Duration: 4 days / 3 nights Type: ecological, cultural, archaeological, hiking and camping Start point. Cusco End point: Cusco Difficult: Moderate difficult
ITINERARY
DAY 1: CUSCO – CALCA - QUISWARANI - YANACOCHA
We leave from Cusco early in the morning by bus and travel through the
Sacred Valley, stopping in Calca for a break, then we continue driving
for 3 more hours to Qiswarani (3700 m.a.s.l), we will pass through some
communities in the way enjoying the landscapes that this area can offers
us. There we will meet our arrieros (horsemen) and start with our trek,
going up gradually until 4200 meters, a nice lagoon is located there,
after a short break we go up little bit more until the first pass.
Hualcacassa (4425 m.a.s.l), from there we have a nice view of some snow
peaks and 7 lagoons, then go down to our lunch place. After recovering
energy we will ascend to our second pass, Qolqecasa (4200 m.a.s.l), from
there is only 30 minutes walking downhill until our campsite, called
Yanacocha (3800 m.a.s.l.)
L/D
DAY 2: YANACOCHA – HUACAWASI - MANTANAY
After breakfast, we will start our second day, going down for almost 2
hours we will see Andean farmers and their traditional houses, products
growing up, some animals from the area as the lamas, then we will start
to ascend for 3 hours to the highest point of our trek, Auroracassa
(4600 m.a..s.l.), after a well deserved rest, we will descend until our
second campsite, Mantanay (3850 m.a.s.l).
B/L/D
DAY 3: MANTANAY - YANUARA- OLLANTAYTAMBO - AGUAS CALIENTES
This will be our last day of hike and the easiest one as well, we will
descend passing through a nice Qeuñas bush valley (native one), enjoying
the change of the landscapes, appreciating plantations of potatoes, corn,
vegetables. Finally arrive in Yanuara, where we will have our last
camping lunch. Here we will say good bye to the staff (cook, horsemen).
We will continue using our transportation to Ollantaytambo. Situated in
a fertile river valley and sheltered by mammoth mountains, this ancient
Inca village is considered one of the most important living museums in
the world. The group takes the train from there to Aguas Calientes and
spends the night there in a comfortable hostel.
B/L/D
DAY 4 : AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHUPICHU - CUSCO
After an early breakfast, we'll take the bus to Machupicchu, we register
and start on our 2 hour guided visit. After enjoying the remains, free
time to enjoy the citadel, then at your best convenience take the bus
down to Aguas Calientes, some free time and then take the train to
comeback to Cusco.
B
