Lares Machupicchu Trek 04 Days – 03 Nights

LARES MACHUPICCHU TREK
DAY 1: CUSCO – CUNCANI – YANACOCHA – SONDOR (06 walking hours)

At about 6:00am, we’ll pick you up at your hotel for the 6-hour bus trip to the beginning of the trek. We’ll make a stop in the town of Calca to visit the local market, have breakfast and buy any supplies you may have forgotten. Your guide might suggest that you buy some extra bread to hand out to children that you encounter on the trek. The beautiful route goes to Cuncani village, which is the starting point of the Lares trek. On the first day, we might see small herds of llamas, alpacas, guanacos and even the rarer vicunas, all of which belong to the famous Andean camelides. We can also see an example of a typical Andean communities at Cuncani. After the first pass, we’ll arrive to Yanacocha and enjoy lunch near this beautiful lake. After lunch, we’ll to the first campsite at Huacawasi (3600m/11811f). You’ll gradually ascend for 5 or 6 hours, which is a good warm-up for the next day when we reach the highest point of the trek. There you’ll be joined by the rest of the trekking team.This is the perfect opportunity to explore this little town better, as well as its Andean culture. Your tents will be ready and you’ll have a snack of popcorn, sweets and hot tea before dinner.

• Day climate: Warm
• Night climate: Cold

DAY 2: SONDOR – HUACAWASI C’ASA PASS – ARURAY COCHA – YURAK COCHA – MANTANAY – PUCARA (08 walking hours)

After a nutritious breakfast, we’ll ascend towards the highest point of the trek, Huacawasi Pass at 4500m/14763f. This steep, uphill hike takes about 4 hours. An emergency horse will accompany us so that everyone will be able to reach the top. You’ll see enormous mountains, a patchwork of farms, and breathtaking views. Be aware that we’ll be hiking to high altitudes, and the weather can be very cold. After reaching the summit of the pass, we’ll descend and pass beautiful lagoons, and stop to have lunch. You can recuperate while our cooks prepare a delicious, hearty lunch. Next we’ll descend further through a forest where you see queuñas trees, typical of the Peruvian Andes, and other flora and fauna of this wonderful park. We’ll continue descending until we arrive to the second campsite at Pucara (3000m/9842f). There you’ll enjoy tea and snacks before dinner.

BIRD WATCHING

In the afternoon, we can observe local and migratory birds, including hummingbirds, in the cloud forest, as well as see some orchids and bromeliads.

• Day climate: Warm
• Night climate: Cold

DAY 3: PUCARA – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES (05 walking hours)

Today will be another spectacular day as we continue walking to the Yanahuara Inca agricultural terraces, where Andean people still grow the famous corn with giant kernels of the Sacred Valley called “maiz parcay.” From there we continue to Pachar, where we join the Inka trail to Ollantaytambo over the Inka terraces. On the way, we’ll see a small archeological site called Choccana. We’ll continue to Ollantaytambo, a town in the Sacred Valley famous for being mostly preserved from the time of the Incas and lunch. We’ll take the train at 13:00pm to Aguas Calientes, you’ll have time to visit the town. Overnight in Aguas Calientes. 

• Climate: Warm

DAY 4: MACHU PICCHU TOWN – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO (03 walking hours)

We’ll leave the hotel after breakfast at 5:30am to head for Machu Picchu (2400m/7874f) by tourist bus. We’ll arrive at the citadel around 6:00am. After a guided tour around the archaeological site, including information about the life and culture of the Incas, you’ll have time to enjoy Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu (NOT included) on your own.  Later, you’ll descend to Aguas Calientes where you’ll have time to have lunch. Later, you’ll leave Aguas Calientes by train around 18:00, going to Ollantaytambo train station, at your arrival the driver will be transferring to your hotel in Cusco.

END OF OUR SERVICE

PROGRAM INCLUDED:

• Transport from the hotel to the Lares Valley.
• Tourist train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes.
• 02 Bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to MachuPicchu / MachuPicchu to Aguas Calientes
• Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco.
• Entrance to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary.
• 01 Overnight in a basic Hotel with breakfast in Aguas Calientes
• Entrance to the Machu Picchu citadel
• Bilingual Spanish-English professional guide
• High-quality camping equipment for 2 persons. Camping mattresses, eating tent with table and chairs,
• Camping equipment, dining tent, kitchen, with tent shelters and toilets.
• Meals during the trek (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks).
• Notify in case of allergies or special diet such as vegetarian.
• Cook and kitchen equipment.
• Muleteers and mules for transporting camping equipment and your personal belongings (maximum 7 kg/15lb per person)
• Rescue horse (2 people)
• First aid kit and oxygen bottle
• Cold, boiled water during the all trek.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Breakfast on the first day
• Sleeping bag
• Optional: Climbing Wayna Picchu
• Requires booking months in advance.
• Tips for the horseman, cooks and guides are always welcome.
• The horseman is also very grateful for school supplies for their children.