Travel to Marcahuasi: how to get to this natural sanctuary?

Published: 14 July 2022 | Update: 04 November 2025 | Reads: 4035

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Just 100 kilometers east of the city of Lima, in the province of Huarochiri, there is a unique destination: the Marcahuasi plateau. This natural sanctuary, located at 4,000 meters above sea level, is a four-square-kilometer granite stone forest, famous for its giant eroded rocks that popular imagination has interpreted as figures of animals and human faces.

Marcahuasi is not just a hiking destination, but also one of the most popular places near the capital for camping and star gazing, thanks to the clarity of its night skies. However, its altitude and its access through the Lima highlands require detailed logistical planning for transportation and, fundamentally, for managing altitude sickness.

This guide is designed to answer the question: How to get to the Marcahuasi natural sanctuary? Below, we will focus first on the place, then we will cover the transportation options and the final ascent to the plateau.

Where is Marcahuasi located?

Marcahuasi is located in the eastern highlands of the department of Lima, about 100 kilometers from the Peruvian capital. Politically, it belongs to the province of Huarochirí and is within the jurisdiction of the district of San Pedro de Casta.

It is essential to differentiate between the destination itself and its access point. Marcahuasi is the stone plateau, a natural sanctuary that rises to 4,000 m.a.s.l. The town that serves as the entrance and starting point for the hike is San Pedro de Casta, which is located at a lower altitude.

About Marcahuasi: The Granite Plateau

Marcahuasi is a granite plateau, the product of an exposed batholith (mass of intrusive rock). It has an approximate area of four square kilometers and is surrounded by deep abysses, which gives it a dominant position over the surrounding valleys.

The main characteristic of the plateau is its forest of stones: a unique set of gigantic granite rocks, some up to 25 meters high. The fame of the place is due to climate erosion sculpting these rocks into unique shapes, which by pareidolia (the phenomenon of perceiving recognizable shapes in ambiguous patterns) look like humanoid profiles, animals, and diverse structures.

The Debate about the Origin of the Formations

The origin of these rock formations is the center of a debate that defines the mystique of Marcahuasi, contrasting the geological theory with the esoteric one:

The Geological Theory (Erosion): The main scientific explanation holds that the figures are the result of millions of years of natural erosion. The action of wind, water (rain and ice) and sudden temperature changes have fractured and sculpted the granite rock into their current forms.
The Archaeological/Esoteric Theory (Daniel Ruzo): This theory was popularized by the Peruvian researcher Daniel Ruzo de Los Heros, who explored the site after the archaeologist Julio César Tello did. Ruzo dedicated years to his study and concluded that the formations were not natural, but megalithic sculptures created by an advanced civilization that he named the "Masma culture", with an age of more than 8,000 years.

Although the geological community supports the erosion theory as the cause of the shapes, Ruzo's interpretation has become a fundamental part of Marcahuasi's appeal. To this day, the origin of the "sculptures" continues to be a topic of fascination, and on the plateau there are also real pre-Hispanic remains, like chullpas (funerary towers) and terraces, that confirm the human presence in the area centuries ago.

What will you find in Marcahuasi?

Once on the plateau, the tour to explore the different points of interest can take around three and a half hours. Among the most notable formations are:

The Monument to Humanity: It is the most famous rock formation in Marcahuasi, a giant block of granite that, depending on the angle and light, looks like a human profile.
The Amphitheater: A large natural hollow surrounded by rocks, which is the preferred place for visitors to camp, as it offers excellent protection against the wind and cold of the puna.
The Fortress: It is considered the highest point of the plateau and holds a monolith that functions as a stone altar, as well as offering panoramic views of the surroundings.
Shapes in the Rocks: You can see figures in the rocks, like the Alchemist, where those who look closely can see the hidden profile of a man. You will also see other impressive humanoid and animal shapes, like The Prophet, The Sphinxes, The Dove, The Seals, The Toad, and The Goddess Tueris.
Other Attractions: The tour also includes formations like the "Valley of the Seals" and "The Sacred Feline", as well as the seasonal lagoons of Cachu Cachu and Huacracocha. In addition, in the area you can find chullpas (funerary towers) and remains of pre-Hispanic terraces.

How to get to Marcahuasi?

Marcahuasi is east of Lima, in the province of Huarochirí. To go there, the first thing you have to do is get to Parque Echenique, in Chosica. You can make the trip in the following way:

By public transport:
If you are in Callao or downtown Lima, you must get to Paseo Colón, where you will find buses that go to Chosica. It is approximately two hours of travel.

If you are in Miraflores, Lince, San Borja or La Molina, you should go to Avenida Javier Prado, where you will take a bus to Vitarte. Then you get off in front of the Puruchuco metro and take another bus to Chosica.

If you come from the North or the South, take Vía Evitamiento to the Santa Anita Bridge and descend towards the Central Highway, towards the mountains, where you will take a bus to Chosica.
In collective taxis:
There are buses or minivans that take you to Chosica from the following points: Jr. Chota with Paseo Colón, Jr. Leticia with Abancay, Crossing Av. Javier Prado and Av. Arequipa (excine Orrantia), Santa Anita Oval

The second step on this route to Marcahuasi is to reach San Pedro de Casta. Once you arrive at Parque Echenique, in Chosica, go to the bus stop that goes to San Pedro de Casta; This is located 120 meters from the park, heading north towards Jr. Libertad.

Adjust your travel itinerary well. At this point of the journey you only have two schedules to get to San Pedro de Casta. Check out times are 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. m. and 12:00 p.m. m., and the tour lasts three hours.

When you arrive in San Pedro de Casta, we recommend you spend the first night at the municipal hotel. This way your body will acclimatize and you will make the ascent to Marcahuasi without feeling affected by the soroche.

Entrance to Marcahuasi

Ready for adventure? After a night of rest in San Pedro de Casta, you must go to the Tourist Office, located in front of the square, where you must register in the visitor's book and pay the entrance fee.

These are the reference rates:

Minors: S/5
National adults: S/10
Foreigners: S/20

In this place you can request more information about Marcahuasi and hire the service of local guides, or horses and/or mules as cargo transport.

Note: If you are going to stay for only one night, tell the person in charge of the tourist office that you will return the next day on the bus at 2 in the afternoon. It is a guarantee of control that can facilitate the work of the authorities. Also, in a hypothetical case of emergencies, someone may notice your absence.

What is the best season to go to Marcahuasi?

The best time to visit this enigmatic plateau is between the months of April and October. It is not advisable to go between the months of December to March, since it is the rainy season.

If you want to see the lagoons, it is not advisable to go in the months of July to October, as most of them will be dry.

What to bring to Marcahuasi?

Preparation is important for this journey. San Pedro de Casta is the last place to stock up on what you need. Once you leave for Marcahuasi, you will no longer find a place to shop. There are no tourist services on the way.

In this sense, you must take everything you will need. Food, water, warm clothes, medicines and, above all, a “four seasons” tent, if you plan to spend the night. It should not be a beach one, because if you spend the night in these types of tents, you will not be able to sleep because the temperatures drop to zero degrees Celsius.

Tips to beat soroche

If you are not used to heights, your body can feel the discomfort of soroche or altitude sickness. The symptoms are headache, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, fainting, vertigo, palpitations and concentration problems.

You do not want your trip to be clouded by this accumulation of discomforts. So that soroche does not affect you, we recommend the following:

Make several stops along the route.
Don't eat much on the way; Drink water and a light snack.
Spend one night in San Pedro de Casta to acclimatize.
To avoid exhaustion, ride a horse or mule.
Consult your trusted doctor to prescribe a nausea inhibitor and tell you how to take it.
Carry a portable oxygen bottle with you.
Avoid alcohol and cigarette consumption two days before the trip.

What to take to Marcahuasi?

Today, the Marcahuasi plateau lacks infrastructure and services for tourists, so travelers must carry the necessary equipment to spend the night in the place.

In the town of San Pedro de Casta you can find the following:

Rental of camping equipment: tents, mats, sleeping bag and blankets.
Local guides.
Typical food restaurants.
Grocery stores.
Assorted bazaar.

Recommendations:

We recommend that you carry at least 4 liters of drinking water per person per day.

As for clothing, pay attention because it varies depending on the day and night. If you are going to spend the night on the Marcahuasi plateau, you must bring the following equipment, since the temperature at night drops to -5 °C.

Wool gloves.
Wool hat/chullo.
T-shirt, thick wool sweater and jacket.
Drill pants and warmer pants underneath.
Two pairs of thick socks.

Now, for the day walk you require the following:

Windbreaker jacket or a vest because despite the sun it feels cold.
Thin wool gloves.
Cap.
Sunscreen.
Lip balm or cocoa butter to protect lips from sunburn.
Sunglasses.
The footwear you should use is one with non-slip and waterproof soles. If you are well prepared, you can safely carry out adventure sports such as trekking, rock climbing and palaestra. For this you must take with you the appropriate equipment.

Now that summer has arrived, Marcahuasi is the perfect place to practice adventure tourism. This is the best season to visit, since the sun is intense in the morning, while temperatures are cooler at night.

Dare to escape for a weekend and discover the wonders of a destination near Lima.

Weather In Marcahuasi

Summer is the best season to visit Marcahuasi, since the days are usually sunny and the nights are refreshing.

Between January and April it is characterized by being the rainy season and it is cloudy for much of the day and all night. The average temperature is 22° in the day and 7° at night.
Between April and July, although the sky is clear, it is much colder at night and the average temperature is 27°C during the day and 6°C at night.
Between July and October it is only intense during the day, but it is very cold at night. The average temperature of 24° during the day and 5° at night.
Between October and December it is sunny until noon, then it gets cloudy and finally the nights are cold. The average temperature during the day is 21° and 6° at night.

Where to eat in Marcahuasi?

It is recommended to bring your own snacks and especially water, however, in the amphitheater, one of the favorite places for people to camp, you will occasionally find a food stall that offers soup, infusions and bread.

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