This Ancascocha Trek combines two of the best treks in the Cusco region: Ancascocha, considered one of the 20 best epic hikes in the world by National Geographic, and The Inca Trail, one of the top treks worldwide. This trek offers the most spectacular views of mountain ranges, dramatic scenery, soaring mountain peaks, and heavenly views above the clouds. Around every corner, a breathtaking scene awaits you. The entire Ancascocha Trail takes you from grassy lands surrounded by snow-capped mountains to the cloud forest, also known as the mountain jungle. Peru Trails offers this complete journey to Machu Picchu, full of history and nature, making your trek feel almost like a religious pilgrimage.

Highlights

Trek with our passionate local guides who have hiked hundreds of times and guided Machu Picchu more than 1000 times.
Enjoy the solitude of the mountains with spectacular views, far from the crowds.
Taste the experience of camping in a tent for a night.
Savor the Peruvian cuisine brought by our chefs to the mountains, all made from scratch.
Hike the two top combined trails: Ancascocha with a part on the Classic Inca Trail.
Be at Machu Picchu for the sunrise.
Experience a fun and scenic train ride back to Cusco.

Type of tour: Hiking, camping, historical, train ride, one night hotel
Distance covered: 77 km (48 miles)
Duration: 5 days / 3 nights camping / 1 night hotel
Lowest elevation: 2700 m (8,858 feet)
Highest elevation: 4600 m (15,091 feet)

Level of difficulty: Challenging, but your passionate guide will be there to encourage you and help you enjoy it as much as you deserve.

Group size: Our hiking group sizes are very important to guarantee the quality of our service, providing you with personalized attention. That’s the reason we run with an average of 2 to 5 hikers per group. Could you imagine trying to hike silently along an isolated trail, carefully not disturbing shy wildlife, with 10 or 20 other travelers? Or walking in a remote area to explore the pristine wilderness with dozens of other tourists at your side? We know meaningful nature encounters must be undertaken in small groups. That’s why our trips come with an average of just four travelers, by far the smallest groups in the tourism industry across the country. This not only guarantees you a more personal, close-up wildlife experience but also a low-impact presence on the earth’s fragile natural places we love.

Accommodation: Camping for 3 nights in 3-season roomy tents for 2 people. If you are a solo traveler, let us know so we can accommodate you with someone else, or we will bring a private tent just for you upon request, and one night in a hotel.

Our guides: Peru Trails was a dream that came true in 2015 for Jose Condor, who has guided treks from 2014 until today and has guided Machu Picchu over 1000 times. Now, Peru Trails has a group of top guides, both men and women, who have professional degrees and receive refreshed training with NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) in WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER. Since our treks go into the wilderness and your health is our priority on our trips, our guides are fully trained to assist any of your needs while you are vacationing. We invest in our guides because we believe they are the main ingredient of any trip.

Peru Trails is not only a travel company but a group of great tour leaders who love sharing our culture with you and enjoy being with travelers.

Location: This trip starts in Cusco City or Sacred Valley upon your request. You will need to fly to Lima, the capital of Peru, and then to Velasco Astete Cusco Airport, which is a small domestic airport.

Departures: This hike is operated by Peru Trails 100% when you book your hike or take any tour package. You go with us; we don’t rearrange tours. We depart every day year-round, and the size of the groups is from 2 to 5 people on average, which allows us to provide you with personalized service.

We take bookings year-round, and this hike does not need to be booked long in advance. So, anytime you are ready, join us and reach us with any questions you have on our 24/7 number +51 987467790 or email us at info@perutrails.com.

Day 0: Briefing

The day before your Ancascocha Trek adventure begins, your designated guide will meet you at your chosen hotel in Cusco at 5:30 p.m. in the lobby to give you final guidance on how to pack, what to pack, and more.

Day 1: Cusco – Soqma – Rayan – Charcahuaylla

Early morning meeting with your guide at your hotel in Cusco for a drive to Soqma, which takes about one and a half hours, where your Soqma Hike will begin. Stop at the town called Huarocondo where you can purchase last-minute supplies such as water or snacks. Our adventure begins with one and a half hours uphill, with great views. We will also encounter a beautiful waterfall called Perolniyoc, as well as beautiful Inca ruins up the hill after having history lessons about the site and the Incas. A not-too-far lunch will be ready for you, prepared by your chef.

After a delicious lunch followed by a short nap, you will continue to the campground, which will take a couple more hours.

Distance covered: 13 km (8 miles)
Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours
Lowest elevation: 3000 m (9,843 feet)
Highest elevation: 4380 m (14,370 feet)
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
Lodging: Camping

Day 2: Charcahuaylla – Ancascocha – Soyrococha Lagoon

Early in the morning, you will be awakened by one of our crew with a cup of coffee in bed, followed by a nutritious breakfast that will prepare you for a perfectly adventurous day. We will start the journey for about 3 to 4 hours with views of the Urubamba snow-capped mountain range towards Ancascocha Valley, where our chef will wait for you with a delicious lunch.

The afternoon hike is all uphill with a gradual incline up Soyrococha Lagoon, which is over 14,000 feet, where we spend the night.

Distance covered: 12 km (7.4 miles)
Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours
Lowest elevation: 3700 m (12,139 feet)
Highest elevation: 4380 m (14,370 feet)
Difficulty: Challenging
Lodging: Camping

Day 3: Ancascocha – Wayanay Pass – Paucarcancha

Today we undertake the long stretch, but in return, you will have amazing views, hike over the old Inca Trail, and cross over the highest elevation point. You will ascend to the second and highest pass on The Ancascocha Trek – Wayanay Pass (4,600 m / 15,090 feet), which takes about 3 hours. Once you reach the pass, you will experience the scenery changing from high-altitude grassy land to high-altitude jungle. From here, it is all downhill for one hour until lunch at Inca Racay, followed by the next three or four hours to the next camp, viewing some waterfalls, amazing vistas, and small Inca ruins.

Distance covered: 16 km (10 miles)
Hiking time: 9 to 10 hours
Lowest elevation: 3150 m (10,335 feet)
Highest elevation: 4560 m (14,961 feet)
Difficulty: Challenging
Lodging: Camping

Day 4: Paucarcancha – KM 82 – Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu Town

Our Ancascocha Trek camp is close to the Paucarcancha Inca site. After a good breakfast, we will explore and have a guided tour of this site, then start our hike down through the Wayllabamba Valley to join the Classic Inca Trail back to KM 82. Along the way, we will encounter Incan ruins, hikers who just started the Classic Inca Trail, and probably lots of porters. Today’s hike will range from easy to moderate, as it’s mostly downhill and at a lower elevation.

Our hike ends around 1 p.m. with a goodbye lunch with our crew. A van will pick us up and take us to the Ollantaytambo train station, where we’ll catch a train to Aguas Calientes to spend the night, with the journey lasting about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Distance covered: 13 km (8 miles)
Hiking time: 4 to 5 hours
Lowest elevation: 2700 m (8,858 feet)
Highest elevation: 300 m (10,000 feet)
Difficulty: Moderate
Lodging: Hotel

Day 5: Machu Picchu Tour

After completing the Ancascocha Trail, we will take a bus from Machu Picchu town early in the morning and arrive at Machu Picchu to watch the spectacular sunrise over one of the most amazing places on Earth. Be prepared for a flood of emotions, or at the very least, goosebumps as you gaze at the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu!

You will have a 2.5-hour guided tour of the most important sites in Machu Picchu, such as the main viewpoint, main temple, Stone Quarry, Temple of the Sun, and more, as this tour includes a full Machu Picchu permit. If you’re feeling brave and still have energy, you can hike up the steep Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. When you’re ready to leave, we’ll catch the bus back down to Machu Picchu town and enjoy a farewell lunch with the rest of the group before returning to Cusco by train in the afternoon.

Services Included

Transport to and from your hotel in Cusco
Meals (5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners). Our meals are based on fresh vegetables, meat, fruit, and grains.
Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu
Horses to carry all the equipment (food, tents, chairs, table, etc.)
Chef who will be making all meals from scratch
Boiled drinking water. There are no places to refill bottles, so you will need to bring canteens or a CamelBak, which our chef can refill when you need it.
Trekking guide, knowledgeable in history, tradition, fauna, and flora, and most importantly, certified in WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER
First Aid Kit, carried by your guide
Camping gear (sleeping tent, dining tent, kitchen tent, table, chairs, air mattresses)
Duffle bag for your personal belongings to be carried by the horses. You have access to a 17-pound (8 kg) bag for the horse where you can put your personal belongings for camp, sleeping clothes, sleeping bag, etc.
Round-trip bus tickets from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes town
Train tickets from Aguas Calientes to Cusco
One-night hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes town
We will have hiking snacks available every morning to pack

Services Excluded

Sleeping bag (can be rented for US$20). Our sleeping bags are washed after each use.
Dinner on day 3, since you will be back in Cusco around 6 p.m., you can pick a restaurant at your leisure.
Gratuities for the guide, cooks, and horse riders during the Ancascocha Trek are recommended at 15% of the total trek cost. More details on how it works can be provided by email or phone if needed.

Original passport – Please remember to bring your original passport, which should be the current one. If you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both (the one you used for booking your trip and the new one). The information you provided us at the time of your booking has to match your tickets for the Classic Inca Trail.
Sleeping bag – Recommended to be rated at least 5°F (If you don’t have one, you can rent one from us for $20)
Good hiking shoes – They should be broken in already. If you have acquired new ones, make sure to break them in before you come. They should be comfortable for your feet and possibly have ankle support.
Warm down fleece – The jacket should be warm enough for the nights and windbreaker-resistant.
Few t-shirts – Made for hiking; as you will sweat a lot, you may consider bringing at least 3 or 4 of them: one for the hike, one for the night, and one clean for Machu Picchu
Socks – Bring at least 3 pairs
Sun hat – As some days can be hot and sunny, we recommend you bring a sun hat that can keep the sun off your face.
Light long pants – Trekking pants are the best, especially those that you can zip off the legs, plus they dry fast.
Clothes for sleeping – Warm long underwear; you can use your fleece to sleep in, and you may consider bringing gloves, especially for the campsite.
Head lamp – All the camps are dark, so you will need to bring your headlamp for organizing your stuff in your tent or going to the bathroom at night.
Sunscreen – SPF 35+ recommended
Sunglasses
Trekking poles – They are very helpful; they can take 30% off your weight. If you don’t have them, you can rent them from us for $10 per pair for 4 days of hiking.
Camera – With spare batteries or phones to take great pictures. (Batteries run down faster at high altitudes)
Bug repellent – There are mosquitoes all year round, so make sure you pack your bug repellent.
Water bottle – Machu Picchu National Park does not allow you to bring plastic bottles. Please make sure you have a Nalgene bottle or CamelBak. Before we leave the hotel in Cusco, make sure you have filled up your water bottle for the first day. Then you will be able to get more from us whenever you need it.
Toiletries
Prescription medicines – Please inform your trip leader of any medications you are taking.
Food restrictions – If you have any allergies or preferences, make sure you add them in the booking form.
Book to read – You will have some spare time at every camp to read your favorite book or those that are about Machu Picchu, which may make your journey more interesting (the following books are recommended by us: Last Days of the Incas by Kim MacQuarrie, Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time by Mark Adams)

Why Peru Trails

Peru Trails offers tailor-made treks and tours, and we cater to your interests when planning your tour.
We are committed to providing world-class tours based on exceptional customer service.
We are a locally owned and highly experienced travel company based in Cusco, Peru.
Our staff consists of members who have decades of first-hand experience in the Peruvian tourism sector.
All the management and staff at Peru Trails speak English, Spanish, and Quechua (the language of the Incas).
Our guides and staff members are professionally trained and educated in the history of the Incas, Peruvian history, culture and traditions, first aid in the wilderness, guiding treks and tours, the fauna and flora of the region, and tourism management.
We are committed to protecting our environment.
We are committed to creating jobs and empowering local people. We believe in fair labor practices and honor and treat all our employees with dignity.
We have programs to help with the development of the porters’ families and communities, such as planting trees and buying school books and school equipment for poor local communities.
We honor native communities that have stewarded the land you visit.
We have also started an Education Fund to support the education of the children of porters. A percentage of income from every tour and trek goes to the education of those in need.
Our trips are carefully designed to meet your needs, and we create diverse, unique itineraries from 1 to 15 days in length. We offer a wide range of tours and treks and guarantee you the experience of a lifetime!
Peru Trails organizes free worry-free trips for you to enjoy fully.

Peru Small Group Specialists

Our Ancascocha Trek tours are designed for those who love adventure, want to explore new places, experience the local culture, enjoy food, appreciate history or photography—suitable for all ages, whether you’re traveling alone, with friends, as a couple, or with family. At Peru Trails, we believe small groups make the best experiences. The average tour or trek group is around 4 to 8 people. Why is this great? Well, have you ever waited in line while 40 other people get a coffee in the morning? Believe it or not, it’s not fun. Taking small groups allows us the flexibility to take you on an adventure to places that nobody else goes.

Group Service

Our Ancascocha Trek groups are very important to us. We typically run tours with 2 to 8 people per group, and we open any tour date with a minimum of 2 guests. This service is considered semi-private to ensure personalized experiences, allowing you to make the most of your valuable time.

Accommodations

Costs are based on double bedroom occupancy and are in US dollars. For single room occupancy, contact us at info@perutrails.com or through our 24/7 number +51 987467790 (WhatsApp).

To ensure your booking with us, we will require a 20% deposit pre-payment of the total cost, and the outstanding remaining balance must be paid 30 days prior to your trip.

Choosing this option

Once a tour date is opened with 2 guests, the travel date probably won’t be changed later.
This is a great option to meet other travelers and hang out during the trip.
The quality of service is the same as private tours.
If for any reason one of you or others can’t continue the tour, the tours will go as planned from the beginning to the end.

Private Service

Our private service can start with 1 person and accommodate any number you desire, and you can choose your travel date.

Accommodations We run all our tours with 3-star hotels, but we can customize with 5-star hotels.