🏗️ Cachicata Quarry

Inca engineering: the quarry of origin

At the end of your travel itinerary, it’s likely that questions will arise—questions many travelers share:

How did the Incas transport such enormous stone blocks from so far away?
How long did the work take, and how did they cross the river?
Did the Incas really do it?

It’s natural to have doubts. Cachicata will help you clear them up—and best of all, you can visit it on a full-day tour.

🪨 Where did the stones used to build Ollantaytambo come from?

The Cachicata Quarry is located 7 kilometers from Ollantaytambo, at an altitude of 4,100 meters above sea level. Access combines 2 hours by bus from Cusco and a 7-kilometer hike, with sections that are uphill and others that are flat.

In the final stretch of the hike, you’ll observe traces of Inca engineering: large lintels, carved stones, and others still in the extraction process, all made of granite and basalt. This site reveals the dedication, technique, and effort the Incas invested to build complexes of high quality and beauty.

🏺 On the way back: chullpas and funerary legacy

During the return, you’ll see chullpas—small circular stone towers finished with mud mortar and straw—which house the remains of mallkus (chiefs) and other noble individuals of high status.

🌄 End of the route: the Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo

At the end of the trail, the Sacred Valley of the Incas opens before you, along with the majestic Archaeological Complex of Ollantaytambo, the final destination of the stones extracted from Cachicata

🧳 Recommendation for a safe journey

For a safe and pleasant experience, we recommend doing this route with a specialized travel agency. If you choose to go independently, it’s advisable to join other travelers.