Inca Quarry Trail to Machu Picchu

Day by Day Itinerary

• Day 1 Cusco – Socma – Rayanniyoc

  We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco relatively early and drive down to the Sacred Valley of the Inca to the village of Socma, just a short drive outside of Ollantaytambo. Before we arrive to Socma, we stop at a spot where we can view and take photos of some stone age petroglyphs.

  Today’s hike, takes us up the valley behind Socma. As we make our way to a small and pristine Inca site and beautiful waterfall that lie at the top of the valley. Along our Inca Quarry trek, we walk past fields of potato, corn, and quinoa nestled among the incredible mountains. Throughout, we will have the opportunity to see a variety of flora and fauna – gorgeous and lush fields and trees and fascinating native birds. Also, your guide will inform you of the customs of the Andean people of this region and will teach you some Quechua (the Inca language) as we hike.

  After a relaxing morning’s walk, we finally arrive to our destination, the best Inca site of Perolniyoc. We will tour here and learn of the significance of this site. After, we will carry on for just a little longer to our campsite at Rayanniyoc (3650m / 11975 ft.). In the afternoon, we will visit one of the local families and you can practice the Qhechua you had learned in the morning. As for the Quecha you didn’t learn in just a morning’s time, your guide will translate for you, making this a beautiful cultural exchange and learning opportunity for both you and the local people.

  In the evening, we enjoy a deliciously prepared dinner by our trekking chef, soak in the views, and sleep amidst the mountains.

  • Shuttle to Abra Soqma:

    1½ hour by bus from Cusco.

  • Hiking distance:

    8 Km. / 5 mile.

  • Hiking time:

    4½ to 5 hour approximately.

  • Level of Difficulty:

    Moderate

  • Climate:

    Cold at the beginning of the biking and very hot in the night.

  • Acomodation:

    Dry Mountain, Camping

  • Meals:

    Lunch, Dinner.

  • Maximum Altitude:

    3700 masl. / 12136 ft.

  • Minimum Altitude:

    3205 masl. / 10512 ft.

• Day 2 Rayanniyoc – Inti Punku – Cachicata

  We wake up early with a cup of hot coca tea and breakfast prepare for the longest day of the adventure. We continue on up the valley, approaching the first pass of the Quarry trek Peru. This agricultural area is still tended by the local people despite the high altitude. One of the few plants that thrive wildly in this region is muña, Andean mountain mint. The aroma is lovely and the scent infuse the air, especially in the morning. Muña makes a beautiful cup of tea, so along the way we pick some for later.

  In total, it’s about a 4 hour hike to the pass (4500m / 14,764ft.), where we will stop to take in the stunning panoramic views, snap some photos, and catch our breath before carrying on. It is only about another 20 minutes until we arrive at our lunch spot, at an incredible vantage point of the valley below.

  After lunch, the hike is slightly easier, having reached the top of the mountain, the terrain levels out. We then hike through a strange area, a landscape with numerous mounds, that resemble burial mounds but are actually glacial moraines. These are piles of rock deposits are from glaciers dating back to the Ice Age, fascinating!.

  In the late afternoon, we pass a beautiful Inca ruin site, Intipunku, which means Sun Gate in Quechua. Of course, we will rest here and take advantage of this incredible photo opportunity, with the valley below and the snow capped mountains surrounding us.

  As we work our way down from the high plateau, our destination for the day is the Inca Quarry of Cachicata resting at (3,6000m / 11,808 ft.). This is our home for the night and will share a lovely dinner in this tranquil campsite.

  • Hiking distance:

    13 Km. / 8 mile.

  • Hiking time:

    8½ to 9 hour approximately.

  • Level of Difficulty:

    Challenging

  • Climate:

    Cold at the beginning of the biking and very hot in the night.

  • Acomodation:

    Dry Mountain Camping

  • Meals:

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

  • Maximum Altitude:

    4450 masl. / 15250 ft.

  • Minimum Altitude:

    3700 masl. / 12139ft.

• Day 3 Cachicata Trail – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

  Today we wake up amidst the mountains and enjoy a delicious breakfast. Our day we is dedicated to exploring Cachicata trail and all it has to offer. Despite it’s proximity to Ollantaytambo and the incredible architecture and ingenuity, hardly anyone actually comes up here. Cachicata is a vast site, as it was the quarry used by the Inca for the construction of Ollantaytambo. There are a number of significant sites, including: large buildings, abandoned and half finished quarried stones, chullpas (burial houses), and a cave with Inca mummies still in place. We will take ample time here and learn of the interesting history this site holds.

  After our Cachicata Trek, we’ll continue following the trail down the mountain walking along the original platform that the Incas used for transporting stones to Ollantaytambo. In the early afternoon, we arrive in Ollantaytambo, where we will board the train. We then take a scenic train ride from the Sacred Valley of the Incas through the lush jungle to Aguas Calientes. Once we arrive at this lovely town, we will check you into the your comfortable hotel and then you will have the rest of the afternoon to relax and explore. Aguas Calientes has bustling artisan markets and natural hot springs, plenty to do to fill your late afternoon. Then, in the evening, we meet for dinner at a lovely restaurant in town and return back to the hotel.

  • Walking distance:

    11 km. / 7 miles.

  • Walking time:

    3½ to 4 hours approximately.

  • Difficulty level:

    Challenging

  • Climate:

    Heat at the beginning and cold at night.

  • Accommodation:

    Hostel

  • Meals:

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

  • Maximum altitude:

    3525 masl. / 11562 ft.

  • Minimum altitude:

    2840 masl. / 9315 ft.

• Day 4 Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

  The hotel we use provides a very early buffet, or can provide a boxed breakfast, to ensure we are in the queue for the bus as early as the group would like. It is about a 25 minute drive along the winding road to Machu Picchu, and on a clear day the sunrise can be spectacular.

  Upon arrival your guide provides a 2 hour walking tour of the site, named as one of the new 7 wonders of the world. Then you are free to wander through the ruins yourself, perhaps finding a solitary spot to reflect on this awesome achievement of the Incas, or, if you have elected to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountains you can begin the hike once your guided tour concludes.

  Your guide will arrange the time for you to return to Aguas Calientes by bus in time to make your train connection back to Poroy or Ollantaytambo. From here you will travel by private van to Cusco and back to your hotel. Arrival times will vary depending on traffic and connections, but should be around 8pm.

  • Distance Travelled:

    8 Km. / 4.9 mile

  • Hiking time:

    2 hour approximately.

  • Level of Difficulty:

    Easy/Challenging*

  • Optional:

    Shuttle to Machu Picchu:25 minutes from Aguas Calientes.

  • Machu Picchu guided tour:

    2½ hour.

  • Climate:

    tropical warm.

  • Shuttle to Cusco:

    3 hours by train and bus from Aguas Calientes to Cusco.

  • Meals:

    Breakfast.

  • Maximum Altitude:

    2440 masl. / 8052 ft.

  • Minimum Altitude:

    2040 masl. / 6691 ft.

  *The standard trek includes a permit to climb Huayna Pichu Mountain which is a fairly easy 1 hour hike. However, if no tickets are available (e.g. due to late booking) then a permit to climb Machu Picchu mountain will be issued. Note that this is a 2-3 hour strenuous climb up and down following very steep and narrow steps