Claire Dean
Travel in South America is a joy to behold. The rich variety of destinations, experiences, landscapes and geography fascinated me so much, that I chose to relocate here, over 20 years ago! The best thing I ever did! Allow me to share my knowledge and passion for Central and South America with you and help you plan your holiday of a lifetime!
The Huchuy Qosqo Packing List
Written by:Claire Dean
Published: 2023-04-03
One of the best-kept secrets in the Sacred Valley is the Huchuy Qosqo trek. Huchuy Qosqo, which literally translates in Quechua to “Little Cusco” is a fascinating sacred site that can be found on the hillside near Lamay in Peru’s Sacred Valley. Like always, there are multiple trails that lead to this beautiful, yet little-visited Inca site. High above the Sacred Valley, this lesser-known mysterious Inca city, follows the old Inca trail from Cusco, through remote farming communities and past stunning mountain scenery. If you are looking for a great one-day hike far from the crowds, this is a truly spectacular option.
Huchuy Qosqo Trek
What to expect.
From Lake Qoricocha, we will begin to hike to the pass, at a whopping 4,200. The pass is marked by large stone towers this is thought to have been the entrance to the Huchuy Cusco Inca Estate. We will then follow a mainly flat and well-preserved Inca trail that will take you past herds of alpacas and llamas and on a clear day the views of the snow-capped mountains of the Urubamba range are spectacular. After a delicious lunch stop, we will descend through a delightful canyon full of Inca remains to emerge high above the Sacred Valley for your first views of Huchuy Qosqo. Little is known about this mysterious site, though ‘little Cusco’ though it is thought to be the country retreat of the first Incas. Its three-story houses, extensive niched walls, large central square, three-meter-high terraces, and hidden location make this one of the real gems of the Cusco area. Located on a plateau high up, it also provides exceptional, sweeping views across the Sacred Valley and the Vilcabamba Mountain range. You can enjoy a guided tour of this remarkable archaeological site with your expert guide. We will then hike down a steep descent to the town of Lamay in The Sacred Valley where the vehicle will be waiting to take us back to Cusco.
Huchuy Qosqo Trail
The Huchuy Qosqo: Packing List
Take plenty of layers. Because of the huge changes in altitude, you’ll go from pretty chilly to very warm. It is normal to begin the Huchuy Qosqo hike in shorts and jumpers and finish stripped down to vests. Longer trousers are recommended and zip-offs are perfect for this trek due to the temperature changes.
Bring all supplies with you and enough cash with you, as for obvious reasons, there is nowhere to buy anything once on the Huchuy Qosqo hike.
Prepare for a long day of walking. We will set off from Cusco at around 7 am and will not return until after dark. The actual hike will take around 7 - 8 hours depending on how long you stop for lunch, photos and to explore the ruins.
There are a few spots where you can fill water bottles along the way (especially on the descent) If you don’t have these, ensure you bring a sufficient supply of water.
Hikers on The Trail
This isn’t an easy trek and you’ll be gone all day.
So, we recommend bringing the following:
- Water
- Small Day Pack
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen (Cusco is at a high altitude and you will get burned even if it’s cold outside)
- Snacks
- Sturdy hiking boots (which are especially important for grip on the slippery return trail to Lamay)
- waterproof Jacket
- Extra layers to take on and off as the temperature changes
- Hiking Poles (especially for the downhill sections)
- Small bills for entrance fee to Huchuy Qosqo
- Sunhat and beanie
- Basic First-aid Kit
Huchuy Qosqo Building
Find out more about the one-day Huchuy Qosqo Trek with Valencia Travel here!
