Marcahuasi Experience in Lima
Recommended by 96% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Lima, Peru
- 10 to 12 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
The Marcahuasi stone forest is often overlooked by visitors, but this mystical site shouldn't be missed by anyone with an interest in nature or history—and this private guided tour from Lima will show you why. Discover monolithic stone forms, unobstructed vista points, and tucked-away attractions far from any crowds as you explore off the beaten path and delve into Peruvian lore.
- Marcahuasi stone forest tour from Lima
- Private tour can be customized to suit your interests
- Breakfast and transport are included
- All transportation included with pickup and drop-off in Lima
What's Included
- Breakfast
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
Chosica (Pass By)
1
Santa Eulalia
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
La Iglesia Matriz del siglo XVI - Callahuanca (Pass By)
2
San Pedro de Casta
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Marcahuasi
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
4
Lima
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Service animals allowed
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Denise_C
Wow - what a day we had!
We cannot recommend Carlos highly enough as the ultimate guide. This was an unforgettable experience into the mountains, and a first taste of The Andes, with a dramatic drive up to Marcahuasi at 4,000m....through hills, gorges, across the fast flowing river below and a final stop at the last town before the summit - San Pedro de Casta. A chance to meet some locals and get a feel for the way that they live. So meaningful to see happy and contented locals living out their totally natural and happy existence and way of life.
Carlos is well known on this drive and clearly liked by everyone. He takes time to talk to everyone he passes with a smile and a wave. He is also happy to give locals a lift from San Pedro de Casta to the top of the mountain to tend their cattle (for them only a short trip of 15 mins rather than a 2 hour walk) if he has room in his great Toyota Land Cruiser, that can happily handle any on road or off road challenge.
At the top we experienced total peace and tranquility - truly the quietest place we have been on this earth. Amazing. We then spent a glorious and relaxed 2 hours on a gentle walk taking in the breathtaking views, lagoon, ancient rock formations and ruins of a village dwelling from over 1,000 years ago.
Departing Lima at 5am to avoid the heaviest traffic, the 3.5hr journey to the summit went in no time. Incredible scenery and a great education and commentary provided by Carlos the whole way.
A most memorable experience and how lucky we were to have found Carlos - amazing to have full access to this magical place.
Thank you Carlos - never to be forgotten.
Reviews
4.9
based on 214 reviews
Craig_P, Apr 2026
Where to start?
My partner and I booked a trip with Carlos to visit Marcahusi. What was planned to be a "slower" day turned out to be one of the highlights of our 2 weeks in Peru that included Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mtn, the Amazon, and all the other "greatest hits".
Carlos is an exceptional guide. Both of us are extensive travelers/hikers and this was a one-of-a-kind excursion, with a beautiful drive, excellent hike, unique view into Peruvian life, and as a bonus, great company. It's clear that Carlos has put a great deal of effort into curating a memorable experience for his guests.
So, if you enjoy nature, adventure, and culture, do yourself a favor and book this trip.
Muchas gracias Carlos!
-Zac & Craig
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your review
Denise_C, Feb 2026
Wow - what a day we had!
We cannot recommend Carlos highly enough as the ultimate guide. This was an unforgettable experience into the mountains, and a first taste of The Andes, with a dramatic drive up to Marcahuasi at 4,000m....through hills, gorges, across the fast flowing river below and a final stop at the last town before the summit - San Pedro de Casta. A chance to meet some locals and get a feel for the way that they live. So meaningful to see happy and contented locals living out their totally natural and happy existence and way of life.
Carlos is well known on this drive and clearly liked by everyone. He takes time to talk to everyone he passes with a smile and a wave. He is also happy to give locals a lift from San Pedro de Casta to the top of the mountain to tend their cattle (for them only a short trip of 15 mins rather than a 2 hour walk) if he has room in his great Toyota Land Cruiser, that can happily handle any on road or off road challenge.
At the top we experienced total peace and tranquility - truly the quietest place we have been on this earth. Amazing. We then spent a glorious and relaxed 2 hours on a gentle walk taking in the breathtaking views, lagoon, ancient rock formations and ruins of a village dwelling from over 1,000 years ago.
Departing Lima at 5am to avoid the heaviest traffic, the 3.5hr journey to the summit went in no time. Incredible scenery and a great education and commentary provided by Carlos the whole way.
A most memorable experience and how lucky we were to have found Carlos - amazing to have full access to this magical place.
Thank you Carlos - never to be forgotten.
Kaylene_W, Jan 2026
Could not have been better!!!! Carlos is fantastic and a great photographer. This was so incredible.
Nicole_B, Jan 2026
A great trip! I was nervous about the drive after reading some of the reviews but it wasn’t bad at all.
Marcahuasi was magical and the cloudy weather added to the mystery of the place. I was amazed with the amount of human/animal rock formations. It really is a special place.
Carlos was a wonderful guide and it was fun hanging out with him. Oh and his dog Kusi was just adorable. 100% recommend this experience
Olu_O, Jan 2026
Be prepared to be wowed. Not only did have incredible views, Carlos the guide was also very knowledge about the folklore of surrounding area, which only added to the mystic.
I suffered from altitude sickness, yeah it is way up high.... 4000m + , Carlos could not have managed the suitation better.......I felt un well but safe.....top guy
Jose_R, Jan 2026
Wow now this was a unique experience. First off Carlos was a super chill guide and an expert navigator in his 4x4 truck. He also brought his dog companion Cusi which was an unexpected but highly welcomed addition to the tour. We stopped by a little village on the way up to Marcahuasi to have some delicious egg and avocado sandwiches before hiking. Marcahuasi itself was insane, one of the most spectacular, mysterious, and underrated site I have ever been to. The energy here is so intense and this place is so little known that you will most likely be the only tourist here when you visit. Tour might seem a little expensive but I can guarantee you this is one place you cannot miss if you are in Peru.
Anne_F, Dec 2025
I’ve seen many amazing places. Marcahuasi is on the same level as Easter Island for me. This is a must do experience, but I’m actually glad not many seem to know about this magical place. Perfect private tour for the solo traveler! This experience was the highlight of my trip to Lima and the perfect way to end 2025.
Matthieu_T, Dec 2025
This review would deserve a 6 star rating. First of all, I can't say enough good things about my guide Carlos who is also the owner of Go Touch Peru Experiences. He is someone you would like to have as a friend. We spent 12 hours together on this trip and I didn't even have to read a book or use my headphone once because we had very interesting conversations all along. Carlos is a very skilled and seasoned off-road driver and that is exactly what you want on the andean switchbacks. He knows all the locals and can answer all you questions about Peru. The site itself, Marcahuasi, is nothing short of spectacular. This plateau in the Andes is exactly what I had in mind to explore off the beaten peruvian path. We were just the two of us up there without any tourist in sight. How often can you be at 13000 feet in a majestic mountain landscape with esoteric shape rocks and having lunch beside 2000 years old ruins? I went in December and we had sunny weather all day long contrary to what the internet says about this month being the rainy season. Foodwise, Carlos took me to a small restaurant for a breakfast sandwich made with fresh layed eggs and backyard grown avocado and we later had bananas, apples and grenadillas that were delicious. I am an international airline pilot so I have been to an impressive number of places in the world but this one just made it in my top 3. I highly recommend that you use Go Touch Peru Experiences for any excursion you have in mind and especially for Marcahuasi if you want to have a meaningful and authentic peek at life in the Andes.
Lei_G, Dec 2025
Wonderful experience. Carlos is a great character. The road is not great but Carlos made it pretty fun. The whole are has one tourist: me! So that made it special. I’m honestly surprised that people don’t go there. Spoiler alert: you also get to hear Carlos grandma’s amazing music!
Bryan_M, Oct 2025
A magical experience! It's sacred, because, if you need to heal, like myself, by just being in the area, the energy is SO huge, you just need to let your feelings go!! Carlos was so Amazing and explained why it's sacred. Need to be there to understand!
Peggy_S, Sep 2025
Pickup was on time by Carlos, who made the tour fun! Met many locals whom Carlos had befriended. Enjoyed eating local foods, which were gluten free for me. The drive through the mountains had sensational views. Walking sticks were provided for my husband. Time was allocated for a peaceful reflection at Marcahuasi. Highly recommend this tour!
Charlie_C, Jul 2025
Well well well what a day, this was a heck of a long day. Firstly, the approximate length of the tour is not correct. We were picked up at 5:30am and were not back to our hotel till 8pm. That's a 14 hour tour not 10. While I will concede the scenery was spectacular it for me wasn't worth the trip. All said and done a 9 hour round-trip drive for 3-4 hours of hiking? Yeah that was a bit much. I in no way blame our guides for this as their just doing their jobs but man this tour felt like it would never end. The ride back as stated took five hours to get back to Lima. The traffic was so bad near our hotel in Miraflores that I had our guide just drop us off a few blocks from the hotel. If doing a tough four hour hike for a 9 hour round-trip drive seems worth it for you, you might think this tour is a blast and worth every minute. It just wasn't for us, not a terrible tour, but we honestly couldn't recommend it.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.
We’re very sorry to hear that the length of the tour made the experience less enjoyable for you. You are absolutely right — on certain days, especially when unexpected road maintenance or heavy traffic occurs, the return trip can take longer than planned.
Our usual schedule has guests returning to Lima around 4:30 PM. However, on the day of your tour, several road closures and unusually heavy traffic near Miraflores significantly delayed our return. While Lima is known for its congestion, this level of disruption is not common and we sincerely regret the impact it had on your experience.
We truly appreciate your kind words about our guides and the scenery, and we value your feedback as it helps us improve and better communicate these possibilities to future guests.
Thank you again for joining us.
Warm regards,
Carlos Romero
Cathleen_N, Jun 2025
Amazing. The drive is through the city of Lima, up through the low Pueblo’s where we stopped for breakfast and then continued through the Andean mountains. The drive in itself was stunning and the Puebloitas were charming. The hike going from sea-level to 12,000+ feet is not for the faint of heart but you do start at over 11,000 feet. They did offer oxygen but I have been acclimated. The stone forests and views were absolutely stunning. My driver Señor Eddy was excellent. My guide Rihanna was charming and enthusiastic. The day was amazing and I am forever grateful for the experience.
Elvira_Z, Jun 2025
Incredible experience! A hidden gem outside of Lima! If you can’t experience Cusco, then this is the place to visit. I had amazing time, there was no one out there which made the experience even better. What is nice about it is there are no tourists so you get the whole place for yourself.
Spyridoula_E, May 2025
It was a great trip! Carlos was very nice and helpful, and it was a great pleasure travelling with him!
SerenaLuna_F, May 2025
I had a beautiful time exploring the less touristy trails of Peru with this amazing guide! Not only were the hikes absolutely stunning, with breathtaking views and peaceful paths away from the crowds, but the whole experience felt personal and authentic.
The guide was knowledgeable, kind, and made every step of the journey enjoyable — from meaningful conversations to fun moments along the way. He also introduced me to some delicious local food spots that made the adventure even more special.
If you’re looking for a guide who truly knows the hidden gems of Peru and creates a warm, unforgettable experience, I couldn’t recommend him more!
Joran_B, Apr 2025
Really beautiful area to visit. No tourists at all. We were the only ones on the mountain.
The drive was long but really nice scenery.
Gregory_F, Mar 2025
Great trip out to a place unlike anything else, found it having a look for something outside the city and was incredibly happy to find this
Very unique place, where you’re the only people for miles. Incredibly relaxing and awe inspiring
Anonymous, Feb 2025
This was an incredible experience all around but probably not for the faint of heart. The drive up is a rough road and walking at such a high elevation is no joke (even though I am from a high elevation). But if you have the physical ability to do this, it is such a worthwhile day trip from Lima and Carlos is a wonderful guide.
Minphulau_P, Feb 2025
More than my expectation Carlos he is a wonderful person friendly helpfull
100% recommend
Thank you very much Carlos
Anonymous, Dec 2024
A truly wonderful tour and amazing day with Carlos! Carlos is kind, funny, and a great guide. We enjoyed everything and would absolutely recommend. The drive, quite treacherous was handled so well by our driver. The Marcahuasi Stone Forest is so beautiful and truly magical. The hike can be a bit much because of the altitude, but Carlos is patient and helps. It is peaceful and definitely not something most do. We could have stayed up there for hours and hours. The day is long, but so incredibly amazing! We hope to see Carlos again in the future and return to this place!
bbam7115, Dec 2024
We are pass 60 and did not hesitate to visit this Magical Place, it was so worthed !!! Such a fantastic experience full of magical energy. And a view from there is beyond compare. For one day visit altitude problem is minimal just a bumpy road may or may not be a little hard. Carlos our guide did excellent job riding up and down from Mountains, taking beautiful photos of us, sharing stories and providing advice. Carlos you are the best tour guide I ever had and Marcahuasi is the most magical place I have ever been. Thank you Carlos and high paw to your little Shih Tzu for keeing us company!. Love this one day trip!
Scott_L, Nov 2024
I was in Lima for work and had only one full day to do something fun. I was initially disappointed that I didn’t have time to go to Cusco but this trip looked like something I would enjoy so I signed up. Thank God I did because it was an amazing day that I will be telling stories about for the rest of my life. Carlos was a fantastic tour guide. He took excellent, non-staged pictures, and he is very personable and fun natured which added to the entire experience. He also has the right vehicle and experience for the narrow and rugged mountain roads which turned what could have been a terrifying drive home into just an adrenaline filled and fun part of the trip. This trip was honestly exactly what I was looking for. It had beautiful and tranquil landscapes, high mountain water pools, ruins, wildlife (we even saw a tarantula) and lovely cultural interactions with the locals of San Pedro de Casta. I highly recommend joining Carlos for an incredible and very meaningful day. Thanks for the wonderful trip!
Dagmar_R, Nov 2024
Carlos was so nice. I had a great time. Enjoyed the hold trip. He is very attentive. Can highly recommend him. Everything went perfect also he has been on time and always taking care. Great job. Loved it.
Kimberly_M, Sep 2024
This excursion was well worth the detour. Beautiful views. Peaceful. Stunning. Carlos was a wonderful and attentive guide.
Susan_P, Sep 2024
Carlos was our tour guide. He was very friendly and accommodating. We stopped for breakfast on the way and had a great time on the hike and great conversation. One of us left our sunglasses in his vehicle and he was kind enough to mail them to us.
Martin_L, Sep 2024
I did several tours while in Lima and I found this because I searched for something a bit different. Best choice I made. I had a full day with Carlos and his cute dog. A day full of great views, good conversations and great photo opportunity high up in the Andes mountains. The stone forest is a peculiar place with rock formations to spark your wildest imagination. Carlos is glad to help discovering all the shapes and tell you about the place, history and it's people. He'll be your personal photographer too. Just a great day in fantastic nature. Absolutely recommend this tour!
Caroline_V, Jul 2024
An awesome day in a very unique, untouched part of Peru. Carlos was excellent. Had a once in a lifetime experience. Hope to return and stay overnight under the stars! Highly recommend!
Paul_Y, Jul 2024
Experienced driver, helpful staff. We like the tour. Although the ride was bumpy and the hike was tiring.
Carl_F, Jun 2024
Early start 5:15 AM. Breakfast at a little roadside cafe - bun cut in half, a thick slab of avocado and a little salt. It was delicious. Lots of switchback to get up to Marcahuasi. Driver/guide was Carlos who let us walk at our own pace. Weekdays are the best days to visi. It was very quiet, just a light breeze, the sun, and some birds, including Andean condors soaring overhead. Lovely little lagoons, pre-Incan ruins, and rock fromations that evoke people and creatures (like the turtle rock photo). Be warned, use sunscreen, wear long pants and don't rush as you are at over 12,000' up.
From $175.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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