LARES TREK TO MACHU PICCHU 4 Days
Cusco
From
$ 800
Duration
4 Days
Type of tour
Trekking
$ 800
4 Days
Trekking
We invite you to live a unique experience on the Lares Trek, an alternative to the traditional Inca Trail to reach the impressive citadel of Machu Picchu. This trail starts at the Lares hot springs, located just 3 hours away from the city of Cusco. During the hike, you will cross the Huacawasi Pass at an altitude of 4,300 meters (14,107 feet) and descend until you reach Yanahuara or Ollantaytambo, where you will have access to the hot springs and the Machu Picchu tour. Although not as popular as the Inca Trail, many travelers find this trek equally beautiful and unique. It is also a great opportunity to discover the rural communities of the stunning Sacred Valley of the Incas on your way to the archaeological gem of Machu Picchu. Don’t miss this unique experience on your trip to Peru!
Day 01: Cusco – Sacred Valley – Lares – Huacawasi
Early morning pick-up, then we head to the town of Lares, where we start the hike to Huacawasi, our first camp.
Day 02: Huacawasi – Patacancha «Qelcanca» (3,750m/12,377ft)
After breakfast, we begin the hike of the longest and most challenging day of the trek, reaching the highest point of our journey (Sacsayllame at 4,400 meters/14,435 feet). Then we continue the hike to our second camp in Patacancha.
Day 03: Patacancha «Qelcanca» – Pumamarka – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes «Machu Picchu»
We start the day with the hike, passing through Willoq and Pumamarca, two villages well-known for their textile work and colorful costumes, until we reach Ollantaytambo, where we will have lunch and take the train to the town of Aguas Calientes.
Day 04: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu Full Day
This is the most important day of the tour, the day we will arrive at one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Our last day of the tour starts very early, followed by a guided tour of the most important buildings and temples of this city for about 2 hours.
Cusco (3,400 meters above sea level): Your day starts very early. The guide will pick you up at 6:00 am from your respective hotel, and we will head through the Sacred Valley to the town of Lares, where our hike begins. During this journey, you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery and mountain views, so it’s important to have your camera ready.
Sacred Valley – Calca (2,920 meters above sea level): The route takes us to the town of Calca, where we make a slight detour to start ascending to the village of Lares, our starting point for the hike.
Lares (3,150 meters above sea level): The journey takes about 3 hours. Once we arrive at the village, we hike up to the hot springs, where we can rest and enjoy these beautiful open-air thermal waters. Lunch is provided here.
Our bus will be waiting for us during this time, and then we will continue our journey for about 20 minutes to the trailhead known as Pascana.
Here, we meet our muleteers and pack the horses and llamas. We are ready to start our hike through the mountains of the Sacred Valley for about 6 hours.
This is a beautiful day filled with stunning landscapes and the opportunity to visit various Andean villages, see their traditional costumes, and experience how the Andean people live in these places.
Huacawasi (3,800 meters above sea level): Once we complete our hike, we reach the small village of Huacawasi, where everything is ready for a delicious dinner and a good rest. It’s important to have the proper equipment as the nights can be intensely cold.
Huacawasi (3,800 meters above sea level): Early in the morning, we will be greeted by local children in traditional clothing on their way to school. After a nutritious breakfast, we will start walking towards the highest point, the Sacsayllame Pass at 4,400 meters (14,435 feet). The hike will take about 4 hours and will be steep uphill.
Of course, we will have an emergency horse accompanying us so that everyone can reach the summit without any problem.
During this hike, you will enjoy vast mountains, a mosaic of farmlands, and breathtaking views. Please note that we will reach great altitudes, and the weather can be very cold.
After reaching the highest point, we will descend and pass by a beautiful lagoon before having lunch by the river.
Patacancha (3,750 meters above sea level): We arrive at the village of Patacancha, a very representative place in Peru. The inhabitants of this village belong to the direct lineage of the Incas since they have never mixed with other populations.
The trail continues for an hour along a narrow ridge before descending into a beautiful secluded stream filled with glacial lakes.
We have lunch at this beautiful lake and then continue following the edge of the stream as we descend to the next valley, passing through a series of waterfalls until we reach the town of Qelcanca, where we will spend the night.
Qelcanca: By going a little further, we will reach Qelcanca, the location of our second campsite and dinner.
Patacancha (3,800 meters above sea level): After a nutritious breakfast, we continue our adventure, passing through the hamlets until we reach Pumamarka, a place with stone constructions that we will explore with the guide.
Later, we continue and arrive at Ollantaytambo, an important location in the Inca Empire.
Ollantaytambo (2,792 meters above sea level): Our hike concludes at the Ollantaytambo Fortress and Citadel, built to guard the entrance to this part of the valley. We will have the opportunity to walk through the narrow streets of the town and get a clear idea of what this military, religious, and cultural center was like during the Inca Empire.
It’s time to board the train to Aguas Calientes.
Aguas Calientes (2,040 meters above sea level): The distance between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. Take this time to enjoy the scenery.
Upon arrival, we head to our hotel for a well-deserved rest, then we go out for dinner and rest for our next adventure.
If desired, we can visit the hot springs for a cost of $4.00.
Machu Picchu Sanctuary:
Optional:
Buffet Lunch: We recommend the MAPI Restaurant ($20.00 additional cost).
Note for your Trek:
For the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4D/3N:
The itinerary and campsites are subject to change depending on the time of booking. They may also vary depending on the weather or the health status of the hikers. The train (to and from Ollantaytambo) included in each tour is the Expedition Service. The train times are confirmed closer to the hiking time; therefore, if you join a group later, we cannot guarantee that you will travel on the same trains as the rest of the group. Train times are also subject to change depending on the train company’s schedules or availability.
Group Tour
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