Inca Quarry Trek to Machu Picchu

Make Your Way to Machu Picchu on a Newly Discovered Route!

This four-day trek offers you amazing scenery with waterfalls and Inca ruins, as well as the chance to pass by a beautiful remote Sun Gate and visit breathtaking archaeological sites en route to Ollantaytambo. The Inca Quarry Trek is one of the newest and least crowded trekking routes to Machu Picchu. This wonderful trek takes you past high waterfalls, Inca ruins, and beautiful scenery.

This challenging trek is easier than most treks to Machu Picchu and is a good option for less experienced trekkers. However, it is still important to be in good physical condition. The elevation changes make the hike strenuous as there are two high passes during the hike.

Itinerary

Trek Briefings: All travelers are required to visit the Cuzco office for a mandatory briefing on your trek one day prior to departure. At this meeting, you will receive detailed information on the route, a list of what to bring, confirm your pick-up for the morning of the trek, and be able to ask questions.

Please note: You will have a guide during the trek and on the Machu Picchu tour. However, during your bus and train transfers, you will not be accompanied by a guide.

Day 1: Cuzco to Rayanniyoc, Peru Depart from Cuzco to Rafca, Trek from Socma through Perolniyoc to Rayanniyoc (L/D)

Commencing our journey, we’ll pick you up from your Cuzco accommodation around 6:00 – 6:15 am and head towards the town of Rafca (2800m). After a 30-minute drive, we reach the village of Socma (3000m), our trek’s starting point. Here, we meet the muleteer who will accompany us during the hike. Following a brief break and organizing our belongings, we embark on the trek towards the Inca site of Perolniyoc (3200m). After approximately 2.5 hours, we arrive at Perolniyoc for lunch, exploring the captivating waterfall and archaeological ruins atop the valley. Continuing for another 30 minutes, we reach Rayan-Niyoc (3,600m), where we settle in, have dinner, and camp overnight in the chilly climate.

Day 2: Rayanniyoc to Choquetacarpo, Peru Rayanniyoc to Inti Punku – Choquetacarpo (B/L/D)

Start the day with an early breakfast before tackling a challenging trek to the trek’s first high pass at 4,400 meters above sea level, offering breathtaking mountain vistas. Witness local people cultivating their fields despite the high altitudes. After about 4 hours of walking, we reach the pass, pausing to absorb the panoramic views. Lunch is served at a camp around 4,300m before continuing the hike to the trek’s highest point at 4,500m. Revel in the spectacular views before descending for approximately 3 hours to Inti Punku (Sun Gate), offering imposing views over the valley and Veronica mountain. Soon after, we reach Choquetacarpo (3600m), our second camp. Settle in, enjoy dinner, and camp overnight.

Day 3: Choquetacarpo to Aguas Calientes, Peru Trek from Choquetacarpo to Cachicata Inca Quarry & Ollantaytambo, train to Aguas Calientes (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we descend to the Inca quarry of Cachicata (3820m), witnessing the Incas’ quarry work. This site, used for constructing Ollantaytambo, features various points of interest, including large buildings, unfinished quarried stones, chullpas (burial houses), and a cave with intact Inca mummies. Continuing our descent for about 3 hours, we reach the small town of Ollantaytambo, the trek’s endpoint. From there, take the train to Aguas Calientes, where your guide will meet you at the station, provide instructions for the next day, and accompany you to your hotel. Check in, have dinner, and enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Day 4: Aguas Calientes to Cuzco, Peru Explore Machu Picchu & Return to Cuzco (B)

Early in the morning, take the bus to Machu Picchu, entering as it opens. Enjoy a 2-hour guided tour, delving into the history of the Incas and Machu Picchu. After the tour, explore the site at your leisure, take photos, or opt for the optional hike up Huayna Picchu (must be booked in advance). Return by bus to Aguas Calientes and board the train to Ollantaytambo. Take a bus transfer back to Cuzco, with a late arrival at the Plaza San Francisco. Please make your way to your chosen accommodation.

Machu Picchu Guided Site Visit:

The one and only, this is the most spectacular (and not to mention most popular) archaeological site in all of South America. Your guide will take you on a two-hour tour of Machu Picchu, walking you through the most important sites and covering the history of the place. Then you will have free time to explore on your own and take pictures at your leisure.

Take an OPTIONAL hike up the steep peak named Huayna Picchu, which is located inside the Machu Picchu archaeological site. This sometimes muddy peak takes about 45 – 60 minutes to hike up and awards you with unforgettable views of Machu Picchu from a coveted perspective. Keep in mind that if you want to take this optional hike, you must now purchase your ticket at least two weeks in advance for an additional cost in order to get one of the 400 passes (200 people are allowed up at 7:00 am and 200 more at 10:00 am). Please send us an email directly to request this extra ticket. If desired, an extra night in Aguas Calientes town can be arranged. Please let us know whether you would like to stay an extra night when booking your tour.

-Included-

-Activities: 1

*Hikking Adventure
*4 days Inca Quarry trek to Machu Picchu

-Transport: 2

*Accommodation pick-up, all tour transport
*Cuzco accommodation pick-up
*All transportation during tours

-Accommodation: 3

*2N camping
*1N in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes

-Meals: 9

*3B / 3L / 3D

-Guides:

*Professional English-speaking guide on trek & Machu Picchu tour

-Extras: 10

*Briefing, entry, equipment, assistance
*Pre-departure briefing
*Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu archaeological site
*Foam sleeping mat
*Horsemen and horses to carry tents, food, cooking and camping equipment plus a total of 5 kilos for each trekker. (This includes 2.5 kilos for your sleeping bag & mattress plus 2.5 kilos of personal items.)
*Equipment:
*Tents (2 people will share a tent)
*Basic sleeping pad
*Shared camping equipment,
*Dinner tent, kitchen tent, tables and chairs, table settings
*First aid kit & emergency oxygen bottle

-Not Included-

*Breakfast day 1, Lunch day 4
*Sleeping bag (available for rent in Cuzco)
*Trekking poles( available for rent in Cuzco)
*Guide for bus and train transfers (these portions are on your own)
*Optional Huayna Picchu trek (200 soles) must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance
*Optional Machu Picchu mountain hike (200 soles) must be booked at least 1 week in advance
*Cuzco accommodation drop-off
*Personal expenses
*Travel insurance
*Tips (guide, horseman, cook)

Typical Meals on the Trek

On all of our treks to Machu Picchu, we search for great cooks who provide you with the best tasting meals on the mountain, with specialty menus and the freshest local ingredients available. Here is an idea of what you will be eating during your trek. A vegetarian option is available upon request (please advise at least two days in advance).

• Breakfast: Hot porridge, quinoa or oats, fried eggs, omelet or pancakes with fresh bread, fried bananas, and boiled water for hot tea, coca tea, coffee, chocolate, and milk
• Lunch & Dinner:
  • First Course: Quinoa, corn, noodle, asparagus, mushroom or vegetable soup, stuffed avocado or potatoes
  • Second Course: Chicken breast, beef stew, quinoa, fried rice, hamburgers, fried chicken, spaghetti bolognese, typical dishes: aji de gallina (chili pepper chicken), escabeche de pollo (marinated chicken) or ajiaco de olluco (spicy potato stew)
• Desserts: Fried plantains, chocolate pudding, chocolate or vanilla cake, and boiled water for hot tea, coca tea, coffee, chocolate, and milk
• Snacks: Boiled water for hot tea, coca tea, coffee, chocolate, and milk along with popcorn, cookies, crackers

Additional Information

• Accommodation Options: During the trek, single travelers will share a tent with another traveler of the same sex, and couples will have a tent to themselves.
• Physical Requirements: This hike is demanding and strenuous. t’s important to be in good physical condition. The elevation changes make the hike strenuous as there are two high passes during the hike.
• Suggested Packing List – Bring or Rent in Cuzco: Hiking poles, rain pants, rain poncho, trekking boots, sandals, warm socks, sweater, thermals, hat, gloves, sun hat, sunblock, sunglasses, flashlight/torch, camera, extra batteries and memory card (there is limited to no electricity available during the trek), waterproof bags for your camera, hand sanitizer, personal first aid kit, water bottle. Bring extra cash for snacks, water, and Gatorade, which doubles or triples in price along the trail.
• Essentials to Bring: Original passport, visa (if applicable), insurance card, personal medications. Travelers who booked their trip using one passport, then renewed or replaced it afterward, must carry their old passport or a photocopy with them on the trip.