4 Days / 3 Nights
Inca Quarry, Machu Picchu
The Inca Quarry Trek to Machu Picchu is a great hiking option for those who want to experience nature, Inca sites, and get a first-hand look at the country’s lifestyle in the Peruvian Andes. The trek from Cachicata to Machu Picchu is within the abilities of the most reasonably fit people. The walk is 32 kilometers long in total and its highest point is 4,450 meters above sea level. On this trek in the Inca quarry we will spend the first two nights camping and the third night we will be in a hotel in Aguas Calientes. The Inca quarry trek is surely one of the best alternative treks to Machu Picchu, listed by National Geographic Magazine.
In addition to the incredible mountainous landscapes, flora and fauna, the Cachicata Trek: The Inca Quarry Trek to Machu Picchu will allow you to know the Inca history during the trek, we will visit traditional towns and very important sites such as: Perolniyoc Inca ruin, part of the Inca Trail to Ollantaytambo and the Cachicata Inca Quarry. The Cachiqata trek allows you to see the place where the Inca builders carved the stones to build the Ollantaytambo fortress.
The Inca Quarry Trail Machu Picchu is very little visited, if you are looking for walks outside the common without a doubt this is the one, you will enjoy the solitude and the beautiful sunsets, surrounded by mountains and snow-capped peaks like Verónica.
Visit one of the most famous quarries from where the Incas obtained their lithic materials of great proportions, it is still possible to see many stones already worked ready to be taken.
You can visit some of the local communities, who still practice the ancestral agriculture of the Incas.
You will have the best postcard photo of Verónica’s mountain from Puerta del Sol. This route offers you very beautiful archaeological sites such as Perolniyoc, Ñaupa Iglesia (Choque quilla).
Enjoy a train trip to Machu Picchu, the route has a change of landscapes from the sacred valley to the cloud forest.
Delight your palate with the best Cusco and Peruvian cuisine, everything is prepared by our experienced chefs.
The Inca Quarry Trail Machu Picchu has a level between moderate to demanding, the first two days, an ascent will be made to heights of more than 4,000 meters. And then you have a descent to the valley floor of Ollantaytambo (2,700 meters). The climate is varied, for example if you do the route in the winter months (May-August) it is quite cold (-5 C °). In contrast, in the valley floor and Machu Picchu it is not cold in any month of the year. Since in a short time you will have to do great ascents and descents, it is advisable to be used to taking long walks, and prepare yourself like running in the morning or going to the gym. Be ready to withstand drastic changes in temperature, such as intense sun, rain, snowfall. Make sure you arrive days before in Cusco where you can adapt to the altitude and thus avoid headaches or nausea.
Comfortable Trekking tents, 02 nights.
Hotel in Aguas Calientes, 01 night.
We will pick you up at your hotel around 06:00 a.m. We proceed to drive almost 1 hour and a half to Warocondo. During the bus ride, you can observe the snow-capped white mountains of Salkantay and Veronica – the Sacred Gods of the Incas. Also, you will see the spectacular views of the upper and lower valleys with colorful landscapes. After an hour and a half of driving, we will make the first stop in the city of Warocondo, where you can buy last minute supplies such as water, this city is well known for the LECHONES (roast pork), it is considered the best in Cusco . We then continue driving along the quinoa plantation and arrive in the town of Soqma, where our trek begins. After walking for about an hour, you will see a wonderful waterfall called Perolniyoc. Also, your guide will show you some medicinal plants that local farmers use along the way. You can pick some plants and make your own tea like the locals. Then we will go uphill until we reach Q´anabamba and Willkarakay, from here you will continue to the camp that will take you for a couple of hours, once you arrive at the camp you will have lunch. After lunch, you will have time to take a nap, then your guide will take you to visit the local family where you will learn about their traditions, culture, etc.
- Distance traveled: 11 km (6.8 miles).
- Time: 4 to 6 hours.
- Lowest elevation: 3000m (9,743 ft).
- Highest elevation: 3700m (12,149 ft).
- Difficulty level: moderate.
- Inca Ruins – Today you will see the ruins of Q´anabamba and Willkarakay from afar and stop to visit the ruins of Patallaqta.
Our muleteer will make you wake up with a cup of coca tea in your tent. After a delicious breakfast, we leave the camp towards the first pass called Pukaqasa (4380m t- 14,370 feet) that will take us for approximately 3 and a half hours, after reaching the pass we will descend for 30 minutes where we will meet our chef for lunch. After our lunch we start our hike again for another 2 hours of gradual climb to the next pass called Kuychicasa (4450m). It is the longest day of the hike, but the most rewarding due to the spectacular views of snow-capped mountains. The last 2 hours descend to the camp, on the way we will visit some small Inca ruins called Intipunku that mean solar gate, arriving at the Cachicata camp (3600m – 11,811 feet) around 5 pm.
- Distance traveled: 11 km (6.8 miles).
- Time: 4 to 6 hours.
- Lowest elevation: 3600m (11,811 ft).
- Highest elevation: 4450m (14,600ft).
- Difficulty level: demanding.
- Inca ruins: views in the distance.
Today we will explore the Cachicata stone quarry, it is an extensive site that served as a stone quarry for the construction of Ollantaytambo, here you can see all the work of the Incas, there are large rocks that are half finished and abandoned throughout the area, Inca mummies, funeral houses or chullpas are also seen. After a guided tour, start descending for approximately 3 hours to Ollantaytambo following the original Inca ramp that the Incas built to transport the stones to Ollantaytambo. Arrive in town for the last lunch with our chef. In the afternoon you will take the train to Aguas Calientes where we will spend the night.
- Distance traveled: 15 km (9.3 miles).
- Time: 8 to 10 hours.
- Lowest elevation: 2700 m (8.8 ft).
- Highest elevation: 3600m (11,811 ft).
- Difficulty level: Moderate yourself.
- Inca Ruins: Today you will explore the ruins of Sayaqmarcas and Wiñayhuayna.
Day four is the most magical day: Machu Picchu. We will get up early, to take the first bus to Machu Picchu and watch the sun rise over the ruins.
Your guide will spend around 2 hours explaining the highlights of Machu Picchu. Then, you will have time to explore the ruins on your own and hike Huaynapicchu if you have booked this option. (This is a separate entrance ticket that costs USD $ 15 per person.) Finally, you will return to Aguas Calientes and take a train back to Ollantaytambo, and then a bus back to Cusco. Once in Cusco, we will transfer you back to your hotel. End of the Inca Quarry Trail Machu Picchu.
- Distance traveled: 6 km (3.7 miles).
- Time: 5 to 7 hours: 2-hour walk and 3-hour tour in Machu Picchu.
- Lowest elevation: 2400m (7,874 ft).
- Highest elevation: 2700m (8,858 ft).
- Difficulty level: moderate.
- Inca ruins: Machu Picchu.
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