The Chancachuco Trek is one of the newest trekking routes offered in the Cusco region. Based in the area around Ollantaytambo, the Chancachuco trek takes you past waterfalls, Incan ruins and beautiful scenery.
This magical experience will take you to areas rarely seen by tourists – and you will share with the locals living along the way. First, start off with a scenic drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, passing through beautiful snow capped mountains and farmlands ablaze with the colors of local crops. Our trek starts with us up the valley behind the Andean community of Socma as we make our way to a small Incan site and beautiful Perolniyoc waterfall that lies at the top (50m. high, located at 3,520 meters above sea level). Walking past potato, corn, and quinoa fields, we’ll have the opportunity to see a variety of birds and native plants and to learn about the customs of the Andean people. Your guide will teach you a little Quechua so that you can communicate with the people you meet on the trek. All of your senses will feel alive -one of the few plants that seems to thrive at this altitude is a type of mint (muna), which infuses the air of the Andes. Our chefs will prepare hot chocolate to share with children in a small community along the way. Experience the incredible night stars as we camp by the ancient ruins of Perolniyoq. This little known site has recently started to be excavated by the INC (National Cultural Institute.)
Walk across the high plateau through a strange landscape of what appear to be burial mounds but are actually glacial morraines; piles of rock deposited by glaciers during the Ice Age.
We will hike past other sites such as the lake of Ancas Cocha, follow the original Inca trail, hike up through the Chanca Chuco Pass at 4300m while viewing a full scope of the Sacred Valley. One of the many destinations of our trek is the Incan quarry of Chancachuco. This main attraction is the famous quarry that was used to mine the huge stones that were used to build the military and sacred empire of Ollantaytambo. We will spend a good part of the day exploring this site and learning of the rich cultural history of the mighty Incans who inhabited the area. This part of the trek will whet your appetite for the following explorations – we will actually hike down the original ramp that was used to transport these multi-ton stones to Ollantaytambo!
Once we arrive in Ollantaytambo, the jewel crown of the trek awaits us in our final leg. We board the luxury VistaDome train to the ancient town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town.) The following day we awake early to visit one of the New Wonders of the World – Machu Picchu! By this time, you will have a new-found appreciation for this ancient Incan marvel!