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Inca Quarry Treks to MachuPicchu 4D/3N
The Inca Quarry Trek to Machu Picchu (also known by the names Cachiqata, Soqma and Chaski Trek) is a unique trek that remains off the beaten path. It is a great trek for those who want an immersive experience for learning Inca history and getting a first hand look at life in the high Andes. The trek was recently included in the top six Alternative treks to Machu Picchu by National Geographic.
In addition to all the amazing scenery, flora, and fauna, you will visit the Perolniyoc Inca site, several small communities in the region and the Cachiqata quarry. The Cachiqata quarry is where the stones were carved to build Ollantaytambo. You can still see rocks that were cut by the stone masons in the Inca times.
After three days of hiking you will make your way to Aguas Calientes by train. On the fourth day you will visit the magnificent citadel of Machu Picchu. Our standard package includes the premium services of train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, lodging in a very nice hotel in Aguas Calientes on night 3 and dinner at the restaurant in Aguas Calientes
From $ 530 USD
Per person (All-inclusive Door to Door service)
- Trip manage & run by Expert Local Tour Operator.
- Easy, fast and free Booking guaranteed.
- Personalized service in a Small Group.
- Best local official Tour Guides & team of the region.
- Day 1 – Cusco – Soqma – Rayan
- Day 2 – Rayan – Inti Punku – Choquetacarpo
- Day 3 – Choquetacarpo – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
- Day 4 – Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
Overall distance hiked: 32 km/ 20 miles
Starting altitude: 3,205 m / 10,512 ft
Altitude range: 2,840 to 4,457 m / 9,315 to 14,619 ft
Pre-Trek Briefing
You will have a thorough briefing with your guide 1 or 2 days before your Inca Quarry Trek to Machu Picchu. Your guide will meet you at your hotel in Cusco and you can take this opportunity to ask questions and make any final preparations.
Day 1: Cusco – Soqma – Rayan
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
Day 2: Rayan – Inti Punku – Choquetacarpo
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
Day 3: Choquetacarpo – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
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 stone work 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 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 restaurant in aguas calientes.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Accommodations: In aguas calientes
- 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
Day 4: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
You will have breakfast at your hotel before we take a very early bus (5:30am) 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 not included in your Inca Quarry Trek price), is better if 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 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
Overall trek difficulty: Moderate
WHAT IS INCLUDED
- Bilingual English speaking tour guide (additional tour guide for groups of nine people or more)
- Pre-Departure Briefing at your hotel 1 or 2 days before your trek.
- Pick up from your hotel and transportation to Soqma
- Four-person tent for every 2 people.
- Mattress
- Kitchen tent
- Dining tent with tables and chairs
- Chef
- Muleteers and horses to carry all the equipment (food, tents, chairs, table, etc.)
- Horse to transport 6 kg of your personal gear
- Duffle bag for your personal gear
- Three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners
- Hot water for washing.
- Daily morning boiled and cold water to fill the water bottles.
- Emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit.
- Train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- One night accommodation in Aguas Calientes
- Entrance to Machu Picchu
- Round trip bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
Not Included:
- Sleeping bag – you can rent one from us
- Tickest for Huaynapicchu or Machupicchu Mountain
- Day 1 Breakfast
- Day 4 Lunch in Aguas Calientes
- Tips for the crew (guide, chef, wranglers)
Price in US Dollars per Reservation:
- one Person: USD 850.00
- 2-4 People: USD 450.00 per person.
- 5-6 People: USD 500.00 per person
- 7-+ People: USD 480.00 per person
EXTRAS
- Walking Poles – US$15 per pair per trek (Professional Poles that can be extended)
- Vistadome Train Upgrade – US$57 per person (For the return to Cusco (Poroy) at 4:43 pm)
- Huayna Picchu Mountain – US$35 per person (Please request when you book your Trek)
- Machu Picchu Mountain – US$30 per person (Please request when you book your Trek)
- Single supplement US$30 per night (for solo travellers with single room)
WHAT TO BRING:
- Original passport (if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both)
- Down or synthetic feather sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
- Clothes (trekking boots, warm fleece jacket, tops, a few t-shirts, socks, sun hat, thermal underwear, light long pants, gloves, poncho, rain jacket)
- Toiletries (toilet paper, wet wipes, personal towel)
- Sun block, factor 35+ recommended
- Head lamp
- Sunglasses and sun hat
- Camera with spare batteries – batteries run down faster at high altitudes
- Binoculars
- Book to read (you will have some time at every camp to read your favorite book)
- Trekking poles (recommended especially for the steep descents, can be rented from us)
- Insect repellent
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