8 Day Moonstone Trek to Machu Picchu

After breakfast, enjoy a free day to explore Cusco at your ease. The capital city of the Inca Empire is now the undisputed archaeological capital of the Americas, as well as the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city. You may visit the local archaeological sites of Saqsaywaman, Tambomachay and Qenqo or you can take part in a Peruvian cooking class or chocolate making class, depending on how you want to spend your free day. We can help arrange and suggest all activities available in this incredible imperial City. 

Today our adventure begins early in the morning when we pick you up from your hotel in Cusco. From Cusco we drive for one hour to Quillarumiyoc (the Moonstone). Dedicated to the Inca moon god, this site has a truly mystical feel, with large rocks engraved with drawings, symbols and strange patterns, the most famous being the intricate half-moon carved in bas-relief into a large rock. After exploring this intriguing ruin, we’ll have a tasty breakfast at the site before heading on.  

After about 40 minutes, we’ll reach the trailhead at Varpiso, ay 3,257 m (10,682 ft) above sea level. Here we will meet our horses and horsemen, which will join us on our trek. After packing most of our gear onto the horses, we’ll set off on foot. First, we will cross a bridge over the Huaracondo River, entering a beautiful and rarely visited part of the Cusco Region.  

We will trek through spectacular surroundings for about 3.5 hours, mostly uphill. Then we will arrive at the pre-Inca site of Huatta (3,924 m). Huatta is a large fortress set atop the crest of a ridge. Archeologists are still excavating Huatta, and continue to find more burial sites and different occupation levels from the Formative Period, some 2,500 years ago. We’ll see the imposing fortifications that were built here some time during the 4th century, and a few late-period Inca structures that were later added on top of the highest hill. Both the Incas and those who came before them, would have recognized this site’s strategic location, set atop a defensible ridge with commanding views in three directions along the intersecting valleys. After exploring the site, we’ll have a rest while your lunch is being prepared. Our specialized chefs not only produce the most delicious food but also use locally sourced ingredients from the nearby villages so that we are directly contributing to the areas where we trek. 

After lunch, we’ll spend the rest of the day trekking over a series of up-and-down sections. After about 3.5 hours we will reach the small village of Chillipawa (3,750 m), where we will set up our camp for the night. Chillipawa happens to be the native village of many of our porters and guides, so you can expect a friendly welcome and great Andean hospitality. Without these incredible people, our treks would not be possible!   

Hiking Time: 7-8 hours 

Hiking Distance: 10 km  

Lowest Point: 3,256 m / 10, 682 ft 

Highest Point: 3,924 m / 12, 870 ft 

We will begin the day with a cup of coca tea or wonderful local coffee. Then we’ll have a hearty Andean breakfast to build up our energy for the day ahead. Setting off, we’ll first tackle an uphill trek for about 3.5 hours. After that, we’ll stop at a picturesque glade where we’ll have lunch. We are now reaching some serious elevation, at around 4,438 m (14,557 ft). 

Hiking Time: 7-8 hours 

Hiking Distance: 11.5 km / 7 miles 

Lowest Point: 3,750 m / 12,300 ft. 

Highest Point: 4,643 m / 15,229 ft.  

After lunch it’s another uphill climb for about an hour, where we’ll reach the highest point on our trek: the Puccacasa pass, at 4,643 m (15,229 ft) above sea level. All your effort getting here will be well rewarded by the incredible views. On one side you’ll see Cusco and the Ausangate mountain, which at 6,372 m (20,900 ft) tall, is the highest peak in the Urubamba Mountain Range. On the other side you’ll have a breathtaking view of the nearby, pyramid-shaped Mount Veronica, which sits near the end of the range. Both mountains are considered sacred Apus, or mountain spirits, revered by the Incas and their descendants. 

It will be hard to take our eyes away from this glorious view, but we have to head on. Thankfully, it’s mostly downhill from here. Our trek downhill to our next campsite will take about 2.5 hours, and we’ll pass by rolling fields filled with llamas, alpacas and potato farms. We will then arrive at our camp, Chancachuco, which sits at 4,177 m (13,700 ft). Here we will enjoy a well-earned and bountiful dinner, with views of the Huaynay Glaciers as they sparkle in the distance 

Our trek today takes us through the most beautiful landscapes we’ll see, as we follow a section of an old Inca Trail. We’re also unlikely to see any other people along this route, as it is relatively unknown.  

After breakfast, we begin our trek with a walk through the enchanting Puncuyoc canyon, where we will be surrounded by lush green vegetation and polylepis trees as we follow a stream that flows through the canyon. This section through the canyon and the Silque Valley is an easy two-hour downhill stretch. 

After a while, we’ll come across the Inca Aqueduct, which at 16 km long is the longest Inca aqueduct ever built (as far as we currently know), stretching from Chancachuco to Ollantaytambo. If we’re very lucky, we might even catch sight of one of the most iconic local animals: the Andean spectacled bear. Eventually, we’ll reach an uphill section, which will take us about two hours to complete. Along the way we will stop at Wayrac Punku, also known as the Gateway to the Andes, from where we’ll have awe-inspiring views of Mount Veronica and parts of the Sacred Valley.  

Next, we’ll explore the nearby Inca Quarry at Cachicata, which offers a fascinating glimpse into Inca history and masonry. This archaeological site is dotted with Inca constructions where the stone masons once lived. You’ll also see where the Incas mined the pink stones used to build Ollantaytambo, and stones that were ready to be shipped off but were ultimately left here after the Inca Empire had fallen to the Spanish. The site also features an early Inca wheel design and a rare mummy.  

Once we’ve explored the quarry, we’ll set off on the final 45-minute stretch of the day, walking along a series of gentle ups and downs until we reach our campsite, where we’ll have great views of the Sacred Valley and the city of Ollantaytambo. We’ll have time to relax and  enjoy a hearty dinner, while we watch the sunset over the Sacred Valley. 

Hiking Time: 6-7 hours 

Hiking Distance: 10 km  

Lowest Point: 3,525 m/ 11,564 ft. 

Highest Point: 3,940 m/ 12,136 ft. 

After another tasty breakfast, we’ll begin a relaxing day of exploration as we trek from the Inca Quarry to Ollantaytambo. This area is rarely visited and we’re unlikely to encounter many other trekkers (if any) as we descend along a wide Inca road, passing through an area of Inca quarries and chullpas (old Inca cemeteries), seeing ruins that few others have ever explored. The downhill trek will take about 3.5 hours, after which we’ll reach the town and Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo.  

In Ollantaytambo, we’ll have lunch and visit the town and the extensive Inca archaeological site. Afterwards, we will catch the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes, the town that sits below Machu Picchu. When we reach Aguas Calientes, we will accompany you to your hotel. It will still be quite early in the afternoon, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore this colourful town and if you want, visit the nearby hot springs – a welcome treat after four days of trekking. We’ll also enjoy an excellent meal in one of the best local restaurants in Aguas Calientes. You’ll probably want to go to sleep quite early, as we’ll have an early start the next day, when we visit our final destination; the magnificent Machu Picchu. 

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours 

Hiking Distance: 7 km / 4.50 miles 

Lowest Point: 2,792 m / 9,158 ft. 

Highest Point: 3,525 m / 11,562 ft. 

 To best appreciated Machu Picchu, we’ll wake up early in the morning so we can get to the citadel in good time. You’ll have time for breakfast first, and then your guide will pick you up from the hotel at around 5:40 a.m. We’ll then walk to the bus departure point for the short but zigzagging ascent up the road to Machu Picchu.  

We’ll then pass through the gates into the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Here you’ll begin your guided walking tour with an experienced and highly knowledgeable guide. Our tour of Machu Picchu will last about two hours, and will take you to all the most famous and most spectacular parts of the extensive archaeological complex. These include the House of the Guardian, the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, the Sacred Plaza and other key locations. And as we walk around, we’ll have spectacular views of the agriculture terraces of Machu Picchu and across to the surrounding mountains and plunging gorges. After the guided tour you’ll have time to explore Machu Picchu as you please, perhaps walking to some less visited parts such as the Inca Bridge.  

Once we’ve finished our tour of Machu Picchu, we’ll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes where you can relax and have lunch (not included) before we board the train back to Poroy and Cusco. Upon arrival at the station, we’ll be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Cusco, where you’ll finish your incredible Moonstone trek to Machu Picchu. 

After breakfast, enjoy your last day at leisure before transferring to the airport for your return flight home via Lima.