In order to explore the influence of the gravel interbed on the carbonate-derived laterite hydraulic properties, indoor soil column infiltration and vertical infiltration experiments were conducted to examine the relationship of 3 different gravel volume contents (0, 40% and 80%) and 3 different gravel burial depths (0, 5 and 15 cm) between the cumulative infiltration, wetting front, infiltration characteristics, and soil water characteristic curves. The applicability of the traditional soil infiltration model was analyzed by three models. These Brooks-Corey model parameters were inverted by the measured infiltration data and the modified Green-Ampt model. The results showed that the cumulative infiltration, wetting front, initial infiltration rate, average infiltration rate, and steady infiltration rate obviously decline, along with the increase of the gravel content at the same gravel burial depth. When the gravel content was 40%, the largest soil steady infiltration rate (12.71 mm/h) was found in gravel burial depth of 15 cm, which was 1.33 times higher than that of 0 cm. The Horton equation's validation of the infiltration characteristics were superior to those expressed by the Kostiakov model and Philip formula. At the same gravel burial depth (0 and 5 cm), the inverted parameters a, n, and h_d increased with the increase of gravel content, while K_s decreased. The soil water retention of control group was the lowest, and the soil water retention of the gravel interbed decreased with the increase of the gravel content. However, when the gravel burial depth was 15 cm, the soil water retention of the gravel interbed increased with the increase of the gravel content. As the gravel content arrived at 40%, the relationship of soil water retention in different gravel burial depths was 0 cm > 5 cm > 15 cm. These results can provide data reference for the taking advantage of water resource in the southwest karst regions.