From Cusco: Huchuy Qosqo Guided Trek with Hotel Pickup

Hike the Huchuy Qosqo Inca trail with a guided trek, packed lunch, and private transfers from Cusco.

This is a full-day guided trek from Cusco to Huchuy Qosqo with return transfer from Lamay to Cusco.

Getting started

Begin with a pre-tour briefing in Cusco, where your experienced English-speaking trekking guide outlines the route and safety plan. After the briefing, use the hotel pickup in Cusco and private transfer to the trailhead to leave the city behind. At the trailhead, your guide checks radio communication equipment and emergency gear before you start walking.

What to expect

Huchuy Qosqo trek route

This guided trek follows an ancient Inca trail toward the hidden archaeological site of Huchuy Qosqo above the Sacred Valley. You move through different Andean landscapes as you gain altitude and approach the high pass.

Features

• The route takes you along an original section of the Qhapaq Ñan Inca road, then up to Apacheta Pass at around 4,200 meters above sea level, with panoramic views of surrounding mountains and the Sacred Valley.
• A packed lunch during the trek is included, so you can stop for a peaceful break with views across the Sacred Valley before continuing toward the site.
• Your expert English-speaking trekking guide sets the pace, explains Inca history, architecture, and traditions, and uses radio communication equipment to stay in contact with the trekking team.
• A first-aid kit and emergency equipment are carried throughout, and a portable oxygen cylinder is provided to assist with high-altitude conditions if needed.

Puma Punku Canyon (Puma Gate) and Andean communities

On the way to Huchuy Qosqo, the trail narrows and cuts through distinctive terrain before opening out near traditional settlements shaped by local agriculture.

Features

• You walk through Puma Punku Canyon, known as the Puma Gate, where the rock walls frame the path and highlight how the ancient route was carved through the mountain landscape.
• Traditional Andean communities appear along the way, giving you a sense of how present-day life and terraced fields continue to shape the region around the trail.
• Throughout this section, your guide uses radio communication equipment for coordination and monitors group wellbeing with the first-aid kit and portable oxygen cylinder close at hand.
• The private transfer from Lamay to Cusco at the end of the trek is already arranged, so you can focus on the final stretch through the canyon and valley without planning your return.

Huchuy Qosqo archaeological site

Perched above the Sacred Valley, Huchuy Qosqo is the main destination of the trek and a quieter alternative to more crowded Inca sites.

Features

• Entry to the Huchuy Qosqo archaeological site is included, allowing you to explore Inca terraces, temples, ceremonial areas, and ancient collcas that overlook the Sacred Valley.
• Your guide leads you through key sectors of Huchuy Qosqo, explaining how the terraces, storage collcas, and ceremonial spaces fit into Inca life and regional trade networks.
• Time at the site is used to absorb Sacred Valley views and trace stonework details, with your English-speaking trekking guide available for questions on Inca engineering and religious practices.
• When your visit concludes, you hike down toward Lamay, where your private transfer from Lamay to Cusco is waiting, closing the loop back to the city after a less-crowded Inca trekking route.