The Ultimate Lares Trek and Inca Trail tour offer a unique experience for hikers to combine the beauty of the Andean mountains, Local villages, and the last part of the original Inca Trail, arriving at Machu Picchu twice. Offering such a variety of landscapes and experiences, the Ultimate Lares Trek really does have it all!
Why Ultimate Lares trek? Day by day summary Day 1: Cusco – Lares Thermal Baths – Kiswarani Falls – Campamento (9 km, 4 hrs) Highlights of the Ultimate Lares Trek and Inca Trail * Complimentary airport Pick up and drop off Book your tour with only an initial payment of a 200.USD deposit, the remaining balance can be paid online with any credit card, on installments, or in Cusco at our office upon arrival.
DAY 1: CUSCO – LARES THERMAL BATHS – KISWARANI FALLS TreXperience team will pick you up from your hotel at around 4:30 am (depending on your location) and drive you through the beautiful landscape of the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the famous Lares thermo-medicinal baths – arriving at approximately 8:00 am. We’ll jump straight into the medicinal pools – all of which are set at different temperatures. The water is great for your bones, muscles, stress, and headaches and therefore this is the perfect way to prepare for your TreXperience! After soaking our bodies we will enjoy breakfast in a beautiful location surrounded by the majestic Andean mountains. After breakfast, we have time to enjoy nature and take in your beautiful surroundings. Today’s route is relatively easy with a 2-hour trek uphill until we reach Kiswarani village. Our chef will be waiting with a delicious lunch that has been freshly prepared using natural, organic, local produce. It’s then another 2-hour walk to our campsite, located on the bank of a beautiful blue lake at (3750 m/ 1230 ft). Along the trail, we will pass picturesque landscapes adorned with traditional Andean houses made of adobe bricks and thatched roofs. Here local villages survive by farming potatoes and raising llamas, alpacas, and sheep. We will pass beautiful streams and a waterfall which is the source of the Amazon river – the largest in the world. On reaching our campsite your tents and a hot cup of tea will be waiting for you. This is a perfect place to relax, stargaze, and learn about Inca astronomy. Campsite Altitude: 3850m/ 1230ft DAY 2: QUISWARANI – CONDOR PASS – CANCHACANCHA COMMUNITY We will wake you up bright and early with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa tea. This is our longest and most challenging day and after breakfast, it is a 4-hour hike uphill to Condor Pass (4700 m / 15354 ft) – the highest point of this journey. Along the way, we will enjoy beautiful lakes where Wallatas (Andean geese or ‘love birds’) swim in the crystal clear waters and pass the imposing Andean mountains of Pitusiray, Sawasiray, Qolquecruz, all of which are over 18,000 ft. At the summit of Condor Pass, we will serve you a well-deserved cup of hot tea and you can take some time to rest while your tour guide performs a spiritual offering ceremony to the sacred mountains. It is then over a 3-hour descent through the breathtaking scenery. You will be able to see lagoons, exotic birds, llamas, alpacas, vizcachas (which look a lot like rabbits) and wallatas along the way. Our campsite is located at Cancha Cancha (3750 m / 12 303 ft) – the only village in the Lares Valley that is completely isolated from any modern technology. This includes no drainage system, electricity, computers, internet connection or cellphone service. Here they speak only Quechua – the ancient language spoken by the Incas. You will have the afternoon free in Cancha Cancha meet and interact with the local people, visit a local school and help teach and play games with the children. The villagers will welcome any donations of food, school supplies or anything else you would like to give to help support the health and education of this isolated community. Late in the afternoon, your guide will take you to visit one of the families’ homes. Here you can experience first hand their traditional lifestyles passed down from the Incas, sample traditional food and see how they raise guinea pigs, llamas, and alpacas. By the evening our chef will have prepared dinner for us to enjoy together before a well-earned night’s rest. Campsite Altitude: 3750 m / 12303 ft DAY 3: CANCHACANCHA – HUARAN – OLLANTAYTAMBO Starting the day with a beautiful view of the mountains and a delicious breakfast we then prepare for our final descent from the highlands into the sacred valley. First, we will say goodbye to the last remaining village still practicing Inca traditions, and isolated from all modern technologies, before we begin our 4-hour trek downhill. Along the way, you can observe different types of ecosystems – from the colder highlands, where only potatoes are grown, to the fertile soils of the sacred valley, where maize is the main produce. Our TreXperience concludes in a small town called Huaran (2700 m / 8856 ft), and from here a private bus will drive us to Ollantaytambo; “Last Living Incan City”. Or as it is sometimes known; “World Capital of the Native American”. We will take some time to explore these ancient streets and the water channel that has been in use since Inca time. We will have dinner in a local restaurant in Ollantaytambo before catching the 7:00 pm train to Aguas Calientes, where we will spend the night in a hotel. Campsite Altitude: 2700m / 8856 ft DAY 4: OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM104 – AGUAS CALIENTES After an early breakfast in your hotel, we will take the train for 1 hour 30 minutes along the Urubamba river from Ollantaytambo (in the highlands) to km 104 at Chachabamba (in the cloud forest). We will head straight to the checkpoint at Chachabamba to start your TreXperience! Please note, you will need your original passport in order to pass through the checkpoint. Our first stop is a beautiful Inca ruin also called Chachabamba. We will then hike along an ancient Inca trail, that was abandoned in the 16th century and leads to Machu Picchu. The first section of the trail is a gradual uphill hike for 4 hours until we arrive at Wiñay Huayna (the place that never gets old). At this point, we will take some time to explore this stunning archaeological site and enjoy the spectacular views of the Andes. A packed lunch and refreshments will be provided. Once fed and energized we will continue our hike to the Sun Gate to catch your first glimpse of the Lost City of the Incas – a truly unforgettable sight. From the Sun Gate, its a one hour downhill walk to the city, with breathtaking views along the way. We will arrive at Macchu Picchu in the afternoon and will, therefore, have the unique opportunity of experiencing the city almost empty. This is the perfect photo taking the opportunity! We will then take the bus down to Aguas Calientes where we will have dinner and spend the night in a hotel. Campsite Altitude: 2000m / 6561ft DAY 5: MACHU PICCHU (LOST CITY OF THE INCAS) On our final day, we have to get up very early to prepare for the highlight of your TreXperience; visiting Machu Picchu – the Lost City of the Incas. We will go straight to the line to wait for the first bus going up to Machu Picchu at 5:30 am. Arriving as the sky brightens, we will walk up with incredible views of the city along the way. On a clear day, you can watch the spectacular sun rise over Machu Picchu. This is truly an unforgettable sight. Your guide will take you on a 2 to 3-hour comprehensive tour of the city before leaving you in Machu Picchu to explore on your own or climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (tickets must be booked as far in advance as possible). Your guide will explain how to take the bus from Machu Picchu back to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included) and then take the train and bus back to Cusco. The TreXperience Team will meet you off the train and return you safely to your hotel. Highest altitude: 2700m / 8858ft
Pre-departure briefing Permits Transportation Experienced tour guides Camping equipment Porters Food Water Medical kit Extras Satellite phones Taxes and fees All hikers need a warm sleeping bag for camping during the trek. We recommend a sleeping bag that keeps you warm during temperatures as low as -10C. Air mattresses and trekking poles are optional but recommended. If you don’t want to bring all these bulky items from home, you can rent them from us. If you are interested in any of the additional extras listed below and would like further guidance or information then please contact the TreXperience Team. We will be happy to arrange any of the below extras for you.
ABSOLUTE ESSENTIALS: FOR YOUR DAYPACKS: Below is a list of items that we highly recommend you keep with you at all times in your personal backpack. Remember you will be carrying this with you everyday of the trek so we recommend you bring a good quality daypack which is both light and comfortable. It is important to note that due to local regulations, your backpack should not exceed 25L. All larger backpacks can not be taken into Machu Picchu and will need to be stored outside the gates. ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR YOUR DUFFEL BAGS: TreXperience will provide you with a duffel bag in which you can pack any items that you won’t need to keep with you during the day. Our porters will carry this bag for you throughout the trek. Please note this bag should weigh a maximum of 7 kg including the weight of your sleeping bag and air mattress (if you bring/rent one). When rented from us these two items weigh approximately 3.5 kg. During the Inca Trek, you will travel through different temperatures as you climb/descend, it can also be cold at night when at the campsite. Therefore layers work best!
ARRIVING IN CUSCO We advise all hikers to arrive in Cusco at least two days prior to your TreXperience. This will enable you to get used to the high altitude. Those who have not had time to acclimatize may struggle with the treks. Cusco is a domestic airport only and therefore international visitors typically arrive via Lima. The easiest and fastest way to get to Cusco from Lima is to take a flight. The bus journey from Lima to Cusco is very long (approximately 20 hours). Visitors traveling to Cusco from closer cities in Peru are advised to take a bus. There are a number of companies in Peru operating very comfortable bus journeys. We advise you to book your bus journey in advance as tickets do sell out. There are many hotels locates throughout Cusco city. If you require any assistance with booking a hotel or would like some recommendations of where to stay then please do not hesitate to contact the TreXperience Team. PLANNING YOUR TIME IN CUSCO If you have some extra time in Cusco either before or after your TreXperience then we would be happy to help you plan your time or organize excursions: Cusco is situated high up in the Andes which makes the weather very hard to forecast. In Cusco, we have two seasons; the rainy season, which runs from November to March, and the dry season which is from April to October. We advise all visitors to prepare for all types of weather by carrying the following items with them at all times; a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and good rain gear. Additionally, many of our treks involve quick transfers from the cold, high mountains to warm, sub-tropical climates. Therefore layers work best! Its always better to be prepared for all weather types so you can concentrate on having the best possible experience. ALTITUDE SICKNESS OR “SOROCHE” Cusco city is located at 3300 meters above sea level so the air is thinner here, with less oxygen than you may be used to. Some visitors experience altitude sickness, in particular when they first arrive to the city. We advise all hikers to arrive at least two days prior to their trek to give themselves time to acclimatize. Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes, however, are located much lower – at around 2000 meters – therefore you are less likely to suffer from altitude sickness in these locations. If you do find yourself struggling with the altitude, the following tips should help you: HOW DIFFICULT ARE THE TREKS? All our Trexperiences are designed so that they can be accomplished by trekkers of every ability. Some sections of the trek are challenging while others are much easier. Remember that nothing is impossible. Our guides are very experienced, they are used to accommodating groups of mixed abilities, and they will, of course, be there to help you. We advise that you exercise regularly prior to your trip and that you arrive in Cusco at least 2 days ahead of your trek to acclimatize to the altitude. BOOKING WITH TREXPERIENCE We want to ensure booking with us convenient and stress free. All we require from you is your deposit and your details (name, passport number and dates of your trek). We will take care or everything. You can pay the remaining balance to us when you arrive to Cusco. All reservations with Trexperience Peru require a $200 deposit per person. However, if you opt for the deluxe package then the deposit is $400 per person. Deposits need to pay via PayPal. “No Extra Fees with TreXperience”. Unfortunately all deposits are non-refundable as they will be used to secure your reservation by purchasing permits and entrance tickets. RESTRICTIONS ON THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO THE INCA TRAIL AND MACHU PICCHU The number of visitors to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu are limited by the government. There is a limit of 500 people per day to the Inca Trail and 2500 people per day to Machu Picchu. Additionally, train tickets, tickets to Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain all sell out well in advance. In high seasons hotels may also sell out. We, therefore, recommend you book your trek as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment. We are always here to help if you require any support. UPDATING PASSPORT NUMBERS If you renew your passport between booking your trek and traveling to Peru then please let us know as far in advance as possible and we will be able to assist you. Don’t forget to send a photocopy of both your passports to info@trexperienceperu.com and bring both passports when you travel. DO I NEED TO CARRY MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS? TreXperience will provide a personal porter for your belongings (up to a maximum of 7 kg in weight) for all tours longer than 3 days. You will be provided with a duffel bag at the briefing (on the night prior to your trek) in which you can pack all your belongings the night before. Please remember this duffel bag also needs to contain your sleeping bag and air mattress. All you need to carry with you on the trek is a small, light daypack for your water, snacks, camera, etc. so you can relax and enjoy the journey! Our porters also carry all the equipment and food required for the trek. The porters will reach the lunch locations and campsites ahead of you and set everything up so it’s ready for your arrival! LUGGAGE STORAGE During the trek, you do not need to be concerned about where to store your luggage. If you cannot store it at your hotel then TreXperience is happy to look after it for you. Just have your bags ready and clearly identifiable on the morning of your trek, we will keep them safe and return them to you at the end of your TreXperience when we drop you off at your hotel. WHO GETS A DISCOUNT? If you have a valid university student card or you are under the age of 17 at the time of your trek then you are entitled to a discount of $35. All you need to do is send us a photocopy of your card when making your booking. TOILETS / SHOWERS DURING THE TREK At TreXperience we have introduced the latest and finest Porta-potty toilets and hot showers on all our tours to maximize your trekking experience. CATERING TreXperience are proud of their highly talented chefs who never fail to cook up a delightful feast despite being in the middle of the Andean Mountains! All chefs specialize in Andean cuisine and are able to cater for all dietary requirements so please let us know in advance of your needs. All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are provided each day (except lunch on the final day) and the food is both delicious and plentiful. We guarantee the biggest foodies among you won’t fail to be impressed. We will keep those energy levels high with snacks each day and we make sure you have a tea/coffee every morning to wake up and every afternoon to unwind. WATER TreXperience will provide all the water you need from the first lunch to the last breakfast. This water is boiled, filtered and cooled and so it is perfectly safe to drink. You will need to bring water storage with you – either a camel bag or water bottle(s) – big enough for at least two liters of water. We also ask that you start your trek on the very first morning with your containers full of drinking water so you have enough water to last you until lunchtime. This is because the porters do not have enough time to get to the first breakfast site ahead of you and prepare the drinking water. PACKING BULKY ITEMS We understand that many visitors to Cusco will be traveling elsewhere both in Peru and beyond and so packing bulky, heavy items can be inconvenient. We would be able to assist you with acquiring all the items you need for your trek including sleeping bags, trekking poles, air mattresses, hiking shoes, and rain gear. As always, please let us know in advance of your needs. VACCINATIONS You may require some additional vaccinations before traveling to Peru. Please don’t forget to consult with your doctor well in advance of your trip so they can advise you.
WHY CHOOSE TREXPERIENCE RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL We are a 100% local tour operator and our aim is to maximize the positive effects of tourism on local communities and the environment. We do this by hiring local staff (including porters, chefs, guides, suppliers) and involving them in a sustainable business model that benefits everyone. Additionally, we organize activities that support the development of local communities and promote environmental conservation. These include cultural exchanges, volunteering, direct donations and clean up campaigns. Our philosophy is that we “leave no trace” in every single place that we visit, and we encourage each and every one of our staff, guides, and guests follow these principles to preserve these magical places. BETTER TREATMENT TO OUR PORTERS Collectively our team has a wealth of experience of working in the tourism industry. Therefore we understand that to ensure 100% guest satisfaction, it is essential to take a good care of your workers, who will in turn take good care of your customers. During your hike we will provide you with the best tour guides and chefs, but it is the porters who are more often that are forgotten. Porters are the backbone of this business and for so many years we have been fighting for their better treatment and better working conditions. This is a personal battle since I – the founder of Trexperience Peru – started out as a porter and my father was a porter before me. Working as a porter on the Inca Trail helped me to study, travel around the world, and start my own company. Therefore, Trexperience Peru pledges a number of commitments to our porters: What we do: ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT AND PROJECTS We are extremely proud to work with local communities and to help protect the environment; we love the places we visit and are dedicated to preserving them. To ensure this, Trexperience has partnered with other companies to build a GREENHOUSE in the community of Parompampa; located 2 hours from Cusco. Here we are growing vegetables and native trees and we encourage you to come and visit us! Vegetables: We grow the following vegetables in our greenhouse. We then invite members from local villages to take one of each and plant them back in their communities. We will also provide them with some basic farming training to ensure it is a successful and sustainable program. Native trees: When you plant a new tree, you create new life. Trees help to remove carbon dioxide from the environment, attract native birds and help to maintain a clean water supply. We are working extremely hard to grow new trees that will later be donated to local communities. We will also organize a group of volunteers to go and plant them. COMMUNITY SERVICE AND SOCIAL PROJECTS We have opened a library in the community of Cachiccata in Ollantaytambo. This village has approximately 80 families, all of which work in agriculture. Until recently, the children at the local school had no access to a library, a computer, or to the internet. In partnership with other companies and with help from sponsors and charitable donations, Trexperience donated the following facilities to help the school: What we Provide: · Two shelves full of text books for all grades · Two computers and a laptop with full internet access · A printer · New tables and chairs Although this a small project, it will have a huge impact on the children of Cachiccata school who will now have access to the resources they need for a quality education and a bright future. You can always help this cause by booking a tour with Trexperience, by visiting the community to make a donation directly or even volunteering during your free time. BEST TOUR GUIDES As a new and unique company we offer a personalized service to all our passengers throughout each and every one of our tours. Our tour guides are selected for their extensive experience, training, responsibility and professionalism in order to show off our beautiful country and share their unique experiences. They have guided hundreds of tours and speak fluent English and Quechua – the native Inca language – allowing them to communicate with both guests and local villagers. ALTERNATIVE PORTA-POTTY TOILET AND HOT SHOWER IN OUR TOURS: We have taken on board the feedback from our previous guests who were uncomfortable with the public toilets along the Inca Trail and are introducing our latest Alternative Porta-potty toilets and hot showers. These facilities are available on all our tours. SAFETY AND SECURITY The safety and security is our absolute top priority. We have an excellent record in terms of safety throughout the operation of all our treks. Our team of professional guides have undertaken training with the AHA (American Heart Association) as well as NOLS Wilderness medicine. Guides will carry a first aid kit for basic medical problems and oxygen with them at all times. They are very experienced in dealing with common issues associated with the altitude or the environment and know how to make you feel better. In the extremely rare case that something unexpected happens and you no longer feel you can complete the trek, your guide will figure out the safest and quickest way to get you to the nearest clinic. You will never be left alone and you will have a member of the team to escort you every step of the way until you are safely with a doctor. When you are feeling up to it, we will make sure that you still have the chance to visit Machu Picchu and re-connect with your group, traveling comfortably by train. OUR EQUIPMENT TREXPERIENCE only operates with the highest quality equipment to ensure your experience is as comfortable as possible, these include:
Overview
The Ultimate Lares Trek combines a cultural hike in the mountains with the short version of the Classic Inca Trail, visiting the ice glaciers, piercingly blue glacial lakes and stunning waterfalls, train ride to the Inca trail and arrive at Machu Picchu through the Sungate. Come and join us on this natural and cultural expedition to the legendary city of Machu Picchu
Day 2: Quiswarani – Condor Pass – Cancha Cancha Community (16 km, 9hrs)
Day 3: Cancha Cancha – Huaran – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes (12 km, 4 hrs)
Day 4: Cusco – Km104 – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes (15km, 8hrs)
Day 5: Machu Picchu (The Lost City of the Incas) – 3 hours
* Visit the hot springs of Lares and Aguas Calientes
* PACHAMANCA cooking ( Underground barbecue)
* Arrive at Machu Picchu twice
* 2 nights camping, 2 nights 3-star hotel
* Support Social project in the places we visit
Discount: 30$ per person
For students under 25 years old with valid ID: The ID must have: Name of university, full name and photo of the student, and an expiration date no later than December 31 of the year of travel, you need to email your student ID to booking@trexperienceperu.com for verification. For Travelers under 17th, just send us an email with a reminder that you are under age to get the discount.Full Itinerary
Distance: 9 km/5.5 miles
Duration: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Difficulty: Easy
Highest altitude: 4700 m / 15354 ft
Distance: 16 km/ 9.9 miles
Duration: 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Highest altitude: 3,750 m / 12,303 ft
Distance: 12 km / 7.4 miles
Duration: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Difficulty: Easy
Highest altitude: 2700m / 8858ft
Distance: 15km / 8 miles
Duration: 8 hours
Meals: Lunch, snacks, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6km / 3 miles
Duration: 2 – 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast (hotel)
Difficulty: EasyWhat's Included?
INCLUDED
TreXperience welcome you to our Cusco offices on the evening prior to your trek for a pre-departure briefing. The briefings take place at approximately 6:00 pm. TreXperience understands that many hikers may be nervous or inexperienced and so the briefing is an opportunity to meet your guide(s) who will talk you through what to expect over the coming days. Our guides are very approachable and experienced so feel free to use this opportunity to ask them any questions you may have.
All admission permits are included. In order to obtain all relevant permits for your hike, we will require a photocopy of your passport. We kindly request you share this with the team as soon as you book your trek.
TreXperience offers a door to door service; we will pick up from your hotel on the morning of the trek and drop off back at your hotel on the last day. All required transportation throughout the trek is included, as well as the train back from Aguas Calientes. The train is Expedition class but can be upgraded to the Vistadome train for $55 per person. In addition, TreXperience offers a complimentary transfer service to and from the airport and your hotel.
The TreXperience team are fluent English speakers and are extremely experienced professional tour guides from the local area. We provide a single guide for groups smaller than 8 people and a second guide for groups with 8 people or more. We very much enjoy sharing our extensive knowledge of local history and culture with you along the trek. All guides are proficiently trained in high mountain rescue. We are committed to ensuring all clients have the best possible TreXperience!
TreXperience provides the best possible equipment to all clients, as well as staff, to maximize your experience.
Our porters carry all belongings that you don’t need in your daypack up to a maximum weight of 7 kg. Additionally, our porters carry all food and equipment. You will find your tents and the campsite prepared for you on arrival so all you need to do is worry about enjoying the hike!
TreXperience are proud of their highly talented chefs who never fail to cook up a delightful feast despite being in the middle of the Andean Mountains! We guarantee the biggest foodies among you won’t fail to be impressed. All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are provided each day (except lunch on the final day) and the food is both delicious and plentiful. We cater for all dietary requirements so please let us know of your needs. We will keep those energy levels high with snacks each day and we make sure you have a tea/coffee every morning to wake up and every afternoon to unwind.
All drinkable water – from your first lunch to your last breakfast – will be provided (you need to supply your own water bottles/camelback and we recommend carrying at least 2L). The water is boiled, filtered and cooled before it is distributed.
All TreXperience guides have received training in first aid and high mountain rescue. In the event, a guest requires medical attention while on the trek our staff will be able to assist you. A medical kit is kept with the team at all times. In the extremely rare case of a serious medical emergency, you will be evacuated to the nearest medical center.
We are committed to ensuring your trip is as comfortable as possible. We, therefore, provide hand towels, pillows, hand sanitizer, hot water for washing, drinkable water, snacks, daypack covers, and rain ponchos. All these additional comforts are included in the price of your trek.
To ensure your safety and in case of an emergency, we are the first trekking company to introducing satellite phone technology.
All taxes and permit fees associated with this trek are included in the listed price.NOT INCLUDED
ADDITIONAL EXTRAS
Packing List
Important Info
Why Us?
As a company that cares deeply about the communities we serve, TREXPERIENCE takes pride in supporting our brothers and sisters throughout the Andean communities; a region that holds a special place in our hearts. We make a special effort to ensure our tours are conducted in a way that supports local residents and communities, provide donations to local schools and involve local brothers in our industry. Above all, we are dedicated to creating something unique and permanent, which allows us to play an active role in the development of our communities.
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