This is an alternative trek to Machu Picchu, following lightly trodden paths where you’ll visit Andean villages, local schools, llamas, alpacas, and spectacular views of the ice glaciers mountains and lakes.
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu takes you far off the beaten track to where you can meet and interact with members of traditional Andean communities. You’ll learn all about life in these isolated villages, become familiar with their culture and traditions, and even visit a local school. We finish your TreXperience spending an unforgettable day exploring Machu Picchu. * Complimentary airport Pick up and drop off Day 1: Cusco – Lares Thermal Baths – Kiswarani Falls – Blue lake (9 km, 4 hrs) Day 2: Quiswarani – Condor Pass – Cancha Cancha Community (16 km, 7hrs) Day 3: CanchaCancha – Huaran– Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes (12km, 4 hrs) Day 4: Machu Picchu (The Lost City Of The Incas) – 4 hrs Not Included Price per person: 570.USD Book your tour now with only 200.USD per person, the remaining balance can be paid online, on installments, or in our office in Cusco upon arrival. Discount: Please email the photo of your ID to booking@trexperienceperu.com for verification. Optional hikes after the Machu Picchu guided tour:
Depart Cusco at 4.30 am by van to the famous Lares thermo-medicinal baths – arriving around 8:00 am. You’ll have time to jump straight into the medicinal pools with different temperatures good for bones, muscles, stress, and relax with the beautiful views of the mountain, then you’ll have an energizing breakfast prepared by your trekking chef. The hike starts after 30 minutes ride from the hot springs, The first part its a 2-hour trek uphill until we reach Kiswarani village where the chef will be waiting with your lunch that has been freshly prepared using natural, organic, local products. After lunch you’ll meet the team of horsemen from the surrounding villages and start hiking for another 2-hour walk to our campsite along with llamas and alpacas, the campsite is located on the banks of a beautiful blue lake at (3880 m/ 12730 ft). Along the way, you’ll pass beautiful streams and a stunning waterfall. 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: 3880 m/ 12730 ft Wake up bright and early with a cup of coffee or tea, start packing for the hardest day of the Lares trek. After breakfast, you´ll start the longest and most challenging day with a 4-hour hike uphill to the highest pass, the Condor Pass (4700 m / 15354 ft). Along the way, you will be able to enjoy beautiful lakes where Wallatas (Andean geese or ‘lovebirds’) swim in the crystal clear waters, upon arrival to the summit of Condor Pass, we will serve you a well-deserved cup of tea and you can take some time to rest while your tour guide performs a spiritual offering ceremony to the sacred mountains. The second part of the day it’s a 3-hour descent from the top of the mountain down to Canchacancha village through the breathtaking scenery. Upon arrival, you will find lunch and your tents ready to later interact with the local people, visit a local school, and you can even teach some English and learn Quechua from then as well since we have the afternoon free you will visit one of the families’ homes to learn at first hand their traditional lifestyles passed down from the Incas, sample traditional food and see how they raise guinea pigs, llamas, and alpacas. Campsite Altitude: 3750 m / 12303 ft Starting the day with a beautiful view of the mountains and a delicious breakfast, prepare yourself for the final 4-hour trek downhill from the highlands into the sacred valley. First, you’ll say goodbye to the last remaining village, still practicing Inca traditions, isolated from all modern technologies. 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 product. The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu concludes in a small town called Huaran (2700 m / 8856 ft), and from here a private bus will drive you to Salineras and Ollantaytambo; “Last Living Incan City”. Or as it is sometimes known; “World Capital of the Native American”. You’ll take some time to explore these ancient streets and the water channel that has been in use since Inca time. 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 Enjoy the final day waking early in your hotel, breakfast and taking the first buses up to Machu Picchu to watch the spectacular sunrise over Machu Picchu. The tour guide will take on an extra hike first before starting the 2-3 hours guided tour of the citadel. The guide will take you to the most important places, explain to you the history, mysteries, and the great Inca technology used to build Machu Picchu. Later you will have time to Explore by yourself or take the extra hikes like Huayna Picchu or Montaña, both mountains have to be booked in advance. Once you are done with the citadel, you need to take the bus from Machu Picchu back to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included) and then take the exclusive panoramic trains back to Ollantaytambo and s private van back to Cusco. Drop is back to your hotel around 7:30 pm. Highest altitude: 2700m / 8858ft
* Safety briefing held the day before the tour at 6:00 pm in our office, here you can pay the remaining balance, request for rentals, what to take, and pick up information. * Pick up from your hotel in the morning of the tour; your hotel must be located in Cusco, Urubamba or Pisaq, the tour starts in your hotel and it’ll end at your hotel as well. * All transportation during the duration of the trek, modern van to travel, and train tickets included, we include a oneway exclusive panoramic train in alñl out the tour * Duffle bag up to 7 kilos for your personal stuff carried by horses during the duration of the trek, you also a daypack that you’ll carry. * Professional highly trained mountain tour guides, all of them highly trained in First Aid, mountain rescue, flora, fauna, and history of our country. * Experienced chefs, porters, and horsemen from local communities, we empower women chefs and porters, you will able to see our exclusive female trekking team. * Pachamanca Cooking demonstration, this is a traditional underground stone barbecue. * 2 nights camping in the mountains with a comfortable 4-men Eurejka tent provided for every two travelers. * 1 night in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes, Intinupku or similar * All meals during the Trek with local organic ingredients, except last day lunch * Entrance ticket to Lares, Salineras, and Machu Picchu * Buses up and down to Machu Picchu * Panoramic Exclusive train on the last to come back to Cusco Not Included * Sleeping bags, air mattress, or trekking poles ( Can be rent from us) For the Lares Trek, you need warm sleeping bag for camping 2 nights over 3000m,.We recommend a sleeping bag that keeps you warm during temperatures as low as -15C. 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.
Below is a list of items that we highly recommend for Lares Trek to Machu Picchu that you should take with you at all times in your personal backpack. Remember you will be carrying this with you every day of the trek so we recommend you bring a good quality day-pack which is both light and comfortable. It is important to note that due to local regulations, your backpack should not exceed 25 L. All larger backpacks cannot be taken into Machu Picchu and will need to be stored outside the gates. For the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu, we 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 Lares 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
Why Lares trek to Machu Picchu.
Highlights of the Lares trek
* Visit the natural hot springs of Lares
* Take part in a PACHAMANCA(underground cooking)
* Explore the Salineras and Ollantaytambo
* Beat the crowds to Machu Picchu before the sunrise
* Enjoy the exclusive panoramic train on the way back (Vistadome or 360°)
* Support social projects in the villages we visitDay by day summary of Lares Trek
Start in your hotel in Cusco and drive for 3 hours to the hot springs of Lares, these are several natural pools with different temperatures, After breakfast, we start the first day with a 4-hour hike to the campsite at the banks of the Blue Lake
Wake up with a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy breakfast with the mountains and lake, it’s then a 4-hour hike up to condor pass at 4750mts, then 2 more down to lunch which is also the campsite located at 3600mts, afternoon free and camping near the village of Canchacancha.
Wake up in your tent and breakfast, we start hiking down to the Sacred Valley for 4 hours where we will have a special PACHAMANCA underground hot-stone barbecue, visit Salineras, Ollantaytambo, and take the train to Aguas Calientes
After breakfast, we take the early buses up to Machu Picchu for the sunrise, visit the Sungate or Inca Bridge and then we explore Machu Picchu with your guide to later take the Panoramic train and bus back to your hotel in CuscoIncluded
Students under 25 years old at the time of travel with valid ID will get a $30 off. The ID must-have the university name, full name, photo of the student, and an expiration date no later than December 31 of the year of travel. Traveler under 17th don’t need ID to get discountFull Itinerary
DAY 1: CUSCO – LARES THERMAL BATHS – KISWARANI FALLS – CAMPSITE
Trekking distance: 9 km/5.59 miles
Duration: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Camping under million stars
Difficulty: EasyDAY 2: CAMPSITE – CONDOR PASS – CANCHACANCHA COMMUNITY
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 challengingDAY 3: CANCHACANCHA – SALINERAS – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES
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: EasyDAY 4: MACHU PICCHU (LOST CITY OF THE INCAS)
Distance: 6km / 3 miles
Duration: 2 – 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast (hotel)
Difficulty: EasyWhat's Included?
Included during the trek
* Last day Lunch in Aguas Calientes
* Huayna Picchu or Montaña entrances (can be done after Machu picchu tour)
* Tips for porters, chef, guides (optional)Packing List
ABSOLUTE ESSENTIALS FOR THE LARES TREK TO MACHU PICCHU:
FOR YOUR DAYPACKS:
ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR YOUR DUFFEL BAGS:
What to Take to Lares Trek:
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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