The Quarry Trail is gaining recognition for its lesser-known ruins and off-the-beaten path cultural interactions. The Quarry Trek and Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a combo adventure,
that everyone dreams to follow both trails and now we have available for you, as the Inca Trail is generally SOLD OUT for every month, hikers opt to hike the Quarry Trail but still with some dreams about the Inca Trail, and here’s the way how to explore and follow both trails. A stunning trail with less crowded.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Cusco – Socma – Rayan
Your adventure Inca Quarry Trek to Machu Picchu starts early. Our team will pick you up from your hotel at 6:00 am and drive you for 2 hours to the community of Socma. We start walking towards the spectacular Perolniyoc waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Cusco with a drop of 328 feet into the rock. The views from this location of the Soqma Valley, the Maras Plateau and the snow-capped mountains of teh sacred valley are spectacular. Another hour and a half of walking takes us to the Archaeological Site of Perolniyoc. One more hours on the trail and we will arrive for lunch and camping at Rayan village (3700m.a.s.l. / 2139ft).
Day 2: Rayan – Quychicassa – Inti Punku – Ollamtaytambo
Today is the most challenging day, but the most beautiful. After breakfast, today’s walk will be amazing and picturesque.
This 2-hour hike along the winding valley takes us to the top of the Quychicassa pass (4450m.a.s.l. / 14599ft). At the top, you can take a well-deserved rest and enjoy the fantastic views of the snow-capped peaks of the Veronica mountain range and the mystical Sacred Valley of the Incas. Afterwards, we continue the hike in the mountains to the Andean lake of Marcacocha (4000m/13100ft) which is a perfect place for lunch. After lunch We will descend one hour by a steep slope of curves. The next hour is a gentle descent to the site the Incas called Inti Punku, (meaning Sun Gate) with its sweeping views over the valley. Towards the horizon we can see a beautiful entrance that dominates the majestic Veronica Mountain (5,893m.a.s.l. / 19,334 feet). we will walk to the Cachiccata Quarry, the largest quarry in the Inca Empire. We will discover an incredible place, we will observe the techniques of the ancient Inca stonemasons, as well as their way of living and customs. You will be impressed by the huge rocks that the Incas transported and carved without the help of modern technology. This quarry was abandoned along with Machu Picchu and many other Inca sites during the Spanish invasion. Aftert Explore we will take the train to the town of Ollantaytambo, where we will have time to check into our hotel and go sightseeing. Enjoy dinner at a restaurant.
DAY 4: OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM 104 – WIÑAYWAYNA
The Inca Trail adventures begins with transfer from the hotel Ollantaytambo to the train station Ollantaytambo. Your adventures hike will begin at Km 104 of the Cusco-Machu Picchu railroad. During this beautiful short trek, you will experience spectacular high forest scenery dominated by snow-capped peaks, and there will be plenty of time to visit the picturesque Wiñay Wayna archaeological site. You will have your first glimpse of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate, or Intipunku, high above the Inca city. Forty minutes later, we will arrive at Machu Picchu, for enjoy the sunset in Machupicchu.
Day 4: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
After an early breakfast at the hotel, we’ll take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu, to witness the magical sunrise over this sacred citadel. You’ll enter the site as the golden morning light touches its ancient stone walls, creating a mystical atmosphere.
Together with your guide, you’ll explore the main areas of Machu Picchu for about 2–3 hours—temples, terraces, plazas, and viewpoints—learning about its history, architecture, and deep symbolism. Each corner tells a story, and your guide will bring it to life with passion and knowledge. After the guided tour, we return by bus to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll have free time for lunch or a stroll through town. In the afternoon, we’ll board the Expedition train back to Ollantaytambo, followed by a private transfer to your hotel in Cusco.
INCLUDED
With the Quarry Trek plus Short Inca Trail package you will receive:
Transportation and Tickets
- Private transport from your Cusco hotel to the start of the trek
- Bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machupicchu
- Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Cusco
- train tickets to km 104
- Transfer from Cusco train station back to your Cusco hotel
- Entrance tickets to Machupicchu
- Entrance tikets to Inca Trail
Camping Equipment
- We use four-season Eureka tents with two entrances and a capacity for four people (for comfort, only two people per tent)
- Foam mattresses, tables, and seat for each tent
- Food and drink utensils
- Dinner tent and kitchen tent for the group
- First aid kit and emergency oxygen bottle
Team
- Professional, knowledgeable bilingual guide
- A cook to prepare your meals
- Porters to carry provided equipment and food (additional porters can be hired to carry your personal belongings)
- Our guides are professional and multilingual. Not only do they possess an excellent knowledge of the Inca Trail, but they’re also wholly familiar with all of the intricate archaeological, historical, and cultural Inca traditions. All of our tour personnel are also highly qualified in tour group management and in first
Hotel
- Basic hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes
Food
- High quality meals to provide the necessary energy for this challenging trek
- In addition to three meals daily, you will be given revitalizing snacks
- Hot drinks such as tea and coffee, as well as enough water for your canteens, water bottles, or hydration packs (collected from local streams and boiled while on the trek)
PRICES
Price per person: US$ 720 (Minimum 2 persons; departures all year)
* We include duffle bags 8kls and a horse that will carry your personal belongings in all of our treks at no additional cost.
*Emergency horse available throughout the trek, in the event someone is not feeling well.
Discounts
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Student Discount (with valid ISIC card) – $25
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Under 15 Discount – $25
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Under 7 Discount – $35
Rentals
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Black Diamond Hiking Poles- US$15.00 (pair)
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Sleeping bag -4 season - US$25.00
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Private Tent - US$30.00
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Air mattress -$15
Extras
Would you also like to hike Huayna Picchu? Sure you we can make it! Its price is US$85.00 per person and there are 2 turns (at 7 am and 10am), Only 400 people can hike Huaynapicchu per day. You will climb it on your own after the tour in Machu Picchu, starting around 10:00 a.m. We recommend that you book your tickets in advance to let us know of your interest in Huayna Picchu. Machu Picchu Mountain is an alternative climbing mountain, which also offers fantastic views of Machupicchu. We recommend it if Huayna Picchu Mountain is full.
WHYEXPLORE
THE EXPLORE ADVENTURES PERU® DIFFERENCE - DISCOVER THE DIFFERENCE
Explore Adventures Peru® has been setting the standard for Trekking Peruvian Andes since 2010. As one of the few specialist companies organizing high quality expeditions, we are recognized as one of the best operators on the Peruvian Andes. Come see why we are the premier Andes outfitter. When you travel with us, you gain access to people and places. You’re enriched by the knowledge of our experts and guides, and by local experts we meet along the way. And you give back. Simply by taking a trip with Explore Adventures Peru, you support the work of our explorers and indigenous Quechuas villages. We are a 100% locally owned and operated company! Proud to be Quechuas!!!
WE HAVE A 99.8% CLIENT SATISFACTION RATE!
Undoubtedly, the most honest and accurate feedback comes from our clients themselves. With the goal of constantly improving our service, a post-Hiking survey is taken from each client in order to assess our staff, equipment, and food.
LOCAL GUIDES
KNOWLEDGE: LET OUR EXPERTS GUIDE YOU
- Professional, experienced, licensed local Quechuan guides
- Our guides are formed by expert Photographers, Explorers, History teachers, Archaeologists
- Honest, hardworking, team oriented support staff
- Over 600 times hikes on Inca Trail success experiences and client satisfaction
QUALITY EQUIPMENT HIGH QUALITY EQUIPMENT & SERVICE.
• Rugged, four season North face, Mountain Hardwear, Doite, Vango tents
• Super warm North face, Mountain Equipment, Mountain Hardwear -30F sleeping bags
• Spacious mess tents and private toilets
• Outdoor utensils in stainless steel
FANTASTIC MEALS
• Delicious meals made from fresh, local ingredients
• Clean water treated with Water Guard
• we customize our menus depending on the preferences of the group,
• we never use freeze-dried backpacking meals
• Hearty, delicious meals that will optimally fuel and inspire you during your trip!
• We also regularly accommodate vegetarian, vegan, kosher, non-gluten and other specialty diets
FOCUSED ON SAFETY
WE HAVE MANY LAYERS OF SAFETY BUILT INTO OUR OPERATIONS TO MINIMIZE THE RISKS ON INCA TRAIL AND BEYOND .
• We have established protocols for handling emergencies on the mountain, including rescue and evacuation
• Certified Wilderness First Responders
• Certified of the oficial firemen of Peru
• Daily pulse and oxygen saturation monitoring
• We provide evacuation by helicopter Andes Corp. For hikers seriously injured or sick.
• Emergency oxygen, portable stretchers and medical kits
• Emergency horse available in all our Alternatives treks
RESPONSIBLE TREKKING
GIVE BACK: WHEN YOU TRAVEL WITH US, YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE
• Environmentally and socially responsible company
• Member of Inca Trail Porters Welfare
• Member of Leave No Trace
• Fair and ethical treatment of porters
• Empowering Peruvian women
PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION By EXPLORE
Instead of local buses, which other companies use to reduce their costs,
we always provide private transportation. This service allows our clients
flexibility and privacy.
HAPPY CUSTOMERS
• "Great experience!"
• "Very well planned & organized"
• "Excellent service all around"
• "A solid company"
• "Highly recommended!"
• Genuine, authentic, and flexible with deep local knowledge
• Absolutely Amazing
Finally, EXPLORE ADVENTURES PERU strives to provide top quality service to its clientele and will continue to listen to their comments on how to improve our services and take it to a higher level. Our clients are extremely satisfied as our numerous testimonials prove. Please read their trip reports on the Testimonials section of our website and also on Tripadvisor.
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