Inca Quarry Trail 4 days | Cachicata Trek to Machu Picchu

We leave Cusco early in the morning and drive 1 hour and 45 minutes to Soqma (3,205 m / 10,512 ft). This is the starting point of our Inca Quarry Trek to Machu Picchu and where we meet the horsemen that will join us during the hike.

We begin the hike with a 1 ¾ hour walk to the Perolniyoc cascade lookout. This is a perfect opportunity to stop for photos and a snack. The waterfall that you will see at this location is breathtaking! We will then hike a further 35 minutes until we visit the Inca site of the same name, where we will have a brief tour. This will be our lunch site.

After a refueling lunch, we will ascend 45 minutes until our camp at Rayan (3,700 meters/12,136 ft).

• Meals: Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodations: Camping
• Minimum altitude: 3,205 m/ 10,512 ft
• Maximum altitude: 3,700 m/ 12,136 ft
• Distance to walk: 8 km/5 miles
• Approximate walking time: 3 to 4 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Area: Dry Mountain

After an early breakfast, we ascend 3 hours to the first pass of the trek, known as Puccaqasa (4,370 m/ 14,333 ft). At the top of the pass, there are incredible views of the Sacred Valley. This is a perfect place to take pictures!

We then head downhill for 25 minutes to our lunch location. After lunch, we hike 2 hours with alternating ascents and descents. The final 20 minutes of this segment will take us uphill to the highest pass of the trek, Kuychicassa (4,457 m/ 14,619 ft)

From here we trek downhill for 2 ½ hours to a site the Incas called Inti Punku, (meaning Sun Gate), where there is a spectacular view of Mount Veronica (5,682 m/ 18,637 ft) and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Our campsites is 30 minutes downhill from Inti Punku at Choquetacarpo (3,600m/ 11,808 ft).

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodations: Camping
• Minimum altitude: 3,600 m/ 11,808 ft
• Maximum altitude: 4,457 m/ 14,619 ft
• Distance to walk: 13 km/ 8 miles
• Approximate walking time: 8 to 9 hours
• Difficulty: moderate

We will have an early breakfast and then walk one hour downhill to the Cachiqata quarry (3,525 m/ 11,562 ft), where we observe the location where stones were cut for Ollantaytambo. We will have a tour and talk about how you can still see remains of stonework that was interrupted by the Spanish conquest.

From the quarry, we descend for 3 hours until we reach Ollantaytambo (2,840 m / 9,315 ft). We will have lunch in Ollantaytambo.

In the afternoon we travel by the luxury Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes. When we arrive you will check in to your hotel room. The natural hot springs in town are an unbeatable way to spend a late afternoon/early evening if time is available before dinner. Dinner will be at the finest restaurant.

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodations: Hotel
• Minimum altitude: 2,840 m / 9,315 ft
• Maximum altitude: 3,525 m/ 11,562 ft
• Distance to walk: 11 km/ 7 miles
• Approximate walking time: 4 hours
• Difficulty: moderate

You will have breakfast at your hotel before we take a very early bus (5:30 am) along the winding road to Machu Picchu to see the magnificent sunrise. Once there you will be given at 2 hour walking tour of the site.

If you have elected to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain (the price of this is included in your Inca Quarry Trek price), you will begin the hike at 10 AM. If you are not climbing the mountain you will have free time to explore the site, hike to the Sun Gate, or hike to the Inca Bridge before you return to Aguas Calientes by bus.

Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will board the expedition train to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo, you will travel by private van to Cusco and we will drop you off at your hotel. Arrival time in Cusco depends on the time of your train ticket.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Maximum altitude: 2,040 m/ 6,691 ft
• Minimum altitude: 2,440 m/ 8,052 ft