Off the beaten path · 5 days / 4 nights
Ancascocha Trek to Machu Picchu: 5 Days with the Short Inca Trail
By Miguel Angel Gongora Meza, co-founder and former Inca Trail porter · Updated November 2026
The Ancascocha trek is a 5-day, about 60 km route to Machu Picchu that crosses three high passes up to the Huayanay Pass (4,650 m), camps beside turquoise Ancascocha lake below Mount Veronica, joins the Classic Inca Trail at Paucarcancha and ends on the Short Inca Trail through the Sun Gate. It is one of the quietest routes in the Machu Picchu area.
For two days you will hardly see another hiker: just herders, alpacas, Inca ruins and the snow peaks of the Urubamba range. Then the trail drops into the Inca Trail valley at Paucarcancha and you finish the way the Incas did, on foot through the Sun Gate.
Quick facts
Price per person
From $900
Short Inca Trail permit, Machu Picchu ticket, guide, cook, porters, meals, trains, buses and hotel included.
2027 dates are open. Short Inca Trail permits are limited, so book early.
Check availability on WhatsAppAsk Miguel about your dates
Book now with a $300 deposit
A $300 deposit secures your place; pay the balance by card at least 30 days before, or in cash in Cusco at least 2 days before.
High lakes and the snow peaks of the Urubamba range on days 1 and 2
Travel & Hospitality Award Winner 2024
As featured on
What our guests say
Which trek with the Short Inca Trail is right for you?
Choose Ancascocha for the most remote scenery and high passes without the crowds; choose Huchuy Qosqo or Cachicata for something shorter and easier.
| Salkantay + Inca Trail combo | Ancascocha trek (this page) | Cachicata trek | Huchuy Qosqo trek | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Days | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Highest point | ~5,100 m | ~4,650 m | ~4,440 m | ~4,150 m |
| Difficulty | Challenging | Challenging | Moderate to hard | Moderate |
| Best for | Glaciers and the Frozen Inca Pass | Turquoise lakes, Veronica views, almost no other hikers | The Inca quarry that built Ollantaytambo | Little Cusco, Viracocha's royal estate |
| Ends with | Short Inca Trail and the Sun Gate | Short Inca Trail and the Sun Gate | Short Inca Trail and the Sun Gate | Short Inca Trail and the Sun Gate |
| From, per person | $1,100 | $900 | $990 | $990 |
How much does the Ancascocha trek cost?
From $900 per person for 6 to 8 hikers, $1,100 for 4 to 5 and $1,300 for 2 to 3; smaller groups pay more because the crew, horses and transport are shared by fewer people.
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 6 to 8 people | $900 |
| 4 to 5 people | $1,100 |
| 2 to 3 people | $1,300 |
| Solo traveller | Ask us |
Every Ancascocha departure runs for your own group only, so you set the date and the pace.
What happens on each day of the Ancascocha trek?
Day 1 climbs past Perolniyoc waterfall to the Kuychiccasa Pass, day 2 crosses three passes past Ancascocha lake, day 3 walks down the Inca Trail valley to Ollantaytambo, day 4 is the Short Inca Trail to the Sun Gate and day 5 is Machu Picchu.
| Day | Route | Distance | Altitude | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soqma, Perolniyoc waterfall and the Kuychiccasa Pass to Chancachuco | About 16 km, 9 to 10 hours | 3,200 m up to 4,450 m | Camp at Chancachuco |
| 2 | Ancascocha lake and the Huayanay Pass to the Quesqa valley | About 18 km, 10 to 11 hours | Up to 4,650 m, down to 3,850 m | Camp at Quesqa, 3,850 m |
| 3 | Quesqa, Paucarcancha and Patallacta to KM 82, then Ollantaytambo | About 15 km, 7 hours | 3,850 m down to 2,720 m | Night in Ollantaytambo |
| 4 | Train to KM 104, Short Inca Trail, Wiñay Wayna and the Sun Gate | About 12 km, 6 hours | 2,150 m up to 2,720 m, down to 2,430 m | Hotel in Aguas Calientes |
| 5 | Guided tour of Machu Picchu, train and transfer to Cusco | Walking tour, 2 to 3 hours | 2,430 m | Back in Cusco about 7:30 pm |
Day 1 · Perolniyoc and the first pass
Pickup from your hotel and about 2 hours by road to Soqma (3,200 m). We climb past the Perolniyoc waterfall and its small Inca temple to lunch at Rayan, then make a steady climb to the Kuychiccasa Pass (4,450 m), with the Sacred Valley on one side and the Chancachuco valley on the other. An hour down to camp.
Day 2 · Ancascocha and the Huayanay Pass
The hardest and most beautiful day, under Mount Veronica (5,822 m). Two moderate passes before lunch at turquoise Ancascocha lake, then about 2 hours up an old Inca road to the Huayanay Pass (4,650 m), where you can see the Classic Inca Trail in the distance and the ruins of Incarakay. Three hours down green ravines to camp in the Quesqa valley.
Day 3 · Down the Inca Trail valley
A mostly downhill day on the first stretch of the Classic Inca Trail, walked in reverse, past the Inca sites of Paucarcancha and Patallacta (Llaqtapata) to KM 82. A short drive takes us to Ollantaytambo for the night.
Day 4 · Short Inca Trail and the Sun Gate
A 1.5-hour train to KM 104, then about 12 km on the Short Inca Trail past Chachabamba and the terraces of Wiñay Wayna, up to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). Your first view of Machu Picchu is from above, the way the Incas arrived. Bus down to your hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Day 5 · Machu Picchu
An early bus back up for your guided tour inside the citadel. With tickets booked in advance, you can add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. The train back usually leaves around 2:55 pm, then our transfer takes you to your hotel in Cusco, arriving about 7:30 pm.
How high does the Ancascocha trek go?
You start at 3,200 m, cross the Kuychiccasa Pass (4,450 m) on day 1 and the Huayanay Pass (4,650 m) on day 2, then descend to 2,430 m at Machu Picchu.
Approximate profile. Day 3 ends with a short drive from KM 82 to Ollantaytambo; day 4 starts by train at KM 104.
Walk the trek before you go
Swipe through each day.
When can you do the Ancascocha trek in 2027?
The trek runs from March to January. It does not run in February, when the Inca Trail closes for maintenance. May to September is the dry season, with clear views of Veronica and frosty nights at the high camps; November to March is greener, wetter and cloudier.
Day 4 needs a Short Inca Trail permit, which we buy with your deposit. These permits are limited, so book 2 to 3 months ahead, and earlier for May to September.
Classic Inca Trail sold out? This is our answer
Classic Inca Trail permits sell out months ahead. Ancascocha is our favourite answer: you cross higher passes than Dead Woman's Pass, walk part of the Classic Inca Trail valley and still arrive at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate.
What is included?
Included
- Hotel pickup and transport to Soqma
- Bilingual guide (English and Spanish)
- Cook and kitchen crew
- Porters, horsemen and mules to carry the camping and cooking equipment
- 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners and afternoon snacks
- 2-person tents, inflatable sleeping mats, dining tent with tables and chairs
- Boiled drinking water from day 1 lunch to the end of the trek
- Night in Ollantaytambo on night 3
- Short Inca Trail permit and Machu Picchu entrance ticket
- Train from Ollantaytambo to KM 104, and from Aguas Calientes back to Ollantaytambo, then transfer to your hotel in Cusco
- Bus tickets between Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes
- 1 night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes
- Oxygen bottle, pulse oximeter, Garmin satellite device, two-way radios and first aid kit
- Pre-trek briefing, free luggage storage and free delivery of your bags to your hotel
- Vegetarian and special diets on request, at no extra cost
Not included
- Breakfast on day 1
- Dinner on day 4 and lunch on day 5 in Aguas Calientes
- Sleeping bag
- Tips for the crew
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Optional: rentals and extras
- Sleeping bag (Kelty synthetic, comfort 20°F / -7°C): $60
- Walking sticks (Kelty), per pair: $25
- Inflatable sleeping pad (Therm-a-Rest Pro Lite Plus): $50
- Camping pillow (Therm-a-Rest): $25
- Trekking Comfort Package, all 4 items above: $120
- Full porter for your own things (up to 14 kg): $220
- Half porter (up to 7 kg): $120
- Single tent supplement: $65
- Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain ticket: $90 (subject to availability)
Our crew carries the camp and kitchen only. You carry your daypack; to have your own things carried, add a porter. There is no such thing as a free porter.
What should you pack?
Pack for cold, high camps: nights at Chancachuco and Quesqa drop below 0 °C, and the passes can be windy. The last two days are warm and humid. You carry your daypack unless you hire a porter.
Daypack (you carry it every day)
- Original passport, valid 6 months or more (checked at the Inca Trail checkpoint)
- Water bottle or bladder, at least 2 litres
- Rain jacket and a warm layer you can reach quickly
- Sun hat, warm beanie, gloves, sunglasses, SPF 50+ sunscreen and lip balm
- Headlamp, snacks, toilet paper and hand sanitiser
- Small Peruvian soles for tips, toilets and snacks; personal medication
Clothing and footwear
- Down jacket and thermal base layers for the cold nights
- Fleece, 2 to 3 quick-dry T-shirts, 1 to 2 long-sleeve shirts
- 2 to 3 pairs of trekking pants and 4 to 5 pairs of hiking socks
- Broken-in waterproof hiking boots, plus camp sandals
Sleeping
- A sleeping bag rated to -7 °C (20 °F) or lower; we rent one for $60
- Earplugs and an eye mask
Toiletries and first aid
- Toothbrush, quick-dry towel, wet wipes, biodegradable soap
- Insect repellent for the lower valleys
- Blister kit, pain relief, anti-diarrhoea tablets, rehydration salts
- Altitude medication only if your doctor prescribes it
Why do we cost more than other Ancascocha operators?
Our price pays for fair, safe work for every porter and horseman, and a small group for you; here is exactly where the difference goes.
Equal, fair pay
Every porter, woman or man, earns the same, and horsemen are paid for every animal and every day.
Ethical loads
Lightweight modern gear and ergonomic framed packs, so no load goes over an ethical 20 kg.
A real night's rest for the crew
Our crew gets their own tents, sleeping bags and meals, not a tarp on the ground.
Small groups
Never more than 8 hikers per group, so the pace and attention fit you.
Safety on every trek
Emergency oxygen, a pulse oximeter, a Garmin satellite device, two-way radios and a crew trained in wilderness first aid.
Remote camps
We camp in the Chancachuco and Quesqa valleys, where you are often the only group.
How booking and the trek logistics work
A $300 deposit secures your Short Inca Trail permit, the balance is due by card 30 days before the trek (or in cash in Cusco 2 days before), and we handle pickups, the briefing, trains and buses.
| Step | How it works |
|---|---|
| When to book | 2 to 3 months ahead, and earlier for May to September |
| Before you arrive | Spend at least 2 days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley to acclimatise. See our training plan. |
| Deposit | $300 per person, non-refundable (it buys your Short Inca Trail permit) |
| Balance | By card at least 30 days before the trek, or in cash at our Cusco office at least 2 days before |
| Cancellation | See our Terms and Conditions. Travel insurance is highly recommended. |
| Pre-trek briefing | At your hotel when you arrive, or at 5:00 pm the day before in Cusco |
| Pickup on day 1 | 4:30 to 5:00 am from your hotel in Cusco, or 7:00 to 8:00 am from the Sacred Valley |
| Luggage | Free storage of your luggage while you hike, and free delivery of your bags to your hotel |
| Return to Cusco | Expedition or Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo (usually around 2:55 pm, based on availability), then transfer to your hotel; back about 7:30 pm |
Who carries the camp, and how are they treated?
Porters, horsemen and mules carry the camp and kitchen, and our crew works at ethical loads, with their own tents, sleeping bags and meals, and equal pay for women and men.
I started on these trails as a porter in 1996. In 2017 we became the first company to hire women porters on the Inca Trail, and the same rules apply on every trek we run: fair pay, light loads, a real night's rest.
Read about our Porter Lives Matter campaignOur 3 guarantees
Fair crew
Equal pay, ethical loads, their own tents and meals. Ask us anything about it.
Small groups
Never more than 8 hikers per group.
Honest advice
If three passes over 4,400 m are too much for you, we will tell you before you book and suggest a better trek.
How do we keep you safe?
Every trek carries oxygen, a pulse oximeter, a Garmin satellite device and two-way radios, and we check you for altitude sickness every day.
First aid kit
Emergency oxygen bottle
Pulse oximeter checks morning and evening
Garmin satellite device and two-way radios
Emergency horse on the mountain days
How sustainable is this trek?
Fair pay comes first, and we run single-use-plastic-free treks with sorted waste.
Equal pay for women and men
Local horsemen from the Ancascocha communities
Single-use plastic free
Waste separated into organic and inorganic and carried out
Questions about your dates? Ask Miguel
Tell us your dates and your group size, and we reply on WhatsApp or email.
Get the full 2027 itinerary (PDF)
Day by day, packing list and prices, sent to you on WhatsApp.
Questions about the Ancascocha trek
What is the Ancascocha trek?
It is a 5-day trek from Soqma, near Ollantaytambo, over three high passes past Ancascocha lake, down the Inca Trail valley to KM 82, and then along the Short Inca Trail into Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. It is one of the least-walked routes to Machu Picchu.
How hard is the Ancascocha trek?
It is challenging: two long days with three passes, the highest the Huayanay Pass at 4,650 m. The paths are not technical. Spend at least 2 days in Cusco first, walk at your own pace, and a horse can be arranged for the passes.
Do I need an Inca Trail permit?
Yes, a Short Inca Trail permit for day 4, which we buy with your deposit. It is easier to get than a Classic Inca Trail permit, which makes Ancascocha a great choice when the Classic trail is sold out.
How much does the Ancascocha trek cost?
From $900 per person for 6 to 8 hikers, $1,100 for 4 to 5 and $1,300 for 2 to 3; ask us for a solo price. The price includes the permit, Machu Picchu ticket, trains, buses, meals, crew and a hotel night in Aguas Calientes.
Do you see Machu Picchu twice?
Yes: first from the Sun Gate on the afternoon of day 4, then on a guided tour inside the citadel on day 5.
Will we see other hikers?
Hardly any on days 1 and 2. You meet other hikers only on the Inca Trail section on day 3 and on the Short Inca Trail on day 4.
Where do we sleep?
Two nights in tents in the mountains, one night in Ollantaytambo and one in a hotel in Aguas Calientes. The mountain camps drop below freezing, so bring or rent a warm sleeping bag.
When is the best time to go?
May to September, the dry season, for the clearest views. The trek runs from March to January; it does not run in February, when the Inca Trail closes.
Who carries my things?
Our crew and mules carry the camp and food; you carry your daypack. To have your own things carried, add a full porter ($220) or half porter ($120) when you book.
Other ways to walk to Machu Picchu
The classic route over Dead Woman's Pass. Group from $990.
5 days over the Frozen Inca Pass to the Sun Gate. From $1,100.
The Inca quarry above Ollantaytambo, then the Short Inca Trail.
Little Cusco above the Sacred Valley, then the Short Inca Trail.