The Huchuy Qosqo Trek is a great overnight trek in Cusco. Barely visited, stunningly beautiful, and with the opportunity to get lost within the ruins. Close to the Sacred Valley but completely shrouded from view, the Huchuy Qosqo trek is the perfect outing for those looking to get off the beaten track.
One thing about the Huchuy Qosqo trek that so many people love is seeing just how close you can camp to the site if you choose to do the two days one night trek. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see some of the ruins travelers rarely get the chance to experience, at their quietest times.
Check out: Our off the beaten track Inca Trail hikes. These hikes lead you to places few tourists ever even hear about, let alone visit!
The ruins of Huchuy Qosqo are found above the village of Lamay in the Sacred Valley. There are multiple routes to get to the ruins, and the trek can be done in one (long and difficult) day of trekking, or split into two.
Huchuy Qosqo One Day Trek – Doing it Yourself
If you want to complete the hike in just one day and on your own, without a travel agency, going to and from Lamay is your easiest and most direct option. Although be warned- this is not for the faint hearted. However, it is an easy to follow route that all but guarantees you won’t get lost along the way.
To access this route, take a combi to Lamay from Cusco. From there, ask a tuktuk driver or taxi to take you to the trailhead. From there, it’s a grueling 3+ hour hike upwards, zigzagging back and forth on a steep incline. Once you reach the top of the zigzag paths it is another 20 minutes or so, still uphill, to reach the ruins of Huchuy Qosqo.
The path is marked and clear, so you are unlikely to get lost. You can return down the same way, and if you negotiated with your driver he will be there to pick you up. Don’t ask him to wait, it’s around a 20 minute walk from the trail to Lamay, so him waiting would be a waste of money. Due to the steepness of the terrain, be sure to wear sensible shoes (I wore trainers without laces and ended up finding the downhill to be more challenging than the up). Hiking sticks will also be to your benefit.
Check out: Our off the beaten track Inca Trail hikes. These hikes lead you to places few tourists ever even hear about, let alone visit!
Honestly, this is the less enjoyable of the hiking options for Huchuy Qosqo. It’s difficult- owing to the steep up and down- and the views do not change very much which, in my opinion, lowers the payoff. It is much more advisable to do a two day hike, taking your time and enjoying the scenery.
If you are an experienced hiker and are absolutely set on doing Huchuy Qosqo in one day, then is is possible to do one of the two day hikes in a day- but only really recommended for those who are comfortable walking 18 km plus in a day, and who are already acclimatised. There are no roads around this area, so the only way out is through. Be cautious and realistic about your abilities.
Huchuy Qosqo Two Day Trek
As mentioned above, there are multiple routes to get to Huchuy Qosqo, especially if you give yourself time for a two day trek. While there are multiple routes of varying length, beauty, and difficulty, I will discuss the route I went on.
Our car took a left just before reaching Chinchero in the Sacred Valley, skirted past the shores of Laguna Piuray, exiting the car around Taucca. It seemed as though we could have kept driving, but the group was itching to get started by this point.
We began our uphill hike simply cutting through the zig-zags of the road. It was a little steep, but with the view of Laguna Piuray unfolding behind us we were motivated for what was to come. It was about an hour and a half of uphill before reaching the crest of the valley. From here, it was all smooth sailing downhill.
This section of the trek mostly follows a restored Inca path. The highlight is when the trail enters a narrow canyon full of flowers and hummingbirds, with steep Inca steps and wooden bridges taking you alongside a gurgling stream.
Coming out of the canyon you continue along the Inca path, with the valley dropping down beside you, to eventually pass through the old city gates into the site of Huchuy Qosqo.
Check out: Our off the beaten track Inca Trail hikes. These hikes lead you to places few tourists ever even hear about, let alone visit!
Huchuy Qosqo lies at 3650 meters and was thought to have been built by the Inca Viracocha around 1420 as a summer retreat. It has a great location, perched high up on the edge of the Sacred Valley, with a view across Lamay to snow-capped peaks.
Built around a large ceremonial square, much of the site has been restored, with more in progress. When the Incas left, it was settled by Spanish conquerors, and the difference between their two building styles is notable. After exploring this usually deserted set of ruins, you hike another ten minutes to your camp.
Now, when we did the trek we did this route in one day. I wouldn’t recommend doing it without a guide as there were lots of unmarked paths and it would have been very easy to get lost. I would also not recommend doing it in one day, as it was extremely tiring and one or two in the group were flagging behind a little.
If you choose to do the two day Huchuy Qosqo trek with us, the camp will be already set up for you on arrival to the site. After a wash, you can enjoy a well-earned afternoon tea, before putting on some warmer layers for a three-course dinner and star watching.
Light pollution in this area is minimal, so it is a great place to see the Milky Way as well as the Southern Cross. Or if you prefer, your guide can point out the Andean constellations- such as frogs and llamas.
The next day, after a breakfast outside enjoying the view, you will hike down to the valley. The path is good and wide and takes between two and three hours without rushing. So you can be at your hotel just after lunch with the rest of the day to relax.
Should I do the One or the Two Day Trek?
It depends on your skill level and how much you want to squeeze out of your vacation. If you enjoy having an afternoon to yourself and a more relaxed experience, the two day trek is better suited to you.
Check out: Our off the beaten track Inca Trail hikes. These hikes lead you to places few tourists ever even hear about, let alone visit!
On the other hand, if you want to cram as much as humanly possible into your Peruvian adventure, or if you cannot stand the thought of camping (even with our luxury camping options) but are desperate to be challenged on your trip, the one day hike could be a good option for you.
The Huchuy Qosqo trek is one of the best short treks in the Cusco area. And the fact that you will probably have it all to yourself only makes it better. There have been whispers in the rumor mill about plans to build a cable car here. While the plans have been touted for many years, they seem to be given a new lease of life every few years. If that happens, the place will change forever.
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