Author
Cody De Witt
My name is Cody De Witt and I am a husband, father, farmer, builder of greenhouses, founder of Hike Club Cusco, writer, philanthropist, an avid hiker and map maker. I live in Cusco with my lovely wife, Danitza, who is from Cusco. Together, we help to provide the independent hiking community with reliable information on all things hiking. I have often said that hiking is my church, my gym and my therapy.
Technical Information
Moderate
(50-100)
Circuit Hike
Note about weather and temperature
When planning to hike in the Cusco region it is important to consider the weather. We essentially have two seasons throughout the year, rainy and dry. The dry season is from May thru October, and the rainy season is from November thru April. The months of January & February are usually the months with the heaviest rainfall.
Temperatures are pretty consistent throughout the year and range from 32°F - 66°F (0°C - 19°C), and rarely dip below 28°F (-2°C), and seldom rise above 71°F (21°C).
Hike Features
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Archaeological Features
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How to get there and back
Detailed Daily Summary
Total Cost Breakdown
What to pack
Getting Help
For those that prefer a helping hand, we offer VIP trip planning services. CONTACT US
We encourage hiking independently in the Cusco region by providing maps and information to hike safely.
Our private Facebook group is free community full of helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly local hikers!
This is a great place to host a hike, join a hike, plan a hike, or find a hiking partner.
Join our private Hike Club Community on Facebook
Pro Tips
The downhill trail from Raqaypata is extremely slippery in rainy season due to the clay content.
Health and Safety
Hike Club cares about hikers and hiking safety. We have created this form for hikers who wish to be accountable to our hiking community for their own safety. All information entered is kept in privacy by the Hike Club administration and is ONLY used in case of an emergency. If you use this Check-Out form, please also take the time to use the CHECK-IN FORM to let us know that you returned safely, so we don't think that you are hurt or missing and start mountain rescue efforts.
Because this hike includes high altitudes, measures should be taken to acclimatize before tackling this challenging hike.
The following are ways to combat altitude sickness:
· Spending a few days in Cusco is advisable to see how your body adjusts to the altitude.
· Stay hydrated. Remember that water is 2 parts oxygen and it is a great way to counteract altitude sickness.
· At local pharmacies in Cusco and the Sacred Valley there are a variety of medications to combat altitude sickness, which is called “Soroche” in Spanish.
· Coca leaves have been used for time immemorial in the Andes. The benefits of coca include combating altitude sickness. Coca is a brachial dilator and a mild stimulant. It can be drunk as tea or chewed with an activator called “Yiptha.”
· A diet of light soups and vegetables can help to keep your digestive system free from heavy proteins and carbohydrates.
· Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. At higher altitudes, both can affect the body differently and it is best to wait, if possible, before indulging.
· Get plenty of sleep and rest before and try to go for shorter hikes to see how your body responds.
The Andes are filled with humble, respectful, and honest people. This is one of the safest places that we have ever traveled to. Andean culture is very conservative and crime is very low. Nevertheless, normal traveling precautions should be taken which include not flashing large sums of money in public, securing all valuables to avoid pickpocketing and basic awareness of your surroundings.
Other medical ailments such as diarrhea can be treated at local pharmacies without a prescription.
It is important to make sure that you are physically fit and have all medications that you need with you. Do not overestimate your abilities when tackling this challenging hike.
If you are in need of Travel Insurance - we cannot recommend Safety Wing Nomad Insurance enough!
Hike Club will earn a small commission from Safety Wing if you choose to use.
Final Thoughts