Huchuy Qosqo Trek: complete Guide 2025

Huchuy Qosqo is one of the best alternatives for travelers who love adventure and want to take a short walk through unchallenging terrain to the majestic Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Reaching this point will be most comforting for your soul, body, and memory.

The trek to Huchuy Qosqo 01 day is not very popular with tourists. However, the view gained from natural landscapes is truly irreplaceable. Due to the beautiful Sacred Valley, the Vilcanota mountain range, and the sacred snow-capped mountains protecting the city of Calca.

Inca Trail 4 Days

During the hike, you will have the opportunity to interact with local people. You will learn a little about their daily lives with great pride. Also, they are willing to share their experiences charmingly with their visitors.

Where is HUCHUY QOSQO FOUND?

The Archaeological Center of Huchuy Qosqo is located in the Lamay district in the Calca, Cusco region. It is on a plain and faces the best-known snow-capped mountains of the Sacred Valley, Pitusiray, and Sahuasiray.

WHAT IS THE HEIGHT OF HUCHUY QOSQO?

The Archaeological Center of Huchuy Qosqo is located 3600 meters above sea level. In an area called a subtropical montane moist forest, descending in this way towards the warmest heights of the town of Aguas Calientes.

Throughout the trek, we will appreciate the different altitudes of the Quechua and Suni regions, but on the last day of the hike, we will descend to 2000 meters above sea level.

The minimum height is 2050 m / 6725 ft (last day). Aguas Calientes

The maximum elevation is 5020 m / 16470 ft (first day). Abra Qoriccocha

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN HUCHUY QOSQO?

The district of Lamay is located within the Sacred Valley, so the weather is not as cold as in Cusco. It is usually cool and warm, except for the rainy season.

We will experience different weather changes while en route to Machu Picchu, so we will prepare for unexpected weather changes.

Rainy season:

Temperatures fluctuate from 0 °C to 18 °C from October to April. Cloudy skies, mainly during January and February, and some sunshine are present. The most considerable amount of accumulated rainfall is 108 millimeters.

Dry Season:

It covers May to September, and temperatures range from -2 °C on average to more than 21 °C in June and July. The sun’s presence is notorious, but cold and frost are present at night and early in the morning. The average accumulated rainfall is 03 millimeters.

The humidity level does not vary much throughout the year; it remains 0%.

ATTRACTIONS TO SEE IN HUCHUY QOSQO

The Huchuy Qosqo trek lasts 02 days/01 night and is a short and little-known route to Machu Picchu. During the two days of walking, you can perceive the change in altitudinal floors. Most of these are natural landscapes accompanied by the visit’s archaeological centers.

Tambomachay, 4100 m/13451 ft:

It is an archaeological site built by the Incas; its name comes from Quechua, meaning ‘Place of Rest.’ It was intended as a resting place and worship for water. This site has a large room with niches and another that resembles a bathroom with a system of aqueducts, waterfalls, and channels finely worked in stone, which continues to function today.

Open Qoriccocha: 5020 m / 16470 ft.

This point is an Abra or natural pass at the top of the mountain; it is close to the Qoriccocha Lagoon (from Quechua and Golden Lagoon) and the community of Qenqo. This sector is the highest point to which you ascend on this route. You have a great view of the mountains and the Qoriccocha lagoon.

Qenqo Town, 3600 m / 11811 ft:

The Qenqo or Qoriccocha community is the first resting point on this route. It is a typical town with a cozy atmosphere; today, the community maintains ancient customs and traditions. The people are mainly dedicated to raising llamas and alpacas and making textiles from the llamas of these camelids.

Open Siwar: 4000 m / 13123 ft.

• This mountain pass is the next point of height visited.
• This point gives way to a beautiful and secluded valley.

You can find native plants, flowers, crops, and many birds. The mountain pass is located near the Siwar community. This small valley’s landscape differs from the previous ones due to its microclimate.

Huchuy Qosqo, 3600 m / 11811 ft:

The ruins of Huchuy Qosqo were built by the Incas and located on a small plane above the Lamay rock wall. This set presents stone and mud buildings such as a Kallanka, terraces, houses, and irrigation canals. In addition, you have a fantastic view of the sacred valley and the mountains from the place. It mentions that it was the place of retirement and rest for the last years of Wiracocha’s life in the past. And that is not all; there is information that confirms that Huychuy Qosqo is also one of the metaphysical archaeological sites such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo, but they are many years old. It was a unique construction for the time it was made.

FLORA AND FAUNA IN HUCHUY QOSQO

The flora in the Huchuy Qosqo Trek is characteristic of the high Andean zone or the Quechua and Puna altitude floors. On this route, the flora is varied but not so leafy. Likewise, we will also see the traditional fields of cultivation.

• The flora that can be found on the walk to Huchuy Qosqo is:
  • Ichu or Straw—Stipa ichu
  • Maguey, Agave americana
  • Achupalla-Puya herrerae
  • Savage: Tillandsia usneoides
  • Molle: Schinus molle
  • Ayac Slipper, Calceolaria Chrysosphaera.
  • Kantu–Eustephia
  • Cactus with red flowers—Corryocactus Squarrosus
  • Potato: Solanum tuberosum
  • Broad bean: Vicia faba

You can find another type of flora in Machu Picchu, which is more characteristic of the jungle. In other words, abundant vegetation and, even more, a great variety of orchids, such as:

• Queñuales – Plylepis
• Floripondio – Brugmansia arborea
• Yahuarchonka-Oenothera Rosea
• Stormy Nicotine, Khamato Solanaceae
• Tree Fern, Cyathea Caracasana
• Ayac Slipper, Calceolaria Chrysosphaera
• False Kion: Hedychium coronarium
• Achanqaray-Begonia Veitchii
• Begonia—Begonia bracteosa
• Carnation of the Air: Tillandsia fendleri.
• Chimpu Chimpu, Bolivian Fuchsia
• Morning Glory—Cobaea scandens

More than 500 species of orchids have been registered in the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Here are some that you can appreciate:

• Angulosa Virginalis.
• Sobralia dichotoma
• Corn Corn (Elleanihus Capitatus).
• Waqanki (Masdevallia Veitchiana).
• Winaywayna (Epidendrum Secundum).
• Sobralia Virginalis.
• Trichopilia Frayans.
• Odontoglossum.

Does the trek to Huchuy Qosqo for two days or one night include the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu?

The permit or ticket to enter the citadel of Machu Picchu is included in the tour price, but not the different walks that can be found outside the main concourse.

Tickets to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain cost USD 85.00 per person. Therefore, one must buy another type of entrance ticket containing one to obtain one of these additional tickets.

Necessary documentation for Machu Picchu

Documentation is essential for entering Machu Picchu, as well as for train tickets. In this case, you must carry the documents you provided to your sales agent for purchases. Since they are the ones they will use to verify personal data information. There should be no errors:

• Valid original passport
• Identity card
• National identity document
• Student card (if you are applying for the discount)

Remember that if the information you provided when making the purchase is incorrect, you will not be able to enter, much less board, the train.

Note: If you renewed your passport days before the trip, it must be updated before the first day of the trek. To make the arrangements, you must send the corresponding agency a copy of your old and new passports.

How long can I be in Machu Picchu?

The visit time to the citadel of Machu Picchu is an average of 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours. This time is the maximum used to carry out the primary circuit, which contains the most outstanding sites of the entire Historic Sanctuary.

You should know there is no free time after the guide to visit the site independently. You can re-enter the attraction if you buy one of the extra hiking tickets (Huayna Picchu or Machupicchu Mountain).

Huayna Picchu: The average time is 1 hour up and 45 minutes down. The steep path has small steps, so traveling with minors is not a good idea. It is somewhat risky and not recommended for people with vertigo or heart problems. In addition, once you reach the top, you will only have an average of 3–9 minutes to take the respective photos, and then you will have to keep going.

Machu Picchu Mountain: The average climb takes 1 hour and 30 minutes, and the descent approximately 1 hour. It is recommended for people traveling with minors. The path is much broader and not as risky as the previous one. Also, the time to take photos at the top is a little more than that of Huayna Picchu.

Where do I leave my belongings when I visit Machu Picchu?

The state prohibits luggage or backpacks that exceed 8 kilos or measure 40 x 35 x 20 cm when entering Machu Picchu.

In such a case, you can leave your belongings in the luggage storage place of the hotel where you stayed the night before you visited Machu Picchu. You can consult this with the receptionist at the establishment. This way, you will only take what is necessary for the great adventure.

On the other hand, the state provides a place to store your belongings at the entrance gate to Machu Picchu. There is another place where you can do it; it is located next to the toilets, but it costs S/5.00 per person.

Most visitors prefer to store their money in this second option since they think there will be more security than the free one if they pay. However, both places are suitable for keeping your things safe.

Regulations in Machu Picchu 2025

Machu Picchu has certain restrictions that visitors must meet, like any place or archaeological center. Otherwise, the security guards or park rangers who manage the historic sanctuary will sanction them.

Bags or backpacks with dimensions no greater than 40 x 35 x 20 cm are not allowed; therefore, they must be stored in the luggage store at the entrance door.

• It would help if you did not climb the walls or pass the security strips.
• Umbrellas are not allowed.
• Tripods and drones are not allowed.
• It is not allowed to enter with musical instruments or loudspeakers.
• Only walking shoes are allowed.
• Pushchairs are not allowed.
• If walking sticks are used, they should be soft-tipped, not metal.
• Food and alcoholic beverages are not allowed entry.
• Recommended equipment for the Huchuy Qosqo trek

Typically, the agencies that provide a complete service offer certain facilities in the equipment. When you brief, who will provide you with a specially designed duffel bag or backpack of the appropriate weight? These items can weigh 5 or 6 kilos. It would be best if you considered that, within this weight, the sleeping bag, the thermal insulation, and your belongings for the three days of the walk must be included. Therefore, you should pack only the essentials.

We can openly say this is the most common question among travelers so that we will give you some guidelines. Remember, the porters will carry this; therefore, you will not have access to this luggage during the trek, only in the camps.

• 03 or 04 short or long sleeve polo shirts
• 2-3 hiking pants
• 03 sets of underwear
• 03 or 04 pairs of socks
• windbreaker
• warm jacket
• 01 waterproof jacket or rain poncho
• Gloves, scarf, and hat for the cold
• Sun hat or cap
• Trekking shoes / Spare shoes (in case they get wet)
• Cleaning supplies kit
• Some snacks
• Airtight plastic bags (to organize your clothes)
• Sleeping bag
• portable battery charger