Gentle Trekking & Sacred Valley Views
5.0 on Google (13) · 132 reviews on TripadvisorHuchuy Qosqo is an Inca complex at 3,650 metres, on a mountain ledge above the village of Lamay, with no road to it. It was a royal estate that the chronicles attribute to the Inca Wiracocha, around 1420, with a great stone and adobe kallanka about 40 metres long, storehouses, terraces and a plaza overlooking the Sacred Valley from Pisac to Calca. Precisely because there is no vehicle access, hardly anyone visits: it is the quietest day hike near Cusco, with the best views.
We leave Cusco at seven in the morning for the community of Patabamba, with breakfast on the way. The hike crosses the puna and descends an Inca trail to the site in two to three hours, with the valley opening up below. Guided visit of Huchuy Qosqo with time for the viewpoint and the buildings. Then an hour and a half of steep descent to Lamay, on the valley floor, where the vehicle waits. Lunch in the valley and back in Cusco by mid-afternoon.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | About 9 hours, with pickup at 7:00 |
| Hike | Four or five hours in total, almost all downhill, from Patabamba to Lamay |
| Altitude | The site is at 3,650 m; the trail stays below 3,900 m |
| Difficulty | Moderate: the steep final descent is what you feel most |
| Includes | Private transport, guide, breakfast, lunch, walking poles and first-aid kit |
| Entrance | Its own fee, paid on site; not on the Tourist Ticket |
| Best time | April to November |
The classic valley tours, like the Complete Sacred Valley with Pisac and Ollantaytambo, visit the great sites by vehicle and with more people. Huchuy Qosqo is the opposite: a single site reached on foot, with the whole valley at your feet and hardly any visitors. If you like walking and have already seen the main ruins, it is the best complement. If it is your first time in the valley, start with the classic route.
The history of the site, what to see and the hike, in more detail, in the Huchuy Qosqo guide.
Those who want to hike without doing a multi-day trek, with no extreme altitude. Spend a couple of days in Cusco first and be comfortable on downhill slopes, which are harder on the knees than climbs. Walking poles included. More on altitude in the acclimatisation guide.
Being private, the route adapts to the group: there are variants from Lamay or from Tambomachay, shorter or longer. Tell us when booking how much you want to walk and we will suggest the one that fits.
Huchuy Qosqo has its own entrance fee, paid on site in cash, and it is not included. Bring hiking shoes, layers, sunscreen, a cap and a litre and a half of water. In the rainy season the trail gets muddy and the descent to Lamay is slippery.
Click each segment to see the detailed itinerary.
Pickup at seven in the morning and a drive to the community of Patabamba, on the high plain above the valley, with breakfast on the way.
Two to three hours along an Inca trail crossing the high plain and descending to the site's shelf, with the Sacred Valley opening up below. Group pace.
Guided walk through the kallanka, the storehouses, the terraces and the plaza, with the viewpoint over the valley from Pisac to Calca.
An hour and a half of steep descent to Lamay, where the vehicle waits. Lunch in the valley and back to Cusco mid-afternoon.
Ideal tour for travelers with moderate fitness. The route can be adjusted to your preferences (shorter or longer). Inform your guide of any health conditions.
| Ticket | Price | Where to pay |
|---|---|---|
| Huchuy Qosqo | Own entrance fee | On site |
Approximate prices for a foreign adult. Paid in cash, in soles, and subject to change.
Quick answers to the most common questions about this tour.
Moderate: four to five hours in total, almost all downhill, never above 3,900 metres. What you feel most is the final steep descent to Lamay; poles help.
That it has no road. It is a well-preserved Inca royal estate, with a great kallanka about 40 metres long and the best view of the Sacred Valley, and almost no visitors.
Yes. There are variants from Lamay or from Tambomachay, shorter or longer; it is adjusted when booking to suit the group.
No. Huchuy Qosqo has its own entrance fee, paid at the site in cash, and not included.
April to November. In the rains the trail gets muddy and the descent to Lamay is slippery.
We design itineraries with generous pacing, so you can truly immerse yourself and connect with Cusco.
Private tours: no strangers, no crowded buses. Just you, your people and your guide.
We skip the tourist traps and show you living Andean culture and little-visited archaeological sites.
Want to stop for a photo or stay longer at a site? It is your private tour: you control the clock.
From safety protocols to altitude tips, our local team looks after every step of your journey.
Real reviews, verified by each platform. Read them in full, with each traveller's name and date.
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Huchuy Qosqo: The Hike, How to Get There and What to See in “Little Cusco”
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