Huchuy Qosqo Trek: complete Guide 2023

Huchuy Qosqo is one of the best alternatives for those travelers who love adventure and want to take a short walk—through unchallenging terrain, heading 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.

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. Particularly on a plain, they face 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 2050m / 6725 ft – (last day) Aguas Calientes

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

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN HUCHUY QOSQO?

The district of Lamay does locate within the Sacred Valley. That is why the weather is not as cold as in Cusco. Most of the time, the weather is cool and warm, except for the rainy season.

While we are on the route to Machu Picchu, we will go through different weather changes. Therefore, we will take care of the surprising weather changes.

Rainy season:

From October to April, temperatures fluctuate from 0 °C to 18 °C. They show cloudy skies, mainly during January and February, and some rays of sunshine. The most significant amount of accumulated rainfall is 108 millimeters.

Dry Season:

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

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

ATTRACTIONS TO SEE IN HUCHUY QOSQO

The Huchuy Qosqo trek for 02 days / 01 night is a short and little-known route to Machu Picchu. During the 02 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 – 4100m / 13451ft:

It is an archaeological site built by the Incas; its name comes from Quechua, meaning ‘Place of Rest.’ It did intend 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 – 5020m / 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 – 3600m / 11811ft:

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 do mainly dedicated to raising llamas and alpacas and making textiles from the llama of these camelids.

Open Siwar – 4000m / 13123ft:

• 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 does locate near the community of Siwar. This small valley shows a landscape different from the previous ones due to its particular microclimate.

Huchuy Qosqo – 3600m / 11811ft:

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, from the place, you have a fantastic view of the sacred valley and the mountains. 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 find 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 2 days/ 1 nights 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 to the different walks that can find outside the main concourse.

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

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 is incorrect with which you made the purchase, you will not be able to enter, much less board the train.

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

How long can I be in Machu Picchu?

The visit time in 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 that 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. We would say that 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, then you will have to keep going.

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

Where to leave my belongings when I visit Machu Picchu?

Within the prohibitions by the state for entering Machu Picchu, we find that luggage or backpacks that exceed 8 kilos or measure 40 x 35 x 20 cm are not allowed.

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 reception of 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 also another place where you can do it, it does locate next to the toilets, but it costs S/ 5.00 per person.

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

Regulations in Machu Picchu 2023

Machu Picchu has certain restrictions that visitors must meet, like any place or archaeological center. Otherwise, they will be sanctioned by the security guards or park rangers who take care of the Historic Sanctuary.

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 do use, they should be soft-tipped, not metal.
• The entry of food and alcoholic beverages is not allowed.
• Recommended equipment for the Huchuy Qosqo trek

Typically, the agencies that provide a complete service offer you certain facilities in the equipment. When your briefing, who will provide you with a specially designed duffel bag or backpack to have the appropriate weight? These items can be 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 03 days of the walk must be included. Therefore, you should pack only the essentials.

We can openly say that this is the most common question among travelers, so that we will give you some guidelines. Remember that 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