Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu — Self-Launched 3 Days
3 days · Peru (Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu)
Alpaca Expeditions charges £465
No-markup version: ~£420 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Alpaca Expeditions' 3-day Huchuy Qosqo trek: you hike the same little-visited Inca route from Puca Pucara over a 4,100m pass past Queullacocha and Qoricocha lakes, camp with a local Quechua family above the Sacred Valley, descend to the Huchuy Qosqo ruins, then take a shared van and the Expedition train to Aguas Calientes for sunrise at Machu Picchu. Instead of a fully guided group departure, you arrange a licensed local guide for the trek and Machu Picchu entry tickets yourself (both are legally required — Machu Picchu cannot be entered unaccompanied), book a family-run guesthouse in Aguas Calientes and use colectivos and PeruRail/Inca Rail like a local. Prices are approximate backpacker rates.
Day-by-day
Cusco → Puca Pucara → Queullacocha → Quencco camp
Cusco / Huchuy Qosqo route
Acclimatise in Cusco for at least 2–3 days before this trek — the route crosses a 4,100m pass on day one. Arrange a licensed trek guide in advance (ask your Cusco hostel or book through a local agency such as a Cusco-based trek operator; expect roughly £70–90 per person for a 2-day guide share, or £130+ if you're solo). Take a colectivo or taxi from Cusco to Puca Pucara (S/10–25, ~20 min), then hike with your guide up past Tambomachay towards the first pass at 4,100m with views back over Cusco. Continue to Queullacocha Lake for a packed lunch, then traverse around Qoricocha (Golden Lake) to the village of Quencco. Spend the evening with a local Quechua family — cook a simple dinner together, learn about herding and weaving, and sleep in a basic community room or your own tent (bring a 3-season sleeping bag; nights are cold at 3,800m). Arrange the family stay through your guide or a Cusco agency (roughly £15–20 including dinner and breakfast).
🚌Colectivo or taxi Cusco–Puca Pucara (S/10–25); hiking on foot
🛏Community homestay / basic tent in Quencco (arranged via your guide, ~£15)
- →Colectivo/taxi to Puca Pucara
- →Self-guided-with-local-guide hike over 4,100m pass
- →Queullacocha and Qoricocha lakes
- →Community homestay in Quencco
Quencco → Huchuy Qosqo → Lamay → Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes
Huchuy Qosqo / Sacred Valley / Aguas Calientes
Early start after coca tea and breakfast with the family. Hike 2–3 hours on original Inca paving below Pumamarca village to the Huchuy Qosqo (Little Cusco) complex, perched at 3,600m above the valley — explore the sacred temples, storehouses, terraces and Inca reservoir with your guide (entry to the site is included in the trek permit your guide arranges; there is a small community fee of roughly S/20). Descend steeply to Lamay village (about 2 hours). From Lamay take a shared colectivo or combi to Ollantaytambo (S/5–10, ~45 min), grab dinner in town, then board the evening Expedition train to Aguas Calientes (PeruRail or Inca Rail, book 2–3 weeks ahead; ~£35–45 one way, departures around 19:00). Check into a family-run guesthouse near the river — hot showers, private rooms from ~£18–25 a night.
🚌On foot; colectivo Lamay–Ollantaytambo (S/5–10); PeruRail/Inca Rail Expedition Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes (~£40)
🛏Family-run guesthouse in Aguas Calientes (~£20)
- →Inca Trail section below Pumamarca
- →Huchuy Qosqo archaeological site
- →Descent to Lamay
- →Expedition train to Aguas Calientes
Sunrise at Machu Picchu → back to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Cusco
Buy your Machu Picchu entrance ticket in advance on the official Ministerio de Cultura site (machupicchu.gob.pe) — roughly S/152–200 (£35–45) for Circuit 1 or 2, and book a time slot for early morning. Bring your passport. Take the Consettur shuttle bus up from Aguas Calientes (US$12 return, ~25 min) and be at the gate for opening to catch sunrise if the weather plays ball. A licensed guide is required to tour the ruins — join a small group guide at the entrance (~£15–20) or arrange one in advance. Optionally climb Huayna Picchu (separate permit, ~£55–60, book months ahead — only 400 people a day) or hike to the Sun Gate. Have lunch back in Aguas Calientes (S/20–30), then take the afternoon Expedition train to Ollantaytambo (~15:20, ~£40) and a shared bus/colectivo back to Cusco (S/10–15, ~1.5 hrs).
🚌Consettur bus up/down (US$12 return); PeruRail/Inca Rail to Ollantaytambo (~£40); colectivo to Cusco (S/10–15)
🛏Back to your Cusco hostel (not included in trek cost)
- →Machu Picchu sunrise entry
- →Small-group guided tour of the citadel
- →Optional Huayna Picchu or Sun Gate climb
- →Shuttle bus and train back to Cusco
Self-launched vs. Alpaca Expeditions
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Alpaca Expeditions | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£420 | £465 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £45 per person (10%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Alpaca Expeditions-style trips? Check them out here.~£420
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Huchuy Qosqo Trek to Machu Picchu — Self-Launched 3 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £420 per person for 3 days in Peru (Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Alpaca Expeditions?+
Yes — Alpaca Expeditions charges around £465 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £420 — a saving of roughly £45 (10%) per person.
How long is the Peru (Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu) trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Peru (Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Peru (Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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