• Difficulty: Mild

• Distance: 23 km

• Duration: Two days

• Max elevation: 4,335 metres

• Accommodation: Camping

• Start/end point: Patabamba to Lamay

This is one of my favourite shorter treks in the Sacred Valley region. The hike leads to the remains of Huchuy Qosqo, which means ‘small Cusco’ in the indigenous Quechua language.

The Huchuy Qosqo Trek is an excellent choice for inexperienced hikers as it is the easiest trek in the Cusco area. The hardest climb takes only three hours, followed by a downhill walk. I usually recommend this hike for groups with kids or older trekkers, although proper acclimatisation is still essential.

One of the most impressive features is the Leon Punku Canyon, which leads you through a stunning Inca road that runs along the bottom of the canyon. Another interesting feature of this hike is that it’s the only trek where you can camp within Inca ruins.

The route starts in Patabamba and leads through grassland puna as it climbs towards Sihuas pass, following some of the original Inca roadway, of which the more famous Inca Trail is just one section. Eventually on the end of the first day you reach the site of Huchuy Qosqo and make camp at the ruins. (With no light pollution for miles, the high altitude night sky here is one of the best places to stargaze.) The next morning you can explore the ruins before descending and finishing in Lamay town, which is an interesting place to explore for an hour or so.

Probably my favourite way to hike to Machu Picchu is by combining the Huchuy Qosqo trek with the KM 104 (‘short Inca Trail’) hike, and entering Machu Picchu on foot rather than by bus with all the day trippers.

If you prefer more of a challenge, the alternative routes via Ccor Ccor or Cuper Alto are just as impressive, but a bit tougher.