Ancascocha Trek 5 Days to Machu Picchu
The full Ancascocha route on foot — quiet high passes and remote lagoons on the way to Machu Picchu.
The Ancascocha Trek 5 Days to Machu Picchu is the longest and most immersive version of this remote Andean route — recently named one of the world’s 20 best hikes by National Geographic. Over five days, it covers 54 km, visiting the Perolniyoc Waterfall and Inca ruins (Day 1, exclusive to this itinerary), crossing Kuychicassa Pass (4,450 m) and Huayanay Pass (4,630 m) — the highest point of the trek — before descending through the Inca site of Paucarcancha to connect with the train to Machu Picchu.
As a locally-owned, licensed operator based in Cusco, Kondor Path Tours runs this trek in-house — no resellers, no added commissions. Departures run March through December for this trek, and the driest window falls between April and September.
Looking for a shorter version? See our Ancascocha Trek 3 Days (with horseback support) or the standard 4-Day itinerary.
| 🥾 Duration | 5 days / 4 nights (100% camping) |
| 📏 Distance | 54 km total across 4 trekking days |
| ⛰️ Max altitude | 4,630 m / 15,190 ft — Huayanay Pass |
| 🏞️ Exclusive highlight | Perolniyoc Waterfall and Inca ruins, Day 1 |
| 💪 Difficulty | Demanding |
| 📅 Season | March to December (April–September driest) |
| 👥 Group size | 1–16 hikers |
| 🔞 Minimum age | 14+ years |
| 💲 Price | Scalable from $595 USD per person (groups of 1–10) |
The Ancascocha Trek 5 Days to Machu Picchu makes the most of 5 days. – Perolniyoc Waterfall and Inca ruins — a highlight exclusive to this 5-day itinerary, visited on Day 1. – Cross Kuychicassa Pass (4,450 m) and Huayanay Pass (4,630 m), the highest point of the entire trek. – Explore Paucarcancha, an Inca checkpoint site sitting inside the buffer zone of the Historic Sanctuary. – National Geographic recognition — named one of the world’s 20 best hikes. The Ancascocha Trek 5 Days to Machu Picchu delivers on every one of these.
The Ancascocha Trek 5 Days is the longest and most immersive of Kondor Path’s Ancascocha itineraries — recognized by National Geographic as one of the world’s top 20 hikes. Unlike the shorter versions, it dedicates a full day to the Perolniyoc Waterfall and Inca ruins, giving the trek a slower, more gradual rhythm before the demanding pass crossings begin.
| Trek Version | Duration | Distance | Highest Point | Unique Feature | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Days | Shortest | ~28 km | Huayanay Pass, 4,630 m | Horseback ride, Day 1 | Limited time, still want the full route |
| 4 Days | Balanced | Mid-range | Huayanay Pass, ~4,630 m | Standard on-foot pace | A scenic alternative to the Inca Trail |
| 5 Days (este doc) | Longest | 54 km | Huayanay Pass, 4,630 m | Perolniyoc Waterfall + ruins, Day 1 | Maximum immersion, National Geographic-recognized route |
The full 5-day Ancascocha Trek covers the entire route on foot — from Socma and the Perolniyoc Waterfall, over Kuychicassa Pass to Ancascocha Lagoon itself, and across Huayanay Pass toward Paucarcancha — before the classic approach to Machu Picchu via Km 82. This is the most immersive version of the trek, walking every step of a route most visitors to Peru never even hear about.
Altitude builds gradually across the first three days rather than in one push. Day 2 crosses Kuychicassa Pass en route to Ancascocha Lagoon, and Day 3 tackles Huayanay Pass (4,630 m), the trek’s highest point — by which time two full trekking days have already conditioned the body. From there, Day 4’s descent to Ollantaytambo drops elevation significantly before the train to Aguas Calientes, so Day 5’s Machu Picchu visit takes place at a comfortably lower altitude.
Your guide picks you up from your hotel in Cusco at 06:00 AM for the drive northeast through Izcuchaca and Huarocondo to the trailhead at Socma (3,205 m / 10,512 ft), in the Pomatales Canyon — about 1 hour 20 minutes. From here, the trek begins with a climb toward the Perolniyoc Waterfall, a highlight found on no other Ancascocha itinerary.
After taking in the falls and photographing the Perolniyoc Inca ruins at the top, the trail continues to the first campsite at Rayan (3,700 m), with a lunch stop at the Perolniyoc Inca site along the way. This gentler opening day serves as a natural warm-up before the demanding passes ahead.
Day 1 stats
1L, 1D
Moderate
8km (5 miles)
4 Hrs.
Socma: 3,205m (10,512 ft)
None
Rayan: 3,650m (11,975 ft)
Starting at 06:00, the trail follows an ancient Inca path through high Andean terrain — miniature shrubs, extensive grasslands, and panoramic views over the Sacred Valley and glacier-covered peaks. The day crosses two passes: first Puccaqasa (4,370 m / 14,333 ft), then Kuychicassa Pass (4,450 m / 14,596 ft), the highest point of the day. A lunch stop at Chancachuco breaks up the long trekking day before the descent to camp at Ancascocha (4,090 m).
Day 2 stats
1B, 1L, 1D.
Challenging
18km (11.2 miles)
9-10 Hrs.
Rayan: 3,650m (11,975 ft)
Ancascocha 3,700m (12,136 ft)
Kuychicassa Pass: 4,450m (14,596 ft)
The trek’s toughest day begins early, at 05:30. The trail climbs for about an hour to Huayanay Pass (4,630 m / 15,190 ft) — the highest point of the entire trek — along an original cobblestone Inca path with a steep zigzag ascent. A waterfall feeding into Ancascocha Lagoon accompanies the climb, and from the summit, sweeping views open over the Socma and Paucarcancha valleys.
The descent is long — about 5 hours — passing the ruins of Inca Racay and the rural area of Qesqa, using trekking poles recommended for the rocky, sometimes muddy terrain, before reaching the fertile valley of Paucarcancha (3,000 m). This Inca checkpoint site once controlled traffic between the Socma Valley, Huayanay, the Sacred Valley, Salkantay, and the Inca Trail — and sits inside the buffer zone of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
Day 3 stats
1B, 1BL, 1D.
Challenging
15km (9 miles)
9 Hrs.
Ancascocha 3,700m (12,136 ft)
Paucarcancha: 3,000m (9,842 ft)
Huayanay Pass: 4,650m (15,298 ft)
An easier day following the Classic Inca Trail sector down to Km 82 of the railway, walking alongside Inca archaeological remains. Lunch is taken near the start of the Inca Trail before the final stretch to Km 82, where the trekking crew — muleteers and cook — say their farewells.
From Km 82, private transport takes the group to Ollantaytambo, where you board the evening train (Inca Rail, Voyager 45, departure 16:36) to Aguas Calientes, arriving around 18:09.
Day 4 stats
Overnight in Aguas Calientes (hotel not included).
1B, 1L.
Moderate
13km (8.2 miles)
5 Hrs
Paucarcancha: 3,000m (9,842 ft)
KM 82: 2,750m (9,000 ft)
None
In the morning, board the bus (or hike, ~1.5 hours) up to Machu Picchu. Your 2-hour guided tour starts at the top of the citadel for the best overview, then continues exploring the site’s most significant sectors.
In the afternoon, return to Aguas Calientes for the train (Inca Rail, Voyager 44, departure 14:30) to Ollantaytambo, arriving 16:04, followed by private transport to Cusco, arriving by 18:00.
Day 5 stats
Easy
2Hrs tour
2-hour guided tour
Machu Picchu Pueblo: 2,065m (6,774 ft)
Machu Picchu Ruins: 2,400m (7,874 ft)
Cusco: 3,350m (10,990 ft)
Looking for something different in duration or pace? Compare it with our Ancascocha Trek 3 Days.
| Upgrade | Detail | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|
| PeruRail Vistadome | 3 tiers available | +$85 / +$95 / +$125 per person |
| Hiram Bingham luxury train | Return journey only (Machu Picchu → Poroy) | +$498 |
| Huayna Picchu entrance | Add-on climb | +$75 |
| Machu Picchu Mountain entrance | Add-on climb | +$75 |
| Machu Picchu re-entry | Second entrance same day | +$75 |
Student discount: college students receive $20 off the Machu Picchu entrance fee (unified with the rest of the catalog) — valid ID required.
The most complete and immersive version of the Ancascocha route — recently named one of National Geographic’s top 20 hikes in the world. Over five days, it visits the Perolniyoc Waterfall, crosses Kuychicassa and Huayanay passes, and finishes with a guided tour of Machu Picchu.
This is the only Ancascocha itinerary that visits the Perolniyoc Waterfall and Inca ruins (Day 1).
It’s also the longest at 54 km, fully on foot, offering the most gradual acclimatization and the deepest wilderness immersion of the three.
Rated Demanding overall. Days 2 and 3 are the hardest, crossing two high passes (Kuychicassa at 4,450 m and Huayanay at 4,630 m) with long trekking days of 9-10 hours. Day 1 and Day 4 are more moderate, and Day 5 is an easy guided walk at Machu Picchu.
Huayanay Pass, at 4,630 m (15,190 ft), crossed on Day 3.
The Ancascocha route itself doesn’t require a government-issued permit. A standard Machu Picchu entrance ticket is required for the final day, included in your booking.
The recommended minimum age is 14 years old, given the altitude, the multi-day camping conditions, and the demanding Day 2 and Day 3 trekking distances.
An Inca checkpoint site that once controlled traffic between several routes — Ancascocha, Salkantay, the Sacred Valley, and the Classic Inca Trail. It sits inside the buffer zone of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, making it historically significant beyond just a scenic campsite.
Yes — three nights of camping (Rayan, Ancascocha, Paucarcancha), followed by a hotel night in Aguas Calientes (not included) before Machu Picchu.
Between April and September you’ll find the clearest skies, though the trek itself runs March through December.
54 km total across four trekking days, plus a fifth day dedicated to Machu Picchu.
The Ancascocha route was named one of the world’s 20 best hikes for its combination of dramatic, untouched Andean scenery, cultural immersion in remote communities, and a genuine off-the-beaten-path alternative to the crowded Classic Inca Trail.
Both are available for $75 per person each as optional upgrades.
Transparent, scalable group pricing. The rate includes transport, a guide, horses, camping equipment, meals, train tickets, plus everything named in the Inclusions section.
| Persons | Price (p/p) | |
| 1 | $ 2 008.00 USD | |
| 2 | $ 1 243.00 USD | |
| 3 | $ 984.00 USD | |
| 4 | $ 830.00 USD | |
| 5 | $ 775.00 USD | |
| 6 | $ 733.00 USD | |
| 7 | $ 693.00 USD | |
| 8 | $ 652.00 USD | |
| 9 | $ 621.00 USD | |
| 10 | $ 595.00 USD |
Take a multi-day hike and explore Peru’s stunning landscapes on the Ancascocha 5-day trek to Machu Picchu. Discover amazing views and cultural attractions along the way!
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