A trek through dramatic Andean scenery and a rich variety of cultures, centered on the magnificent Lares
surrounded by magnificent snowy peaks and many hot springs.
You are going to visit highland villages where life goes on much as it did centuries ago and local inhabitants perpetuate the Inca
customs of their ancestors: original clothing and traditional farming, alongside llamas and alpacas helping to
produce the best qualities of corn and potatoes around the world.
From those elevated, open spaces we descend into the lush forests around Machu Picchu, enjoying a wide variety of
flora, fauna, wildlife and spectacular panorama, our trip ending with a magnificent sunrise and visit to the famous 'lost city'.
Lares trek is ideal for travellers in search of alternatives taking you through rural communities in the breathtaking
Sacred Valley of the Incas.
DAY 1 | 5:00 am Bus till Lares 11:00 am to 4:30 pm Hike : Lares – Pascana – Quishuarani |
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DAY 2 | 7:00 am to 4:00 pm Hike : Quishuarani – Cancha Cancha |
DAY 3 | 8:00 am to 12:30 pm Hike : Cancha Cancha – Huaran – Ollantaytambo 14:55 pm Train to Machu Picchu Optional: visit of the Hot Springs in Machupicchu Pueblo |
DAY 4 | 6:00 am to 4:00 pm Full Day at Machu Picchu: Guided tour Free Afternoon Free Afternoon |
At 5:00 am our guide picks you all up from your hotels and we drive through the Sacred Valley turning at the town
of Calca to head to Lares village – the drive takes around 3 hours. Once we arrive in town we
go up to the Hot Springs where we can relax and enjoy these beautiful outdoor hot waters. Lunch is provided here.
Our bus awaits us during this time and we then continue our journey for around 20 minutes to the start of the trail known as
Pascana. Here we meet up with our horsemen and pack the horses and llamas.
We are ready to start our hike to Quishuarani for around 3 hours. When we get to our campsite everything has already
been set up for us. In the free time in our hands we can come across some of the locals and appreciate their weaving techniques.
This is a lovely day filled with great landscapes and the opportunity to visit several Andean villages.
Beware as the temperature drops at night so you should be ready with warm outfit.
Meals:
Lunch - Tea Time - Dinner
After a delicious breakfast we leave Quishuarani. This is going to be our longest day on the trail as we continue north east up the valley, passing small
thatched stone houses. After ½ hour the path flattens out before climbing steeply for the 2½ hour trek to the highest passage, called Pachacutec
Pass (4758m). From here you are rewarded with superb views of Pachacutec Lake and the snowy peaks of Pitusiray.
The path continues for an hour along a narrow ridge until dropping down into a beautiful secluded corrie filled with glacial lakes. We have
lunch in that beautiful place. We then keep on following the lip of the corrie descending into the next valley, and we pass by a series of cascading waterfalls
until we reach the village of Cancha Cancha. We camp here for the night.
Meals:
Breakfast - Lunch - Tea Time - Dinner.
After a delicious breakfast we start our easier hike of the day following the small Cancha Cancha River. It's a 4 hour trek to our
destination, the small village named Huaran. From here we take a local transport to the town of Ollantaytambo, a beautifully well preserved
Andean town you have some time to explore before boarding on the 3:00 pm train to Aguas Calientes. We spend the night in a nice
hotel in Machu Picchu Pueblo.
Optional:
you can give an early night visit to the Aguas Calientes' Hot Springs where the entrance fee is US $4.
Meals:
Breakfast - Lunch - Tea Time - Dinner.
We have breakfast and then take the 6:00 am bus up to Machu Picchu to enjoy the beautiful sunrise. A walking tour of
approximately 2 hours is then given by your tour guide, after which you can explore the mysterious city all by yourselves.
If you got your Waynapicchu entrance ticket (entry limited to 400 people daily for an additional cost of US $ 15.00 so you
should better get it when you book your tour) you can also climb the neighboring mountain Huayna Picchu (2720m/8890ft).
Keep in mind that it takes about 45 minutes to reach the top so you might seriously reduce your time on the prestigious site.
Once you are filled with those mystical vibes, we take the bus back to Aguas Calientes to get on the Expedition
train back to Ollantaytambo followed by a bus to Cusco. We are in Cusco at around 10:30 pm.
Meals:
Breakfast.
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