Ancascocha Trail 3D

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3 Days / 2 Nights
Availability : Every Day.
Huata
Machu Picchu
Min Age : 8
Max People : 12

About the 3 Day Ancascocha Trail Hike

The 3 day Ancascocha Trail hike is the best way to pack maximum adventure into minimum time. You’ll see little-visited Incan archaeological sites, traditional farming villages, beautiful mountain vistas and Andean flora and fauna. Day 3 culminates in an unforgettable visit of Machu Picchu!

See Full Description

The Ancascocha Trail 3 day hike is one of the least known and adventurous routes that you can do in just two days, and not venture far from Cusco.

This untouristed Peru trek gives you a taste of a totally off-the-beaten-path route through the high Andes. Take in breathtaking mountain vistas and pastoral landscapes with nary another trekker in sight. After two days of hiking along the remote Ancascocha Trail, we take the train to Aguas Calientes. On Day 3, you will have the chance of a lifetime to see the spectacular Inca site of Machu Picchu. 

Ancascocha Trail Highlights

  • Pack maximum adventure into minimum time on this totally off-the-beaten-path route through the high Andes
  • See little-visited Incan archaeological sites, traditional farming villages, breathtaking mountain vistas and Andean flora and fauna.
  • Cap it off with an unforgettable visit of Machu Picchu!
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Price
Prices are per person in USD, based on group size. We do not have fixed-date group departures. If you do not want to book a private trek, please see our Trekkers Wanted page for a list of open departures within your dates.

2 people

$1480

3 people

$1160

4-6 people

$970

7+ people

$889
WHY BOOK WITH US?

High quality personalized experience

Unique, off-the-beaten track routes

Experienced staff

Verified sustainability practices

$20 of every trek donated to Threads of Peru

Important Details About the Ancascocha Trail

What is Included?

Accommodation

  • Tent: 2 people in a 4-person tent, allowing for greater comfort and backpack storage!
  • Camping pillows
  • Basic foam mattress. If you would like greater comfort during the trek we can rent you an inflatable mattress. See Optional Extras & Upgrades below.
  • Toilet tent
  • 1 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes in a nice, clean and safe Standard Hotel with breakfast included and private bathroom.

For greater comfort, consider upgrading your hotel.

Meals

  • Dining tent with camp tables and chairs, and kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals
  • Cook and cooking equipment, plus assistants for larger groups.
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary. Our professional cooks prepare a combination of traditional Peruvian and Western cuisine. Talk to your Travel Consultant during the booking process if you have certain preferences! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available. When served, salads are washed in boiled water.
  • Boiled water to drink on the hike (which you can carry in your own reusable water bottle)
  • Filtered water provided during the drive on the first day
  • Celebratory dinner in Aguas Calientes
  • Lunch on the last day.

Transport

  • Collection from your hotel on the morning of your 3D Ancascocha Trail trek departure
  • Private transport from Cusco to the trailhead and return at the end of the trek
  • Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and back
  • Train ticket (Vistadome service) from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
  • Train ticket (Expedition service) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
  • Private transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.

Trekking Team

  • English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guide, plus an assistant guide for groups over 8
  • Horses and horsemen, who carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 8kg/17lbs per person).
  • Tents, sleeping bags and mattresses for our staff to sleep in, plus a budget for their meals

Safety

  • First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
  • 1 emergency horse which can be ridden if you are feeling ill or if you are a little slower

Additional inclusions

  • Pre-trek briefing
  • Entry fee to Machu Picchu

What is Not Included?

Meals

  • Breakfast on the first morning
  • Dinner on the last night

Equipment

  • Sleeping bags. Available for rent if you don’t have one with you.
  • Additional horses for your personal luggage or to ride

Other

  • Tips for the guide, cook and muleteers
  • Flights to/from Cusco
  • Travel Insurance
  • Entrance to the hot springs at Aguas Calientes.
  • Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain entry fee. Must be requested at time of booking.

Optional Extras & Upgrades

We offer you the opportunity to personalize your trek and make your experience more comfortable through our Optional Extras and Upgrades. All options are available during the reservation process; please ask your sales consultant for more information.

Equipment Available for Rent

  • Extra horse to carry luggage exceeding the allowed 8kg (17lbs) per person
  • Extra horse for you to ride, and horseman to lead it
  • Sleeping Bag suitable for -5˚C
  • Deluxe sleeping bag suitable for -15˚C
  • Light-weight aluminum walking stick. Two sticks are recommended for tough hikes.
  • Thermarest inflatable mattress

Service Upgrades

Optional Activities

Important!

  • When calculating the cost of renting equipment, calculate using the length of the entire trip, not just the number of trekking days.
  • Please be careful with rented equipment! You are responsible for the cost of replacement if something is damaged or broken.
  • Any upgrades or trip extensions must be requested at time of booking.

What to Pack

We recommend that you bring the following items with you:

  • A fleece or down jacket is an essential item at this elevation;
  • Hiking trousers with zip off shorts are a good idea, as day time temperatures can be quite warm, yet temperatures plummet as soon as the sun goes down. You can supplement these with leggings or thermals to wear underneath;
  • A rain poncho or waterproof jacket is also important. It can rain or even snow at certain times of the year!;
  • Water-resistant trekking boots are advisable. The trail on this hike can sometimes be muddy and wet, so we also recommend to bring extra socks!;
  • A warm sleeping bag, rated to -15°C (5°F). If you prefer, you can rent one from us;
  • A headlamp or torch;
  • A high factor (SPF) sunscreen, a sun cap and sunglasses. The sun can be really strong, especially in dry season. Sun protection is essential!;
  • A small daypack to carry your necessary items for each day’s hiking.

For our full packing list for treks in the Andes, see What to Bring.

Our blog How to Prepare for a Trek in Peru will also give you some great tips for how to get ready for your trek, before you even leave home.

Available Discounts

  • Students: USD $30 off, in certain circumstances. Please enquire for details about eligibility.
  • Youth 12-17: 5% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking.
  • Children 5-11 years: 15% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking.
  • Children 0-4 years: 75% off. A valid passport must be presented upon booking. Children under 4 will not count towards the total number of guests in a group, but will be charged 25% of the per person price based on final group size. For example, a group of 4 adults and one child under 4: adults will be charged the full price per person based on a group size of 4 and the child will be charged 25% of the per person price for a group of 4. Children under 3 will not be considered to occupy a seat on any train or bus, and instead must ride on a parent’s lap. Car seats, cribs and other baby needs may not be included and must be discussed in advance. For more information about travelling with infants and toddlers, please see this blog as well as the Age Requirements section of our Booking Conditions.
  • 5% off a day tour listed price when you also book a 3-day or longer trek operated by Apus Peru

Guides & Safety on the Trail

Our whole trekking team knows the Ancascocha region like the back of their hand! They are some of the warmest, endearing and wonderful people you are ever likely to meet.

Our guides are all licensed and receive regular training. They share their experience, professionalism, knowledge and enthusiasm with our passengers on every trek.

Get to know our team!

Trekkers Wanted

Want to join a trek? Ready to confirm a departure date of your own, but interested in having others join you? Then Trekkers Wanted is for you! Our innovative Trekkers Wanted system matches people up who are interested in hiking the same trek, bringing costs down and multiplying the fun for everyone!

Read More about Trekkers Wanted, post your trek or search for confirmed departures!

Important Info

  • Each guide has their own preferred route and so the route you trek might not correspond exactly to the route described here.
  • The times cited in this itinerary are approximate. Walking times depend on the group, and the guide may change lunch spots and campsites, depending on the progress of the group.
  • Please note: this is a true adventure and things may not go exactly according to plan! Keep an open mind, go with the flow and let yourself enjoy the cultural differences you may experience. There is always an opportunity to learn something!

Ready to Book?

  • Does this trek sound like just what you were looking for? If you’re ready to book or just want to find out a bit more information, fill out the Inquiry Form in the top right-hand corner of this page to get the ball rolling. You’ll be connected with one of our amazing sales people who will be able to turn your dream of hiking in the Andes into a reality. For more information on the entire booking process, please see our How To Book page.
  • Travel insurance is a must! World Nomads offers travel insurance for adventure activities.

3 Day Ancascocha Trail Itinerary

Day 1Cusco - Huata - Cochapata

      • Total Walking Distance: 14km
      • Total Walking Time: 7hs
      • Minimum Altitude: 2600m (8,530 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 4000m (13,123 ft)
      • Altitude of camp: 4000m (13,123 ft)
      • Approx. night temperature: -10°C (14°F)

We start our journey on a road trip through the high Andean landscape, past Huarocondo to the small village of Molino, where we will meet our muleteers and begin the day’s hike. After our first two hours of moderate, uphill hiking, we will come upon Huata, an Incan archaeological site with religious significance. From Huata, we trek through undulating terrain for another two hours until we arrive at Chillipahua where we will have lunch. After a good rest, we continue another two hours over a moderately steep climb to Cochapata, where we will camp in front of vivid red mountains.

Day 2Cochapata - Ancascocha – Chillca - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes

      • Total Walking Distance: 15km
      • Total Walking Time: 6 hs
      • Minimum Altitude: 2600m (8,530 ft) / Maximum Altitude: 4200m (13,779 ft)

Our second morning starts with a steep one hour climb to Puca Ccasa before descending to the community of Ancascocha Alta. From here, we continue downwards to Ancascocha Baja where will see from a distance the school of this remote and isolated community.

From here, we make our descent in a narrow chasm alongside a rushing stream as we watch the landscape around us change dramatically from the Andean altiplano to almost tropical vegetation. Our last 1.5h of hiking will be through pastoral farmland where we may see locals busy tilling their fields, you will also cross a river using several bridges arranged in a zigzag pattern and see red mountains thanks to the orchids that grow in these mountains. We will arrive at Chillca at about 3pm, from where we can take a bus to nearby Ollantaytambo. We will take a late afternoon train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, where we can enjoy a celebratory dinner and spend the night in a hotel.

Day 3Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco

    • All our hard work has paid off and we can spend today taking in this magnificent piece of Incan history! From Aguas Calientes we’ll take a bus in the pre-dawn hours up to the site in order to take in the magnificent sunrise from the Guardhouse (also called the Watchtower). Your guide will give you a 2-3h walking tour of the historic citadel.

If you’re feeling adventurous you may wish to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, but take note: this requires an extra permit, and they can sell out well in advance! Be sure to tell us at booking if you would like to add one of these hikes. For more tips on what to see, check out our Visiting Machu Picchu page.

Want more time to explore? Consider our Extra Day Upgrades.

After taking the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, we will make our way back to Cusco via train to Ollantaytambo and then private transport the rest of the way. The return trip takes about 4h in total.

apus-peru-handy-in-the-andes
 
1 Review
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Chrystine and Tyler T. (USA)

Couple Traveller

It was an amazing tour with fantastic staff. Everything was taken care of and we didn’t have to worry about any details. Being so remote while on the trek was wonderful. Seeing local people and animals along the trek was definitely a highlight. [Our guide] Boneth was amazing! She was very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. And she was flexible if we needed extra time. The food was amazing! [Our chef Leandro] even had a birthday cake for me during the trek, a great surprise!

18 July, 2023

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