Ancascocha Trek to Machu Picchu 5D/4N
$1300
per person
This spectacular trek is world renowned and we are the only company in the Cusco area that offers this combination Ancashcocha/Inca Trail trek.
The Ancashcocha Trail in the Peruvian Andes is a spectacular trail that remains off the beaten path. It is listed as one of National Geographic’s 20 dream hikes on their World Best Hikes list. The trek wanders through traditional villages like Chillipahua, and its namesake Ancashcocha (3,900 m/12,795 feet). Along the way, it humps over big passes, including the high point at the Huayanay Pass (4,650 m/ 15,252 ft), and takes in views of towering 20,551 foot (6,266 m) Apu Salkantay.
On day 4 of the hike we join the Classic Inca Trail. The Classic Inca Trail is the most famous hike in South America – perhaps the world. It is a must-do and one of the biggest highlights of your trip to Peru. It offers astounding trekking along original paved Inca pathways and a range of spectacular Inca ruins along the way. The stunning scenery is breath taking. The trail spans through altitudes in the valley from 2,680 m (8,792 ft) to mountain passes of 4,215 m (13,825 ft). Finally it passes through the cloud forest to arrive at the majestic Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu itself.
- Day 1 – Cusco – Soqma – Rayan
- Day 2 – Rayan – Ancashcocha
- Day 3 – Ancashcocha – Paucarcancha
- Day 4 – Paucarcancha – Llulluchapampa
- Day 5 – Llulluchapampa – Chaquicocha
- Day 6 – Chaquicocha – Wiñay Wayna
- Day 7 – Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Cusco
You will have a thorough briefing with your guide 1 or 2 days before your trek. Your guide will meet you at our office in Cusco and you can take this opportunity to ask questions and make any final preparations.
What is Included?
- Bilingual English speaking tour guide
- Pre-Departure Briefing at your hotel 1 or 2 days before your trek
- Pick up from your hotel and transportation to Soqma
- Four person tent for each 2 persons.
- Inflatable Mattress and pillow
- Kitchen tent
- Dining tent with tables and chairs
- Toilet tent
- Chef
- Wranglers, porters and horses to carry all the equipment (food, tents, chairs, table, etc) and eight kg (15 lbs) per hiker for your own belongings
- Emergency horse in case we need it
- Seven breakfasts, six lunches, and six dinners
- Daily hot water for washing.
- Daily morning boiled and cold water to fill the water bottles.
- Emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit.
- Expedition train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Poroy
- Private van transportation from Poroy to your hotel in Cusco
- Inca Trail permit
- Entrance to Machu Picchu
- Bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
What is not included?
- Sleeping bag – you can rent one from us
- Huayna Picchu mountain ticket – US $75
- Day 7 Lunch in Aguas Calientes
- Tips for the crew (guides, porters, cooks, wranglers
We recommend that you bring?
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- Original passport (if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both)
- Down or synthetic feather sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
- Clothes (trekking boots, warm fleece jacket, a few t-shirts, socks, sun hat, warm underwear, light long pants, gloves, rain jacket)
- Toiletries (toilet paper, wet wipes, personal towel)
- Sunscreen SPF 35+ recommended
- Head lamp
- Sunglasses
- Camera with spare batteries (batteries run down faster at high altitudes)
- Binoculars
- Trekking poles (recommended especially for the steep descents (can be rented from us)
- Insect repellent
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Optional
Rentals
- Hiking poles – US $20.00 (pair)
- Sleeping bag – US $25.00
- Private Tent – US $30.00
Upgrades
- Vistadome train – USD 50
- Hiram Bingham train– USD 380
- Belmond sanctuary lodge (5-star hotel) – USD 490 Per person
- Sumaq Machu Picchu hotel (5-star hotel) – USD 245 Per person
- Tierra viva Machu Picchu (3+ star hotel) – USD 50 Per person
- Private Tent – US$30.00
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Reviews
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Departure/Return Location
Lima, Perú -
Included
Professional licensed guide fluent in English -
Not Included
private van to trailhead at km 82
From our gallery
Tour Plan
1
Day 1: Cusco – Soqma – Rayan
The days with Action Peru start early and you will be picked up from your Cusco hotel at 5am for the 3 hour drive to Mollepata. Here our chef will prepare an energizing breakfast at a local house, and you will also have the chance to purchase any last minute supplies.
From Mollepata we continue our drive for another hour until we reach Soraypampa (3850 m/12,631 ft.) At Soraypampa, we will meet our horseman (and horses!) and all the rest of our crew who will accompany us on this adventure. After making final preparations, we being our hike for 1 hour uphill to the crystal blue waters of Umantay Lake where we will stop to soak in the incredible views of the lake and the surrounding glaciers. We then take a 45 minute return downhill.
From Soraypampa we take a scenic 2 hour gentle uphill hike to Salkantaypampa (4, 100 m/13,451 ft.) where we will have our first views of the spectacular Apu Salkantay (6271m/20,574 ft.) and a well-deserved lunch. After lunch, we hike a challenging, less traveled uphill path for 3 ½ hours until we arrive at our camp for the night at Pampa Japonesa (4,610m/15,124 ft.)
The campsite is located at the base of the stunning mount Salkantay and if the night is clear you will most likely see the most stunning display of stars and distant galaxies. Your chef will prepare a sumptuous and hearty dinner before we retire for the night to rest our weary limbs!
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Lowest Elevation: 3,205 m/ 10,512 ft.
- Highest Elevation: 4,610m/15,124 ft.
- Distance to walk: 12 km/7.5 miles
- Approximate walking time: 7 to 8 hours.
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate
- Difficulty: Easy
- Area: Dry Mountain
2
Day 02: Pampa Japonesa – Inca Chiriasca – Millpo
You will be woken at dawn with a steaming hot cup of coffee or coca tea and a delicious, nutritious breakfast. Day 2 is a strenuous and long hike which will climb up to many high passes. But don’t worry, your guide will ensure we take a pace that best suits the group, and take plenty of rest when needed.
With incredible views of the Andes all around us, we first hike uphill for 2 hours to Inca Chiriasca pass (4,960 m /16,272 ft.) Here we will be able to see the magnificence of the Vilcabamba and the Urubamba mountain ranges. Make sure your camera batteries are fully charged!
We then hike along an original Inca Trail for 3 hours until arriving at the Tocto pass (4820m/15,813 ft.) where we stop for lunch. Once again our team will have forged ahead (you will wonder at how they move so quickly!) and the lunch site will already be prepared for our arrival.
After lunch, we continue for another 2 hours to the Calacocha pass (4,660 m/15,288 ft.) and then for a further hour to the pass of Cruz Casa (4,620 m/15,157 ft.) After a short 1 hour climb to the Millpo Pass, from here we take a gentle descent for an hour to our camp for the night at Millpo (4390 m/14,402 ft.)
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Lowest Elevation: 4390 m/14,402 ft.
- Highest Elevation: 4,960 m /16,272 ft.
- Distance to walk: 16 km/10 miles
- Approximate walking time: 9 to 10 hours
- Level of Difficulty: Challenging
- Area: Dry Mountain
3
Day 03: Millpo – Yahuarmaky – Ancascocha
We rise very early on Day 3 and after breakfast we begin by hiking uphill for about an hour to the Chusquenay pass (4,630 m/15,190 ft.) followed by a 1 hour descent to the pass of Rumi Inca. We continue upwards for an hour to the valley of Yahuarmaky.
Climbing again for about two hours until we reach the pass of Aqocasa (4,689 m/15,383 ft.), this is yet another spectacular place to enjoy the vistas across the magnificent Andes. Here we can see part of the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu far in the distance as well the Salkantay, Humantay, and Huayanay glaciers. The glaciers are simply breathtaking!
From Aqocasa pass, we descend for 3 hours to a small Inca ruin named Inca Racay. We will stop here for our lunch and your guide will tell stories of the ancient ruins.
After lunch we climb for an hour to the Huayanay pass (4,650m/15,255 ft.), and then take a steady 3 hour downhill path to the small village of Ancascocha and our camp for the night (3,700m/12,139 ft.)
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Lowest Elevation: 3,700m/12,139 ft.
- Highest Elevation: 4,689 m/15,383 ft.
- Distance to walk: 14 km/8.6 miles
- Approximate walking time: 8 to 9 hours
- Level of Difficulty: Challenging
- Area: Dry Mountain
4
Day 04: Ancascocha – Silque Valley – Camicancha – Ollantaytambo- Aguas Calientes
On Day 4 we take a 6 hour hike downhill through the most incredible canyon to the small village of Chilca. On our way we will pass several small villages and no doubt see the villagers going about their simple lives. We will also see beautiful orchids and many of the wild plants that the locals use for medicinal purposes.
Once we arrive at Camicancha (2,900 m/9,514 ft.) we will enjoy our last lunch from our chef before taking a local van to Ollantaytambo. It is from here that we take a 2 hour scenic train ride to the beautiful town of Aguas Calientes (2,040 m/6,692 ft.) Photo opportunities are endless as we carve through the valley floor into the lush green vegetation of the Aguas Calientes area.
Arriving in town, we escort you to your quality hotel where you will have some time to relax before dinner. After 3 nights in the mountains, your comfortable hotel room (and the hot shower!) will be a welcome sight. The natural hot springs in town are also a great place to relax if there is time before dinner. We take dinner together at a quality local restaurant with an extensive menu (drinks not included) before retiring to the hotel to prepare for the early start on Machu Picchu.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Lowest Elevation: 2,040 m/6,692 ft.
- Highest Elevation: 3,700 m /12, 139 ft.
- Distance to walk: 11 km/6.8 miles
- Approximate walking time: 5 to 6 hours
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate
- Area: Dry Mountain
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Day 5: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
After a very early breakfast at your hotel we take one of the first buses (5:30am) along the winding road to Machu Picchu to see the magnificent sunrise. Your guide will then give a 2 hour walking tour of this breathtaking site, named as one of the new 7 wonders of the world. Your entry ticket to Machu Picchu is included in the price of the trek.
If you have elected to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountains* you can begin the hike once your guided tour concludes. The ticket price for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain is also included in the price of your trek. If you choose not to climb the mountain you will have plenty of free time to explore Machu Picchu before returning to Aguas Calientes by bus.
Arriving back in Aguas Calientes you will board the expedition train to Ollantaytambo. From here you will travel by private van to Cusco and back to your hotel. Your arrival time in Cusco will depend on the time of your train ticket.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Lowest Elevation: 2,040 m/ 6,692 ft.
- Highest Elevation: 2,440 m/ 8,052 ft.
- Level of Difficulty: Easy/Challenging*
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