There are many trekking routes to Machupicchu. But there is now a little known route called the “Lares trek” that is one of the main alternatives to the popular Inca Trail. It is a route that combines hikes through high altitudes, around beautiful lakes, as well as through Quechua communities still in the mountains that maintain the true spirit of the Andes of Peru. Book this trek where nature and ancient culture collide, and get to know the real Andes of Peru.
- Professional English speaking Mountain Guide
- Pre-Departure Briefing at your hotel
- Collection from hotel to start of the trek
- Private transportation to start of Trek and return
- Entrance into Machupicchu
- Roundtrip Bus up to Machupicchu from Aguas Calientes
- Expert chef and assistant chef
- All meals except, Lunch/Dinner last day (Buffet Style Peruvian Cuisine). We also cater for vegetarians and various dietary requirements.
- Boiled water to fill in your bottles each morning.
- 7kg Personal luggage allowance to put on the horses –extra clothes, sleeping bag (you just need to carry a small daypack with everything you will need during the day).
- Personal Duffle Bags for your extra luggage to put on the horses
- Spacious tents / Thermarest Inflatable Mattress and pillow
- Toilet tent with portable toilet
- Horses to carry the group equipment (food, tents, tables, etc.)
- Emergency horse in case we need it
- Emergency Oxygen bottle and first aid kit
- Inca Rail or Expedition train ticket Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Hotel on the 3th night of the Trek – we use 3*
- Sleeping Bag (can be rented from us)
- Day 4 lunch in Aguas Calientes
- Hiking poles (can be rented from us)
- Climb up Huaynapicchu Mnt or Machupicchu Mnt – $25 payable in advance for permit
- Gratuities
- Original passport (if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both)
- Down or synthetic feather sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
- Clothes (trekking boots, warm fleece jacket, a few t-shirts, socks, sun hat, warm underwear, light long pants, gloves, rain jacket)
- Toiletries (toilet paper, wet wipes, personal towel)
- Sunscreen SPF 50+ recommended
- Head lamp
- Sunglasses
- Camera with spare batteries (batteries run down faster at high altitudes)
- Binoculars
- Trekking poles (recommended especially for the steep descents, can be rented from us)
- Insect repellent.
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 01: Cusco – Calca – Quishuarani – Cuncani
We will leave Cusco early in the morning and drive to Calca. Here we will make a small stop to visit the local market and the ancient bakeries. We will ascend to visit the Ancasmarca archeological site and see some wildlife. From here you continue on to Quishuarani (3,700m).
The trek starts with 3-4 hour gradual ascent that gets steeper as you approach the first pass, Huilquijasa (4,200m). You will be encouraged by the scenic view. In about 2-3 hours of descent we will arrive to the first camp in the Andean community of Cuncani (3,750m).
❊ Meals: Lunch/Dinner
❊ Accommodation: Camping
❊ Maximum altitude: 4,364 m/14,320ft.
❊ Minimum altitude: 3,728 m/12,230 ft.
❊ Total distance to walk: 8 km/5 miles
❊ Estimated time: 5 hours
❊ Level of Difficulty: moderate
Day 02: Cuncani – Wacawasi – Epsaycocha
After breakfast and preparations we will restart the hike ascending for about 2 hours. At the high point of Cuncani we can see the valley of Chancachaca, and the small community of Huacawasi. After lunch, we will continue ascending for another 2 hours until we reach the top of Ipsayccasa at 4,350m (the highest point of our journey). Our effort will be well rewarded with a wonderful view of the surrounding mountains. After another 1 hour of hiking we will set up camp next to the beautiful Lake Ipsaycocha.
❊ Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
❊ Accommodation: Camping
❊ Maximum altitude: 4,464 m/14,646 ft.
❊ Minimum altitude: 3,830 m/12,595 ft.
❊ Total distance to walk: 13.4 km/8.1 miles
❊ Estimated time: 8 hours
❊ Level of Difficulty: Challenging
Day 03: Epsaycocha – Patacancha – Pumamarka – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
The last part of the trek is a descent to the Patacancha, Andean textile community with strong ancient Quechua traditions. From here we will continue our trip by bus to Pumamarca and tour the ruins. Finally, we will leave for our visit of Ollantaytambo which is located in the Sacred Valley next to the Urubamba River. In the afternoon we will continue our journey by train to Aguas Calientes where we will spend the night in a hotel.
❊ Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
❊ Accommodation: hotel
❊ Maximum altitude: 4,331 m/14,212 ft.
❊ Minimum altitude: 3,848 m/12,625 ft.
❊ Total distance to walk: 7 km/4.3 miles
❊ Estimated time: 4 hours
❊ Level of Difficulty: moderate
Day 04: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
It is an early start to Machu Picchu to see the sunrise over this magnificent ancient city! We take the first bus up to Machupicchu and have a fully guided tour around 2 hours long. After the tour you have plenty of free-time to explore the citadel on your own and maybe even climb Huaynapicchu or Inca Bridge. Afterwards, you can come back down to the town on a bus for lunch. Your extra time in the citadel is dependent on your return train time. In the afternoon we take the train back to Ollantaytambo where our driver will be waiting to transfer you back to your hotel in Cusco.
❇︎ Meals: Breakfast
❇︎ Maximum altitude: 2,430 m/7,972 ft.
❇︎ Minimum Altitude: 2,040 m/6,691 ft.
