Cachiccata Trek to Machu Picchu: The Inca Quarry Trail 4 Days

We will climb across open meadows and reach a zone of high-altitude shrubland known as Puna. We will then approach the Chancachuco Pass, which sits at an elevation of 14,435 feet (4,400 meters). This section of the trek provides panoramic views of the highest peaks in the Cusco region. Our route continues across a high plateau where we pass mountain lakes and may see Andean and wetland birds. We then descend to our second campsite at Qeuñacancha (13,385 ft).

We hike downhill along the trail until we reach the Inca water channel that comes from Maracocha Lake. From there, we arrive at the temple called Intiwatana, located on the edge of the Apu Alambre mountain, in front of the Veronica snow peak. Then, we continue downhill to Choquetacarpo, an archaeological site that was most likely the residence of the architects who managed the Inca quarries and performed ceremonies at Intipunku. After lunch, we descend, exploring different sectors of one of the largest Inca quarries where massive carved blocks of pink rhyolite lie scattered. These stones are a testament to an unfinished building project destined for the Inca site of Ollantaytambo. We then descend to the train station to take the train to the town of Aguas Calientes.

We have an early morning start (before dawn) so that we can reach Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate (Intipunku) before the crowds. We will trek the final two hours to the mysterious city of Machu Picchu. After a guided tour of Machu Picchu, you can explore this astounding Inca settlement on your own. That night, we will take the train to Ollantaytambo, where we will transfer you to your hotel.

• Pre-trek briefing (Our guide will visit your hotel a day before the trek for your briefing);
• Early morning transfer by private bus to Huaroncondor - the initial point of the trek;
• Accommodation: Campsites (2 nights) and a Hotel in Machu Picchu (1 night);
• Entrance fee to Cachicata and Machu Picchu;
• Meals: 3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner and 2x afternoon hot beverages;
• Professional bilingual Tour Guide;
• Professional Cook;
• Horseman;
• Horses to carry food, camping and cooking equipment and 7 kg of each passenger's stuff;
• Camping equipment: Eureka Mountain Personal double tents (3 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks);
• Sleeping / Inflatable mattress (Term-a-Rest Mattress);
• A sleeping bag (for up to -5°C);
• A blanket per person
• A pillow
• A pair of hiking poles;
• Duffel bag (for your personal belongings);
• Rain Ponchos;
• Water every day (excluding the first 4 hours of the trek when you need to bring your own);
• Tables and chairs, a cooking tent with cooking equipment, dining and toilet tents and bottled gas;
• A round trip by tourist train (Expedition Service) between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes;
• A shuttle bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes Town;
• Tourist bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco;

• Breakfast on the day 1 and lunch on the last day;
• International and domestic flights nor airport departure taxes;
• Travel insurance;
• Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu ($ 80);
• A shuttle bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu ($ 12 - one way, $24 - a round trip);
• Tips to local staff (please note: it is a custom to give tips in Peru; however, it is not obligatory);
• Other extras not mentioned.

Solo Traveler: Please note that if you have booked the "Solo traveler" option for this tour, you receive your own single tent and a single room in Aguas Calientes.

Local flights: No local flights are included in the trek´s price!

We have luggage and backpacks for your trek

In general, you should pack as lightly as possible. The horses will carry your luggage from Pachar on the first day to Cachicata on the second day. For the three-day hike, you will take your luggage by train to Aguas Calientes. You are expected to carry your own luggage for up to 10 minutes. We recommend keeping the weight under 5 kg (10 lb). You will need to bring clothes and a sleeping bag.

It is very important that you take the best backpacker cover because the weather on the Cachicata Trek to Machu Picchu changes every day. We can’t predict whether it will rain or not. If you don't have one, we recommend putting your clothes, sleeping bag, and other personal equipment in a plastic bag.

Bring appropriate clothing for this hike

During the day, it is recommended to wear hiking pants and T-shirts, along with sweaters, fleeces, and waterproof jackets. It is convenient to keep light rain gear in your daypack, such as a rain poncho, rain jacket, and/or rain pants, as the weather can change suddenly and it can rain unexpectedly. At night, you will need warm clothing. Down jackets are useful, or you can wear a fleece and a jacket. On the third day, if it is sunny, convertible hiking pants are useful because they can be switched into shorts if necessary. Machu Picchu has a warm climate and only gets cold at night. The rest of the necessary items are included in the "What we recommend that you bring" list.

What to bring to Cachicata Trek?

• Passport original
• Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount)
• Cash in soles no dollars
• A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek
• Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended
• Sandals or jogging shoes for a higher comfort while at camp
• Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping
• Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
• Camera and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
• Sun block
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
• Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported
• Handkerchiefs
• Toilet paper
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc. Please note that we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. This recommendation applies for all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it is not included in our selection
• Water container and water for the first morning. Important notice: plastic water bottles are no longer allowed into Machu Picchu. Plastic water containers (ie. Nalgene) or metal ones are recommended
• Optionally: 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 any health problem so far
• Small towel
• Swimsuit (if you wish to go to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
• Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required in order not to damage archaeological sites).

The camping equipment for the Cachicata trek will be returned to Cusco on the third day. You will need to give the chef your sleeping bag and Thermarest mattress.

• Camping (double tent) provided in nights 1st, 2nd
• The bed (double room) provided in Aguas Calientes town on nights 3th
• This trek to Cachica included 5 kilos of personal items in the tour price carried by horses. You will need to carry with you a daypack with your Camera, water bottle, snacks, cold weather clothing and a poncho in case of rain (unlikely in Dry season May to October)- but as a precaution) and anything you will need before lunch as horses do not walk alongside you.
• You will meet up with your bag at lunch and then it will be waiting for you in your tent at campsites.
• The bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes not included in this trek

Optional services to be hired

• Backpack 45 Lts USD 20
• Walking sticks or trekking poles USD 20 for both
• You need to take 5 kilos of personal belonging included in the tour price carried by horses ...If you would like to request more porter age for personal items each extra 3 kilos requested is USD 20 additional charge but you can just request this in the office at your checking.
• Maybe you have to doubt to walk in this trek, you can hire the extra emergency horses, and the price is USD 80.

Climate: The highland region of Cusco has well-defined winter and summer seasons. Winter days (June–August) are sunny and warm, but temperatures drop to near freezing at night. The rainy season is from January to March. December and January are two of the nicest months for trekking, with only the occasional shower and blooming flowers.

When is the best time to hike to Machu Picchu?

The best time to visit is during the dry season, from April through the end of September. In October, the rainy season begins, and Machu Picchu is often covered by clouds. If you travel in June, we recommend booking the Inti Raymi 2026 Tour on June 24th. You should also hike the Palcoyo Mountain Tour to see the incredible Rainbow Mountain in the Andes.

The Cachicata to Inca Trail is located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. During the two-day hike, you will enjoy the Andean highlands' nature, waterfalls, Inca ruins, original Inca mummies, Andean terraces, Intipunku (Sun Gate), the original Inca Trail, and stone quarries. There will be two nights of camping. On the third day, you will arrive in the archeological village of Ollantaytambo and take a train to the starting point of the two-day Inca Trail trek: Chachabamba, also known as Km 104 (7,716 ft). Cachicata Trek to the Inca Trail — 4 Days

Everyone knows about the Inca Trail. Friends may have traveled it, and it's what comes to mind when Machu Picchu is mentioned in the Andes.

No matter what path you take, hiking in Peru offers dazzling views of old mountain peaks, the reward of a physically demanding hike, and the opportunity to meet locals along the way.

While many travelers panic and search Google for "other walks in Peru" after discovering that permits for the Inca Trail have been exhausted, consider the Quarry Trail as an alternative.

If you're at a crossroads, trying to decide, here's a quick summary of what you'll experience on both amazing hikes.

Classic Inca Trail

The Classic Inca Trail is a famous route to Machu Picchu. The trail requires advance booking, and the daily tourist limit is 500 people. You should confirm with your company whether they have booked your hike. Once you are on the trail, you will realize that there are more than 500 hikers with you, which makes it difficult to connect with others and enjoy the scenery. The Classic Inca Trail offers different microclimates, from mountain ranges to rainforests, and is one of the most beautiful hikes in South America.

Tierras Vivas offers two hike to the Inca Trail trek:

• Inca Trail Tours 2020
• 2 Day Inca Trail Tour
• 2 Day Inca Trail with Camping 

Inca Quarry Trail

In case, you want to explore, enjoy the beautiful landscapes, the Inca Quarry trail is new alternative hike to theClassic Inca Trail, where you wont find the hikers. Not on the usual gringo trail path.It doesn’t lead right to the Sun Gate, the main thing you miss by doing the Quarry Trail is hiking through rainforest as the Quarry trail does not go through different micro-climates but you can still reach Machu Picchu via a short train ride. But you can find a new Sun Gate all over the Andes. Sun Gate or called Inti Punku, are structures built to honor the sun, usually at such an angle that they frame a distant mountain and welcome the first rays of the winter solstice. Inca mummies inside the caves. The water fall, where you can take a shower, above it will appreciate the Inca ruins. Andean Terraces and finally the stone quarries it is one of the ancient quarries used by pre Inca and Inca civilizations to build the vast complex of Ollantaytambo.

Tierras Vivas offers two hike to the Inca Quarry trek:

• Inca Quarry Trail4 Days
• Inca Quarry Trek to Inca Trail

Classic Inca Trail vs Inca Quarry Trail

Other Hiking Tours to Machu Picchu

Many are the routes that take you to Machu Picchu, but none is like the Inca Trail, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views.

• Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 days
• Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 5 days
• 3 Day Inca Trail
• Vilcabamba Hike to Machu Picchu 6 days
• Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu 9 days
• Ausangate trek 7 days

If you want to visit Machu Picchu, we recommend you to book your Machu Picchu Ticket in advance, so you will enjoy your Vacation in Machu Picchu without any problem.