Hike to Cachiccata Trek – Alternative Inca Trail

5 days

The Cachiccata Trek is a great alternative to the famed Inca Trail hike. The Cachiccata Trail was built by the Incas and used for hundreds of years to access local communities and transport goods.

Hike to Cachiccata Trek - Alternative Inca Trail

Cachiccata and Machu Picchu Cuzco – Peru 

Hike to Cachiccata Trek and Machu Picchu 5 days

This trail is not as well known as the classic Inca Trail, so expect far fewer crowds and a more serene Peru trekking experience. This hiking adventure not only visits Peru’s cultural past, but also explores modern Incan communities and customs. The trail takes us through secluded waterfalls, ancient terraces and exotic wildlife, all the while delivering fantastic views of the Sacred Valley and Peru’s commanding snow-capped mountains. Visit with local families and explore an active quarry. Every step brings a new look into Inca culture.

Begin from: Cusco / Ollaytaytambo

End in: Machu Picchu / Cusco

Duration: 05 Days/ 04 Nights

Physical Rating: Moderate

Accommodation: Tourist Class 

 

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SCHEDULE

Cachiccata Trek Day 1: Cachiccata Trek to Perolyniyoc

Camp altitude: 9,512 ft
Hiking length: 4.3 miles uphill (5 to 6-hour hike)

Cusco to Sacred Valley and From Ollantaytambo, you will drive for about 40 minutes to Racca located in the sacred Valley of the Incas. Here you will start your amazing trek! You will hike for about 30 minutes until arriving at Ñaupa Iglesia, which was an important Inca Shrine. After exploring the shrine with your guide, hike uphill to the Andean community of Soccma. This community is nested in the heart of the Andes. At Soccma, you will meet the horses and porters who will accompany you during the whole trek and partake in a picnic lunch overlooking the beautiful mountainous scenery. After lunch, continue hiking uphill to Perolniyoc, where you can enjoy vistas of the Soccma Valley, Maras Plateau and the snow-capped mountain Chicon. We will also visit the Perolniyoc Waterfall – with its drop of 328 feet.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Cachiccata Trek Day 2: Cachiccata Trek Piruchayoc to Chancachuco

Camp Altitude: 13,776 ft
Distance from camp 1 to the pass: 3.1 miles (4 hour hike)
Distance from the pass to camp 2: 2.5 miles (2 hour hike)

After breakfast, we will being our hike following an ancient Incan water channel. The trail ascends through the Ccorimarca Valley, where terraces locally known as “Andenes” dot the hillsides. The terraces were built by the Incas, but locals still grow their crops here. Hike up to the first pass from which there is an amazing view of the snow-capped peaks of the Urubamba range. You can see Veronica, Ausangate, Pachatusan and Salcantay peaks from this vantage point. Look out over the fields of Chinchero, Moray and Maras far below you.

After breaking for a rest and a snack, we will continue through the small valley of Chancachuco, where we will have lunch next to the Andean lake of Maracocha, as it drains its waters into the stream of Chancachuco, through a long Inca water channel of 18 km. We can admire Andean bird species such as the Andean goose, the Cara Cara, and the Andean flicker. After a short rest and our picnic lunch, we continue downhill to our next campsite, which boasts spectacular views of the snowy peak Huayanay. Here, we will have the opportunity to visit with a local family who makes their living farming potatoes and raising sheep.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Cachiccata Trek Day 3: Cachiccata Trek Chancachuco-Quarry and Community Camp

Camp Altitude: 9,022 feet
Second pass altitude: 14,107 feet
Distance of the hike: 4 miles (7 hours)

Early this morning, we will begin our trek to the second mountain pass on our journey, Apu Buena Negra. At the top of the pass, we will have a spectacular birds-eye view of the Sacred Valley and the snowy Urubamba mountain range. From the pass, we will hike downhill following the trail until we join the Inca water channel coming from Maracocha Lake. Eventually, we we reach the temple Intiwatana, located on the edge of the mountain. Here, traditional offering are still made to Mother Earth. We can also view the Pakaritampu Pyramid from this location. We will continue hiking downhill to the archaeological site of Choquetacarpo, where we will have lunch. After exploring the site, we will walk downhill to visit one of the biggest Inca quarries in Cusco, which supplied stones for the town and fortress of Ollantaytambo.

Tonight, we will sleep in a beautiful campsite owned by a group of local people from the Cachiccata community, where hot showers and proper toilets are available. From here we will enjoy a wonderful view of this community as well as of Ollantaytambo and Veronica snow-capped mountain.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Cachiccata Trek Day 4: Ollantaytambo and Train to Machu Picchu

In the morning, transfer to and visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo. During the Inca Empire, Ollantaytambo served as a royal estate and later a refuge after the Spanish conquered Cusco in 1537. The ruins feature expansive terraces and well-preserved architecture, and the town is still laid out as it was during the Incan empire, allowing its visitors to glimpse the history which still exists within its boundaries.

Board the train and follow the Urubamba River as it tumbles its way towards the Amazon and the sacred city of Machu Picchu. Ancient canals still bring water from the high mountains to the baths used by Inca priests. As visitors, you’re welcomed to respectfully dip your hands in the cool water. After your tour of the Machu Picchu, you’ll return to Machu Picchu Pueblo (town formerly called Aguas Calientes) to soak in the hot springs and dine on local trout fillets.

Accommodations
Breakfast

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Cachiccata Trek Day 5: Machu Picchu. Return to Cusco

Today is your chance to watch the sunrise at Machu Picchu and to listen to the spirits of the city’s past inhabitants before the hikers from the Inca Trail arrive. You can choose to book a permit to climb the sacred peak of Huayna Picchu, hike to the Sun Gate which overlooks the ruins or take a walk through the lush cloudforest to the Temple of the Moon. In the afternoon, you’ll return by train to Cusco with your guide. (Let us know if you would like help arranging entrance fees or hiking permits for today – these are not included and sell out in advance!)

Accommodations
Breakfast

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CACHICCATA TREK INCLUDED:

• Pick up from the hotel
• Round trip train tickets
• Professional bilingual guide
• Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
• 03 Lunch & Dinner
• Bus ticket up and down
• Hotel in Aguas Calientes, breakfast included
• 01 Dinner in Aguas Calientes
• First aid kit and oxygen bottle
• Pick up from the train station and transfer to your hotel in Cusco

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CACHICCATA TREK  NOT INCLUDED:

• First breakfast
• Last Lunch
• Extra porter for personal items available for US$90.00 porter carries 18 lb. Of personal items according to local law

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You Must Bring:

• Small backpack or daypack, well fitted trekking boots
• Water bottle, flashlight hat, sunglasses, bug spray, sunscreen
• Warm and Light clothing, rain coat or plastic poncho
• Chocolates, cookies, dry fruits, snack
• Binocular
• Extra Money (local currency and lots of coins)
• Original passport

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