Huchuy Qosqo 2D

Accommodation

• Tent: 2 people in a 4-person tent, allowing for greater comfort and backpack storage!
• Basic foam mattress. If you would like greater comfort during the trek we can rent you an inflatable mattress. See Optional Extras & Upgrades below.
• Toilet tent

Meals

• Dining tent with camp tables and chairs, and kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals
• Cook and cooking equipment, plus assistants for larger groups.
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary. Our professional cooks prepare a combination of traditional Peruvian and Western cuisine. Talk to your Travel Consultant during the booking process if you have certain preferences! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available. When served, salads are washed in boiled water.
• Boiled water to drink on the hike (which you can carry in your own reusable water bottle)
• Filtered water provided during the drive on the first day
• Lunch on the last day

Transport

• Collection from your hotel on the morning of your 2D Huchuy Qosqo trek departure
• Private transport from Cusco to the trailhead and return at the end of the trek

Trekking Team

• English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guide, plus an assistant guide for groups over 8
• Horses and horsemen, who carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 8kg/17lbs per person).
• Tents, sleeping bags and mattresses for our staff to sleep in, plus a budget for their meals

Safety

• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
• 1 emergency horse which can be ridden if you are feeling ill or if you are a little slower

Additional inclusions

• Pre-trek briefing
• Entry fee to Huchuy Qosqo

Meals

• Breakfast on the first morning
• Dinner on the last night

Equipment

• Sleeping bags. Available for rent if you don’t have one with you.
• Additional horses for your personal luggage or to ride

Other

• Tips for the guide, cook and muleteers
• Flights to/from Cusco
• Travel Insurance

We offer you the opportunity to personalize your trek and make your experience more comfortable through our Optional Extras and Upgrades. All options are available during the reservation process; please ask your sales consultant for more information.

Equipment Available for Rent

• Extra horse to carry luggage exceeding the allowed 8kg (17lbs) per person
• Extra horse for you to ride, and horseman to lead it
• Sleeping Bag suitable for -5˚C
• Deluxe sleeping bag suitable for -15˚C
• Light-weight aluminum walking stick. Two sticks are recommended for tough hikes.
• Thermarest inflatable mattress
• Thermarest inflatable pillow

Service Upgrades

• Single-occupancy tent supplement
• Comfort Camping Upgrade

Important!

• When calculating the cost of renting equipment, calculate using the length of the entire trip, not just the number of trekking days.
• Please be careful with rented equipment! You are responsible for the cost of replacement if something is damaged or broken.
• Any upgrades or trip extensions must be requested at time of booking.

We recommend that you bring the following items with you:

• A fleece or down jacket is an essential item at this elevation;
• Hiking trousers with zip off shorts are a good idea, as day time temperatures can be quite warm, yet temperatures plummet as soon as the sun goes down. You can supplement these with leggings or thermals to wear underneath;
• A rain poncho or waterproof jacket is also important. It can rain or even snow at certain times of the year!;
• Water-resistant trekking boots are advisable. The trail on this hike can sometimes be muddy and wet, so we also recommend to bring extra socks!;
• A warm sleeping bag, rated to -15°C (5°F). If you prefer, you can rent one from us;
• A headlamp or torch;
• A high factor (SPF) sunscreen, a sun cap and sunglasses. The sun can be really strong, especially in dry season. Sun protection is essential!;
• A small daypack to carry your necessary items for each day’s hiking.

For our full packing list for treks in the Andes, see What to Bring.

Our blog How to Prepare for a Trek in Peru will also give you some great tips for how to get ready for your trek, before you even leave home.

• Students: USD $30 off, in certain circumstances. Please enquire for details about eligibility.
• Youth 12-17: 5% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking.
• Children 5-11 years: 15% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking.
• Children 0-4 years: Free. A valid passport must be presented upon booking. Children under 4 will not count towards the total number of guests in a group. Car seats, cribs and other baby needs may not be included and must be discussed in advance. For more information about travelling with infants and toddlers, please see this blog as well as the Age Requirements section of our Booking Conditions.
• 5% off a day tour listed price when you also book a 3-day or longer trek operated by Apus Peru

Want to join a trek? Ready to confirm a departure date of your own, but interested in having others join you? Then Trekkers Wanted is for you! Our innovative Trekkers Wanted system matches people up who are interested in hiking the same trek, bringing costs down and multiplying the fun for everyone!

Read more about Trekkers Wanted, post your trek or search for confirmed departures!

• Each guide has their own preferred route and so the route you trek might not correspond exactly to the route described here.
• The times cited in this itinerary are approximate. Walking times depend on the group, and the guide may change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group.
• Remember that no trek in the Andes is easy. You still should be fit and prepared to hike in difficult conditions.

• Does this trek sound like just what you were looking for? If you’re ready to book or just want to find out a bit more information, fill out the Inquiry Form in the top right-hand corner of this page to get the ball rolling. You’ll be connected with one of our amazing sales people who will be able to turn your dream of hiking in the Andes into a reality. For more information on the entire booking process, please see our How To Book page.
• Travel insurance is a must! World Nomads offers travel insurance for adventure activities.

• Total Walking Distance: 12km
• Total Walking Time: 7h
• Minimum Altitude: 3800m (12,467 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 4000m (13,123 ft)
• Altitude of camp: 3800m (12,467 ft)
• Approx. night temperature: 5°C (41°F)

We leave Cusco early and take private transport towards Tambomachay. After seeing the ruins from a distance, we start to hike, climbing steeply upwards from where we will have spectacular views over the city. Over the course of the day, we will cross four gentle passes, the highest of which is 4000m (13,123 ft). Along the way, we will pass pretty alpine lakes and pastoral landscapes with grazing alpacas and potato fields. Towards the end of the day, we connect with an ancient Inca trail which will lead us down to a village filled with stone houses with thatched roofs. We will camp at the small hamlet of Pucamarca for the night. 

• Total Walking Distance: 4km
• Total Walking Time: 4h
• Minimum Altitude: 3000m (9,842 ft) / :b>Maximum Altitude: 3800m (12,467 ft)

After breakfast, we continue our hike to Huchuy Qosqo, passing through a narrow but magical canyon and with wonderful views over the Sacred Valley on the other side. After about 1.5 more hours of walking we will arrive at the Huchuy Qosqo ruins, an infrequently visited ancient Inca site that translates as “Small Cusco”. We will have time to explore the ruins and ponder its role.

From here we have a 2.5h steep and slippery descent into the Sacred Valley. We will have a late lunch in the typical and untouristed village of Lamay. From here, our private car will pick us up and return us to Cusco. If we have time, we can stop in Pisac on the way back, or Awanacancha, where you can pet camelids like alpacas, llamas, and vicuñas and learn about the region’s weaving traditions. (Please organize this with your guide).