View photos

Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days

Duration 3 days / 2 nights

Difficulty Moderate to high

Elevation 4,646 msnm

Travel style Adventure

Immerse yourself in the heart of the Lares Valley with this sporty trek that combines adventure, living culture, and breathtaking landscapes. Over 3 days, you will explore Andean communities that still preserve ancestral traditions inherited from the Incas, share with their inhabitants, participate in agricultural activities, and savor organic foods grown by them. The journey culminates with a visit to the majestic citadel of Machu Picchu, the perfect ending to an authentic and unforgettable experience in the Peruvian Andes.

Itinerary
Inclusions
Recommendations before taking the tour

Itinerary

DAY 01: CUSCO – CUNCANI – HUACAWASI

We will begin our adventure at 6:00 a.m. with pickup from your hotel, heading to the community of Cuncani (3,750 m). Along the way, we will stop at the local market of Calca, where you can discover the natural products that come from the interior of the Cusco region.

Cuncani will be our meeting point with the local culture and the starting point of the downhill trail that will lead us to the community of Huacawasi (3,800 m). There, we will have the opportunity to experience ancestral culture, interpret their philosophy and beliefs, and delight in their culinary art. We will spend the night in a rural community tourist lodge or camping.

In the Andean community of Huacawasi, an innovative community-based tourism model is promoted, where local women will teach us the secrets of ancestral textile art: from shearing llama or alpaca wool to the creation of colorful typical textiles that represent daily activities and Andean cosmology.

DAY 02: HUACAWASI – IPSAY PASS – PATACANCHA – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES

This day will be the most challenging of the trek, but we will be rewarded with spectacular scenery: the Urubamba mountain range, snow-capped peaks, crystal-clear streams, a mosaic of farmland, and colorful lagoons that reflect the Andean sky. A downhill trail will take us to Ipsay Cocha Lake, a small body of water that is home to native wildlife.

We will walk through the heart of the Quechua land, whose inhabitants are known as “Huayruros” due to their traditional red and black clothing, which evokes the colors of a famous seed of the same name.

From the community of Patacancha, we will travel by vehicle to Ollantaytambo, where we will board the train to Aguas Calientes. There, we will spend the night in a comfortable hotel.

DAY 03: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

After breakfast, we will leave the hotel to take the first bus that will take us to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.

At the entrance of the sanctuary, our guide will be waiting to begin a guided tour of approximately 2 hours, during which we will visit the Inca workshops, the Temple of the Moon, the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Condor, and other emblematic spaces.

After the guided tour, you will have free time to explore the citadel on your own. Afterwards, we will return to Aguas Calientes; if you wish, you can visit the hot springs (optional activity). Finally, we will board the train back to the Ollantaytambo station, where our transportation will be waiting to return to the city of Cusco.

Inclusions

The tour Includes

Briefing at your accommodation 1 or 2 days before the trek.
Private transportation from your hotel in Cusco to Cuncani (start of the trek).
Transportation from Patacancha to the Ollantaytambo train station.
Round-trip bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.
Expedition train round-trip Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo.
Transportation Ollantaytambo – Cusco.
Entrance fee to Machu Picchu.
Professional tour guide.
Camping equipment: professional tents for 2 people, mattresses, sanitary and utility tents.
Hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Meals: 02 breakfasts, 02 lunches, and 02 dinners.
Hot water for personal use in the camp in the morning and at night.
Horseman and mules for the transportation of camping equipment and food.
A security horse during the trek.
First aid kit.

The tour Does Not Include

Breakfast and lunch on the last day.
Sleeping bag (can be rented from our agency).
Personal expenses.

Recommendations before taking the tour

The trek described above may vary due to weather conditions, landslides, walking pace of the participants, or other factors. Our professional guide will make the right decisions along the way for the benefit and safety of the group.
Andean weather is quite unpredictable. Therefore, we suggest bringing warm clothing, hat/cap, sunglasses, scarf, gloves, jacket, sunblock, and 2 liters of mineral water per person.
During this hike, we will reach 4,500 meters above sea level. This, combined with weather conditions, can make the daily hike more challenging. To better enjoy the hike, we recommend you to be healthy and in good physical condition.
Do not forget to acclimatize in our city at least 3 days before the trek.