If you are looking to get away from the crowds and enjoy an out-of-the-ordinary hike to Machu Picchu, then the Inca Quarry Trail is an excellent alternative. For years, this fantastic destination has been kept off the list of traditional tourist routes. However, that doesn’t mean it is any less exciting.
This tour is perfect for those looking to delve deeper into the history of the Incas and see firsthand what life in the Andes is like for locals living in remote regions. Along the way, we will get close to small communities and witness their day-to-day life. On this route, we will also see some unique archaeological sites that very few people, even locals, get to appreciate.
The Inca Quarry was recently included by National Geographic among the six best Alternative Routes to Machu Picchu, which makes it an excellent hike to choose.
Escape from the crowds and routine with our exclusive Inca Quarry Trail, designed especially for history lovers who want to witness real life in the rural Andes. Whether you are traveling alone or in a group, this tour is ideal for you where we guarantee an incredible and amazing adventure.
The Inca Quarry Trail, also known as the Cachicata Trail or Chaski Trail, is one of the most recently opened routes and is considered one of the least frequented treks to Machu Picchu. In addition, this incredible trail will take you past high waterfalls, Inca constructions, unforgettable views of the Andes and beautiful jungle landscapes.
Along the way, amidst the lively flora and fauna, you will stop at the archaeological site of Racaypata and pass through several communities near the Cachiqata Quarry, the site where the Incas took the stones to build Ollantaytambo. At the quarry, you will appreciate some of the rocks that were cut by the Incas and observe their fine skills.
After three days of trekking contemplating nature and the life of the locals in the rural regions of Cusco, you will board the train to Aguas Calientes. Later, you will enjoy a delicious dinner at one of the city’s best restaurants and spend the night in a comfortable hotel.
On the fourth and last day, you will visit the magnificent and magical Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. In this sacred place, you will learn all its history thanks to our expert guide. In the afternoon, you will go by train to Ollantaytambo and then, in our private transportation, you will return to Cusco taking with you the best memories of this great trip.
HIGHLIGHT
ITINERARY SUMMARY
DAY 01: CUSCO – SOQMA – PEROLNIYOC – RACAYPATA – RAYAN
Today your adventure begins and you will head to the Perolniyoc waterfall, surrounded by beautiful scenery. Refresh yourself in its waters before visiting the archaeological site of Racaypata. In the evening, you will rest in Rayan and observe the clear Andean night sky.
DAY 02: RAYAN – PUCCAQASA – ABRA KUICHIQASA – PUERTA DEL SOL – CHOQUETACARPO
You will head to the first stop of the trek, Puccaqasa, then to the place where you will enjoy lunch. Afterwards, you will reach the highest point of the trek, Abra Kuichiqasa. You will continue to the Puerta del Sol, where you will enjoy spectacular views before arriving at our campsite for dinner and rest.
DAY 03: CHOQUETACARPO – CACHIQATA – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES
In the morning, you will enjoy a guided tour and visit the Cachiqata Quarries. Then, you will have lunch in Ollantaytambo before boarding the train to Aguas Calientes. Finally, you will enjoy dinner at an exclusive restaurant before returning to your hotel.
DAY 04: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO
Today you will enjoy the magical and mystical Machu Picchu on a guided tour of approximately two hours. Later, you will return to Aguas Calientes and enjoy lunch before taking the train to Ollantaytambo, from where our private transportation will be waiting for you to return to Cusco.
Highlight of the day: Refresh yourself at the Perolniyoc waterfalls and visit the archaeological site of Racaypata.
Refreshing waterfalls and Inca history
Today the adventure begins, we will pick you up from your accommodation in the morning and drive you for an hour and a half to the starting point of our trek. Our private transportation from Tunqui Expeditions is very comfortable and we will provide you with blankets in case you wish to sleep a little longer during the trip.
After enjoying a delicious breakfast at the starting point, we will meet with the team to meet the cooks and muleteers. We will then begin our hike with a three to four hour stretch to the beautiful Perolniyoc waterfall. On the way, we will pass through the small village of Soqma surrounded by corn, potato and quinoa fields. After we have enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the valley, you will have the opportunity to cool off at the waterfall.
After having regained energy, we will continue to the archaeological site of Racaypata, a construction that was built on a cliff and has spectacular views of the surrounding valley. All our guides are experts in the history of the Incas, so their explanations are of high quality. In this place, we will have lunch and taste the exquisite food prepared by our team in the middle of the mountains.
In the afternoon, we will ascend for another hour until we reach our camp at Rayan (3,700 m / 12,139 ft). From this point, we will rest for the rest of the day and explore the area before a tasty dinner. While waiting for the meal, we will take the opportunity to observe the clear night sky. Here, we will be able to appreciate constellations and shooting stars, and finally, we will spend the night in our comfortable campsites.
Highlight of the day: Contemplate the incredible views from the Sun Gate.
Stunning views and breathtaking scenery
After an energizing breakfast, we will ascend for three hours to the first destination of the trek, Puccaqasa (4,400 m / 14,436 ft). From here, we will contemplate the most incredible views of the Sacred Valley, and of course, it is the perfect place to take some spectacular photos.
Then, we will descend for about 25 minutes to our lunch spot to enjoy a well-deserved meal. Take the opportunity to recharge your energy with the delicious lunch prepared by our chef before continuing with a two-hour hike up and down. In the last 20 minutes of this section, we will head to the highest point of the entire hike, abra Kuychiqasa (4,500 m / 14,764 ft). From this height, we will be able to contemplate wonderful landscapes and observe snow-capped glaciers.
Next, we will descend to the archaeological site of Inti Punku or Puerta del Sol (3,900 m / 12,795 ft). We will learn a little about the site while enjoying spectacular views of the La Veronica Glacier (5,682 m / 18,642 ft) and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which you will probably visit at some point while in Cusco.
Finally, we will descend for 30 minutes to our camp in the Choquetacarpo sector (3,600 m / 11,811 ft). We will be able to rest and enjoy another tasty meal before going to rest.
Highlight of the day: Explore the incredible Cachicata Quarry and witness the fantastic craftsmanship of the Incas.
Visit the Quarry and learn about the amazing Inca history.
As every morning, we will welcome you with a hearty breakfast to start the tour. Then, we will begin the one-hour descent to the Cachicata Quarries (3,520 m / 11,549 ft), where the stones were quarried to build Ollantaytambo. Inside the site, we will enjoy a guided tour to learn more about the site and observe the carved stone blocks whose removal was interrupted by the arrival of the Spaniards. It is fascinating to see the perfect cuts that the Incas were able to create with simple materials.
Afterwards, we will descend from the Cantera for three hours to reach the picturesque village of Ollantaytambo (2,792 m / 9,160 ft.), where we will enjoy lunch. Once we have finished, we will head to the train station to board the Expedition service to Aguas Calientes (2,040 m / 6,693 ft.). During the ride, we will closely observe the beautiful scenery of the Sacred Valley as we travel along the Urubamba River. We recommend you bring your camera to take amazing pictures.
Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, we will check into a hotel and take a short break, then enjoy a fantastic dinner. If there is still some energy left over, we can explore the small town or head to the hot springs, which are the perfect place to relax tired muscles after three days of hiking. In the evening, we will enjoy a delicious dinner at one of the best restaurants, after which we will rest early because the next day we will get up before dawn to be one of the first to appreciate Machu Picchu.
Highlight of the day: Explore and tour one of the new seven wonders of the world, Machu Picchu.
The magical and mystical Machu Picchu awaits you
The big day has arrived! Be sure to get up very early to avoid the crowds at Machu Picchu. We will board a bus in Aguas Calientes at 5:30 a.m. until we arrive at the sanctuary at 6:00 a.m. Once inside, we will watch the brilliant morning sunrise over the incredible citadel. We will contemplate the breathtaking views before enjoying a guided tour of approximately two hours with our expert guide.
We will visit all the essential sites of this majestic place, including its terraces, enclosures, temples and alleys. We will also stop at the observatories to appreciate the grandeur and true magnitude of this incredible work of engineering. If you booked your tickets in advance, it will be the perfect time for you to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain.
Shortly after noon, it will be time to return to Aguas Calientes. Here, you will have time for lunch at a restaurant of your choice before boarding the train to Ollantaytambo. From there, our private transportation from Tunqui Expeditions will take us back to Cusco.
Along the way, you will rest and reflect on our fantastic adventure. We are sure that your heart will be filled with the magic of the Incas for weeks, months and even years to come.
