Inca Quarry Trail To Machu Picchu

On the first day, Welcome to Cusco city. Meeting point at the Hotel at 3pm where our Local guide is going to meet you to brief about the inca quarry trek, please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. After the briefing explore the ‘Walking city center’, the difference is that in this tour, you visit the places that are accessible by foot, so we will visit San Pedro market, the main square, the 12 Angled Stone, Regocijo Square.

• Accommodation: Hotel (1 night).
• Included Activities: Cusco – Orientation Walk.
• Optional Activities: Cusco: Full Boleto Turistico Pass (access to 16 archaeological sites, transport & guides not included) – USD 50.00 per person. Cusco: Half Boleto Turistico Pass (access to selected archaeological sites, transport & guides not included) – USD 27.00 per person. Cusco: Cathedral Entrance Fee – USD 10.00 per person. Cusco: Coricancha Temple entrance fee – USD 6.00 per person. Cusco: Cooking Class – USD45.00. Cusco: Pre-Colombian Museum – USD 8.00 per person. Cusco: Inca Museum – USD 4.00 per person. Cusco: Machu Picchu Museum & Botanical Garden – USD 8.00 per person.
• Meals Included: There are no meals included on this day.

Important Information: Cusco is located at 3’350 masl (11’000 fts) you should be acclimatized at least 2 days. As this tour doesn’t involve much time in Cusco, this will also give you a chance to choose some of the optional places available. The closer places to Cusco for stay and acclimatized are on Sacred Valley at 2’800 masl (9’186 fts) Please ask for our Hotel offers on the Sacred Valley.

Make an early start today and drive to Choquequilla, a small ceremonial place where Incas worshipped the moon. Drive to the starting point of the inca quarry trail, Rafq’a, and meet the horsemen who join us on the hike. After an hour’s walk, reach the small community of Socma. Carry on to the Perolniyoc cascade lookout, an opportunity to stop for photos and a food break.

Continue to the campsite, which is 3700 meters above sea level. You should reach the campsite around lunchtime. After lunch, set off to explore the Q’orimarca archaeological site, which once served as a checkpoint to the Incas.

• Accommodation: Campsite (1 night).
• Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.

This is the most challenging and rewarding day of the inca quarry trek to machu picchu. A three-hour walk takes us to the top of the first pass of Puccaqasa (approximately 4,370 meters high). After enjoying picturesque views of the valley, it’s a short walk before stopping for lunch.

Afterwards, make the two-hour hike to Kuychicassa, the highest pass of the trek at 4,450 meters. From here, descend to the sacred site the Incas called Intipunku (Sun Gate), with views of the Nevado Veronica mountain. Head to the campsite, only a stone’s throw away and at 3,600 meters.

• Accommodation: Campsite (1 night).
• Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.

Today’s hike will all be downhill.

The first stop is the incomplete Kachiqata quarry, where the Incas were intercepted by the Spanish. Around midday, come to the end of the trek. Explore the cobbled streets of Ollantaytambo before taking the short train journey to Aguas Calientes. This is where you’ll meet up with the travellers in your group who didn’t hike.

Visiting the natural hot springs in town is a soothing way to spend the late afternoon. Spend the night in a comfortable hotel before tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu.

• Accommodation: Hotel (1 night).
• Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.

Visiting Machu Picchu:

According to Machu Picchu visiting regulations, all visitors must follow a pre-determined route within the site. This route must be followed in one direction only and once the guided visit commences exiting and re-entering the site is not permitted.

Once the guided visit concludes, visitors must exit the site and personal exploration of Machu Picchu is not permitted.

For all routes after taking advantage of the seemingly endless photo opportunities, it’s time to return to Cusco for a Pisco sour. Your evening is then free for the last night of your adventure.

• Accommodation: Hotel (1 night).
• Meals Included: Breakfast.
• Optional Activities:
  Mountain Wayna Picchu USD 99.00 per person.
  Mountain Machu Picchu USD 99.00 per person.

Important Information:

The inca quarry trail is within the abilities of most reasonably fit people. The hike is 26 kilometres long in total and its highest pass is at 4450 metres above sea level.

Throughout the trek, horses will carry your gear and camping equipment. The first two nights are spent camping and the third night you will stay at a simple hotel.

Double tents (twin-share) and foam camping mats will be provided. The porters will set up the tents while the cook prepares meals.

Here, the Incas built concentric agricultural terraces, forming a 150-meter-deep amphitheater, with each level reproducing the temperatures found in different parts of the Inca empire, enabling the Incas to develop new crop strains and increase yields.

From Moray, it is a short drive to Maras. The saltpans of Maras have been exploited since pre-Inca times. This series pools constructed to evaporate the salt water produced by a subterranean stream offer visitors a uniquely photogenic sight, with their flat, white surfaces contrasting with the surrounding green, vertical scenery.

Our guide will explain how these ancient saltpans remain important to the local economy. After the tour, we will have lunch at a local restaurant, before returning to Cusco in our private vehicle in the late afternoon.

• Accommodation: Hotel (1 night).
• Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch.

Day off.

Departure time.

• Optional Activities:
  Rainbow Mountain Tour  USD 55.00 per person.
  Sacred Valley Tour   USD 60.00 per person.