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The Inca citadel at 2,430 m (7,970 ft) above the Urubamba River, 3.5 hours from Cusco by road and train, visited on a timed ticket with a guide.

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Huchuy Qosqo Hike from Cusco, Fully Supported

4.9 Tripadvisor, Viajes Cusco Perú (sister agency), 78 reviews Cusco, Huayllacocha, Huchuy Qosqo, Lamay Daily departures
4 to 5 hoursWalking to Huchuy Qosqo, then down
13,780 ft high pointAbout 4,200 m on the plateau
Poles and snacksWater and box lunch included
Oxygen on the trailCertified bilingual guide
Full day, 7 hoursDrop-off at your Cusco hotel

The trip in one paragraph

This hike is for travelers who want to reach the Sacred Valley on foot, through country no tour bus touches, with the gear and food handled for them. It suits people who have not hiked at altitude before and want trekking poles, snacks, water and oxygen supplied, so they carry only a light daypack. Experienced hikers who bring their own poles and food can take our Huchuy Qosqo trek in one day on the same route.

From the lakes to the valley

The van drops you at Huayllacocha, a lake on the high plateau north of Cusco. The trail crosses open grassland, small lakes and stone paths used long before the Incas, with the snow peaks of the Urubamba range ahead. After 4 to 5 hours of walking you reach Huchuy Qosqo, which means little Cusco: Inca terraces, storehouses, water channels and a large hall on a ledge above the Lamay valley, with the Sacred Valley floor far below.

The finish

Lunch is a box lunch at the ruins, then a steep descent on foot to Lamay, on the valley floor, where the van waits. You are back in Cusco around 5:00 p.m. The high point is about 13,780 ft (4,200 m), so save this hike for your third day in Cusco or later.

Into the Sacred Valley on footA one-way route from the high plateau down to the valley floor at Lamay, with no backtracking.
Huchuy Qosqo, little CuscoTerraces, storehouses, water channels and a great hall on a ledge high above the Lamay valley.
Highland lakes and old pathsOpen grassland, small lakes and stone paths used since before the Incas.
Gear and food handledTrekking poles, snacks, water and a box lunch come with the trip, so your daypack stays light.

Price

One price for everyone: US$177 per person, shared service, with transport, entrance, guide, trekking poles, snacks, water and a box lunch. There is no hotel tier because you sleep in your own Cusco hotel. Groups who want their own departure get a quote through the free quote form.

Pick your tour date

This hike leaves every day of the year. Pick the date you want and send the free quote form. We confirm the seat and your pickup time within the day.

Leave two acclimatization days before this hike. From June to August send your request two weeks ahead.

Day by day

Open a day to see the hours, the altitude and where you sleep. Times are the ones our guides actually keep.

Day1

Cusco, Huayllacocha, Huchuy Qosqo, Lamay, Cusco

Back in Cusco the same day, high point about 13,780 ft (4,200 m)

Box lunch, snacks and water Up to about 13,780 ft About 6 hours on foot No hotel, day trip
06:30
Pickup at your hotel in Cusco

Morning pickup from hotels in central Cusco and a short drive to Huayllacocha on the plateau.

07:30
Start at Huayllacocha

Your guide hands out poles, snacks and water and explains the route. Then the walk starts across open grassland past small lakes.

09:30
Stone paths and viewpoints

The trail follows old stone paths and passes pre-Inca and Inca remains, with the first views down into the Sacred Valley.

12:00
Huchuy Qosqo

A guided visit of the terraces, storehouses, water channels, ceremonial spaces and residential areas, high above the Lamay valley.

13:00
Box lunch at the ruins

Lunch with the valley below you. Refill your water before the descent.

13:45
Descent to Lamay

A steep path down to the village of Lamay on the valley floor. Use the poles: your knees will thank you.

17:00
Back in Cusco

The van drives you from Lamay to your hotel in Cusco, arriving around 5:00 p.m.

Where you go

A one-way hike from Huayllacocha on the plateau north of Cusco to Huchuy Qosqo and down to Lamay in the Sacred Valley.

Interactive map loads from OpenStreetMap when the page is online.
Route: Cusco · Huayllacocha · Huchuy Qosqo · Lamay.
Stops on the itinerary Machu PicchuDashed line: road and rail route

What is included

Included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in CuscoTo Huayllacocha in the morning, from Lamay in the afternoon.
  • Huchuy Qosqo entrancePaid in advance.
  • Certified bilingual guideSpanish and English.
  • Box lunch, snacks and waterFor the whole hike.
  • Trekking polesOne pair per person.
  • First aid kit with oxygenCarried on the trail, with support from our office all day.

Not included

  • Breakfast and dinnerEat before pickup.
  • Tips for the guide and driverOptional. Bring small bills in soles.
  • Travel insuranceRecommended for any hike above 13,000 ft.
  • Personal gearClothing and hiking boots.

Good to know

AltitudeThe plateau reaches about 13,780 ft (4,200 m). The CDC links altitude illness risk to travel above 8,000 ft (2,500 m). Do this on your third day in Cusco or later, and ask your doctor about medication.
DifficultyModerate. 4 to 5 hours to the ruins on rolling ground, then a long, steep descent. Comfortable for people who hike half a day at home.
What we supplyTrekking poles, snacks, water, a box lunch and oxygen. You carry a small daypack with layers and sunscreen.
HorsesOur trip data lists no horse option for this hike. Plan to walk the whole way.
Best seasonMay to September for dry paths and clear views of the valley. From December to March the descent to Lamay gets slippery.
What to bringHiking boots, warm layer, rain shell, sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a small daypack and cash in soles.
Service typeShared group tour with other travelers and a certified bilingual guide.

Travelers on this itinerary

Sacred Lake Titikaka is new; these are public Tripadvisor reviews of Viajes Cusco Perú, the family agency that operates every package on this site.

4.9
78 reviews
Viajes Cusco Perú, Sep 2026
4.7
83 reviews
Google Maps

Reviews shown: Viajes Cusco Perú travelers (sample of public Tripadvisor reviews, read Sep 30, 2026).

C
Claudia I.Sep 2026, with friends
Posted on Tripadvisor
Dream Come True

"Incredible experience!! Beautiful landscape and beautiful people. We were lucky to be guided by Vladimir, who with his lovely personality and amazing knowledge made this trip a great learning experience."

Translated from Spanish by Tripadvisor
E
Erika C.Jul 2026, solo traveler from Argentina
Posted on Tripadvisor
I recommend them, people!

"All the tours I did (Machu, Humantay Lake, Rainbow Mountain, Sacred Valley) were spectacular!!! From picking me up at the hotel (always punctual and attentive, notifying about everything!) to the guides I had who were also excellent."

Excerpt. Translated from Spanish by Tripadvisor
M
Martin Rogelio I.Jul 2026, Sullana, Peru, with family
Posted on Tripadvisor
Professionalism, trust, and human quality

"I came to this agency by recommendation and, after traveling with them on two occasions, I can say that it was an excellent decision. I must highlight the professionalism of the guides, who made every tour very interesting and safe."

Excerpt. Translated from Spanish by Tripadvisor

Still have questions?

Everything we get asked about this package before people book.

How long is the Huchuy Qosqo hike?

About 4 to 5 hours from Huayllacocha to the ruins, plus the descent to Lamay. With lunch and the visit, plan on six hours on foot. You leave Cusco in the morning and are back around 5:00 p.m., a full day of about seven hours from trailhead to valley.

What is Huchuy Qosqo?

An Inca site whose name means little Cusco. It sits on a ledge high above the Lamay valley in the Sacred Valley, with terraces, storehouses, water channels and large stone and adobe halls. Few visitors reach it because there is no road to the ruins.

How is this different from the one-day Huchuy Qosqo trek?

Same route, different level of support. This version includes trekking poles, snacks and water on top of the box lunch, so you only carry layers. The one-day trek in our Cusco treks section includes the box lunch and suits hikers with their own gear and food.

Is the Huchuy Qosqo hike hard?

Moderate. The first part rolls across a high plateau around 13,780 ft, which is where you feel the altitude. The descent to Lamay is long and steep, and that is the part that tires legs. Use the poles we supply and take your time.

Is the Huchuy Qosqo entrance included?

Yes. The entrance to the archaeological site is paid in advance and included, along with transport, the guide, poles, snacks, water and the box lunch.

From, per personUS$177
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