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If you’re looking for a truly authentic and less crowded way to reach Machu Picchu, the Inca Quarry Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days is one of the best alternative treks in Peru. This hidden route offers a peaceful hiking experience far from the busy traditional paths, making it ideal for travelers who want to connect more deeply with nature, history, and Andean culture. Along the way, you’ll explore impressive mountain scenery, ancient Inca engineering, and landscapes that remain largely untouched by mass tourism.
During this 4-day adventure, you will hike through remote valleys, visit fascinating Inca quarry sites where stones were once extracted to build sacred cities, and discover archaeological remains that are rarely seen by other visitors. The trail also passes through traditional Andean communities, giving you the opportunity to learn about their daily life, customs, and connection to the mountains. Recognized by National Geographic as one of the top alternative routes to Machu Picchu, this trek perfectly combines adventure, culture, and breathtaking scenery for an unforgettable journey to the Inca citadel.
Your adventure on the Inca Quarry Trail begins early in the morning with a pickup from your accommodation, followed by a scenic drive of about 1 hour and 30 minutes to the starting point of the trek.
After a freshly prepared breakfast, you will meet your trekking team, including the cooks and horseback guide, and get ready with your equipment. The hike then starts, lasting around 3 to 4 hours toward the stunning Perolniyoc waterfall. Along the way, you pass through the traditional village of Soqma, surrounded by beautiful agricultural landscapes of corn, potatoes, and quinoa.
At the waterfall, you’ll have time to relax, refresh, or even swim in its crystal-clear waters. Afterwards, you continue to the Racaypata archaeological site, located on a cliff with impressive views of the valley. Here, your expert guides will share fascinating Inca history before enjoying a delicious lunch prepared in the mountains. In the afternoon, you ascend for about one more hour to reach your campsite in Rayan (3700 m / 12,139 ft), where you can rest, enjoy dinner, and admire the clear Andean night sky full of stars before sleeping in your tent.
After an energizing breakfast, we begin a steady uphill hike of around 3 hours to reach the first summit at Puccaqasa (4,400 m – 14,436 ft). From here, you’ll enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the Sacred Valley, making it a perfect spot for photos and to take in the scenery.
We then descend for about 25 minutes to our lunch point, where you can relax and recharge with a well-deserved meal prepared by our team. After lunch, we continue with a 2-hour hike that includes both ascents and descents. In the final section, we climb up to the highest point of the trek, the Kuychicassa Pass (4,500 m – 14,764 ft), where you’ll be rewarded with incredible landscapes and views of snowy glaciers.
Next, we descend to the Inti Punku or Sun Gate archaeological site (3,900 m – 12,795 ft). Here, you will learn about its historical importance while enjoying spectacular views of the La Veronica glacier (5,682 m – 18,642 ft) and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Finally, we take a 30-minute descent to reach our campsite in the Choquetacarpo sector (3,600 m – 11,811 ft), where you can relax, enjoy dinner, and rest after an unforgettable day on the Inca Quarry Trail, surrounded by the beauty of the Andes.
Just like every other morning, you’ll enjoy a tasty and filling breakfast to start the day. We then begin a 1-hour descent to the Cachicata quarries (3,520 m – 11,549 ft), where the Incas extracted the stones used to build Ollantaytambo. Inside the site, you’ll take part in a guided visit to learn about its history and see the perfectly carved stone blocks, left unfinished when the Spanish arrived. It’s impressive to witness the precision the Incas achieved using simple tools.
After the visit, we continue with a 3-hour descent to the charming town of Ollantaytambo (2,792 m – 9,160 ft), where we will have lunch. Once finished, we head to the train station to board the Expedition train to Aguas Calientes (2,040 m – 6,693 ft). Along the way, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the Sacred Valley and the Urubamba River, so keep your camera ready for great photos.
Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you’ll check into your hotel and have time to rest before dinner if needed. If you still feel energetic, you can explore the town or visit the hot springs, an ideal place to relax your muscles after several days of trekking. In the evening, we enjoy dinner at a top restaurant and rest early, as the next day you will rise before sunrise to visit Machu Picchu.
The big day has arrived! You’ll wake up very early to avoid the crowds at Machu Picchu. A bus will take you from Aguas Calientes at 5:30 a.m., reaching the sanctuary around 6:00 a.m. Once inside, you’ll witness the incredible sunrise over the citadel and enjoy breathtaking views before starting a 2-hour guided tour with an expert guide.
During the visit, you’ll explore the most important areas of Machu Picchu, including terraces, houses, temples, and ancient pathways. You will also stop at the main observatories to appreciate the impressive engineering and scale of this Inca masterpiece. If you have pre-booked tickets, you may also choose to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for even more spectacular views.
After midday, you’ll descend back to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll have time for lunch at a restaurant of your choice before boarding the train to Ollantaytambo. From there, our private transportation will take you back to your accommodation in Cusco. You’ll return with unforgettable memories of your adventure on the Inca Quarry Trail to Machu Picchu, a journey filled with history, culture, and stunning landscapes.
The night before your trip to Inca Quarry Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days, information meetings are held at your hotel at 6 pm with your trekking guide. And if you cannot attend at this time, you must arrange to do it at another time.
During the breffing, you will receive your duffel bag for your belongings that you intend to take on the hike, which will not be in your backpack.
These informational meetings last approximately 30 to 40 minutes.
You will receive a duffel bag during your briefing, where you will pack the necessary things for the Inca Quarry Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days, the maximum weight you must carry is 6 kilos. All duffel bags will be carried by the horses or porters and will only be available at your campsite every day (morning and afternoon). Any items that are necessary during the hike should be packed in your backpack.
Duffel bags measure (2ft / 66cm long) x (1ft / 36cm wide).
During the trip, you need a day pack big enough to carry your personal belongings like a warm jacket, raincoat, camera, sunscreen, snacks, water, etc. Generally, a 30 to 50 liter backpack is sufficient.
The trek you have booked must be paid in full at the time of breifing or days before departure.
We would greatly appreciate it if you would pay the balance of the trip in cash in US dollars or in local currency. To withdraw here in Cusco we have several ATMs along Av. El Sol (either in US dollars or in local Peruvian soles).
You can pay by credit card or PAYPAL online, but you will have to pay a service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. We do not accept bank checks or payment of the balance with traveler’s checks.
Our PERU TREK Company transports will pick you up from your hotel, as long as you are in the Historic Center of Cusco. Pick-up time will be coordinated with your guide at the briefing. The pick-up time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic.
Cusco is a very old city, therefore it has many narrow and cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnb may be located on streets with no car access or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to carry luggage. We strongly recommend that you book an accommodation with good access.
Group tours are made up of different types of people. Physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also agree that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, everyone can go at their own pace on the route. It may be the case that a group wants to modify the route; however, it will be the guide who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if such modifications can be made.
It is very important to be well acclimatized to the altitude before exerting yourself on a hike. We recommend that you arrive in Cusco at least 2 or 3 days before the trek begins to help you acclimatize and avoid possible problems with altitude sickness during the trek.
Suppose you have already been to another area of Peru at a high altitude before arriving in Cusco. In that case, we still recommend that you have a full day in Cusco to rest, recover from your trip and fully enjoy your trek and have a unique experience.
Of course! During the trip, your main luggage can be stored in our office (you can coordinate during the day of the briefing or by email) or at your hotel, both for free.
Any equipment you don’t need on the trek can be safely stored at your hotel. Almost all hotels will offer this service. Do not leave valuables with your bags, put them in the hotel safe and get an itemized receipt (in the unlikely event of theft, many insurance companies require you to have a copy of the receipt with all items). It’s best to put items like credit cards in a sealed and signed envelope for added peace of mind.
Strikes and demonstrations are often frequent in Peru, and this can interrupt some of our planned tours. They can block the roads and take control of the railroad tracks. However, we will try to keep your tour as planned, even if it means leaving the night before your scheduled date. In these circumstances, tours can also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, all situations will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our top priority and decisions will be made appropriately.
You are responsible for your personal belongings during the Inca Quarry Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days. Please pay attention to where you leave your belongings and remember to take everything once you leave your bus, tents, and restaurants.