The Inca Quarry Trek  is a lesser-known but spectacular Cusco trek in the Andes of Peru, offering an alternative to the more popular Inca Trail. It is known for its natural landscapes, stunning views of the mountains and glaciers, lagoons and great variety of animals in the area. You will have the opportunity to have cultural encounters with the local communities. The trek takes you through remote valleys, high-altitude passes and ancient Inca ruins, all while providing a more intimate and less crowded experience than other trekking routes near Machu Picchu.
Highlights of the Ancascocha trek is the Scenic Beauty, the trek offers stunning views of snow-capped peaks, turquoise lakes and lush valleys. You will pass through spectacular mountain landscapes, including the Ancascocha Valley.

This hike is very different from the others, considered by National Geographic as one of the 20 most important hikes in the world for its great variety of landscapes in which you can admire different geographic points starting from the valleys of Sogma where you can see a large waterfall and an Inca construction, while observing from the highest points of the mountains the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the glaciers of Chicón, La Verónica and Huayanay.
Live a unique experience and get to know places that you can only see in this fantastic adventure in the Andes and end by exploring THE INCA CITY OF MACHU PICCHU.

ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

Day 1

Cusco – Ñaupa Iglesia – Sogma – Perolniyoc – Racaypata – Rayan

Visit the great waterfall of Perolniyoc and enjoy this natural attraction. Explore the Inca construction of Racaypata and admire from this panoramic place a beautiful view of the Sogma valley.

Day 2
Rayan – Kuychiccasa Pass – Chancachuco – Ancascocha

Reach the highest point and walk on top of the mountains. Reach the imposing Inti Punku (Sun Gate) and admire the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the amazing glacier of La Veronica.

Day 3

Choquetacarpo – Cachicata Quarry – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

Admire the scenery of the valley and visit this great quarry and learn more about the great Inca constructions and in the afternoon arrive to Aguas Calientes and rest before visiting Machu Picchu.

Día 4

Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu  – Ollantaytambo – Cusco 

The great day has arrived. You will be able to enjoy this architectural wonder built on the mountains, the Inca City of Machu Picchu. Learn, know and explore this magical place in the company of your guide.

Ancascocha is a lesser-known but spectacular Cusco trek in the Andes of Peru, offering an alternative to the more popular Inca Trail. It is known for its natural landscapes, stunning views of the mountains and glaciers, lagoons and great variety of animals in the area. You will have the opportunity to have cultural encounters with the local communities. The trek takes you through remote valleys, high-altitude passes and ancient Inca ruins, all while providing a more intimate and less crowded experience than other trekking routes near Machu Picchu.
Highlights of the Ancascocha trek is the Scenic Beauty, the trek offers stunning views of snow-capped peaks, turquoise lakes and lush valleys. You will pass through spectacular mountain landscapes, including the Ancascocha Valley.

This hike is very different from the others, considered by National Geographic as one of the 20 most important hikes in the world for its great variety of landscapes in which you can admire different geographic points starting from the valleys of Sogma where you can see a large waterfall and an Inca construction, while observing from the highest points of the mountains the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the glaciers of Chicón, La Verónica and Huayanay.
Live a unique experience and get to know places that you can only see in this fantastic adventure in the Andes and end by exploring THE INCA CITY OF MACHU PICCHU.

Day 1

Cusco – Ñaupa Iglesia – Sogma – Perolniyoc – Racaypata – Rayan

We will pick you up early from your hotel in our private transport and travel until we reach the Sacred Valley of the Incas where we will make our first stop to visit a ceremonial site but first we will make a 15-minute climb to visit Ñaupa Church. This place was used to perform ceremonies and rituals for Pacha Mama (Mother Earth). Its constructions made from the same mountain will leave you fascinated. Then we will continue and return to our transport to travel for 30 minutes to the starting point of the hike, Sogma (3,000 m.a.s.l. / 9,843 ft.)
It is time to prepare our travel equipment, our backpacks and clothes that we will use during the day. Meanwhile our cook will be preparing a delicious breakfast and after enjoying the food we will begin our adventure.
We begin with a small climb until we reach the Perolniyoc waterfalls, where you can enjoy the view of this magical place and if you want you can enjoy and feel its cold waters. You can take photos and then we will continue climbing until we reach the archaeological center of Racaypata (3,600 m.a.s.l. / 11,811 ft.). While you rest you will be able to admire the entire valley and take panoramic photos of the farming centers and houses that are located below this incredible place that was used as a checkpoint for travelers coming from different places in the region. Learn about this place while you explore and take photos of all the buildings that are in the upper part of this valley.
Then we will continue walking and we will reach the lunch place where our cook friends will be waiting for us with a delicious buffet. Enjoy the Cusco and Peruvian food and then we will have time to rest. We will continue with the access and we will pass through small towns and you will see the local people working in the agricultural centers of potatoes, corn and others until we reach our camp, Rayan (4,000 m.a.s.l. / 13,1234 ft.). There our camping equipment, tents and duffel bags will be waiting for us. It will be time to settle in and after a rest we will have our first happy hour (cookies, popcorn, hot drinks, coffee, chocolate and more…). And then we will have our dinner and before going to sleep enjoy the sky full of stars. In all our camps you can admire the Andean sky and enjoy the tranquility of the place.

Day 2
Rayan – Kuychiccasa Pass – Chancachuco – Ancascocha

We will start the day at 6 in the morning (this time may change depending on how you feel) and we will wake you up with a hot coca tea and then you will have time to prepare your backpack and the things you need for the day. Then we will enjoy a nutritious breakfast before continuing with our adventure.
Once ready we will begin a climb of one hour and thirty minutes to reach the Kuychiccasa Pass (4,500 m.a.s.l. / 14,764 ft.). From this place you will be able to admire part of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the Urubamba mountain range with its snow-capped peaks, Picol and La Verónica.

Then we will continue until we reach the place where we will have lunch, where our cook will be waiting for us ready with the buffet. After a rest we will continue the adventure and walk over these mountains and we will be able to see the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Urubamba River and the mountains that are in front of us. Later we will begin to descend for approximately one hour and thirty minutes to the Inti Punku (Sun Gate). This place was a ceremonial center where the Incas watched the rising of the sun, your guide will share with you the best information of this impressive construction over the mountains. The view from this place is amazing. You will be able to see the Veronica Glacier (5,890 m.a.s.l. / 19,324 ft.), the city of Ollantaytambo and a panoramic view of the entire valley.
When we finish admiring the scenery and taking pictures of this magical place we will start descending to Choquetacarpo (3,600 m.a.s.l. / 11,811 ft.). This will be our campsite today. There will be waiting for us our team ready to accommodate us, we will have happy hour and after dinner you will have time to admire the stars that adorn the Andean sky and the entire valley. At the end of the day you will be able to rest in your tent so that tomorrow you can start again.

Then we will continue until we reach the place where we will have lunch, where our cook will be waiting for us ready with the buffet. After a rest we will continue the adventure and walk over these mountains and we will be able to see the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Urubamba River and the mountains that are in front of us. Later we will begin to descend for approximately one hour and thirty minutes to the Inti Punku (Sun Gate). This place was a ceremonial center where the Incas watched the rising of the sun, your guide will share with you the best information of this impressive construction over the mountains. The view from this place is amazing. You will be able to see the Veronica Glacier (5,890 m.a.s.l. / 19,324 ft.), the city of Ollantaytambo and a panoramic view of the entire valley.
When we finish admiring the scenery and taking pictures of this magical place we will start descending to Choquetacarpo (3,600 m.a.s.l. / 11,811 ft.). This will be our campsite today. There will be waiting for us our team ready to accommodate us, we will have happy hour and after dinner you will have time to admire the stars that adorn the Andean sky and the entire valley. At the end of the day you will be able to rest in your tent so that tomorrow you can start again.

Day 3
Choquetacarpo – Cachicata Quarry – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

We will wake you up with a hot coca tea in your tent and after preparing your backpack we will have an energizing breakfast and then start another day full of adventures and you will enjoy great views, landscapes and lots of nature.

You will be able to admire the scenery from our campsite which is a small lookout point and then we will begin the hike. After an hour we will arrive at the Inca Quarry of Cachicata. In this place you can see the material that the Incas used for the great constructions they made in the valleys and mountains, you can see the techniques they used, how they moved large rocks and how they cut them, your guide will tell you this important information that you can only learn in this place. After admiring and exploring the archaeological remains of this place we will continue downhill for 3 hours until we reach the Inca city of Ollantaytambo (3,792 m.a.s.l. / 9,160 ft.). Here we will have lunch in a tourist restaurant and then we will go to the train station to go to the town of Aguas Calientes (2,040 m.a.s.l. / 6,693 ft.). During the journey you will be able to admire once again the Sacred Valley of the Incas adorned with large agricultural centers and Inca constructions, you will also be able to see the Urubamba River all along the way. You will have enough time to take all the pictures you want from the panoramic train.

Arriving at the town of Aguas Calientes we will go to the hotel to check in and rest and take a hot shower. Then we will go to a tourist restaurant to enjoy a delicious dinner and at the end organize the visit to Machu Picchu. If you wish before returning to the hotel to rest you can go for a walk and explore this small town and know the main square so you can take pictures of the memory.
Day 4
Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco

The most awaited day has arrived. We will wake up early and after breakfast we will board the bus that will take us to the top of the mountain to start the visit and the guided tour inside the park.
Congratulations. After walking through the Andes, valleys, rivers and part of the Amazon, you finally arrived at the majestic Inca city of Machu Picchu. Known as one of the new 7 wonders of the world and recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, feel fortunate to have completed this wonderful challenge that many dream of doing. We will begin to take the first pictures, we will be located in a strategic place to start with the most important information of this archaeological center. The Inca History will be revealed and we will share with you the most important events about its discovery, importance and the most relevant about this stone city built on the mountains.

Then we will continue the tour walking through its streets and houses, reaching the quarry and the central square and then continue visiting the most important points. We will talk about each of these places that were used by our ancestors as work centers, homes and ceremonial centers. Always taking pictures of the memory. You will enjoy the tour and feel the strength that only this great Inca city can share with the people who are there. Feel the connection with Mother Nature and be enveloped by the magic of this place located on the great mountains accompanied by a great flora and fauna that complete its great energy and survive through hundreds of years away from the outside world. (You will have the opportunity to climb the mountain of Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu mountain prior reservation of the entrance ticket in advance).
At the end of the tour in this magical city we will go to the exit to take the bus that will take us to the town of Aguas Calientes, where we will have our last lunch and after sharing the experiences lived through the mountains for 4 days it will be time to go to the train station and head to Ollantaytambo where our private transportation will be waiting for us to take us to the city of Cusco and then directly to your hotel.

Estamos seguros que después de esta experiencia catalogada como una de las 25 mejores caminatas del mundo usted quedara muy feliz de haber experimentado la sensación de haber vivido la aventura de su vida en medio de valles, montañas, glaciares, zonas tropicales del Amazonas y finalmente conocer a la imponente ciudad Inca de Machu Picchu.

WHAT IS INCLUDED?
HIGH QUALITY SERVICE AND SAFETY
– Briefing:
One day before your trip you will meet with your guide to learn more about the itinerary you will take on this adventure. You will also get to know the most important information about the day to day of the trip. We will give you your duffel bag where you can put the extra things you will need during the trip. Remember that in this meeting you can talk about the different options or food restrictions you have.
– Professional mountain guides:
All our guides are graduates of the most important universities and institutes of Cusco. They are chosen for their great experience, responsibility, professionalism and above all for the great passion and pride they have for our history and culture. They will be proud to share with you everything related to our ancestors. They will make sure that your trip will be unforgettable. Your safety is guaranteed from the moment we pick you up in Cusco until we drop you off at your hotel at the end of the trip.
– First aid kit:
Our guides are specialists in first aid, rescue and evacuation if necessary. Because they have specialized training and are certified by the international red cross. They are highly trained and will always have a first aid kit and oxygen for any emergency. Your safety is guaranteed with us.

– Camping equipment:
We have the best logistic equipment for our trips such as eureka and the north face high mountain tents (3 and 4 seasons). Made especially to withstand the most intense climates of the mountains. We also have dining tents, kitchen tents, kitchenware and utensils. For you to spend comfortable moments at meal times.
Meals: 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners.
Our high mountain chef is trained to cook and please you with the most delicious Peruvian and Cusquenian food. As well as the tastiest drinks, snacks and desserts that will leave you satisfyingly happy. Food options such as vegans, vegetarians or any restrictions are no problem for our cooks and will not have an additional cost.
– Snacks:
Every morning before the hike you will be provided with snack, fruits, cookies, chocolates, candies, So you can enjoy them during the hike.
– Water:
We have a water filter especially for use in the mountains. Each morning we will provide you with cold boiled purified water so you can fill your bottle or camell back. You will have the option to refill more water at lunch and dinner time, as you require.

Wake-up tea.
Every morning we will wake you up with a hot drink of your choice, tea, coffee or coke. Our guide will bring this drink to your tent for a warm start to the day and then you will have time to prepare the things you will use during the trek.
Happy hour.
In the afternoons after arriving at our camp we will have happy hour (hot drinks, tea, coffee, milk, chocolate), and some snacks (cookies, crackers, popcorn). At this time we can talk about the day and look forward to a delicious dinner before resting.
For hygiene.
A small towel and soap will be provided before each meal for hand hygiene.
Transportation: private service from door to door.

We know that the most important thing on your vacation is your well-being and safety and that is why we organize our trips with the utmost care, because the most important thing for us is you.
Our experience offers you safety, comfort, good service and the satisfaction of our clients is our letter of introduction. If you have any questions write to us and we will be happy to help you so that all your doubts are clearly resolved.
Passport.
This is the most important document. You must carry with you the original passport, with which you booked the trip. This document will be presented when required by the Machu Picchu park staff, especially to enter the Inca city, to board the bus, the train and to check in at the hotel.

On the trail.

Considered one of the 5 best treks in the world by the National Geographic Magazine, the Inca Trail is well known and preferred by travelers seeking to learn more about our culture and to visit archaeological sites built in the mountains, walk through valleys, enjoy the beauty of nature, admire glaciers and snow-capped peaks, reach the summits of these ancient constructions, admire the tropical areas and enjoy the breathtaking scenery that adorn this hike to reach the sanctuary of Machu Picchu. The distances are strategically divided so that you can enjoy all the natural attractions of this magical place. Starting from the town of Piscacucho, kilometer 82 (2,700 m.a.s.l. / 8,858 ft.). Until arriving at the highest point, the pass of the dead woman (4,215 m.a.s.l. / 13,828 ft.). And the lowest place, Aguas Calientes village (2,000 m.a.s.l. / 6,561 ft.), in some places the hike will be challenging and we will give you the help and all the necessary recommendations to complete this incredible adventure.

Acclimatization.

Travelers arrive from different parts of the world, from different altitudes and even from sea level for this the recommendation is to arrive 2 or 3 days before to the city of Cusco (3,400 m.a.s.l. / 11,154 ft.). The altitude, the flight time and the time change can affect you especially if it is your first time in our city. No special training is required for this adventure, but acclimatization is recommended before starting the hike. We have alternatives before you travel. Day hikes for better acclimatization, we recommend some of them.

City tour

Sacred Valley

Salt mines of Maras and Moray

Mountain of colors, Vinicunca

Colored mountain, Palcoyo

Waqrapucara

Seven lakes, Ausangate

Queswachaca, Inca bridge

Biking, horse riding, rafting, zip line and more…

We have a special promotion for you that you will love, contact us right now and get an offer for the tour of your choice.

Informative meeting.

This meeting is very important, to share with you the information of the trek, day by day. Normally it is one day before the trip and the duration is 30 to 40 minutes. We will coordinate to choose the best place to meet you. Remember that the itinerary on the mountain about the next day will be at the time of dinner, to have the most clear information about all the days.

Duffel bag.

At the time of the briefing we will provide you with a duffel bag where you can put the extra things you will need for the trip, pants, polo shirts, socks, shoes, etc.

The capacity of the duffel bags is (7 kg. / 15.432 lb.), per person. Feel confident about the safety of your luggage and the inclement mountain weather because we have plastic to protect them from dust and rain.

Extra luggage.

If you have luggage that you are not going to use during the trip, don’t worry because you can leave it with us. We have a special storage room for your extra luggage and we will pick it up when you start the trek and return it when you finish your adventure. It is totally free and it is part of our service.

Door to door service.

Before starting the trip we will pick you up from your hotel, hostel or air b&b with our private transportation (if you are a little far from the city center or your accommodation has narrow streets to reach with our mobility we will coordinate it with you). We do not want any mishap to happen before, during and after the trip and that is why we will always be with you.

Feel free to ask all the questions you want to know, we will be happy to clarify all your doubts and concerns.

Important things to bring on the hike.

Very Important.

Original Passport

Student Card (students)

Cash (Souvenirs, Drinks, Snacks and Tips)

Water Bottles or Camelbaks

Sunscreen (SPF 50+)

Mosquito Repellent

WipesHand sanitizer

Hat

Snacks

CLOTHING

Hiking Pants (2)

T.Shirt (2-3)

Hiking Underwear and Socks Sets (4)

Warm Jacket

Thermal Fleece

Comfortable Hiking Boots

Waterproof Jacket / Rain Poncho

Wool Hat (Bennie)

Sneakers or Sandals (To wear at the Camp)

Waterproof Gloves

Towel (Quick Dry)

EQUIPMENT

Sleeping Bag

Trekking Backpack

Trekking Poles

Power Bank

Plastic Bags

Head Flashlight