Ancascocha trek 5 Days/4 Nights
Ancascocha trek 5 Days
Ancascocha trek 5 Days/4 Nights
Ancascocha trek 5 Days
Short Hike
Ancascocha trek 5 Days/4 Nights Overview
Trip Details:
Itinerary Ancascocha trek 5 Days/4 Nights
Day 1: Cusco - Mollepata - Soraypampa - Salkantaypampa - Japanese Pampa
Our private car will pick you up and take you to Mollepata 2870m (approximately 3 hours) where we have the opportunity to buy supplies. From Mollepata we continue for another hour by car to Soraypampa (3840m). We will walk from the pasture village of Soraypampa or Challacancha. Most likely we will have our lunch in Salkantaypampa. After several hours of trekking we will arrive at our campsite. Our campsite for the night is at the base of the most majestic and impressive mountains in this area such as Salkantay (6264m) and Humantay (5217m). The campsite is called Pampa Japonesa (Japanese plain) and is located at 4600m. (This is a high campsite so you should be well acclimatized).
Day 2: Pampa Japonesa - InkaChiriaska - Millpo - Yahuarmaky
After breakfast, with muleteers and emergency horses we start the long trek that will cross several high passes. First is Inca Chiriaska (4959m), from where we will have views over the incredible landscapes of the area. From here we walk along an original Inca Trail until we reach Tocto (4821m) where the Inca Trail heads towards Salkantay. We will continue for another 2 hours to the Calacocha pass (4667m). From here we will spend another hour walking to the Cruz Casa pass (4600m) and then in another hour we will be at the Millpo Pass, where we will descend to our Millpo campsite (4399m). If you feel up to it we could continue to the campsite at Yahuarmaky. Total hiking time today 8.5-9hours.
Day 3: Millpo - Yahuarmaky-Ancascocha
Early in the morning we will start walking for about 1 hour to Chusqenay pass (4630m) and then within 50 minutes we will descend to Rumi Inca pass and then continue up to the narrow valley of Yahuarmaky, another 40 minutes of walking. We start climbing again, for about 1.5 hours until we reach the Aqocasa pass (4686m). This mountain is a beautiful reddish sandy mountain and from the top of this pass (with the help of binoculars), we will appreciate the famous Inka trail that leads to Machupicchu. We can also see the mountains of Salkantay, Humantay, Huayanay and far on the way we can see Huacaywillka (Sacred Tears). On the way we can see a small archaeological site called Inka-raqay. From here its 3 hours descent to InkaRakay, and then another 1. 5 hours ascent to Huayanay pass (4630m). Then we descend to our campsite at Ancascocha, 3 hours. (Ancascocha campsite or Ancascocha Lagoon 3700m). Total walking time today 8-9 hours.
Day 4: Ancasqocha-Chillca
After breakfast we will descend the hill for approximately 5 hours to reach Chillca. From Ancascocha it is a 2 hour descent to Arequipapampa. We will pass through small villages observing Andean valleys with typical vegetation trees like chachacoma, qewña, some orchids, begonias and bromeliads that adorn the landscape. The descent becomes easier towards Camicancha (2930m) where our car can pick us up. (Or we will continue down to Chillca) We take the train around 4:00 pm to Aguas Calientes where we will enjoy a celebratory dinner and spend the night in a hotel.
Day 5: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Early in the morning (before sunrise) we will take a bus to the ruins of Machu Picchu. (Bus included in the price) so you can appreciate the sunrise from the watchman’s hut (or Inti Punku if you get up very early). You will then have a three-hour guided tour of MachuPicchu with your guide. After your tour, you can explore the ruins on your own or climb Huayna Picchu Mountain for that classic Machu Picchu photo. We highly recommend walking from Machu Picchu to get a sense of the vegetation and also the audacity of its builders. It is a 1 hour walk back to Machu Picchu village or, you can take the bus which is not included in your ticket. We return to Cusco in the afternoon by train (leaving at 14.30 or 6pm) and meet a driver in Ollantaytambo who will transfer you directly to your hotel. You will arrive in Cusco approximately 4 hours after the departure of your train from Aguas Calientes.
Photo Showcase
Prices in Private Service
| Number of persons | Price per person |
Prices in Group Service
Included
- Information prior to the trek
- Pick up from your hotel in the morning of departure of the trek.
- Transportation from Cusco to the start of the trek in private car.
- Entrance fee to Machu Picchu, (Huayna Picchu $20 extra – please advise upon booking as places are limited), and Salkantaytrek.
- Professional English / Quechua / Spanish guide (will have an assistant guide for groups of more than 6 people).
- Tents – 2 people in a 4 person tent which allows more comfort, and also storage for backpacks.
- Basic foam mattress. If you need more comfort during the trek we can hire an inflatable mattress (e.g. Thermarest).
- Cooking and cooking equipment (assistants are for large groups)
- Toilet tent
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (vegetarian meals optional). Our professional cooks prepare meals that incorporate elements of the Western diet as well as traditional Peruvian delicacies (please contact your guide/cook during the trek if you have a preference for certain types of dishes). Salads, if served, are washed with boiled water.
- Horses (for equipment and personal belongings) including riders. They carry camping equipment, food and cooking utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 5 kg / 12 lbs per person).
- 1 emergency horse that you can ride if you feel unwell or if you are a little slower.
- Dining tent with camp tables and chairs and kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals
- Tents for our staff to sleep in
- First aid kit including emergency oxygen cylinder
- Bus up and down from Aguas Calientes -Machu Picchu Picchu
- Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- Private transportation from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.
- Celebration dinner in Aguas Calientes
- Lunch on the last day is included in this itinerary.
- 1 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes in a basic hotel. This will be a nice, clean and safe hostel with breakfast included and private bathroom. If you wish to upgrade from this hotel, please let us know.
No Included
- Breakfast on the first morning.
- Dinner on the last night.
- Entrance to the hot springs
- Huayna Picchu Entrance fee $ 15 Extra. Please advise at the time of booking, as spaces are limited.
- Sleeping bags – If you don’t have a sleeping bag or don’t want the hassle of bringing one all the way to Peru with you, then we have sleeping bags for rent.
- Tips for the guide, cook and porters.
- Extra horses for passengers’ luggage.
What To Bring
- 01 small reinforced nylon backpack to carry your belongings (camera, drinks, etc. during the treks).
- 01 backpack or large bag to store your belongings in the hotel in Cusco, at the time of the Inca Trail.
- Sleeping bag (Sleeping) for -5°C (can be rented in Cusco) Small flashlight and extra batteries.
- 01 canteen of 01 liter or small disposable plastic bottle.
- Hiking boot 01 pair of tennis shoes.
- 01 jacket (nylon coat with hood resistant to water and wind).
- 01 «Leather» type jacket 01 pair of gloves and wool hat (can be purchased during the trip).
- 03 or 04 short-sleeved T-shirts (preferably «dryfit» type fabric that does not retain water).
- 02 shorts and/or bermuda shorts.
- Socks: 04 pairs of wool and 04 pairs of fiber (coolmax) for the hike (avoid cotton, as it retains water).
- 01 cap and sunglasses.
- Medicines and personal hygiene materials in small packages.
- Sunscreen for face and lips, and insect repellent.
- Moisturizer to avoid skin dryness.
- Bathing clothes for the hot springs in Aguas Calientes.
Travel Guide
Also known as «Ancascocha» lagoon, Quechua voice that can be interpreted as «Laguna de los Flancos», so called because it is located inside a hole, which makes its edges are almost perpendicular.
The size of this glacial lagoon, 80 meters long by 40 meters wide, occupies a geological depression located at 3200 meters above sea level. In addition, the color of its waters varies in different shades of green depending on the time of year and sunlight.
Also during the rainy season the lagoon can reach a depth of 10 m, dropping to only 3 m in the dry season.
It is worth mentioning that the Ancascocha lagoon is part of the beautiful landscapes of the Ampay National Sanctuary.
What to bring: for the Ancascocha 5 Days tour : The climate varies a lot in Peru, having 28 climates and 84 of the 104 ecosystems of the world. Cusco is located at an altitude of 3,380 meters near the Andes Mountains and the dry season (winter) is from April/May to October/November with the wettest part of the year (summer) from January to March.
Temperatures do not vary much between these seasons, but the amount of precipitation does. If the sun is out it can be quite warm, but in the shade it cools quickly.
Temperatures change quickly and you will need layers as you walk around during the day. At night it gets quite cold in the mountains (usually near or below freezing) and most people will need long underwear and layers for sleeping, warm socks, gloves and a hat.
Everything you need for the day should be stored in the backpack you carry, as any items you leave with your porter will not be available until the night at the campsite.
It is recommended not to wear cotton clothing or jeans in case of rain, as cotton takes a long time to dry. It is also recommended to bring hiking boots or running shoes, as normal running shoes do not have very good traction, especially when it has rained.
The route to our hike to Ancascocha is one of the most rewarding in the Peruvian Andes. A steadily ascending hike takes us to the slopes of impressive snow-capped peaks of the Andes, passing through the Queuñas forests, remnants of ancient Inca trails, the beautiful Ancascocha lagoon and other impressive natural landscapes.
We descend into a fertile valley with abundant Andean flora, hummingbirds, river confluences and the spectacular view of the snow-capped Veronica.
We finish just 20 minutes from the train station of Ollantaytambo, this is one of the alternative routes to the Inca Trail favorite of adventurers who then want to visit Machu Picchu.
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