Cachicata Trek Or Inca Quarry Trek To Machu Picchu 5 days

Cachicata trek -Inca quarry trek to machu picchu 5 days, this tour begins by taking you (by bus) towards the Anta Plateau, continuing our route to the “Camino Real Inca”. We will have a stop-off at the Incan sacred shrine known as “Quillarumiq” (Native Quechua Language), which means “Moonstone”. One of the best-carved stone “Huacas – Sacred Places” in the vicinity of Cuzco. We’ll continue our journey along the Huarocondo River, which drains from the Western edge of the plains. Continuing Northbound, hiking on a wide path, above the West Bank of the Huarocondo River.

After a 2 hour hike, we will reach Huatta. An important Pre-Incan fortress overshadowing the crest of a hill (3,855 m/12,645 ft). Stopping for lunch, we’ll redirect our way Westbound to our camp at (3,750 m) next to a rural school in the village of “Chiripahua”.

Details:

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Hiking Distance: 10 km/ 6.2 miles
• Est Hiking Time: 7 hours “Moonstone trek Machu Picchu Trip”
• Level of Difficulty: Moderate

We will continue our gradual ascent through the cultivated fields and the countryside of Chachacomo, enjoying the landscape of pastures and small farm fields that cling to the steep slopes.

We will most likely find an Andean family residing in their adobe and straw homes. There is a scarcity of water in the area. Consequently, you’ll observe the importance of communal water sharing for their traditional crops. Traveling through Chachacoma, you’ll constantly be allured to the beautiful mountain ranges. As we continue our ascent to an elevation of 4,400 meters, we will break and enjoy a delicious lunch. After lunch, we continue to escalate while enjoying breathtaking views of immense snow-capped peaks: from the “Huayanay” and to the North Urubamba Valley.

We will continue with a smooth descent to camp, at 4 350 meters, observing the broad Valley of Chancachuco, and the glaciers of the Cordillera de Huayanay.

Details:

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Hiking Distance: 12 km/ 7.4 miles
• Est. Hiking time: 9 hours
• Level of Difficulty: Arduous “All day”

We continue our trek Westbound, gradually descending through the valley, we will be able to appreciate some aqueducts built by the Incas that are now abandoned. These aqueducts once transported the water through a huge wall, off the cliff, and into the river Silque.
As we continue our descent, we will be immersed in waist-high flowers through the valley. Also, here we will get a glimpse of the original Incan stone constructions, the testimony of extraordinary engineering.

Lastly, we will visit the spectacular Inca sanctuary called “Huayrapunku” (“Wind Gate” – 3,940 m/12,923 ft.), with a stunning view of the snow-capped mountain named “Veronica” (5,682 m/18,642 ft.) directly across the valley. In this Incan spot, we can appreciate the unsurpassed views of the Incan terraces and value the citadel of Ollantaytambo, more than 4,000 feet below us. Ollantaytambo was built in the 15th century by Emperor Inca Pachacutec, the city was an important administrative and religious center. Continuing our descent, we’ll reach the quarry of Cachicata at a height of 3,525 m.

In the afternoon, discover the operations of the main Incan rock quarry, Cachicata, located 5 miles away from Ollantaytambo, it was a place where the ancient Incan stone-cutters carved and polished the rocks to build the Temple of the Sun in Ollantaytambo. Here we’ll explore the ramps and platforms in the vicinity. We’ll also admire the many flora and fauna that are abundant throughout the quarry.

Details:

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Hiking Distance: 9 km/ 5 miles
• Est. Hiking time: 7 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

After breakfast, we continue our descent along a wide Inca trail through the quarry area. We’ll arrive at an area where the Inca stones were carried to cross the river Vilcanota. On the other side, between the river and the Temple of the Sun, we can see several of these “tired stones”, which were abandoned halfway between the quarry and the temple.

Chroniclers state that the work on the temple stopped suddenly when the Colla Masons fled back to their homes near Lake Tiahuanaco, just before the arrival of the Spanish. We will continue our trek descending until we cross the river to finally reach the famous temple of the Sun in Ollantaytambo. You’ll have time to explore the temple and the traditional village, before getting on the afternoon train that will take you to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll be able to freshen up and rest at your hotel.

Details

Hiking Distance: 9 km/ 5 miles

• Est. Hiking time: 4 hours
• Level of Difficulty: Moderate to easy

After a scrumptious breakfast, we will board the bus transporting us to the Majestic Lost City of the Incas, “Machu Picchu”. Your tour guide will impart the history of this mystical place. We will have the opportunity to visit the “Temple of the Sun”, the “Royal Palace”, the “Main Temple”, the “Temple of the Three Windows” and the “Sun Dial”. Here, we promise an unforgettable experience. After your guided tour, you’ll have free time to do your own exploring.

• If you have reserved your visit to “Huaynapicchu” (tickets limited to 400 per day – NOT INCLUDED), you will have to coordinate with the Tour Guide for your visit depending on the programmed time.

There are many more activities that you can do. These activities are optional (not included with the package) for example The “Puerta del Sol” (2 hour hike up and down), where you will appreciate the Inca city from a different viewpoint.

In the afternoon, we catch the train to reach the City of Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival to Ollantaytambo, we will have transportation waiting to drive you to your hotel in Cusco.

Details

• Meals: Breakfast
• Lowest Altitude: 2,040 m / 6.691 ft
• Highest Altitude: 2,440 m / 8,052 ft