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Inca Quarry Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days

4 Days & 3 Nights
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Multi-day hike
English, Spanish
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Price
From$650
Price
From$650
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  • GROUP SERVICEAdult: $650 - Children: $630Available: 16 seats
  • PRIVATE SERVICEAdult: $850 - Children: $850Available: 12 seats

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  • Trips managed & run by expert local tour operator.
  • Personalized services with small groups.
  • Unique & customized tour itineraries.
  • Easy, fast & risk-free services – bookings guaranteed.
  • Tours are a great value for the money.
  • Best certified guides & teams in the region.
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Travel Duration: 4 Days - 3 Nights
Departure: Cusco
Group Size: 10
Availability: Daily Departures
trip-styles: Hiking
Max Altitude: 4,500 m – 14,764 ft
Lodging Type: Camps
Difficulty: Moderate
  • OVERVIEW

Inca Quarry Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days

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.

Itinerary at a Glance

DAY 01 |
Cusco - Soqma - Perolniyoc - Racaypata - Rayan
Swimming at Perolniyoc waterfall and visiting the Racaypata archaeological site.
DAY 02 |
Rayan - Puccaqasa - Kuichiqasa Pass - Sun Gate - Choquetacarpo
Admiring the spectacular views from the Sun Gate.
DAY 03 |
Choquetacarpo - Cachicata - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes
Explore the Cachicata quarry and Inca craftsmanship.
DAY 04 |
Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo - Cusco
Exploring Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Highlights of Inca Quarry Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days

  • Hike through breathtaking Andean jungle scenery and enjoy incredible panoramic views along the way.
  • Discover a wide variety of unique flora and fauna in the region while learning about its natural richness.
  • Explore the quarry site where the Incas sourced stones used to construct Ollantaytambo.
  • Gain insight into the lifestyle of small, remote Andean communities and observe their daily routines.
  • Visit ancient archaeological sites and uncover fascinating secrets of the Inca civilization.
  • Experience a complete guided tour of the legendary and mystical Machu Picchu.
  • ITINERARY

DAY 1Cusco - Soqma - Perolniyoc - Racaypata - Rayan

Places we will arrive
Cusco
Soqma
Perolniyoc
Racaypata
Rayan

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.

  • Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
  • Hiking Distance: 4.97 miles – 8 km
  • Camp Altitude: 3,700 m – 12,139 ft
  • Weather: Cold
  • Hiking Time: Around 5 – 6 h
  • Highest Elevation: 3,700 m – 12,139 ft

DAY 2Rayan - Puccaqasa - Kuichiqasa Pass - Sun Gate - Choquetacarpo

Places we will arrive
Rayan
Puccaqasa
Kuichiqasa
Sun Gate
Choquetacarpo

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.

  • Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
  • Hiking Distance: 8.08 miles – 13 km
  • Camp Altitude: 3,600 m – 11,811 ft
  • Weather: Cold
  • Hiking Time: Around 6 – 7 h
  • Highest Elevation: 4,500 m – 14,764 ft

DAY 3Choquetacarpo - Cachicata - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes

Places we will arrive
Choquetacarpo
Cachicata
Ollantaytambo
Aguas Calientes

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.

  • Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
  • Hiking Distance: 5.06 miles – 9 km
  • Camp Altitude: 2,040 m – 6,693 ft
  • Weather: Tropical
  • Hiking Time: Around 4 – 5 h
  • Highest Elevation: 3,600 m – 11,811 ft

DAY 4Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo - Cusco

Places we will arrive
Aguas Calientes
Machu Picchu
Ollantaytambo
Cusco

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.

  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Hiking Distance: 1.24 miles – 2 km
  • Camp Altitude: Not
  • Weather: Tropical
  • Exploration Time: Around 4 – 5 h
  • Highest Elevation: 2,497 m – 8,192 ft
  1. Departure and arrival times are approximate.
  2. Campsites are subject to change according to our guide’s criteria and the group progress.
  • INCLUDED
  • High Quality Service & Safety
  • Pre-departure briefing
  • Experienced tour guide in English and Spanish
  • Private Camping Equipment
  • 1 duffle bag
  • Medical Kit or First AID Kit
  • A professional chef
  • Customer service 24/7
  • Meals
  • Meals: Breakfast (4), lunch (3), dinner (3)
  • Food: (vegetarian and vegan food options available)
  • Wake up tea
  • Tea Time or Happy Hour
  • Snacks on the trail daily
  • Water during the hike
  • Products for hygiene
  • Transportation
  • Day 1: Private transportation from Cusco to the hiking point
  • Horses, and muleteers; cargo mules will carry your (7 kg / 15.4 lb) personal items
  • Day 3: Train Ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
  • Day 4: Round Trip Bus Ticket Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu
  • Day 4: Train Ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
  • Day 4: Private transport from Ollantaytambo train station to your hotel in Cusco.
  • Permits & Entrance Tickets
  • Entrance ticket for inca Quarry
  • Entrance to the archaeological site of Machu Picchu
  • Extras included in our service
  • Emergency horse to ride
  • Sleeping bag
  • Extra oxygen
  • Hiking poles
  • PRO Air sleeping pad
  • Day 4: Hotel in Aguas Calientes
  • What is not included?
  • Travel insurance
  • Gratuities for our staff
  • Additional costs or delays beyond our control
  • BEFORE YOU GO

> Information meeting or briefing

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.

> Duffel bag or canvas case

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.

> Payment of trek balance in Cusco

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.

> Pick up from your hotel

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

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.

> How many days do I need to acclimatize in Cusco before the trip?

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.

> Can I store my luggage at your office?

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

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.

> Lost objects

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.

  • TRIP CHECKLIST
  • Original Passport
  • Flashlight with spare batteries
  • Sun hat, cap, and warm hat and gloves for the nighttime
  • Water bottle or canteen
  • Good hiking boots with ankle protector or similar, and one pair of flip-flops or light sandals
  • Comfortable hiking clothes, including warm clothes for the nighttime
  • Rain gear (especially if traveling in the wet season, from October to March)
  • Hiking poles
  • Hiking socks
  • Personal medication
  • Sunblock and sunglasses
  • Comfortable trousers
  • Toiletries and hand sanitiser
  • Hiking long-sleeve T-shirts
  • Camera and film with extra batteries
  • Phone and Camera charger and adapter
  • Some snacks such as chocolate, cereal bars, candies, nuts, energy bars
  • American dollars and Peruvian soles in cash
  • Backpack to carry your things
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