Lares Trek

The Classic Lares Trek 4 DAYS

"ares Hot Springs - Pachacutec Pass - Huaran - Maras Salt Mines - Machu Picchu"

Max. Altitude
4500m/14763ft
Group Size
Up to 12 people
Accommodation
Camps & Hostel
Difficulty
Moderate

DESCRIPTION

The Epic Andean Experience Trek

Our exciting four-day trek from Lares to Machu Picchu offers a magical and breathtaking experience that you’ll never forget! It’s a wonderful option for those who want to enjoy an off-the-beaten-path trek and see incredible scenery while in great company.

Along the trail, you’ll find rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and awe-inspiring views of the Andes mountain range's snow-capped peaks. If you’re interested in Andean Culture, this trail is the perfect choice. You’ll get to visit various countryside communities where they raise sheep, llamas, and alpacas and get up close and personal with the communities.

Our Classic Lares Trek is the perfect option for those who want to escape large crowds, hike among stunning scenery, and witness rural Andean life up close. You can choose this trek whether you travel alone, with a partner, or in a group.

The path is intense but not as extreme as others. Along the way, rivers will roar by your side, and impressive waterfalls will appear in front of you, catching you by surprise and helping you relax along the rushing waters. You’ll also see teardrop ponds of different colors: blue, green, and turquoise.

You’ll stop off at different small communities and share some special moments with the people who live there. You’ll get to learn some of their customs and traditions and witness how they live off the land in these rural parts of the world.

After these magical few days in the mountains, you’ll finish your trek with a visit to one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World: The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Explore this incredible site with your guide and then by yourself as you uncover its secrets and feel its amazing energy. Don’t miss out on this epic trek!

Why Take the Lares Trek To Machu Picchu 4 Days?

  • Enjoy one of the best alternative routes to Machu Picchu.
  • Escape the large crowds on this off-the-beaten-path trek in peace and quiet with just the sounds of nature to accompany you.
  • Take a dip in the medicinal and relaxing Lares Hot Springs to give your muscles some TLC before you start hiking.
  • Hike through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world in the middle of the Andes.
  • Immerse yourself in the local culture as you spend time with rural Andean communities and learn their customs and traditions.
  • Visit the fascinating and unique Maras Salt Mines.
  • End your epic journey with a visit to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu.

CAN I STORE MY LUGGAGE AT YOUR OFFICE? (4 days)

Of course! During the travel, your main luggage can be stored at our office or at your hotel, both free of charge.

This exciting journey begins at 5:00 am. with a pickup from your accommodation. You'll witness the city waking up to the world as we drive toward the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We'll stop off after an hour and a half of driving to visit the local market in Calca and stock up on last-minute supplies, like snacks, fruit, or water. We'll then make our way for two more hours until the Lares hot springs and be spoiled with an energizing breakfast.

After breakfast and with the incredible view of the towering mountains in the background, we'll dip in the thermal waters at any of the pools, ranging in various sizes and temperatures. These pools' volcanic waters are therapeutic and help treat bone and muscle illnesses. It's also said to relieve stress and headaches.

After some rest, we'll continue driving to the hike starting point in Cuncani (3,800 m / 12,467 ft). Here, we'll meet our trekking team of horsemen and chefs, who'll accompany us on the route. They will transport your luggage on horses, so the only thing you'll need to worry about is enjoying the trek!

Soon, you'll find yourself in front of the impressive Pacchayoc waterfall, a true gift of Mother Nature, and keep walking until you reach an area filled with gorgeous little lakes. There, you'll enjoy a sumptuous lunch made by our chef right in the middle of the mountains! Later, we'll proceed to the Willkikasa pass (4,400 m / 14,436 ft), the day's highest point. From here, we'll trek downhill for an hour and a half to the campsite for the night in Quiswarani.

You'll have plenty of time to explore the village and learn about the lifestyle and traditions of the people from this rural area. We'll also see the school where children speak Quechua, their native language. If you like, you can bring toys, or other school supplies for them, which will be very appreciated, as they live far away from the nearest town or city.

We'll enjoy warming hot drinks while the sky darkens and the starry constellations begin to show themselves. Finally, we'll have a tasty dinner, and you'll be able to stargaze before heading to your tent to rest.

Please note: You won't have access to your items during the day, so carry what you need in a daypack.

There, you’ll enjoy a fantastic Andean cultural experience

Today, you’ll wake up around 5:30 am with a hot drink to get you going. The people from the town will already be taking their llamas and alpacas out to graze at this early hour. Breakfast will be served as soon as we finish getting our gear ready. We’ll fill our water bottles and get our snacks to start the day with plenty of energy for the hike ahead.

There’ll be a 4-5 hour ascent toward the highest point on the whole trek, the Pachacutec Pass at 4,700 m / 15,420 ft. We’ll hike upward in a zigzag pattern to make the hike uphill at this high altitude more manageable. The landscapes here will astound you, so make sure you have your camera at the ready. You'll spot the stunning lake of Qoyalay and the impressive Qanchispaccha (seven waterfalls).

We’ll soon find ourselves above the clouds once we get to the Pachacutec Pass, from where you can enjoy a beautiful 360-degree view. Right in front of you, you’ll see the majestic mountains of Pitusiray and Qolqe Cruz. Take this opportunity to capture some fantastic photos because soon, we’ll begin our hike downhill. We’ll walk for half an hour on a descent down the slope to where we’ll enjoy our lunch. Don’t give up just yet; we still need to walk two more hours!

We’ll find our campsite in the village of Cancha Cancha (3,950 m / 12,959 ft). 85% of the houses here are made with traditional techniques and materials, such as stone walls and thatched roofs. Our support team will set up the tents, which means you’ll be free to mingle with the friendly locals. Afterward, your guide will take you to one of the community houses to learn all about the lifestyle of these peoples’ remote regions. You'll also see some traditional hand-made alpaca and llama wool textiles. Later on, you'll enjoy hot drinks and another nourishing dinner before retiring to your tent.

Just like every morning, our team will wake you up with a hot drink to start the day in the best way possible. Once you’re ready, we’ll be on our way with the last leg of the trek. We'll walk 4 hours downhill along a path where you'll see herds of sheep, llamas, and alpacas again. It’s beautiful to see them grazing in their natural habitat. We'll pass by fields of potatoes, fava beans, and other Andean products. Take this great opportunity to learn more about Andean agricultural techniques that play such a huge role in the lives of these communities.

Then, we’ll start descending to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You'll feel the drastic change between micro-climates and notice different crops from those you saw in the higher altitudes. The Sacred Valley cultivates corn, quinoa, kiwi, peaches, avocados, and many other types of fruits. This area is full of history and Inca culture and was an extremely important part of their empire. We'll end this part of the tour in the small town of Huaran (2,920 m / 9,580 ft), where you'll say goodbye to the trekking team and enjoy a nutritious lunch made with local produce.

Our transportation will be waiting for us to drive through the Sacred Valley to the Maras Salt Mines at 3,000 m / 9.843 ft. This is a truly unique part of the world due to its nearly 3,000 small evaporation chambers that have been used since pre-Inca times to harvest salt. Thanks to the minerals in the salt, it has curative properties and turns a beautiful pink color. There’s a small shop at the mine where you can buy some of the pink salt if you’re interested. It’s great for cooking and makes it an excellent gift.

Afterward, we’ll continue for nearly 50 more minutes to the quaint town of Ollantaytambo, the last intact inhabited Inca town that exists. There, you'll see water canals, houses, and walls that are over five centuries old. Your guide will drive you around to see more of this small town until it’s time for dinner in a local restaurant. We’ll then board the train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu. When we arrive at Aguas Calientes, you'll check in to a hotel. You can now relax and prepare for the most astounding day of the trip tomorrow.

Today is reserved for the glorious Machu Picchu. You’ll explore this magnificent feat of humankind, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and Historical and Cultural World Heritage Site.

After a great night’s rest, we’ll wake up for a quick breakfast while it’s still dark outside and get going to beat the large crowds. This way, you can enjoy the serenity of this place in the warm morning light. The entrance opens at 6:00 am, and we want to be there as one of the day’s first visitors.

You´ll take a guided tour of approximately two hours to see the magnificent architectural feats of the Incas. The guide will lead you through several key points of the citadel, including some stops to enjoy the spectacular citadel views and listen to updated, curious data from our guide, its history, and construction. You’ll be astounded by how they sustained an entire and planned city and sense their deep and bonded connection with nature.

You can climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain if you have tickets in advance. Then, you’ll head back down to Aguas Calientes to grab lunch in a restaurant of your choice before heading to the station.

We’ll take the train for an hour-and-forty minutes ride to Ollantaytambo and then take our private transport back to Cusco. We’ll drop you at your hotel, where you can finally rest your legs and share the incredible experience you had in the Andes.

What Is Included?

  • Sleeping bag
  • trekking stick
  • Extra oxygen
  • First Aid kit
  • One foamy sleeping pad per person
  • Inflatable Mattress
  • Van transportation from Cusco to Lares hot springs
  • Professional and licensed, experienced, bilingual guide (English and Spanish) Horseman
  • Chef
  • All camping equipment
  • All meals during the trek
  • Pack horses or mules
  • Hostel in Aguas Calientes
  • Machu Picchu guided tour
  • Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
  • train tickets: From Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
  • train tickets: From Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo
  • Transportation to Cusco from Ollantaytambo train station
  • Drinkable water included
  • Snacks every day

What Is Not Included?

  • The last Dinner, beverages are not included in the pax.
  • Tips and extra cash
  • Others not mentioned
  • Personal medicines

What you should pack for this tour

  • Original Passport
  • Walking boots
  • Waterproof jacket / rain poncho
  • Warm jacket
  • Hat and gloves
  • T-shirts
  • Comfortable trousers
  • Sun hat
  • Sun cream (factor 35 or higher)
  • Insect repellant
  • Toiletries and hand sanitiser
  • Personal medication
  • Camera and film with extra batteries
  • Torch with spare batteries
  • Daypack

"Everything you need to pack for your tours in Peru"

To know more Details Click Here

usa-passport
ORIGINAL PASSPORT
WATER BOTTLE OR HYDRATION BLADDER
WATER BOTTLE OR HYDRATION BLADDER
Sunglasses for hiking in high mountains
SUNGLASSES
DAYPACK
DAYPACK
CAMERA / VIDEOCAMERA
CAMERA / VIDEOCAMERA
NOTEBOOK / JOURNAL AND PEN
NOTEBOOK / JOURNAL AND PEN
INSULATED JACKET
INSULATED JACKET
HARD SHELL JACKET AND RAIN GEAR
HARD SHELL JACKET AND RAIN GEAR
TRAINERS (TREKKING SHOES / SANDALS)
TRAINERS (TREKKING SHOES / SANDALS)
HIKING BOOTS
HIKING BOOTS
HIKING SOCKS
HIKING SOCKS
THERMAL SOCKS
THERMAL SOCKS
GAITERS
GAITERS
TREKKING SHORTS AND TROUSERS
TREKKING SHORTS AND TROUSERS
BASE LAYER
BASE LAYER
TREKKING SHIRTS
TREKKING SHIRTS
FLEECE JACKET
FLEECE JACKET
UNDERWEAR
UNDERWEAR
HAT FOR SUN PROTECTION
HAT FOR SUN PROTECTION
HARD SHELL JACKET AND RAIN GEAR
HARD SHELL JACKET AND RAIN GEAR
HEADLAMP
HEADLAMP
HEAD BAND OR BEANIE
HEAD BAND OR BEANIE
INNER GLOVES
INNER GLOVES
OUTER GLOVES
OUTER GLOVES
SLEEPING BAG
SLEEPING BAG
TREKKING POLES
TREKKING POLES
DUFFLE BAG:
DUFFLE BAG:
MONEY IN SOLES
MONEY IN SOLES

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