What Is It Like to Run with Run the Andes for 5 Days?
- Daniel Rowe
- Aug 14
- 2 min read
5 days. 5 different adventures. Ancient trails, mountain valleys, local communities — and not another tourist in sight.
So, what is it actually like to spend five days running through the Andes with Run the Andes?
Just ask Jess.
Over five days, we explored some of the most spectacular landscapes around Cusco, combining trail running with local culture, incredible food and plenty of time to simply enjoy being in the mountains.
And the best part?
We didn’t see another tourist on the trails for the entire five days.
Day 1 — Exploring the Hills of Cusco
We started close to Cusco, heading out onto the trails in the hills surrounding the city.
This was a great way to begin the week — getting onto the trails, discovering quiet paths, local farmland and hidden Incan ruins.
Day 2 — Trails, Communities & Huatia
The next adventure took us deeper into the countryside, where the trail became a chance to experience something beyond running.
We visited a local farming family and shared a traditional huatia — a classic Andean cooking method where food is cooked underground using heated stones. We even had time to help bag up manure ready for the potatoes to be planted.
It was one of those moments that makes a trip memorable.
The running is incredible, but it’s the experiences along the way — meeting local people, sharing food and seeing how communities live in the mountains — that really make these adventures different.
Day 3 — Running to Huchuy Qosqo
Next came one of our favourite adventures: running to the spectacular ruins of Huchuy Qosqo. This was the first real test, 25km of original Incan trail.
Days 4 & 5 — The Trails of Lares
For the final part of the adventure, we headed into the Lares Valley, one of our favourite areas for trail running around Cusco.
The landscape here is spectacular — huge mountains, remote valleys, small communities and trails that seem to go on forever.
We spent two days exploring different routes, climbing into the mountains, descending into valleys and taking in some seriously impressive scenery.
And once again, we had the trails almost entirely to ourselves.
Five Days. One Big Adventure.
Five days with Run the Andes isn’t about ticking off tourist attractions.
It’s about running through the Andes and experiencing them differently.
It’s ancient trails and mountain passes.
It’s local communities and traditional food.
It’s archaeological sites, huge landscapes and quiet valleys.
It’s discovering places you probably wouldn’t find on your own.
And sometimes, it’s stopping halfway up a mountain just to take in the view.
Jess was a fantastic companion for the five days, and it was a pleasure to share the trails.
Five days. Amazing trails. Zero other tourists.
That’s what running the Andes can look like.
Ready to explore?
Run the Andes creates bespoke multi-day trail running adventures around Cusco and the Andes, combining incredible running with culture, local experiences and some of the region’s most spectacular landscapes.
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