4 days Huchuy Qosqo and Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

It's a private 4-day trek to Machu Picchu that combines the Huchuy Qosqo trail, from Tambomachay over the hills above Cusco to the Inca site of "Little Cusco," with the Short Inca Trail from Km 104 to the Sun Gate. You spend one night camping, one in Ollantaytambo and one in Aguas Calientes, and tour Machu Picchu with your guide on Day 4.

Our 3-day Huchuy Qosqo Trek goes from Huchuy Qosqo to Machu Picchu by train. This 4-day trek adds a night in Ollantaytambo and the Short Inca Trail, with Chachabamba, Wiñay Wayna and the Sun Gate, so you arrive at Machu Picchu on foot. If you only have one day, try the Huchuy Qosqo full-day hike.

Huchuy Qosqo sits at 11,811 ft (3,600 m) on a natural balcony above the Sacred Valley, near the village of Lamay, in the Cusco region of Peru. Its name means "Little Cusco." You'll see wide Inca terraces, stone foundations and tall adobe halls, believed to have been a royal estate, with sweeping views of the valley and the Urubamba range.

Yes. On Day 3, the train takes you to Km 104, where you hike the Short Inca Trail past Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, and down to Machu Picchu. Your Short Inca Trail permit is included, and you return the next morning for your full guided tour.

It's a moderate to challenging trek. Day 1 climbs to a pass at 13,451 ft (4,100 m), Day 2 has a long, steep descent from Huchuy Qosqo to Lamay, and Day 3 on the Short Inca Trail has steep Inca steps up to Wiñay Wayna. Good walking fitness and a few days in Cusco beforehand make all the difference.

The highest point is the pass above Qoricocha Lake, at 13,451 ft (4,100 m), on Day 1. You camp at Quenko (12,467 ft / 3,800 m) and cross Siwa Pass (13,123 ft / 4,000 m) on Day 2. The Short Inca Trail runs much lower, from Km 104 at 7,218 ft (2,200 m) to the Sun Gate at 8,924 ft (2,720 m).

You hike about 16.8 mi (27 km) in three days: 6.2 mi (10 km) on Day 1, 4.3 mi (7 km) on Day 2 and 6.2 mi (10 km) on the Short Inca Trail on Day 3. On Day 4, you walk around Machu Picchu with your guide.

Not all the way. You hike from Tambomachay to Huchuy Qosqo and down to Lamay, then drive to Ollantaytambo. On Day 3, the train takes you to Km 104, and from there you walk the Short Inca Trail to the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu.

Yes. It's a private service for your party of 2 to 10 travelers, with your own bilingual guide, cook and muleteers. Your departure depends on Short Inca Trail permits and Machu Picchu tickets, so we check them for your dates before confirming.

Yes. Your Inca Trail permit includes two entries. On Day 3, you arrive through the Sun Gate and stop at the classic viewpoint by the Guardian's House (Circuit 1) for your postcard photo. On Day 4, you return for your guided tour (Circuit 3). If you'd also like Circuit 2, we can book it as a separate ticket, subject to availability.

Yes. The Short Inca Trail needs a permit issued with your passport details, and we arrange it for you with your Huchuy Qosqo and Machu Picchu tickets and trains. Permits are limited, so book as early as you can, especially for May to September. The Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance.

The best time is the dry season, from May to September, with clear skies, cold nights at camp and the best views over the Sacred Valley. April and October are good shoulder months. From November to March, the hills turn green and rain is more frequent, and the Inca Trail closes in February.

Spend at least two days in Cusco before the trek, walking at an easy pace and drinking plenty of water. On the trail, go slowly on the climbs and tell your guide right away about headache, nausea, dizziness or unusual tiredness. Your guide carries a first-aid kit and an emergency oxygen bottle and will decide with you how to continue.

Night 1 is camping at Quenko, in EUREKA or DOITE four-person tents shared by two travelers, with Therm-a-Rest or REI mats and a dining tent. Night 2 is in a 3-star hotel in Ollantaytambo, close to the Inca Trail train, and Night 3 in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes, such as Golden Sunrise Machu Picchu or similar.

You get three breakfasts, three lunches and three dinners: meals at camp prepared by your cook, dinner and breakfast at your hotels, and a box lunch on the Short Inca Trail. In the morning at camp, you wake up to coca tea. Breakfast on Day 1 and lunch and dinner on Day 4 are on your own.

Yes, on the Huchuy Qosqo section: from lunch on Day 1, your cook boils and cools drinking water for you to refill your bottle at every meal. Bring a full bottle from Cusco for the first hours of Day 1, and buy water in Ollantaytambo for the Short Inca Trail on Day 3.

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan and other special menus are available at no extra cost; tell us when you book. If you have a food allergy, let us know how severe it is so your cook can plan your meals, and carry any emergency medication you need, as camp kitchens in the mountains are simple.

On the Huchuy Qosqo section, mules carry the camping gear and your duffel bag, up to 15.4 lb (7 kg) per traveler. From Ollantaytambo, you continue with your daypack only, so pack what you need for the Inca Trail and the night in Aguas Calientes; we take care of the rest. A 25–30 L daypack fits water, snacks, layers, rain gear and your passport.

We include the train from Ollantaytambo to Km 104 and the train back from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, on Expedition by PeruRail or Voyager by Inca Rail, plus the bus down from Machu Picchu on Day 3, the round-trip bus on Day 4 and all road transport. You can take the Vistadome for US$50 per person on your train back, or US$120 on both train journeys, subject to availability.

Yes, you can add the Huayna Picchu ticket or the Machu Picchu Mountain ticket for US$85 each, subject to availability and an entry time that fits your Day 4 tour. Both climbs are steep, so plan an extra two to three hours. Tickets sell out early in the dry season, so let us know when you book.

Yes. You can rent a 5-season sleeping bag and trekking poles from us; see Extra Services for the prices. Poles help on the long descent to Lamay and the Inca steps, and on the Inca Trail and at Machu Picchu they're allowed only with rubber tips.

Inca Trail permits are issued with each traveler's name and passport number for a set date, so double-check your details when you book. If your plans change, contact us right away and we'll explain what can be adjusted under the booking terms.

We'll check nearby dates first. You can also choose the 3-day Huchuy Qosqo Trek, which needs no Inca Trail permit, the 5-day Lares Trek and Short Inca Trail, the private Short Inca Trail or the Classic Inca Trail.

No. The Short Inca Trail starts at Km 104 and reaches the Sun Gate in one day, while the 4-day Classic Inca Trail starts at Km 82 and crosses high passes with three nights of camping. This trek pairs the Short Inca Trail with two days on the Huchuy Qosqo trail, so you get both the quiet Andean villages and the Inca stonework.

There's no electricity at camp, so bring a charged power bank for the first day and night. You can charge everything at your hotels in Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes. Phone signal comes and goes on the high trail above Cusco and on parts of the Inca Trail.

See the Prices tab for the current rate and the discounts for children, students and groups. The price includes your private guide and trekking team, camping gear, meals, the Huchuy Qosqo and Inca Trail permits, trains, buses, Machu Picchu tickets and both hotel nights. Optional extras such as a sleeping bag, poles, Vistadome or a mountain ticket are paid separately.

Cancellation conditions depend on your booking terms and how close you are to departure. Certain official permits and travel tickets may be nonrefundable or nontransferable. Please review the cancellation and refund conditions with our reservations team before completing payment so you understand the applicable charges.

Your guide meets you at your hotel in Cusco, about two days before departure, to go over each day, the altitude, the weather, what goes in your duffel bag and daypack, your permits and Machu Picchu tickets, and your pickup time. Bring your questions and any dietary information.

You can read real reviews from travelers who have done Huchuy Qosqo, the Inca Trail and our other treks on Waman Adventures on TripAdvisor.