4-Day Inca Quarry Trail to Machu Picchu

The trek offers panoramic views of the Sacred Valley, the Ollantaytambo town, and La Veronica snow peak also known as the Quarry of Cachicata, where the ancient Inca stone cutters carved, and polished the rocks to build the Temple of the Sun in Ollantaytambo.

One advantage of this hike is that it’s not crowded with hikers, You don’t need to book months in advance, and you will get to see unrivalled landscapes and your classic photo at the Puerta del Sol or Inti Punku.

The Inca Quarry to Machu Picchu Trek takes place at less elevated altitudes, for example:

• It starts in Socma at an altitude of 3,250 meters/10,662 feet.
• The highest point is at Kuichikasa Pass at 4,449 meters/14,596 feet.
• The hike culminates in Ollantaytambo at 2,792 meters/9,160 feet.

• The Perolniyoq waterfall.
• Raqaypata Ruins.
• The village of Ollantaytambo.
• Snow White Veronica.
• Main Quarry.
• Inti Punku or Puerta del Sol.
• Chullpas de Cachicata

To ensure an optimal adaptation to the altitude and minimize the symptoms of altitude sickness (soroche), we recommend you spend at least 02 days in Cusco City or Sacred Valley, Short walks and walking at a slow pace.

Because it’s a big mistake to walk the mountains without being properly acclimated.

To counteract this discomfort, we offer the following tips:

• Maintain proper hydration levels.
• Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol.
• Limit the consumption of red meat in the first few days.
• Opt for light meals such as light soups and fruits.
• Consume coca leaves, but how? Generally, coca leaves are consumed in mate and should not exceed more than 3 cups, another way to consume it is in coca candies, you can even chew the coca leaves directly.

It is the dry season (May - December), especially June, July and August.

During the day, there is a high probability of having sun almost all day, but the nights are cold.

The hike from the Inca Quarry to Machu Picchu takes place in the upper part of the Sacred Valley, at over 3,399 meters/11,151 feet.

The climate is mild, with temperatures ranging from 21 to 23 degrees Celsius during the day and a night temperature of 4 to 8 degrees Celsius. There is very little variation in temperature during the year.

Yes, the difficulty of the walk is moderate, since much of the route is above 3,500 meters/ 11,482 feet. However, it is not necessary to be an expert in hiking as it is suitable for all public in good physical condition.

Yes, any hiker who makes a three-day trek followed by more than 3,500 meters needs a reasonable level of fitness, since high altitudes are more difficult to breathe, the risk of high altitude sickness is greater.

Therefore we recommend you perform cardiovascular training because these exercises fulfill the function focused on improving the function of the heart, lungs, and circulatory system, which together with the muscle exercises will put you in a great state to do this trek.

The walk from the Inca Quarry to Machu Picchu starts in the village of Socma and ends, in Ollantaytambo (the hike culminates there), symbolically culminating in the Citadel of Machu Picchu.

Please note that the Inca Quarry trek with Inkayni Peru Tours starts and ends at your hotel in Cusco City.

Day             Hours of walking DAY 1     -     4 - 5 hours DAY 2     -     8 - 9 hours DAY 3     -     5 hours DAY 4     -     Visit to Machu Picchu

There are no specific age restrictions for the trek from the Inca Quarry to Machu Picchu, however at Inkayni Peru Tours, as an authorized and responsible travel agency, We only accept bookings for children 12 years and older if parents take full responsibility for them during the hike.

• Under 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Compliance with medical recommendations is essential.
• It is advised to those who are 60 years or more, to arrive in Cusco at least 3 days before to acclimatize.

No, you do not need any permit or Tourist Ticket since the walk from the Inca Quarry to Machu Picchu is an independent trek.

Remember: To visit the Citadel of Machu Picchu, you need to book your entrance ticket in advance.

During the trek, we will visit various tourist attractions, most of which do not have a specific time of entry or are free entrance as the Puerta del Sol or Inti Punku, However, to visit the Citadel of Machu Picchu, if there is an entry time that is from 6:00 am.

We recommend you make the reservation at least 03 months in advance, Why? Because the tour includes a visit to Machu Picchu, and tickets to visit this wonder are sold out easily.

The Inca Quarry to Machu Picchu is one of the few hikes that are not crowded with hikers and offer you landscapes and panoramic views as impressive as the other alternative treks (Inca Trail, Salkantay trek, or Short Inca Trail) it develops at a not so high altitude.

No, the hike culminates in the village of Ollantaytambo.

Once we arrive in Ollantaytambo, we will board the train to Aguas Calientes where we will spend the next day visiting the Machu Picchu Citadel.

¡Contact us! Booking with Inkayni Peru Tours is very simple, you have to contact our sales consultants through the different platforms we have.

The initial deposit allows us to guarantee all the necessary services for the hike from the Inca Quarry to Machu Picchu. This includes:

Entrance ticket to the Citadel of Machu Picchu.

Staff, such as guides, drivers, etc. whose services must be booked in advance.

Exclusive tourist and logistic transport for the group.

This way, by receiving your deposit (40% of the total cost of the tour) we can ensure the availability of the best services for the tour dates and avoid last-minute problems. Remember that the 40% deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.

The balance payment must be made in cash (recommended) and preferably in dollars (subject to the exchange rate of the day), can also be paid in Peruvian soles, directly at our offices in Cusco no later than 48 hours before the start date (during your informative talk).

It is important to cancel the remaining balance before the start of the tour to ensure that all tourist services are properly coordinated. Likewise, in case we do not receive the payment of the remaining balance within the established time limit and without communication from you for possible delays, we will, unfortunately, be forced to cancel your reservation.

Payments can also be made through:

a) PAYPAL:

You can use the PayPal option from our website and follow the steps. Please note that PayPal charges 6% tax for this transaction which is automatically included in this option.

If you decide to make the deposit directly from your account, don’t forget to add the 6% tax. You can send the deposit to this account: info@inkayniperutours.com

b) VISA: 

If you use the VISA option from our website and follow the steps. Please note that VISA charges 5% tax for this transaction which is automatically added to this option.

c) WESTERN UNION:

You can pay at your offices (they have offices abroad) or online (Western Union):

• Receiver name: Alex Marco
• Name of receiver: Huaman Levita
• City of the receiver: Cusco
• Country: United States

NOTE: THE CLIENT WILL ASSUME ALL TRANSACTION FEES.

Yes, you can change the tour date at least 45 days before the originally booked date. We will not charge you extra fees, however, you should contact our travel agent to avoid any mishaps with the new dates chosen.

The briefing is important, you will have the opportunity to meet your guide. During this meeting, the guide will explain important details about the hike from the Inca Quarry to Machu Picchu.

During this meeting, if so, you will pay the remaining balance of the Inca Quarry trek.

If you have luggage that will not be needed during the hike from the Inca Quarry to Machu Picchu, you can leave it stored at your hotel in Cusco (most hotels offer this service free of charge)

If your hotel does not offer this option, we will store your luggage safely at our facilities.

During the 4 days of the trek from the Inca Quarry to Machu Picchu, you will have a team of horse riders and horses who will take care of the camping equipment, food, first aid equipment and supplies needed for this walk.

They will also carry your belongings with a maximum weight of 7 kg per horse.

No, but we recommend using trekking poles during the trek from the Inca Quarry to Machu Picchu, especially for people who suffer from knee problems.

The trail has some steep slopes and narrow paths, so using poles will provide better balance and reduce impact on the knees.

Please note if you do not use poles with metal tips that can damage the trail. For this reason, we offer the renting service for $15.

Inkayni Peru Tours considers your food preferences and offers a variety of foods on the way to the Inca Quarry. If you are vegetarian, vegan, or other, you must inform us to guarantee a personalized gastronomic experience.

The menu includes full breakfasts, lunches are varied including salad and dinner.

Please inform us if you have any allergic conditions once you make your reservation. The severity of your reaction and any medications you take in an emergency.

Likewise, if your allergy is severe, we ask you to be accompanied by a friend or a conscious person. It is therefore entirely responsible for its situation.

No, because this trek is carried out in remote areas, and it is an unconventional route, so it lacks basic services. However, you can find some basic toilets at the beginning of the hike in Socma, although their availability is not guaranteed.

During the trek from the Inca Quarry to Machu Picchu you will find limited or no connection of telephone and internet signal due to the mountainous geography.

At the start of the trek in Socma, you may have some connectivity but it is not guaranteed.

We require all clients to arrive in Cusco at least 48 hours before the start of the Inca Quarry trek.

You must pay your remaining balance two days before you depart for your trip. In addition, you can acclimatize to the altitude to start your walk comfortably. Please note the remaining balance must be paid in cash at our office.

If you would like to know the terms and conditions of the hikes, such as the Inca Quarry trek or any other tour, click on the following link for more information:

Terms and Conditions of Use.