Lares Trek to Machu Picchu - 4 Days / 3 Nights
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu - 4 Days / 3 Nights
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu - 4 Days / 3 Nights
4 Days Starting in Lares Thermal Baths and ending in Machu Picchu
Visiting: Baños Termales de Lares, Quiswarani, Cancha Cancha, Aguas Calientes
Tour operator:
Tour code:
LT4D
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 12
Age range:
5-70
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat, Kosher, Jain, Halal, all kind of diets
Tour operated in:
English , SpanishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
The magical trek through the Lares region. Our most cultural trek and an amazing multi-day experience starting on the Sacred Valley and ending with a Machu Picchu tour. This wonderful experience will give you the chance to connect with the local communities which at the date still hold the ancient Inca traditions and lifestyle. The Lares trek is a very social and cultural experience but also is a great challenge for the trekking enthusiasts. During this trek you will get up to almost 5000 meters above sea level and will admire the Sacred Valley from the distance and also the snowed peaks along the way. Your last night will be at a great hotel in Aguas Calientes previous to your breathtaking Machu Picchu tour.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Cusco – Famous Thermal Baths – Kiswarani Waterfall Campsite
Location: Baños Termales de Lares
Accommodation: Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We’ll pick you up from your hotel at 5 a.m. to begin the famous Lares Trek to Machu Picchu. Pick up locations can be from any hotel, condo, or apartment located in the cities of Cusco, Urubamba, Huaran, or Pisaq. It’ll be a three-hour drive along the beautiful landscape of the Sacred Valley and through the Andes. Once we arrive at the Lares Hot Springs site, you’ll have your first breakfast accompanied by views of the Andes Mountains. Then, you’ll enjoy the hot springs, which are divided up between various pools ranging from freezing to hot water. They’re all composed of pure volcanic water, which is medicinal and considered to be good for your bones, stress, muscles, and headaches.
After soaking in the pools for a while, you’ll drive 20 minutes to the trailhead. Punta Carretera at 3,300m / 10,827 ft above sea level. This is where you’ll meet up with your horses, riders, and give them your duffle bags. After, you’ll begin your expedition to Machu Picchu with a two-hour gradual uphill hike. That’s when we’ll reach our lunch spot at the first village called Kiswarani. This section of the hike is considered the potato valley area, because people farm many varieties of organic potatoes. Your guide will also point out some indigenous medicinal plants growing along the way. Then, we’ll arrive at our lunch spot where you’ll enjoy your first homemade meal prepared by our trekking chef.
After lunch, our horsemen (llameros) will do a ceremony with llamas showcasing these beautiful animals. Llamas were considered sacred to the Incas and fundamental to their economy. Our llameros will introduce you to these animals and discuss their importance and why owning one was a sign of privilege. Today they’re disappearing due to a variety of different reasons. We hope to continue the tradition of the Incas and give some llamas work. We do this to support the community that helps protect them. Llamas are pleasant to walk with and are friendly animals. Just don’t get too close, they might try to kiss you.
You’ll also have time to explore the village and visit some local homes. You can learn about the lifestyle and ancient traditions of the local people. If there is time, we’ll visit the schoolhouse where the kids still speak their native language Quecha. You may also bring toys, notebooks, or school supplies to distribute. Perhaps you may even teach them a few words in English. It’ll be another two hours of gradually uphill hiking until we arrive at the campsite. There you’ll be welcomed by our trekking staff, who’ll have your tents set up. We’ll enjoy some hot drinks as the sky darkens and the stars start appearing. Finally, you’ll enjoy a lovely dinner prepared on-site. If you want to keep star-gazing, you may stay up for a while longer or if you’d rather you can go to your tent.
Day 2 : Quiswarani – Condor Pass – Cancha Cancha Village
Location: Quiswarani
Accommodation: Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you’ll be woken up around 5 a.m. with our service of hot drinks. You’ll have spectacular views of the colourful lake and the valley of Kiswarani. You’ll see the local people will already be up and about, taking their llamas and alpacas out to graze. Breakfast will be served once you have finished packing your gear. Then we’ll fill up our water bottles, organise snacks, and you’ll begin your expedition to Machu Picchu. It’ll be a three or four-hour climb to get to the summit of the mountain. This pass is called Pachacutec or Condor Pass. We’ll zigzag our way up to compensate for the steep uphill. The views of the area are breathtaking, you’ll see lakes, waterfalls, llamas, and alpacas. We’ll have an emergency horse to ride in case you get too tired and can’t walk any more. Once you arrive at the Condor Pass, you’ll be above the clouds and above the mountain peaks. Then you’ll be able to enjoy the astounding 360-degree view. In front of you will be the beautiful mountain of Pitusiray, which is at 5,700 m/ 18,700 ft high. Then there’s the Condor pass at 4,680 m/ 15,354 ft. Afterward, we’ll enjoy a hot drink service that your porters will carry with them. We’ll take advantage of some phenomenal photo opportunities and then start our descent.
You’ll then begin the one-hour downhill descent towards El Mirador (Vista Point), where you’ll enjoy lunch. There’ll be some llamas grazing nearby. After lunch, you’ll hike the last three hours downhill. There'll be fantastic views of many lakes, llamas, and alpacas, before arriving at your campsite. Which is the village of Cancha Cancha, the only village that does not have modern technology. Located at (3,750 m / 12,303 ft), where people still practice original Inca traditions. In this Incan village 85 percent of the houses are still built by ancient construction methods. Including houses made of stone and grass-thatched roofs. Unlike any other village in the Lares Valley, this village has no electricity or cars. Here, you’ll not only enjoy the wilderness but your porters will also set up your tents. You’ll have some time to meet with the local children. We provide them with food and school supplies. We invite our travellers to share this support in the education and the health of this native village. You can bring anything you would like to give to these Quechuan-speaking children that they could use for school or home. When you’re done, your guide will take you to one of the local family’s houses. Here you’ll learn about the lifestyle of the locals. You’ll learn about the traditional hand-woven textiles made of llama and alpaca wool. In the evening you’ll enjoy hot drinks and dinner
Day 3 : Cancha Cancha — Huaran — Maras Salt Mine — Ollantaytambo — Aguas Calientes
Location: Cancha Cancha
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Our porters will wake you up with a hot drink and you’ll have some time to pack your bags and enjoy breakfast. After breakfast, you’ll have time to explore the village and visit the local elementary school. Here they still teach the ancient Inca language, Quechua. Once you’re ready, you’ll begin the last leg of your Lares trek. It’ll be four hours of walking downhill along this lovely path. You’ll pass by more llamas as well as alpacas.
We’ll pass by farms where they grow potatoes, fava beans, and many other traditional crops in traditional Incan style. You’ll have the chance to learn about Peruvian agriculture. You’ll learn from people who still farm by hand with traditional Inca farming tools. Now, we’ll start to descend to the warmer area of the Sacred Valley. You’ll start to feel the changes of the micro-climate and start seeing crops that are different. Around the Sacred Valley people farm corn, quinoa, kiwi, peaches, avocados, and other types of fruit. This area has a lot of Inca history and you’ll end your tour at the Sacred Valley village of Huaran that sits at 2,700 m / 8,858 ft. Here you’ll say goodbye to your horses, horse riders, chef, and porters.
From Huaran, we’ll catch an Alpaca expeditions van and make the short drive into the valley to visit the Salineras salt pans, in the town of Maras. Here, at 11,000 feet above sea level a saltwater spring gushes forth and spills down the side of the mountain. Over 3,000 small evaporation chambers have been created and look as if they’re tumbling down the mountainside. These have been in use since pre-Incan times. The salt is said to have healing properties because it's filled with natural minerals, some of it even comes out pink. Local families each own one of these pans and make their living supplying salt to the towns around the area. There is a small shop on-site if you care to take some salt home with you.
After visiting Salineras, we’ll climb aboard the Alpaca Expeditions van for a 45-minute drive. This’ll go along the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo is the only living intact Inca village. It still has many Inca water channels, houses, and walls. Your guide will take you around to view this small town until it’s time for dinner, which will be at a local restaurant. We’ll then catch the 7 p.m. train for Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu (train times may vary, depending on availability). Upon your arrival in Aguas Calientes, you’ll check-in to your hotel and relax.
Day 4 : Machu Picchu — Ollantaytambo — Cusco
Location: Aguas Calientes
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day four is the most magical day because you’ll finally experience Machu Picchu. You’ll wake up early to catch one of the first buses (around 5:30 a.m.) for the 30-minute ride up to Machu Picchu. You’ll see the stunning Sunrise over the ruins. Your guide will take you for an informative two-hour tour. Afterward, you’ll have time to explore on your own and hike Huayna Picchu if you choose to (this is a separate entrance ticket and costs $75 per person). In the afternoon, you’ll catch a two-hour train back to Ollantaytambo. Then you’ll travel by bus back to Cusco, where we’ll transfer you to your hotel.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Included on the 3rd day at Aguas Calientes
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Drinks with Meals
All meals and drinks are included along the hike.
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Entrance Fees
All needed entrance fees are covered for this experience
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Free Wi-Fi at Accommodation
The hotel in Aguas Calientes has good Wi-fi connection
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Fully Guided
The whole experience is support by our professional guide
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Local Taxes
Taxes are included on the price
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Meals – Full Board
Meals are cooked on the spot by our chef
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Train Tickets
All the train rides are included in the price
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Camping tents
For the camping nights our tents are the best
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Bus tickets to Machu Picchu
The bus tickets to go up and down Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes are included
What's Not Included
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Airport Transfers at Destination
We don't include airfare
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All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
We only include the trek logistics
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Country Entry Visas
Peru doesn't have a lot of regulations but ask your embassy to know about your requirements to enter Peru
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Tipping and Gratuities
This customary but not mandatory.
Every tip to the crew will be highly appreciated
Check out our Q&As
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
We recommend to have a medium fitness level to enjoy this experience without any problem, but we assist every hiker along the trek
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
It depends on the country you are coming from.
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Is free Wi-Fi available in the accommodation used?
Yes, your third night will be at a hotel in Aguas Calientes, this hotel will have free Wi-fi
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Low Deposit
Alpaca Expeditions requires a minimum deposit of 200 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 2 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of alpaca expeditions charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.