Lares Trek 4 Days / 3 Nights

Itinerary:

Day 1: Cusco – Huaran – Cancha Cancha

Your Andean mountain adventure through the Lares trek to Machu Picchu starts early. We will pick you up at 5:00 am from your hotel in Cusco. We will spend the day hiking uphill as we make our way to the summit of the mountain. Continuing then for 40 more minutes to Huaran. We’ll meet up with our muleteer and horses, and continue the trail to Cancha Cancha. It will be a challenging hike, but we will walk through farmlands full of a rich variety of vegetation and snow-capped peaks that will be a great fun along the way.

Cancha Cancha (3,900m.a.s.l. / 12,800ft) is one of the most isolated and traditional self-sufficient community as it has been for hundreds of years. We’ll set you up in your tent and then have afternoon tea. You will have the opportunity to visit a local family. You will learn all about the life in a traditional Andean village, with your guide as interpreter. After dinner, your guide will show you the Inca constellations that they relied on to foresee their farming and harvest seasons and still use these days.

• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon tea – Dinner.
• Accommodation: camping
• Elevation: 3,680 m/12,073 ft.
• Distance: 8 km
• Walking time: Approximately 4-5 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 2: Cancha Cancha – Quiswarani

Today begins our second hiking day. After another delicious breakfast, we will begin our 7-hour trek to the northeast. It is an intense walk, crossing high passes on our way, towards the highest point of our trek, the Pachacuteq Pass (4,500m.a.s.l. / 14,800ft). Then we will celebrate our great achievement, the satisfaction and the joy of having reached the top. What motivates you along the trail for this intense portion of the hike are views of glaciers, remote lakes, herds of alpacas, rugged valleys, and spectacular mountain views. Keep your eyes to the sky for hawks or Andean geese!

After enjoying the summit, we will descend for 3 hours until we reach our campsite located in the community of Quiswarani, (3,700m.a.s.l./ 12,139 feet). Along the way, we will take a secluded trail where we will see local highland people in their traditional costumes herding their llamas and alpacas. The local people will open their hearts and interact with you in the Quechua language (the language of the Incas). Your guide will act as your interpreter to translate and teach you a bit of this language.

At the campsite, everything will be ready. You’ll enjoy hot drinks and snacks before dinner, then curl up for a comfortable night’s sleep.

• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon tea – Dinner.
• Accommodation: camping
• Elevation: 4,500 m/14,760 ft.
• Distance: 13 km
• Walking time: Approximately 7-8 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging

Day 3: Quiswarani – Cuncani – Lares – Ollantaytambo

Today is a day full of adventure and full of rewards! We start our ascent for 3 hours until we reach the Willqaqasa pass, (4,200m/13,779ft) getting a view of the mountains reflections in mirror images in the glacial lakes. The majestic Colquecruz and Pitusiray mountains are impressive to admire from this pass. We continue our trek through the highland grasslands, rolling, productive agricultural sites and pristine natural lakes. Time to descend 2 hours to the community of Cucani.

From Cuncani we descend through a lush valley with extensive agricultural areas, fruit trees, several flora and native flowers such as begonias and wild orchids.

Finally, we arrive at our destination, the Lares Hot Springs (3,100m.a.s.l/10,170ft), where we will not wait long to soak in the natural volcanic waters. Then we will have lunch, and relax. It’s time to say goodbye to our extraordinary chef and companions.

We will leave Lares, with a lot of experiences and we will take our transport to Ollantaytambo for 2.5 hours, where we will have dinner and then we will take the train to the town of Aguas Calientes.

• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon tea – Dinner.
• Accommodation: Hotel in Aguas Calientes Town
• Elevation: 4200m/13,779 ft.
• Distance: 14 km
• Walking time: Approximately 5-6 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 4: Aguas Calientes Town – Machu Picchu – Cusco

This is the day you’ve been waiting for! After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will take one of the first buses to Machu Picchu so you can get there to witness the sunrise. It is a truly remarkable site and not something you want to miss! Your guide will give you the full tour, which takes about two hours. You will see all the most important sites of Machu Picchu, including the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Condor etc.

After your tour, those who have booked in advance for the additional hikes up to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain will have time to enjoy those views on their own. When you have completed with the exceptional views of Machu Picchu, you will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Depending on the departure time of the train.

The train will take you back to Ollantaytambo. Our driver from Hello Peru Tours will meet you at the exit of the train station to take you back to your hotel in Cusco.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Difficulty: Easy