Inca Raccay

Trek: Soccma to Inca Raccay

 

Days: 2 

Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Highlights: This is a very enjoyable overnight trek and an amazing trip, especially considering how close and easy the access is from Ollantaytambo. Highlights of this trek include visiting two impressive yet rarely visited Incan sites, plus a very high waterfall, outstanding mountain views along the way, and more.

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This trek makes an ideal excursion for those wishing to acclimate before hiking the Inca Trail, or else as a trek in itself, for people with a little less time in their schedule it is perfect. Another reason we like this trip is that the area sees very little tourism – we do not often see other groups on this trek.

The beginning of the trek is less than a 40 minute drive from Ollantaytambo. But before we get there, we will have the added bonus of a few more Inca sites to visit along the way. Before the turnoff to Soccma (the small Andean mountain community where we will begin hiking) we will pass by a site known as Naupa Iglesia. (“old church”, in Quechua)

 

Interestingly enough, this site may have been one of the most important in the Sacred Valley to the Incas. It has some of the finest quality stonework we have seen anywhere.  It is a cave (some say the cave was shaped to resemble a bat’s wings, as there are many bats inside the cave, and from the road it does appear so). Although we believe that most Incan sites did not have the religious/worship function that they are frequently said to have, it is clear this site is an exception. It likely served as a place of religious offerings, ceremonies, and perhaps even a burial site. Again, the stonework quality is very high.

 

 

One of the reasons we will take the time to stop and visit this site is that it is now apparent that it is part of a larger, cohesive Incan complex which includes our final destination, Inca Raccay. There are a few small buildings around the cave that have only recently been uncovered, and it seems likely that there are more yet to be found.

After our visit to Naupa Igesia, we will drive another half hour to the Andean mountain community of Soccma, where we will begin our hike. The first hour or so is a gentle uphill climb, after which the climb gets ever-steeper until finally reaching the Incan site of Inca Raccay which means literally “place of the Inca” in Quechua. We will likely have the place to ourselves as we explore the different buildings of this ridgetop site and the excellent views in all directions. Only in recent years have some of the buildings been cleaned and restored, and like nearly all Incan sites (including even Machu Picchu) it has not yet been fully uncovered.

We will camp here, near the ruins which are free to enter. Our guides and cook will prepare a healthy and delicious hot meal, with vegetables and meat (optional) as well a bottle of wine – we don’t believe in roughing it !  Our camping gear is of the highest quality, and all tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads are always included at no extra cost. After a night of camping, we will get up to hot breakfast including scrambled eggs and juice, before setting out to hike back down the way we came. 

Cost:  $195 per person, minimum three people

Includes:  Everything – breakfast, lunch and dinner plus snacks Day 1,  plus breakfast, lunch and snacks for Day 2; Private transport from Ollantaytambo to trailhead at Soccma; private or public transport on the return; mule team and/or porters to carry all your gear; cook to prepare all meals; English speaking guide; all camping gear including tents, sleeping bags and sleeping pads;