Are you looking for a unique, beautiful, and off-the-beaten-path hike in the Sacred Valley? This day-hike from Chinchero to Urquillos is your answer.
Quick overview:
- 11 km
- Point-to-point hike (Walk from Chinchero to Urquillos. Don’t start in Urquillos because then it’ll be almost all the way uphill)
- Total altitude gain: 515 meters
- Highest altitude: 3745 meters
- Difficulty 2/5. The hike doesn’t get technical, but the 12 km distance requires a decent fitness level
- Overall rating 4/5. (landscape, condition of the trails, amount of tourists, sights).
Hiking from Chinchero to Urquillos is absolutely worth it.
The Chinchero historical site and Poc Poc waterfall provide for an unforgettable experience. You will also come across this mirador named Mirador del Valle, where you can take beautiful pictures.
In Peru, there are countless Inca trails, of which the most famous one is the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. However, there are plenty of other, less known, Inca trails which are now suited for hiking. With Chinchero to Urquillos as one of them.
About the Sacred Valley:
The Sacred Valley area is an absolute must-visit if you are in the Cusco region.
This valley has a rich history. There are wonderful villages and countless great hikes and sights.
Also, the population in this region still has the traditional ways of life. For example, the local people often wear traditional colored clothing and rely on farming or shepherding for income.
And for photography lovers, you can make absolutely stunning pics here. The scenery is breathtaking, big mountains and beautiful landscapes surround the whole valley.
Finally, this region is well-known for its many Inca ruins. A couple of impressive villages in this valley are Ollantaytambo, Pisac and Chinchero. And there are other places that are absolutely worth a visit, such as Moray, Salineras de Maras and the Perolniyoc waterfall.
However, there are still many other breathtaking places, hikes, and sites in the Sacred Valley about which I will write more articles.
How to get there?
There are two options. You can either take a ‘colectivo’ (van) or a taxi. There’s quite a big price difference. A shared van will only cost about 7 soles per person. For a taxi, consider around 50 to 60 soles per person. It depends on the number of people.
Here’s some advice on getting to Chinchero. I knew roughly where ‘colectivos’ were to be found, but not exactly the ones that went to Chinchero. Several drivers who want to take tourists to Chinchero, for a higher price, may approach you in the street. They might even get a little aggressive. Don’t get tricked by them.
The exact location:
The colectivos are located opposite El Tuco Hostel, just south of Puente Grau. Near the intersection of Miguel Grau street and Jirón 21 de Mayo.
The driver will drop you at Plaza de Armas in Chinchero, but no worries, it’s only a small walk to the start of the historical site from here.
At the end of the hike, you will end up in the small town of Urquillos. Walk across the bridge and wait for a colectivo or bus heading to your destination. Keep in mind that the colectivos and buses are active until 20:00 (8:00PM).
Route details:
The route starts just southwest of the historical site. In the Maps.me app you can find the start of the track easily, but the locals are more than happy to help you out.
An advantage is that this route is mostly downhill, which makes it a little easier. Since it is so much downhill, it’s likely that you will feel some pressure on your knees at the end of the hike. Make sure you don’t overload them and take it easy. By using hiking poles, you can take some pressure off your knees.
Keep in mind that the hike starts at an altitude of almost 3750 meters. Ensure you adapt to the high altitude.
Personally, I recommend visiting the historical site in Chinchero. It is a beautiful site to start the hike with. If luck is on your side, you might witness some weaving demonstrations.
It’s likely that you encounter locals in traditional clothing. Also, there is a good chance that you’ll see alpacas and llamas around. Visiting the Chinchero site will definitely put you in the Sacred-Valley-vibe (yes, we’ve just created a new word here).
Anyway, during the hike you will walk past the site and you will have a good view of it. So in short, if you have enough time, it’s absolutely worth it. If not, you can also catch a good glimpse of the archeological site during the hike itself.
The path is easy to follow. Especially in the beginning, you will maybe encounter other people who are doing a day-hike to the Poc Poc waterfall. After the waterfall, you’ll likely see fewer people. I would recommend using the Maps.me app, it’s free and will help you with navigating.
Take enough food and water with you, since you won’t encounter shops along the way.
During the hike, you will occasionally see the ancient Inca trails clearly. It is an incredible feeling, realizing that the Inca people walked on these same stones centuries ago.
I walked the hike in May, which meant that the forest was covered densely. But at the end of the hike, everything opens up a bit and you get some views again with Urquillos in the distance.
It is a quite off-the-beaten-path since you won’t encounter many people. Personally, I enjoy doing hikes that are not yet known to the big public.
Believe me, the Chinchero to Urquillos hike won’t let you down.
Practical tips:
- Consider leaving for Chinchero one day in advance. That way you won’t stress in the morning and you’ll have enough time to visit the archaeological site.
- Bring mosquito spray.
- The Chinchero to Urquillos hike is almost entirely downhill, so try to pack as little weight as possible to spare your knees.
- Bring some cash money for the Poc Poc waterfall.
- If it’s warm, bring a hat and sunscreen.
- Bring water and food because you won’t encounter shops along the way.
- Make sure your shoes have enough grip, the hike is steep at times.
- Consider downloading the Maps.me app. And don’t forget to download the offline map.
We took amazing pictures of this day, but unfortunately the camera was stolen on the last day of the trip.. Almost all pictures were lost. So here is a little reminder to take good care of your belongings and to make sure you store your media in the cloud.
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