Ancascocha trek

Day 1: Cusco – Yanacocha. Pick up at 06:00 hrs from your hotel, then drive up to Zurite, where the group stops for breakfast, and buy some needed last minute shop, then continue until llamacancha (llama fence), here; we are going to meet our muleteers, and begin the trip by gentle trail will lead us up to the summit (4,400 mts – 14, 436 ft), the view is impressive, valleys, canyons, and snow mountains which are surrounding the ancascocha lake.

We will hike to the summit, then lead up to lunch, at Misti and Chonta soccomarca mountains slope, then ascend towards west, then to the north and walk by a grassy land, named hatun pampa “big flatland” which is sheepherders favorite place, tents are set up here; at yanacocha over (4,200mt – 13,779ft). Enjoy the stars view at night.

difficulty: Challenge, distance 8 km. walking time: 6 hours.

Day 2: Yanacocha – puma ccasa – Occoruro: This part is even more fascinating, we will hike towards northwest, and after an hour walk, we’ll summit the CCara Cruz “leather cross pass”, this summit is at 4600m, has great view of the valleys of Apurimac canyon, and more from this 360° view, then the pathway leads by a gently downhill path to Poc Poc – pampa, above of switchback stream named Qenqo Mayu.

After 3 hours hike we summit puma-ccasa “puma pass” = 4,500 mts, then walk by a downhill path.

After food, we will climb up a switchback section to punku-ccasa “gate pass”, from where another nice flat and downhill trail, will take us to camp at occoruro, where we are going to spend the night, surrounded by mountains and grass. Medium Challenge, 12 km, 7 hours of walk

Day 3: Occoruro – Accocasa – wayanay – Ancascocha Lake: wake up at 06:00 hrs, after the first meal, do the largest uphill part, up to accocasa pass 4700 m, “sandy pass”, from here, you can see the salkantay mountain, puma sillu, and several mountain tops, with help of binoculars, we’ll see the classic trail, the path leads downhill, and reaches a place where we can enjoy the view of a red mountain is.

We’ll stop for lunch at a place, with nice view of mountains; after meal, you’ll continue by an uphill path to Huayanay pass “4600mt”, from here; you follow by a well preserved old inca road, here we can see as well the Ancascocha “blue lagoon“, here we’ll see some torrent ducks, Huallatas (Andean geese = Chloephaga melanoptera), the andean pecker and some migrant birds.

After 3 hours from lunch we will reach the highest camp site, located at a quiet place, very close from ancascocha lake.

Day 4: Ancascocha – Camicancha – Chillca: This day is going to be a gentle hike, wake up at about 06:00 hrs, and have breakfast, then walk toward the settlement which is located at the bottom of the lake, by then; we have had descended a lot, temperature and the flora has changed as well, from icchu straw vegetation to multi-color greener spots.

From here, we bank a clear water river, after about 4 hours, we will finally each camicancha community, in the sacred valley, in a nice, warm and green gorge, then drive to the city where our Ancascocha trek ends

See our other trips: salkantay trek, rainbow mountain tour, choquequirao trek.

• Private Transport to llama-cancha.
• Horses (for equipment & personal items)..
• Emergency horse.
• First AID kit including emergency Oxygen.
• Tents, High quality camping equipment (including toilet tent, tables, chairs).
• Meals (Vegetarian food available on request).
• Muleteers to manage equipment, and a emergency horse.
• Water Supply.
• Professional English speaking professional guide.
• Return transport to the city.

• Sleeping bag.