Lares Trek 4D/3N

(Machu Picchu) tall city of stepped stone, home at long last of whatever earth had never hidden in her sleeping clothes. In you two lineages that had run parallel met where the cradle both of man and light rocked in a wind of thorms..” (Pablo Neruda, Nobel Prize, Heights of Machu Picchu).

The Lares Trek is an excellent alternative to the Inca Trail. Taking you off the beaten track with visits to authentic Andean communities whilst being surrounded by stunning mountains, lakes and valleys this fabulous trek offers a real insight in to the lives of the people of Cusco as it once was.

The route we offer starts in the village of Pumahuanca in the Sacred Valley and finishes in the hot springs of Lares with a visit to the village of Cuncani along the way. On Day 3 of the trek you take a bus from Lares to Ollantaytambo and then carry on by train to Machu Picchu.

DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION

Cusco Hotel Transfer

WEAR

Comfortable athletic clothing, hiking boots, hat, jacket and sunscreen.

INCLUDED

Pre-departure briefing

Collection from your hotel in the morning and transfer in private transport to Huarán, starting point of the trek

1D Machu Picchu entrance fee

Campsite fees

Lares hot springs entrance fee

Personal tents: 2 people in each 4-people-capacity tent, to allow for higher comfort and a safe keeping of backpacks. Our tents are 3-season, highly maintained to ensure an excellent performance in field. Kilas tent or north face tent

One inflatable sleeping pad per person

Dining tent with tables and chairs and Kitchen tent

Toilet tent with bio-degradable toilet facilities

English speaking professional and official tourist guide (2 guides for groups of over 8 people)

Chef and cooking equipment

Pack animals (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment)

Pack animals to carry personal gear up to a maximum of 9kg per person (including sleeping pad and sleeping bag)

1 emergency horse every 6 persons

Wranglers

Accommodation for all our staff

Meals (02B, 03L, 02D + daily morning snack + daily tea service except last day). Vegetarian menu is available at no extra cost

Filtered boiled water from lunch time on 1st day onwards

Bio-degradable personal hand soaps and Bio-degradable dishwashing detergents used by our kitchen staff

Others: hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunch time if requested with enough time ahead

First-aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle

Private transport from yanahuara to Ollantaytambo

Train ticket Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes – Cusco/Sacred Valley (Expedition, Vistadome or Hiram Bingham service, upon request) (*)

Transfer train station – hotel in Cusco

24-h guest service: please ask for the emergency number available during your time of visit

NOT INCLUDED

Accommodation in Aguas Calientes or Machupicchu

Breakfast on the first day, Dinner on the third day, sleeping bags and pillow

Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the last day: after the guided tour at Machupicchu, you can enjoy free time to further visit the ruins and choose to have lunch either in Machupicchu or in Aguas Calientes at your own expense. Arrival in Cusco is estimated after nightfall, dinner being at your own expense too

Visit to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes: a relaxing way to end-up the program while you’re awaiting the return train to Cusco, only 10 minutes from the village centre, entrance fee is s/10.00 (Peruvian Soles). Towels can be hired in Aguas Calientes

Huayna Picchu entrance fee: if you would like to climb this mountain an additional fee of US$ 20.00 per person applies

Tips: please note that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip or not as you wish

Day1

Cusco - Calca - Lares Host Springs (Optional) - Wacawasi

Early in the morning, we’ll pick you up from your hotel. We will then drive for about 3 hours and 30 minutes to get Lares hot springs 3,200 m / 10,496 ft, on the way, we’ll stop in Calca a small town in the Sacred Valley, to visit its typical market and get some items for the trail. Upon our arrival at the hot springs, we’ll meet our muleteers and get ready our rucksacks to start the adventure. The trail starts going up the highland valley gradually. Today we’ll have our lunch at about 1:30 pm on the halfway to the first campsite. After lunch, the adventure goes on, along this section of the trail we’ll see some herds of llamas and alpacas, and we’ll reach our first campsite located in Wacawasi village 3,800 m / 12,464 ft. At the campsite after our arrival, we’ll have our tea time and dinner. Today, we’ll have an option to swim at the hot springs before our hike starts, whose cost is 10 PEN (not included), or just start hiking to the first campsite instead, as the most hikers do, this will be managed by you and your trek leader. Lunch and dinner included (except breakfast which is supplied at your hotel).
Hiking Time: 3-4 Hours (approx) | Hiking Distance: 8 Kms/ 4.97 Miles | Highest Point 3,800 m/ 12,464 ft. | Lowest Point: 3,200m/ 10,496 ft. | Highlights: Hiking in the Andean valleys with pretty scenic views, interact with local people (children), llama and alpaca herds along the trail, and camping in a highland village. |

Day2

Wacawasi - Puerto Pass - Mantanay

Today, we’ll wake up early in the morning and a great nutritious breakfast will make us ready for the challenging day. After having breakfast, we’ll hike up to the highest point on the trail called Puerto pass at 4,420 m / 14,498 ft, for about 4 hours from our campsite. On this section of the trail, we’ll still see some herd of llamas and alpacas close to us, and pretty scenic views. When we arrive at the highest pass, we’ll take a deserved break while savoring great views around and a perfect time to offer some Coca leaves to the Andes spirits making an Apacheta (cairn, a mound of stones piled up as a memorial or to mark a boundary or path). We’ll then hike downhill to reach our lunch spot located close to a beautiful lagoon, where we’ll enjoy just prepared fresh meals and hot drinks. After lunch, we’ll continue descending to our second campsite located in Mantanay valley, a valley with beautiful Andean trees called Queuña (a typical tree from the highlands of Peru that grows up between 3,400m / 11,152 ft trough 4,300m/ 14,104 ft, polylepis “Rosaceae” is a genus of low trees with rugged scaly bark). In the evening we’ll take our hot drinks and dinner. All meals included. Hiking Time:7-8 Hours (approx) | Hiking Distance: 14 Kms/ 8.69 Miles | Highest Point 4,420 m/ 14,498 ft. | Lowest Point: 3,700 m/ 12,136 ft. | Highlights: Llama and alpaca herds along the trail, reaching the highest point, beautiful lakes along the trail, and camping in a highland valley |

Day3

Mantanay - Yanahuara - Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu Town

Another great day awaits us and a great breakfast makes us ready for it. After taking our breakfast, we’ll descend for about 3 hours to Yanahuara, a village located in the Sacred Valley, where we’ll have our last lunch and say goodbye to our muleteers and cook. After having lunch, we’ll take our transportation to the train station in Ollantaytambo as of this place we’ll continue by train to Aguas Calientes town (Machu Picchu town) for about 1 hour and 45 minutes, where we’ll stay this overnight at a hotel and have dinner at the restaurant (this last dinner is not included). Breakfast and lunch included (except the last dinner). Hiking Time:2-3 Hours (approx) | Hiking Distance: 7 Kms/ 4.35 Miles | Highest Point 3,700 m/ 12,136 ft. | Lowest Point: 3,050 m/ 10,004 ft. | Highlights: IncaRuins, Original section of Inca Trail, jaw dropping views |Hiking through the highland forest, train journey to Aguas Calientes town, cozy hotel in Aguas Calientes town. Train schedule: It can be at 3:37 pm or a later train in expedition class (depends on the availability)|

Day4

Machu Picchu - Cusco

Today a great breakfast at the hotel makes us ready for a full morning exploration of Machu Picchu on a private tour with your Trek Leader. We’ll take the bus to Machu Picchu early in the morning for an amazing tour until 12:00 pm (Machu Picchu permits will be issued for the first group which is from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm). After a great time at the Incan emperor’s palace, we’ll take the bus down to Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes town), where we’ll have lunch (not included). In the afternoon we’ll take the train back to Ollantaytambo train station and/or Poroy train station, as of this place continue driving to your hotel in Cusco by our transportation.

A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the program
Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended
Sandals or jogging shoes for a higher comfort while at camp
Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping
Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
Camera and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
Sun block
After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported
Handkerchiefs
Toilet paper
Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc. Please note that we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. This recommendation applies for all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it is not included in our selection
Water container and water for the first morning. Important notice: plastic water bottles are no longer allowed into the Inca Trail. Plastic water containers (ie. Nalgene) or metal ones are recommended
Optionally: water- sterilising tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far
Small towel
Swimsuit (if you wish to take a bath in the hot springs)
Cash in soles and/or US$
Original passport
Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount)
Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required in order not to damage archaeological sites)