeological complex located above the Urubamba Valley and offers spectacular views of the Vilcanota Mountain Range.
You will begin your hike in Tauca, located on the main Cusco-Chinchero-Urubamba road. In Tauca, you will meet your team and then head northeast, walking a total of 6 hours (12 km).
You will begin your journey from your hotel to the small village of Tauca (3,750 m / 12,303 ft). The start of the hike will be on flat terrain and will pass through the Andean valleys, rich in crops of corn, potatoes, barley, quinoa, and other typical products of the region.
As you ascend towards the Huchuy Qosqo Pass (4,050 m / 13,287 ft), the landscape will change dramatically to the typical high-altitude puna, with sparse vegetation, mainly "Ichu", the high-altitude grass.
From this point, the views of the snow-capped peaks of the Vilcabamba Mountain Range are spectacular, highlighting the snow-covered Verónica, Pitusiray, Chicon, and San Juan peaks. Shortly after the pass, you will begin your descent towards the Huchuy Qosqo plains, walking along a path leading to the Ccauca gorge, where you can observe archaeological remains and wild crops, such as tarwi, as well as a large number of cacti.
You will descend to the León Punku gorge, where you will find the remains of a bridge and an Inca road. This canyon features geological formations surrounded by majestic rocks and pebbles guiding the river towards Huchuy Qosqo (3,650 m / 11,975 ft).
Huchuy Qosqo (Little Cusco) is an Inca complex of great importance. Its masonry is very fine, featuring a large Kallanka (rectangular hall), residential, defensive areas, and two-story stone and adobe structures. The site is located on a plateau surrounded by Inca agricultural terraces, with stunning views of the Vilcabamba Mountain Range.
After the visit, we will descend to Lamay (2,900 m / 9,514 ft), where we will take our transport to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo, we will continue by train to Machu Picchu Pueblo, where we will spend the night in a hotel.
Includes: box lunch and dinner.
Early in the morning, we will take the first bus to visit Machu Picchu (2,450 m / 8,038 ft). During the visit, you will explore the citadel at your own pace, accompanied by your guide.
After your free time, we will descend to the town of Machu Picchu Pueblo (2,050 m / 6,726 ft), where we will board the train back to Ollantaytambo. In Ollantaytambo, your vehicle will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Cusco (3,350 m / 10,991 ft).
“Huchuy Qosqo” means “Little Cusco” in Quechua. It is an archaeological complex located at an altitude of 3,650 meters (11,975 ft) above sea level.
The eighth Inca ruler, Viracocha, built Huchuy Qosqo as his royal estate and named it Kakya Qawani. The Incas never imposed taxes on their citizens’ incomes. Instead, they controlled the land and the workforce. This allowed the Inca emperors to control numerous royal properties, contributing to their power and influence.
Towards the end of Viracocha’s rule, he faced attacks from the Chanchas. To ensure his safety, he took refuge in Huchuy Qosqo and entrusted the government of Cusco to his son, Pachacuti. Pachacuti, in turn, resolved the conflict with the Chanchas and dethroned his father.
Under Pachacuti’s rule, Huchuy Qosqo experienced rapid and substantial expansion. However, this prosperity was short-lived. During the Spanish invasion, the entire site was looted under the leadership of Gonzalo Pizarro. They even went so far as to burn the mummified remains of Viracocha.
The Spanish conquerors repurposed the site as a farm and demolished many Inca structures to build a large reservoir. The remnants of this reservoir are still visible today.
Before reaching Huchuy Qosqo, you will pass by recently restored storage buildings called Qolqas. The Incas used these places to store crops such as quinoa and corn. The Qolqas have two levels, and you will also see “conjeras,” which were cooling systems used by the Incas.
This was my first time in Cuzco, absolutely without a doubt, it was the best experience, everything was easy and accessible very well organized. 100% recommended all very professional
