Day 3. Cachicata – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

Inca quarry trail machupicchu 4/3 After trekking for about one hour you will observe a wonderful waterfall called Perolniyoc. Also, your guide will show you some medicinal plants that the local farmers use along the way. You can pick some plants and make your own tea like locals. Then we will go uphill until to get Q´anabamba and Willkarakayfrom which your professional guide will explain to you, Inca quarry trail machupicchu 4/3 From here you will continue to the campsite which will take you for couple of hours, once you get campsite you have lunch. After lunch you will have some time to take a nap, then your guide will take you to visit the local family where you will learn about their traditions, culture, etc.
QUICK FACTS:
Distance covered: 11 km (6.8 miles).
Time: 4 to 6 hours.
Lowest elevation: 3000m (9,743 feet).
Highest elevation: 3700m (12,149 feet).
Level of difficulty: Moderate.

Day 1. Cusco – Soqma

Early wake-up call with a cup of coca tea in your tent by one of our porters. After a delicious breakfast, we leave the campsite towards the first pass called Pukaqasa (4380m t- 14,370 ft) which will take us for about 3 and a half hours, after we reach the pass we will descend down for 30 minutes where we meet our chef for lunch. We begin with our hike again for another 2 more hours of gradual uphill to the next pass named Kuychicasa (4450m – 14,600ft).Inca quarry trail machupicchu 4/3 It is the longest day of the trek to Machu Picchu but the most regarding, because of the spectacular views of snowcapped mountains. The last 2 hours all descend to the campsite, on the way we will visit a small Inca ruins called Intipunku meaning sun gate, arriving at camp Cachicata (3600m – 11,811ft) around 5 pm.
QUICK FACTS:
Distance covered: 11 km (6.8 miles).
Time: 4 to 6 hours.
Lowest elevation: 3600m (11,811 feet).
Highest elevation: 4450m (14,600 feet).
Level of difficulty: Demanding.
Inca ruins: Seen in the distance.

Day 2. Rayan – Highest Pass – Cachicata (Inca Stone Quarry)

Embark on a truly exceptional Machu Picchu hiking adventure along the Inca Quarry Trail, a little-known yet deeply rewarding route through the Andean highlands. This alternative Inca Trail trek weaves together history, remote paths, and sweeping landscapes — offering an off-the-beaten-path Machu Picchu experience that few travelers get to enjoy.
Why Choose the Inca Quarry Trail?
Hidden Trails & Cultural Immersion
Unlike the very crowded classic Inca Trail, this short Inca Trail tour is quieter and more intimate. You’ll explore hidden trails to Machu Picchu that reveal Inca stone quarries, ancient terraces, and remote ruins rarely visited. These are cultural trails near Cusco that were once arteries of the Inca world, including the Cachicata quarry, where stones were carved for monuments such as Ollantaytambo.
Authentic Andean Trekking Experience
This trek spans 4 days and 3 nights, crossing high passes of up to ~4,500 m / 14,764 ft. You’ll hike through Andean valleys, flowering terraces, and windswept ridgelines, camping under star-filled skies — a genuinely Andean trekking experience that connects you to both nature and ancient culture.
Exploring Inca Ruins Off the Beaten Path
Along the way, you will visit lesser-known Inca ruins trekking Peru sites such as Rayanniyoc, Corimarca, and the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), offering panoramic views of the sacred valleys. The trail culminates at the Cachicata Quarry, where you can see abandoned Inca stones, ancient chullpas (burial towers), and even caves where mummies once rested.
Reach Machu Picchu with Ease
On the final day, descend from the campsite to Ollantaytambo and take the train to Aguas Calientes. From there, rise early the next morning to visit the magnificent Machu Picchu with a guided tour. This blend of trekking and transport makes it a smart alternative for Cusco day hikes to Machu Picchu without the pressure of the crowded classic trail.

​Inca quarry trail machupicchu 4/3

Day 4: Machu Picchu Tour

Today we will explore the Stone quarry of Cachicata, it is an extensive site that served as a stone quarry for the construction of Ollantaytambo, where you will be able to see all the work of the Incas, there are large rocks left half-finished and abandoned in the entire area, Inca mummies, burial houses or called Chullpas are seen here too. After a guided tour you start the descend down for about 3 hours to Ollantaytambo following the original Inca ramp that Incas built for transporting the stones to Ollantaytambo. Arrive at the town for the last lunch with our chef. You will have some time in this town to explore or visit the local bar? Where the local ladies serve Chicha meaning corn beer considered sacred by the Incas. Inca quarry trail machupicchu 4/3 In the afternoon you will catch the train to Aguas Calientes where we will spend the night Inca quarry trail machupicchu 4/3.
QUICK FACTS:
Distance covered: 15 km (9,3 miles).
Time: 8 to 10 hours.
Lowest elevation: 2700m (8,8 feet).
Highest elevation: 3600m (11,811 feet).
Level of difficulty: Modérate.

Includes

Inca quarry trail machupicchu 4/3 Day four is the most magical day: Machu Picchu. We will wake up early to take the first bus up to Machu Picchu and see the sunrise over the ruins Inca quarry trail machupicchu 4/3.
​Your guide will spend around 2 hours explaining the highlights of Machu Picchu. Afterward, you will have time to explore by yourself the ruins and hike Huaynapicchu if you have booked this option. (This is a separate entrance ticket that costs $15 per person). Inca quarry trail machupicchu 4/3 Finally, you will return to Aguas Calientes and take a train back to Ollantaytambo, and then bus back to Cusco. Once in Cusco, we will transfer you back to your hotel.

Not Includes

Transport to the start of the trek
Briefing
Professional bilingual guide (English and Spanish)
Assistant guide for groups of over 8 people
Accommodation on the trek is camping (2 nights). Tents are set up by the porters.Accommodation at hotel for 1 night
Mules and wranglers for carrying equipment and personal gear
Full meals – during the trek the meals are prepared by the trek cook and also include: daily morning snack, daily tea service except last day, vegetarian or special menus are available at no extra cost
Camping equipment: Personal tents (2 people in tent, they are 3 season and highly maintained), mattresses, kitchen tent, dining tent with tables and chairs, toilet tent, household items
Accommodation for all our staff
Chef and cooking equipment
Hot water every morning to clean up and boiled water to fill your bottle every morning or night
First aid kit and emergency oxygen supply
Bag for the gear you will need during the trek
Machu Picchu entrance fee
Round trip bus ticket
Train ticket Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes / Aguas Calientes – Cusco (Backpacker, Vistadome or Hiram Bingham service, upon request) (*)
One way transfer from airport hotel
Transfer from the train station to the hotel in Cusco
(*) If there are no train tickets available for the direct route Aguas Calientes – Poroy, a ticket for Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) with an additional transfer to your selected hotel will be provided.
We recommend that you bring:
Waterproof rain jacket or poncho
A good sleeping bag (down bag for temperatures as low as -15°C)
Daypack for carrying items for daily use such as cameras, water bottles, etc.
Long-sleeved shirts
Short-sleeved t-shirts
Comfortable pants
Shorts
Walking boots – waterproof trekking boots recommended
Sports shoes or sandals for a higher level of comfort while at camp
Warm clothing, including jacket, fleeces
Flashlight/headlamp and batteries (batteries are consumed quicker in cold conditions)
Hat, cap and accessories
Rehydrating cream
Underwear
Towel, toilet paper
Camera, video camera, binoculars, etc.
Insect repellent
Sun block
Non-disposible canteen and water for the first morning. Optional: water-sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported health problem so far
Original valid passport
Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount)
Walking poles (you will need rubber tips to cover the metal tips and protect the trail)
Travel insurance

Last lunch
Alcoholic drinks
Extra expenses
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
Sleeping bag (can be hired from us)

Door to Door Service!

• Trips Managed by Local Experts

• Easy, Fast, Risk-Free Bookings

• Personalized Small Group Tours

• Great Value for Money

• Unique, Customized Itineraries

• Best Local Certified Guides.

• WHY CHOOSE INCA LAND ADVENTURES ?Inca Land Adventures is a family owned travel agency and a local tour operator based in Cusco with personal experience over many years of trekking. Inca Land Adventures is a 100% Cusqueñian Company without any shareholders.
  Our dream as a locally based company is to create small personalized tours & treks strictly and only operated by local professional staff catering in PERSONALIZED and HIGH QUALITY SERVICE.
  We take pride in our reputation as a RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE tour operator. Our staff are our extended family. We ensure they are supported financially by offering them a fair salary. We are so proud of our team! Without them, we wouldn’t be able to offer the best service and lifetime experiences to our clients.

• OUR TOP TOUR GUIDESWe are so proud of our guides! They are highly professional and speak fluent English. They are very knowledgeable and passionate for Inca heritage and history. Our guides are dedicated to continuous personal and professional development. They do research to ensure that you receive accurate and recognized theories in Inca and Andean culture. Our crew is fun loving, great sports and well-educated. They all hold degrees in one of the following: Archeology, Tourism, Botany, History or Anthropology.

• OUR COOKS ON THE INCA QUARRY TRAIL TREK TO MACHU PICCHUYou will love our fabulous cooks! The food on the trek has been highlighted by all our clients who say “that it was better than in the restaurants.” Delicious and abundant gourmet style meals of Peruvian and international cuisine are prepared by our professional and dedicated cooks from a mixture of local and exotic produce. If you are have dietary restrictions or food allergies of any kind, we can cater our meals to adjust to your needs.

• SMALL GROUPSTo ensure a more personalized service for our guests, at Inca Land Adventures we have a policy that our groups will not exceed 8 people. This fact alone sets us apart from other companies that operate departures with bigger groups.

Prices Explanation of services: 2025

1 Person US$1250.00 Per Person
2 people : US$850.00 per person
4 people : US$800.00 per person
6 people : US$750.00 per person