The Best Backpacker´s Guide to visiting Marcahuasi in 2 days

After a lot of fog in Lima, escape to the very close mountains of Lima, and find these impressive sunrises above the clouds.

Are you in Lima, bored of the city and only have two days to get away? Dear travelers I tell you that this is one of the most beautiful places near Lima to relax and get away from civilization.

How to get to Marcahuasi

To get to this beautiful place you must first go to Chosica an apartment that belongs to Lima, but it is located in a place a little away from the city center. The cheapest way is to take a bus that will cost between 5 - 10 soles and will take between 1 - 2 hours depending on traffic. The whereabouts to take the bus are the following:

• Cruce de Jr. Chota con Paseo Colon

• Jr. Leticia con Abancay

• Ovalo de Santa Anita

The second option is to arrive by taxi, it takes 1 hour and costs around 90 soles. Use Uber since street taxis can be dangerous sometimes. Chosica is a very small district as a small town, head towards the main square and ask for "the combis" that go to Marcahuasi. This combination goes to San Pedro de Casta that will cost you between 15 and 20 soles. The trip will take 3 hours, but I tell you that this time may be longer since "the combis" expect to be completely filled to leave. When you arrive in San Pedro de Casta you will find a nice small town where you will pay the entrance to Marcahuasi, the cost is 10 soles for nationals and 15 soles for foreigners. You have two options to reach the dear traveler camp! Here are the two options:

• Walk for 3 hours. If you feel prepared then enjoy the Lima mountains, grab your backpack and walk! Now remember that you are at height (4000 meters above sea level) and with strong weight on your back due to your tent, this can be hard if you are not physically accustomed.

• Take another "combi" towards Marcahuasi lasts 30 min. and it costs 10 soles.

Tranquility you're almost there ... The "combi" will leave you in a desert place, here you will walk 30 min. It is super easy but that is pure ascent, and you will not get lost along the way, it is visible! Well travelers, as you see it is a long road so I recommend you start your trip from Lima very early, because the beautiful thing about this place is to see the sunset at 6 pm.

What to bring?

Viajeros les tengo una lista muy simple y básica para pasarla super bien en este lugar.Travelers I have a very simple and basic list to have a great time in this place.

• Tent

• Meal for two days

• Normal shoes, if you have special trekking much better!

• Lantern

• Many blankets

• Warm clothes. The temperature can reach 0 degrees !! If you do not wear high to shelter you, then I tell you that at night they will freeze and they will not be able to have beautiful dreams.

• Pad or thermal mat. These are very useful because they isolate the cold of sleep to your body.

• A camera to take the evidence of your presence in this beautiful place.

Si le temes a las alturas, ya fuiste!!

What does this place offer you?

Well I tell you that Marcahuasi is a very visited place, so do not feel alone because when you arrive you will find many people camping. In the camp, the majority are local tourists from Peru, it may be because this place is not widely publicized abroad. In the same camp at 6 pm everyone starts to climb a slope with stones, follow the "cattle" or ask the local people where the sunset is seen. When you arrive you will notice because at your feet will be the clouds and there is a precipice. The view is amazing !! So hurry up and take all the possible photos. If you do not carry some implements do not worry, we were not the best prepared to climb this place. In Pedro de Casta they rent tents, mats, and in the same camp, they rent you firewood, alcohol to light the fire, blankets, there is a small shop where they sell cookies, toilet paper, soups, among others. Here I put the list with prices to nourish your trip!

• Firewood with alcohol S/.11 ($3.3).

• Rental of blanket S/.15 ($4.5).

• Rental of mat S/. 5 ($1.5).

How come back to Lima?

In the same way that you came as you return, just be careful not to return so late because otherwise you will not find a car that will return you to civilization, maximum 2 pm. And before you leave, you cannot miss the sunrise, so if you get up early 6 am, return to the same place where you saw the sunset and enjoy the sunrise that is totally different but just as beautiful! You can also visit other attractions nearby, there is a lagoon at 1 hour walking where you can also camp but it is colder. And that is all travelers! If you liked the post, click on love and comment on your experiences, more information that we did not put or questions you have, it will be a pleasure to answer them !!

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