Huchuy Qosqo is located in the peasant community of the same name, just under 5 km from the city of Calca in the department of Cusco, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas; exactly on a summit at 570 m. on the basin of the Urubamba river (Vilcanota). The Huchuy Qosqo route is very beautiful; touring its trails will allow you to visit some Andean communities, archaeological centers and enjoy beautiful landscapes. Many people take advantage of visiting Huchuy Qosqo on their trip to Machu Picchu.
Huchuy Qosqo was a town at more than 3,550 m.s. on a small plateau at the top of a mountain. From here you can see beautiful views of the other side of the valley, it is possible to appreciate snow-capped mountains of exuberant beauty such as the snow-capped Pitusiray and at the bottom of this privileged view, the town of Calca.
It is known by the chroniclers that it was the Inca Wiracocha who ordered the construction of the city of Huchuy Qosqo; it is said that in his old age, he felt tired and desirable to leave the government and get away from the movement of the capital of the Tahuantinsuyo empire (Cusco) and seek peace and tranquility in this place; It is built on a territory occupied by several human settlements, over time, these serials dominated and incorporated into the Inca Empire. One of these settlements was precisely on Huchuy Qosqo.
Day 1: Cusco - Tambomachay - Patabamba and Siwas
Day 2: Huchuy Qosco - Lamay - Aguas Calientes
Day 3: Machu Picchu - Cusco
Starting Altitude: 3800m / 12,467ft.
Highest Altitude: 4300m / 14,107ft.
Walking Distance: 18km / 11 miles
Longest Day: Day 1, approximately 10km / 6.2 miles
Coldest Night: Day 1 around -2º celsius
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate.
Wet season: November to March and April.
We pick you up at your hotel at 5:00 a.m. to begin the tour, and we head to Tambomachay just outside of Cusco. Our path takes us through high passes, through valleys and small communities. The area is home to a wide variety of birds, including Andean geese, partridges and lapwings, as well as a variety of birds or birds, all of which are regularly observed throughout the day Today, we will visit two Andean towns, both located near a small lake. First we went through Patabamba, a community and a traditional school with a small school. Then, we go to Siwas, located at the top of the Sacred Valley, the people here and now the customs and traditions of the past and most of the villagers derive their income from agriculture and the grazing of llamas and alpacas. As there are only few tourists who have come this way, people are always intrigued to see who has come to visit their town and welcome them with open arms.
Today our goal is to learn about the customs and culture of the Andean people and a visit to the Inca site of Huchuy Qosco.
We woke up early and visited a local family for breakfast. People are incredibly welcoming and are as eager to learn about you as you are from them.They do not receive many visitors in this area and they are always interested in knowing us. After the visit, you will have the opportunity to give any gift you have brought to the local population and also to buy some of the local products.
Then we will go to Huchuy Qosco Peru. The route follows an original Inca Trail that takes us to the beautiful and isolated valley that is full of plants, flowers and native birds. It really feels like another world compared to the tall grasslands we have left behind. In total, it takes approximately two and a half hours to get to Huchuy Qosco and after a break to rest and enjoy the views of the Sacred Valley, you will have a guided tour of the site to learn about the Incas and their culture. In the afternoon we go to the Sacred Valley to the town of Lamay, where we take a bus to Ollantaytambo and then a train to Aguas Calientes.
On this day, you will wake up early and take the bus to the entrance of the Machu Picchu citadel. There, you will have a guided tour of approximately 2 hours around the archaeological site. During your visit, you will learn about the Incas and visit all the most important areas of the citadel, such as temples, agricultural terraces and more. After your tour, you can climb Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Mountain, as long as you have booked the Circuit 1 or Circuit 3 in advance. In the afternoon, you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo and from there continue by bus back to Cusco.
