1 Day Trek in the Crater of Maragua and Inca Trails in Sucre
Description
Dive into the vibrant landscapes of the Crater of Maragua, where breathtaking geological formations were sculpted over time, once trodden by dinosaurs, and now cherished as home by the Jalqa community. The day starts at 8:30 in the morning, where tourists are picked up from their hotels. A one-hour trip is taken to reach the colonial chapel of Chataquilla, where the trekking along the Inca trail begins (2 hours). At the end of the Inca trail, the car awaits us to take us to the Maragua Crater, where we have a delicious vegetarian lunch and visit the rock formation called La Garganta del Diablo (30 minutes). In the afternoon, we visit the dinosaur footprints (2 hours) and return to the city of Sucre. If a weaver is available, we can visit her and she explains to us about the art of the Jalqa culture.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The meeting point is at the respective accommodations, where the guide and driver will pick you up. After that, we will make a stop, if necessary, at an indigenous market where we can buy items such as water, coca leaves, etc. From there, we continue along a scenic route filled with forests towards the mountains.
Chataquilla is a colonial chapel located in Bolivia, near the city of Sucre, in the Andean region. It is primarily known for its pre-Hispanic roadway, which was part of an extensive network of roads built by pre-Columbian civilizations, such as the Incas. This road, made of perfectly aligned stones, demonstrates the advanced engineering and knowledge of these cultures in terms of construction and territorial organization. The site also holds cultural and spiritual significance, as it is located in an area considered sacred by local indigenous communities. From Chataquilla, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and mountains, making it a popular destination for both archaeological tourism and ecotourism.
The Inca trail runs between Chataquilla and Chaunaca, and we walked along it for about 2 hours, admiring the beauty of these Andean mountains.
Another attraction of this area is the indigenous communities of the Jalqa culture, such as the people who live in the village of Maragua. Here, hundreds of people live in a unique and special culture. In the community, we will visit the home of a family, where they will teach us about their life, culture, traditions, and textiles.
The Maragua Crater, located near Sucre, Bolivia, is an impressive geological formation that stands out for its uniqueness and natural beauty. The crater is known for its colorful layers of sedimentary rock that create a spectacular visual effect, with hues ranging from red to green. In addition to its unique geology, the crater is home to indigenous communities that have preserved their cultural traditions, adding anthropological value to the visit. The trails that cross the region offer panoramic views of the surrounding mountainous landscape. The Maragua Crater is undoubtedly a must-visit destination for those seeking an experience that combines nature, history, and culture in the Bolivian Andes.
The dinosaur footprints at Niñu Mayu, located near Sucre, Bolivia, are one of the most impressive paleontological sites in the region. These footprints, preserved in layers of sedimentary rock, belong to various species of dinosaurs that inhabited the area approximately 65 million years ago. The site is famous for the clarity and size of the footprints, some of which measure several centimeters in length. These impressions allow scientists and visitors to imagine the passage of these prehistoric giants through the region. Niñu Mayu is a fascinating place for those interested in paleontology, offering a unique window into Earth's distant past.
The return to Sucre takes place after visiting the dinosaur footprints, and it takes approximately two hours, depending on traffic. Visitors are dropped off at their respective accommodations.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
One day before, the name of the driver and the guide who will pick you up from your accommodations will be shared.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- It is not recommended for people with mobility limitations. The first part of the Inca trail consists of descending steps, and there are also uphill sections during the hike.
Reviews(21)
This was a great, long day in the splendid outdoors around Sucre. Good hiking, beautiful views, excellent lunch. Fascinating with the dinosaur footprints and the J'alqa weaving. Manuel did a good job as our guide. Suggestion: Have a designated trash bag from the start of the trip. We saw the driver throwing a plastic bottle into the bushes...
From start to finish everything was well organized. Gary was a very knowledgeable and chill guide. We had ample time to see the gorgeous landscape of the inka trail and we had the chance to have a little bit of rain which contrasted the dinosaurs footprints a lot. I highly recommend this experience.
1. Inca trail is seriously down hill. Maybe drop 500m in 4km. 2. Trail has been eroded. 30m section is now on dirt/crumbly small rocks, and is 200m drop if footing not secure. No warning of this in tour info or by guide. Another section had same problem, and has been reconstructed safely. 3. Lunch is a packed lunch picnic, probably prepared by guide. Very local Bolivian, thus cheap and not appropriate for 100 dollar tour. 4. At least 5 hours spent in 4x4, mostly on dirt roads, 1st gear. 5. Fabulous scenery and remoteness.
Very nice, we had a super nice guide. Towards the end of the tour you will go back up the mountain by car. This was huge style with a huge abyss next to you. If you're afraid of heights, this isn't super. Especially because the driver was really driving against the edge of the abyss and we had to stop on the way because a car had run off the road and fallen down. Luckily the passengers came out miraculously unharmed but this made the last part even scarier. Furthermore, the tour was really very fun.
First you drive all the way up to the mountain. With us it was very foggy, so we didn’t really know what to expect. But on the top of the mountain we got out of the car and from there we walked 90% downhill were the car was waiting. My father had some troubles with the hike, but our guide was very patient and very helpfull. They also have some medical stuff with them. After the hike we went to a place to have a delicious lunch, made by their own, and after the lunch we went to the place with the dinousaurs footprints. Overall a great experience!!
We had an interesting day out, with excellent scenery. The guide was professional, and the driver was good and drove safely. We were taken to some places which felt very off the beaten track, including to visit a weaver, and the lunch was great. It is quite a long day (left at 0830, back at 1815) with a lot of driving between the sights. The price is much higher than what we have paid for other tours in Bolivia, but the group size was small (4).
Good tour. Lots of walking but mostly downhill. The footprints are amazing. Guide seemed knowledgeable
We really enjoyed the Inca Trail Trek and tour of Maragua Crater. David and Carlos are excellent hosts and guides, punctual, informative and attentive. The tour was exactly as described, the scenery gorgeous and all of the places very beautiful and interesting. This tour is highly recomendable!
I really enjoyed the mix of activities on this one day tour - the hike along a prehispanic road through impressive mountain scenery, the colours and remote community of Maragua crater, and the amazing dinosaur footprints. I felt in safe hands with Henry the guide, who kept his eye out for me while trekking on the steep trails, and also explained each place we visited. The driver was very good too.
Wonderful day in the mountains with David and the guide, both great. Walked on the way to the Inca then detoured by dinosaur prints.
