Huchuy Qosqo Trek 2 Days to Machu Picchu
Huchuy Qosqo’s hidden ruins paired with a full second day exploring Machu Picchu itself.
The Huchuy Qosqo Trek 2 Days to Machu Picchu combines two experiences most travelers never get to have together: a hike to one of the Sacred Valley’s least-visited Inca sites, and a guided visit to Machu Picchu — all in two well-organized days.
Day 1 follows the same route as our Huchuy Qosqo Full Day Trek: crossing Tres Cruces Pass (4,300 m), descending an original Inca trail past the Pucamarca checkpoint and Leon Punku gateway, to the royal palace ruins of Huchuy Qosqo. From there, a private transfer and evening train take you to Aguas Calientes. Day 2 is dedicated entirely to a guided tour of Machu Picchu.
Kondor Path Tours, headquartered in Cusco and fully licensed, operates this trip directly from booking to trailhead — no resellers. No government permit is required for the Huchuy Qosqo portion of this route, making it a flexible alternative to the classic Inca Trail.
| 🥾 Duration | 2 days / 1 night |
| 📏 Distance | 13 km (8 mi) — Day 1 only |
| ⛰️ Max altitude | 4,300 m / 14,108 ft — Tres Cruces Pass |
| 🚐 Trailhead | Qoricocha Lagoon, near Chinchero |
| 🏛️ Includes | Machu Picchu guided tour, Day 2 |
| 💪 Difficulty | Demanding overall; Moderate (Day 1), Easy (Day 2) |
| 📅 Season | May to December |
| 👥 Group size | 1–10 hikers |
| 🔞 Minimum age | 13+ years |
| 💲 Price | Scalable from $359 USD per person (groups of 1–10) |
Here’s what makes the Huchuy Qosqo Trek 2 Days to Machu Picchu worth 2 days. – Cross Tres Cruces Pass (4,300 m) with panoramic views of Qoricocha Lagoon and the Andes. – Walk an original Inca trail past the Pucamarca checkpoint and Leon Punku gateway. – Explore Huchuy Qosqo, the royal palace of the eighth Inca ruler, Viracocha. – Scenic evening train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. This is the heart of the Huchuy Qosqo Trek 2 Days to Machu Picchu experience.
The Huchuy Qosqo Trek 2 Days takes the same route as our full-day version of this hike — Tres Cruces Pass, the original Inca trail past Pucamarca and Leon Punku, and the royal palace ruins of Huchuy Qosqo — and extends it with an evening train to Aguas Calientes and a full guided day at Machu Picchu.
| Feature | Huchuy Qosqo Full Day | Huchuy Qosqo from Lamay | Huchuy Qosqo 2 Days | Huchuy Qosqo 3 Days + Short IT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route | Tres Cruces Pass | Direct from Lamay | Tres Cruces Pass | Km 104, official permit |
| Machu Picchu | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes, Day 2 | ✅ Yes, via Sun Gate |
| Overnight | None | None | 1 night, Aguas Calientes | 2 nights |
| Best for | Full-day hike, no MP | Fastest, shortest option | Off-the-beaten-path MP alternative | Sun Gate arrival experience |
The same Tres Cruces Pass crossing and Huchuy Qosqo ruins are paired here with a full second day at Machu Picchu, continuing on by train from Ollantaytambo after the trek. It’s a way to combine a genuinely off-the-beaten-path Inca site with the country’s most famous one, in a single efficient trip.
Day 1 tackles the trek’s highest point, Tres Cruces Pass (4,300 m), early, while trekkers are fresh from Cusco. The trail then descends past the ruins and down toward Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, a substantial drop in elevation, before the train to Aguas Calientes — meaning Day 2’s Machu Picchu visit unfolds at far gentler altitude than the trek itself.
Your guide picks you up from your hotel in Cusco at 07:00 AM, and the drive heads northwest to Qoricocha Lagoon, near Chinchero — the trailhead. From here, a steady climb leads to Tres Cruces Pass (4,300 m / 14,108 ft), with sweeping views over the lagoon and surrounding peaks.
From the pass, the original Inca trail begins its descent, passing the Pucamarca checkpoint ruins and the Leon Punku gateway, an impressive piece of Inca stone infrastructure built directly into the trail. After roughly three and a half hours of walking, the trail arrives at Huchuy Qosqo, entering through the Royal Inca Trail to the Temple of the Condor esplanade, facing the Sacred Valley below.
After a box lunch and time to explore the ruins, private transport takes you near Lamay to Ollantaytambo, where you board the evening train (Inca Rail, Voyager 45, departure 16:36) to Aguas Calientes, arriving at 18:09.
Day 1 stats
Box Lunch
Moderate
13.km (8. miles)
3.5 Hrs.
Tres Cruces Pass: 4,323m (14,183 ft)
Parking Lot: 3,320m (10,829 ft)
Tres Cruces Pass: 4,323m (14,183 ft)
Breakfast at your hotel at 06:00 AM. At 08:20, board the Consettur bus for the 500-meter ascent to the Machu Picchu entrance. Your 2-hour guided tour begins at 09:00, exploring the citadel’s most significant sectors, including the Watchman’s House viewpoint for a classic panoramic photo.
In the afternoon, board the return train (Inca Rail, Voyager 44, departure 14:30) to Ollantaytambo, arriving 16:04, followed by private transport to Cusco, arriving approximately 17:50.
Day 2 stats
Breakfast
Easy
A light walk
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 Huchuy Qosqo 3 Days + Short Inca Trail.
| 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.
Important: starting January 1, 2026, Machu Picchu entry follows fixed time slots (6:00–14:00, hourly), valid once per day.
A 2-day itinerary combining a hike over Tres Cruces Pass to the little-visited Huchuy Qosqo ruins on Day 1, with an evening train to Aguas Calientes and a full guided tour of Machu Picchu on Day 2.
Both cover the same Day 1 route — Tres Cruces Pass to Huchuy Qosqo.
The Full Day Trek ends there and returns to Cusco the same day. This 2-Day version continues with a train to Aguas Calientes and a Machu Picchu visit the next day.
No permit is required for the Huchuy Qosqo portion of the route. A standard Machu Picchu entrance ticket is required for Day 2, included in your booking.
Rated Demanding overall. Day 1 involves a real climb to Tres Cruces Pass (4,300 m) and about 3.5 hours of hiking, rated Moderate. Day 2 is an easy guided walking tour of Machu Picchu.
No. Day 1 ends with a train to Aguas Calientes, where you stay in a hotel (not included) before Machu Picchu the next day.
The recommended minimum age is 13 years old.
May through December.
This 2-Day trek uses the Tres Cruces Pass route to Huchuy Qosqo, with no permit required, and reaches Machu Picchu by train and bus.
The 3-Day version uses a different route via Km 104, requiring an official Short Inca Trail permit, and arrives at Machu Picchu on foot through the Sun Gate.
Inca Rail, both directions — Voyager 45 outbound (Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes, 16:36) and Voyager 44 return (Aguas Calientes → Ollantaytambo, 14:30).
Yes — each one runs $75 per person as an add-on. These permits sell out fast — book ahead of time.
Huchuy Qosqo Trek 2 Days New Map
| Persons | Price (p/p) | |
| 1 | $ 794.00 USD | |
| 2 | $ 558.00 USD | |
| 3 | $ 480.00 USD | |
| 4 | $ 436.00 USD | |
| 5 | $ 412.00 USD | |
| 6 | $ 396.00 USD | |
| 7 | $ 383.00 USD | |
| 8 | $ 373.00 USD | |
| 9 | $ 365.00 USD | |
| 10 | $ 359.00 USD |
Explore breathtaking landscapes at Huchuy Qosqo in Peru with a 2-day guided trekking tour!
