The Lares Valley Trek offers a combination of stunning scenery, traditional cultures and a visit to the majestic Machu Picchu on the 4th Day. The Lares trek will take you through stunning mountains scenery, over high passes and you will spend two nights near traditional Peruvian Villages.
Day 1: Cusco – Huaca Casi pass – Cuncani – Huacawasi
At approximately 6hrs 30am we will pick you up at your hotel to set course to the village of Lares where we will start this amazing hiking. During this journey we will make a stop in the village of Calca, where you will be able to visit the local market and buy breakfast or other supplies you forgot. Your guide might advise you to buy some bread to hand out to the children you will meet during the trek. When arriving at Lares town, we will go directly to the hot springs. Then we will take a dusty road to Cuncani for 25 minutes aproximately. You will have the chance to see beautiful lamas and alpacas on the way. After that we will be go up for one hour to reach the Cuncani pass. Here we will have the chance to see beautiful views of Yanacocha lagoon and Huaca Hausi valley. After our walking around the laggon, we will visit the tipical town fo Huaca Huasi (3600m/11811f). During 5 hours you will walk gradually up hill so that you get a good training for the next day when we will reach the highest point of the trek. The first night we will spend at the house of our horsemen who are joining us on the trip. At your arrival, your tents will be ready and you will receive popcorn, sweets and some hot tea before your dinner.
Transport time: 4 hours
Hiking time: 4 hours
Climate during the day: Warm
Climate during the night: Cold
Day 2: Huacawasi – Sondor – Huacawasi C’asa Pass – Aruray Cocha – Yurak Cocha – Mantanay – Pucara
After a nutritious breakfast, we will start our hiking towards the highest point of the trek, the pass of Huacawasi C’asa at 4500m or 14763 feet. The hike will take about 4 hours and will be very steep uphill. Of course an emergency horse will accompany us so that everyone will certainly be able to reach the top. During this trek you will be able to enjoy enormous mountains, a patchwork of agricultural lands and breathtaking views. Be aware that we will reach great heights and the weather can be very cold. After reaching the highest point, we will descend and pass beautiful lagoons and there we’ll stop for having lunch. You will be able to recuperate, while our cooks prepare a delicious lunch for you. Then we will descend further through a forest where you will be able to enjoy the “Queuñas” (Polylepis – a typical tree from Peru), flora and fauna of this wonderful park. Thereafter we will continue descending until we got our camping spot at Pucara (3000m/9842f), a private camping place, where you will have tea time and some snacks upon arrival before having dinner.
Hiking time: 8 hours
Climate during day/night: cold and warm
Day 3: Pucara – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
Today will be another spectacular day when walking through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. A vehicle will bring us to Ollantaytambo (2850m/ 9350ft) where we will discover the last Inca town and the great Inca’s site known as Pinkulluna (Lord of Tunupa). After having lunch, we will take a tourist train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (2050m/ 6725ft) town where we will spend the night in a hotel.
Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
Transport time: half an hour
Climate: Warm
Day 4: Machu Picchu town – Machu Picchu – Cusco
Our great day has finally arrived, after all our efforts put into the hike comes the reward of having the privilege to visit the wonderful citadel of Machupicchu. Now is the time to leave the hotel to take our bus at 5:30 in the morning and reach our objective at dawn to Machupicchu, here our guide will share with us his knowledge of lifestyle within the Inca community while showing us the main attractions: such as temples, Altars , residences and laboring sectors of the Inca, after this joyous visit we will be able to understand more about the culture and life of the Incas. Once all is accomplished we will take our bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes where we will have time to have lunch and say our goodbye to the Machu Picchu town as we hold it in our memories. We will then finally take the train in the afternoon that will take us back to the city of Cusco.
What do I need to bring?
- Backpack with rain shelter.
- Sleeping bag.
- Clothing for warm and cold climate like a waterproof jacket.
- Rain pants and lightweight pants.
- Trekking shoes.
- Slippers or sandals (for showers and Hot Springs).
- Woollen or synthetic socks and a sweater. Long- and short-sleeved polo’s/T-Shirts.
- Rain poncho and a hat.
- Bathing suit (for the Hot Springs in Aguas Calientes).
- Sunscreen, insect repellent, disinfecting alcohol and gel, water bottle and sterilizing tablets, toiletries and toilet paper.
- Camera (wrapped in plastic bag).
- Flash light and batteries.
- Some snacks like chocolate bars and dry fruit.
- Original passport, original ISIC student card and extra money in soles.
- Since the weather can be very cold and moistly, your clothes – once gotten wet – won’t dry at night. So take some clothes to change.
Group Departure
Included:
- Transport
- Transport from the hotel to Valle de Lares
- Tourist train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
- Tourist train from Machu Picchu town to Cusco or from Machu Picchu town to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco
- Entrance to the thermal baths in the Valle de Lares
- Entrance to the sanctuary of Machu Picchu
- Hotel with private room and bathroom in Aguas Calientes
- Professional bilingual guide (Spanish and English)
- High quality camping equipment (professional tents Doite, Cima 4, extra light/4.5kgs for 2 persons. Mattresses, eating tent with table and chairs, bathroom tent).
- Meals during the excursion (Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks/Option vegetarian)
- Cook and cooking equipment
- Horseman and mules, for all camping and personal equipment (up to 7 kg)
- Emergency horse (minimum 2 persons)
- First-aid kit and oxygen bottle
Not included:
- Breakfast on the first day and last lunch in Aguas Calientes
- Sleeping bag (if you don`t have a sleeping bag, there is the possibility of renting one)
- Bus going downhill from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes for 12 U.S. dollars or you could have the option to walk down which takes about 1 hour.
