Full itinerary for Inca Quarry trek
Day 1: Cusco – Soqma – Rayan
In the morning at the appropriate time travelers will be picked up from the hotels in Cusco. Then there will a drive through the Sacred Valley for 1 hour and 40 minutes to go to the trail-head at the village of Soqma (3,205 m / 10,512 ft). A small quechua Village the beginning for Inca Quarry trek, the horsemen will meet you at this village ready to join you on this adventure trek.
After a short break you will start hiking up following a beautiful valley, covering about 1 hour until the waterfall of Perolniyoc, which is located in the lower part of a great Inca site. You will continue walking for one more hour uphill to arrive in the archaeological site of Perolniyoc, located above the waterfall. where you will have a complete explanation of the Inca history of this place with your expert guide, hiking for one hour you will arrive to the village of Rayan for lunch spot and camp for the night.
This first day trek will be easy and it serves as part of the acclimatization to the high altitude. So after lunch you can relax and have rest for the next day; you spend the night to the end of the village at an altitude of 3,700 meters/12,136 ft.
- Meals: Lunch & Dinner
- Walking distance: 8 km/5 miles
- Estimated walking time: 4 to 5 hours
- Difficulty of the hike: Moderate
Day 2: Rayan – Intipunku – Choquetacarpo
After breakfast we will set up from the campsite, 3 hours of slow hike will let us to arrive to none of the highest passes of this trek called Puka kasa pass (4,450 m /14,600 ft), for many people this is the hardest section because the altitude but is the most spectacular day, we will see many snowcapped mountains and the Sacred Valley in the other side. Once we reach the mountain top you will feel proud of yourself surviving one the highest passes on this mountain range. .
We then walk downhill for 25 minutes to our lunch place. In the afternoon, we will hike for two more hours undulating trail with some ascents and descents. The last 25 minutes of this segment lead us uphill to the highest pass of the trek, Kuychi kasa (4,457 m/ 14,619 ft)
We then trek downhill for 2 ½ hours to the famous site the called Inti Punku, or the Sun Gate, where we will have a spectacular view of Veronica Mountain(5,682 m/ 18,637 ft) and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
We will spend the night at Choquetacarpo which is 30 minutes downhill from Inti Punku (3,600m/ 11,808 ft).
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Estimate Walking distance: 13 km/ 8 miles
- Walking time: 8 to 9 hours
- Trek difficulty: moderate
Day 3: Choque tacarpo – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
We will continue the Inca Quarry trek having an early breakfast and then walk down for one hour to arrive to the Cachiqata quarry (3,525 m/ 11,562 ft), where we will be able to walk around and observe all the stone works did by the Inca builders before to transport down to Ollantaytambo. Our guide will show us the remains of the unfinished stone work left by the Incas, because the invasion of the Spanish conquerors.
From the Cachiqata quarry we will descend for 3 hours until we arrive to Ollantaytambo (2,840 m / 9,315 ft.) our lunch place.
In the afternoon we will have train connection to Aguas Calientes, where we spend the night at the hotel. In the evening we will have dinner in one of the restaurants in the town, and we will plan our Machu Picchu visiting for the next morning.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Accommodation: Hotel
- Distance to walk: 11 km/ 7 miles
- Estimate walking time: 4 hours
- Trekking difficulty: moderate
DAY 4: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
After breakfast we will board the bus which will take us to the biggest energetic center of the Incas, “Machu Picchu”. As part of our itinerary the same professional tour guide from the Inca Quarry trek; will teach you about all the history of this mysterious and mystical place. We will visit the Sun Temple, Royal palace, Main Temple, Three Windows Temple and Sun Dial.
- Visit the Sun Gate: You will have an opportunity to walk (approx. 2 hours up and down) up to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) to see Machu Picchu from a different angle.
- Hike to the Inca Bridge: The Inca Bridge offers a dose of adventure for your next Machu Picchu visit. However in this case, the adventure is a little less strenuous, but a lot more death defying, not for people with vertigo.
Train back to Cusco: In the afternoon you will return to the train station in Aguas Calientes for the trip back to Ollantaytambo. Upon your arrival to the train station you will be transferred by car to your hotel in Cusco.
What’s included in the Inca Quarry Trek:
- All transfers included.
- Pre-departure briefing
- Pick up from your hotel in Cusco, the morning of Inca Quarry trek departure
- Horseman’s and horses to carry our camping and kitchen equipment
- English Speaking Professional Guide
- 4 Season tents, with 2 to 3 people capacity.
- Therma-Rest self-inflating mattress
- 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 suppers included
- First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
- Expedition Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (day 4)
- Return Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Transfer from the Train Station to your hotel in Cusco
- One night accommodation in Aguas Calientes Hotel (last night)
- Bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (round trip)
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
Not included in the Inca Quarry Trek:
- Sleeping bag.( you can hire it in our office)
- Walking poles( you can hire it in our office)
- First day breakfast and Lunch at Aguas Calientes on the last day.
- Tips (Cook, horseman and guide)
- Transfer out from Cusco
- Insurance of any kind, international airfares, domestic flights, Airport departure, phone calls and entrance fee to Wayna Picchu Mountain
Note: if you want to climb up to Wayna Picchu, we kindly suggest you to book it way in advance, because the spaces are limited for any additional information contact us.
Rentals
- Hiking poles – US $20.00 (pair)
- Sleeping bag – US $25.00
- Private Tent – US $30.00
Upgrades
Superior class hotel
Vistadome train (US $55) to get back from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
