Lares Trek to Machupicchu
Lares Trek is off the beaten path and visits some traditional villages in the mountains that have changed little over the past 500 years. Explore the authentic and native Peru. This remote and rarely visited region offers the trekker an insight into the real lives of Andean farmers, dressed in their traditional brightly-colored ponchos. You will have the opportunity to see thatched stone houses surrounded by herds of llamas and alpacas. Inside the houses’ kitchens, you’ll see guinea pigs running loose. The trek itself is not as difficult as the Inca Trail. There are, however,passes over 13,000 feet (4,000 meters), so it is essential that you are well acclimatized to the altitude before beginning the trek. If you are arriving from sea level, plan on spending at least 1 day in Cusco.
Overview
Itinerario:
- DAY 1: CUSCO – LARES HOT SPRINGS- HUACAHUASI.
- DAY 2: HUACAHUASI – PATACANCHA.
- DAY 3: PATACANCHA – PUMAMARKA – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES.
- DAY 4: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO.
It is an excellent alternative 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 the incas time.
Itinerary
DAY 1
CUSCO – LARES HOT SPRINGS- HUACAHUASI.
We will begin the Peru Lares Trek by leaving Cusco early in the morning and traveling by bus through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the town of Calca. From Calca, we will ascend for about 4 ½ hours to the village of Lares. Once in Lares we will enjoy a relaxing dip in the hot springs and unwind after a long drive. Before the start of our hike of approximately 3 1/2 hours, we will enjoy a delicious lunch. Soon after our lunch, we will ascend to the highland village of Huacahuasi, at (3,600m/11,800ft), where we will camp for the night. This is an authentic Andean Community where you can observe their colorful and distinct weavings.
DAY 2
HUACAHUASI – PATACANCHA.
On the second day of the Peru Lares Trek, we climb steadily, traversing through a treeless landscape of beautiful plants and flowers along with roaming herds of llamas and alpacas. After about 2 1/2 hours we will reach the Ipsayccasa Pass, at an elevation of (4,500m/ 14,760ft), and take in the breathtaking views of Mount Veronica, (5,750m/18,864ft), and the surrounding snow-capped peaks. After taking in these views, we will descend to Ipsaycocha Lake and view the Andean Geese, Puna Ibis, and other water birds. Here we will relax and eat a delicious lunch. Afterwards, we will continue to the village of Patacancha, at (3,700m/ 12,139ft), a well-known textile community where the people still preserve their ancient Quechua customs.
DAY 3
PATACANCHA – PUMAMARKA – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES.
Today, our trail will lead downhill to an outlook facing a wide valley. We will take in the scenery and your guide will point out different plants and animals along the way, including llamas and alpacas. Soon we will arrive at Patacancha. Situated in a fertile river valley and sheltered by huge mountains, this ancient Inca village is considered one of the most important living museums in the world, where the people still live in much the same way as in Inca times. It is a perfect place to appreciate the vast archeological remains and a wide variety of flowers and bird species. We will then continue to the village of Ollantaytambo, where many narrow streets built by the Incan still exist and where some decendants of the Incas still live under Incan architecture. From here, we will take the train to Aguas Calientes in the evening and spend the night there in a hostel.
DAY 4
AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO.
On the final day of our Peru Lares Trek, we will wake up very early to take a bus to the city of Machu Picchu, where we will be one of the first visitors of the day to enjoy the magic and mystery of one of the modern wonders of the world. The walking tour of the city with your guide will take around 2-3 hours. After the tour, you will have free time to explore the entire city on your own. In the afternoon, at the end of our Peru Lares Trek, we will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to board the train to Cusco.
Included
Lares Trek Includes:
- Pick up from your hotel in the morning and transfer by private bus to Lares.
- English-speaking professional guide
- Entrance to Machu Picchu.
- Camping : tents: 2 people in each 4 person-capacity tent, to allow for greater comfort and a place to store the backpacks. (Sleeping matt, dining tent, kitchen tent, bathroom tent, oxygen, first-aid kit)
- Lunch on the last day
- Complete meals during the trip (you’ll never be hungry!). When you wake up in the morning, you will be greeted at your tent by a selection of teas, as well as soap and a bowl of warm water to wash your face.
- Breakfasts include milk, coffee, herbal tea, dark and coca tea, and a combination of bread, butter and jam, pancakes, scrambled eggs and oatmeal. For lunch, you will eat traditional Andean food. Dinner includes chicken, beef or lamb, fish with potatoes, pepper or other main dishes. Snacks include fruit, chocolate candies or sandwiches. We also provide our famous teatime, which includes a buffet of teas, popcorn and other delicious goodies.
- Chef and cooking equipment , assistant chef, horsemen, horses to carry our food and 8 kilo trekker’s bags up
- Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- Hostel accommodation in Aguas Calientes (3rd night)
- Roundtrip bus ticket: Aguas Calientes- Machu Picchu (4th day)
- Return train to Cusco (Expedition train)
- Transfer from train station to the hotel
Not Included in the Peru Lares Trek:
- Tips for your guide and staff, who work many tours to Machu Picchu, are much appreciated
Pictures
Map
Price
Price: US$ 580 per person.
Minimun 2 peolpe required
Group Size: 2-8 people
Note:
Peru Lares Trek services include pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Cusco. This is an additional service that we provide, which sets us apart from other tour providers.
For all group bookings of greater than 3 people, we offer you a free city tour or tour of the Sacred Valley.
Pachacutec Expeditions, does not have any hidden fees. We includes a porter that will carry your personal belongings in all of our treks, at no additional cost.
We will provide you with a duffel bag to put all of your belongings in. The duffel bags easily fit 8 Kilograms /17 pounds per person including your sleeping bags.
However, you will still need to carry your day pack with all of your essentials like water, sunscreen, passport, etc
We offer a discount of US $20 to students with a valid International Student Identity Card (ISIC) and to children under the age of 16 years old. Scanned copies of your ISIC card or child’s passport must be provided at the time of payment of the deposit for the trek in order to qualify for the international discount.
Train for the end of the Peru Lares Trek:
We suggest our tourists 6:45 p.m. train. This departure time will allow you to spend more time at Machu Picchu and do more activities like climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, which can be booked additionally. Also, you can walk to the sun gate , the inca bridge, and still have time to enjoy the hot springs or some cervezas after a long trek.
The 6:45 p.m. train will arrive in Ollantaytambo train station at 8:20 p.m. and you will be picked up by your driver outside of the train station. The driver will be holding a sign with your name on it so that there will be no confusion. If you do not see the driver initially, just wait for them outside the train station. Once the driver has picked you up, then you will travel for 1 1/2 hours in a van before you arrive back at your hotel/hostel. Arrival time in Cusco is approximately 10:00 p.m.
Also, we suggest the 2:55 p.m. train for travelers who are planning to leave Cusco city early in the morning the next day to continue with their travel plans.
Important: We guarantee these early Expedition departures, as per the itinerary, if you book your tours in 2 months in advance. Otherwise we may be forced to offer the Expedition train that departs at 6:45 p.m. only.
There is an option to upgrade your train to the Vistadome train, which is an extra US $35 per person. Please let us your preference at the time of booking.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
If you are thinking of climbing Huayna picchu mountain you must book in advance. Only 400 people can hike Huaynapicchu per day. You will climb it on your own after the tour in Machu Picchu, starting around 10:00 a.m. We recomend that you book your tickets in advance to let us know of your interest in Huayna Picchu. Machu Picchu Mountain is an alternative climbing mountain, which also offers fantasic views of the site. We recomend it if huayna Picchu Mountain is overbooked.
Rentals
Hiking poles: US $1o.00 (pair)
Sleeping bag US $2o.00
Air Matress US $15.00
For treks that includes accommodation at Aguas Calientes, we will stay in a hotel. In contrast to other companies, we will not be staying in basic shared rooms or sharing showers.