2 Days Lares Camping Tour - Full Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Calca – Ancashmarca – Puyas de Raimondi – 7 Waterfalls – Lares Hot Springs – ADAL Weaving – Kiswarani Camp

We pick you up early from your hotel in Cusco (around 4:30 a.m.), and if you’re staying in the Sacred Valley near Pisac, we can pick you up there too. As the sun rises over the mountains, we drive into the Sacred Valley and stop in Calca to visit the local market, where you’ll see everyday life in action, fresh fruit, local snacks, and the morning buzz of the valley. Nearby, you’ll enjoy your box breakfast before we continue to the high Andes.

Next, we reach Ancashmarca, a quiet Inca site that most travelers never visit. You’ll walk among terraces and stone structures while your guide shares the story of the place and its role in the region, all with wide mountain views and a calm, uncrowded atmosphere. From there, we head to the high plateau where the Puya Raimondi grows, and take a scenic walk of about one hour through open landscapes with great photo stops.

After a short drive to the Kiswarani area, you’ll follow a gentle trail to the 7 Waterfalls (Canchipaccha / Qanchis Paccha), passing small villages, open fields, alpacas and llamas, and mountain streams. In the afternoon, we arrive at the Lares Hot Springs, where you can soak in warm pools with mountain views while our chef prepares a fresh lunch. After lunch, we visit ADAL, a women-run weaving cooperative, to learn about traditional weaving techniques and natural dyes, with the option to support the community directly if you’d like.

Later, we drive to the camping area near Kiswarani, where camp is already set up and waiting. You’ll settle into your tent, enjoy a warm drink as the temperature drops, and finish the day with a hot dinner under a star-filled Andean sky.

• Hiking Distance: 4–7 km / 2.5–4.3 mi
• Duration: 2–3 hours total
• Campsite Altitude: 3,800–3,900 m / 12,470–12,795 ft
• Highest Altitude: 4,200 m / 13,780 ft
• Meals: Box breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Accommodation: Campsite
• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Day 2: Kiswarani – Waterfalls + Blue Lagoon – Cusco

Wake up in the Andes, breathe in the crisp morning air, and enjoy breakfast at camp with wide mountain views.

Gentle hike to waterfalls + Blue Lagoon area
After breakfast, you’ll start a gentle hike to explore more of the Kiswarani area, including viewpoints, small waterfalls, and the beautiful Blue Lagoon. This part of the tour is all about slow travel—fresh air, open valleys, and quiet moments. It’s also a great place to look for wildlife, like Andean birds and waterfowl near the lake, plus alpacas grazing nearby.

Chef lunch + return to Cusco
We return to camp for a well‑earned lunch prepared by the team, then begin the drive back to Cusco. You’ll usually arrive around 6:00 p.m., depending on road conditions and the group pace.

• Hiking Distance: 4–6 km / 2.5–3.7 mi
• Duration: 1.5–2.5 hours total
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

2 Days Lares Valley - Price

We run this as a small‑group tour for a more personal experience. If you want something more flexible or exclusive, private service is available on request.

Price per person

• From US$130 - Adults
• From 4+ Travelers, contact us to get a special price: info@trexperienceperu.com

Booking and payment

• Deposit: US$50 per person (to reserve your spot). The remaining can be paid online or at our office in Cusco, using any credit card, PayPal, or wire transfer. Contact us to see alternative payment options.

 2 Days Lares hot spring & 7 Waterfalls - Packing List

You’ll likely travel around Peru with larger luggage, but for this tour, you only need what you’ll use over 2 days. Because this is a vehicle‑supported trip, you can bring a small overnight bag, and the transportation will carry it to camp.

Bring a 20–30L daypack for what you need during the day, a small overnight bag for warm layers and personal camp items (keep it simple), and leave any extra luggage at your Cusco hotel.

Essential

What to wear?

What to put in the daypack?

What we provide you?

Lares Camping Tour - Travel Information

Location

This 2-day adventure blends culture, landscapes, and quiet Andean villages as you travel from Cusco down into the Sacred Valley for a morning stop in Calca, then climb into the high Andes toward Ancashmarca, the Puya Raimondi plateau, and the Kiswarani area.

Along the way you’ll hike to the 7 Waterfalls (Canchipaccha / Qanchis Paccha), soak in the Lares Hot Springs, and visit ADAL, a women-run weaving cooperative where you can see traditional techniques and natural dyes.

The route finishes with an overnight camp near Kiswarani village, followed by an easy morning hike to viewpoints, small waterfalls, and the Blue Lagoon, before returning to Cusco.

Altitude

Altitude changes quickly on this route, so pacing and hydration matter. You start in Cusco (3,399 m / 11,152 ft), drop to Calca (2,926 m / 9,600 ft), then climb to the high Andes with a max elevation around 4,200 m / 13,780 ft near the waterfalls and plateau.

After that, you descend to the Lares Hot Springs (~3,200–3,250 m / 10,500–10,660 ft) and continue to camp near Kiswarani (~3,800–3,900 m / 12,470–12,795 ft).

Weather

Because the itinerary moves between the Sacred Valley and high-altitude terrain, conditions can shift in a single day. Expect a cold early start in Cusco, milder weather in Calca, and breezier stretches around Ancashmarca.

It’s typically colder and windier near the Puya Raimondi zone and the waterfalls, with a cool mountain climate around Lares and ADAL, especially toward late afternoon and at camp.

Difficulty

Overall, this is easy to moderate, with altitude as the main challenge. The hikes are short and scenic, done at a comfortable pace with plenty of photo stops, more about enjoying the landscapes than pushing limits.

Additional Tips

• Pack a swimsuit, towel, and sandals for Lares; many travelers also like dry socks and a warm layer for after the soak.
• Calca market and small villages are often cash-only, bring small bills.
• Signal can be weak in parts of the valley; download anything important before leaving Cusco.

Frequently Asked Questions