Get an early start on the day with pickup at your hotel in Lima between 5:30am and 6am, then begin the hour-long drive to the community of Lago Piuray (exact departure time depends on your location).
Your hike begins at an altitude of 11,800 feet (3,600 mt.), kicking off with a three-hour, uphill climb to the Piuray Passage, a spectacular alpine pass that looks out across the Urubamba mountains and a landscape dotted with small lagoons.
From Piuray Passage, the trail descends for two hours on the way to the Huchuy Qosqo ruins. Upon arrival at the archeological site, whose Quechua name means “Little Cusco,” start exploring the ruins with your guide. You’ll see the remains of an ancient irrigation channel, stone and adobe structures, and a sprawling great hall that’s 131-feet (40-meters) long. Following the tour, refuel for an afternoon of hiking with a boxed lunch.
The final section of trail is a steep descent, about two hours, into the Sacred Valley town of Lamay, where you’ll meet the vehicle for the return trip to Cusco. This trip concludes with drop-off at your hotel between 5pm and 6pm.
