Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4D/3N

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.

Highlights of the Lares Trek

* Complimentary airport Pick up and drop off
* 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 visit

Price per person: 570.USD Book Now

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:
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 discount

Day by day summary of Lares Trek

Day 1: Cusco – Lares Thermal Baths – Kiswarani Falls – Blue lake (9 km, 4 hrs)
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

Day 2: Quiswarani – Condor Pass – Cancha Cancha Community (16 km, 7hrs)
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.

Day 3: CanchaCancha – Huaran– Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes (12km, 4 hrs)
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

Day 4: Machu Picchu (The Lost City Of The Incas) – 4 hrs 
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 Cusco

Included In the Lares Trek

Safety briefing the day before the tour at 6:00 pm in our Office
Pick up from your hotel in the morning of the tour
All transportation during the duration of the trek
Duffle bag up to 7 kilos for your personal stuff carried by horses
Professional highly trained mounatin tour guides
Experienced chefs, porters, and horsemen
Pachamanca Cooking demonstration
2 nights camping in the mountains with comfortable equipment
1 night in a 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes
All meals during the Trek with local organic ingredients
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
Last day Lunch
Huayna Picchu or Montaña entrances
Tips for porters, chef, guides

Optional hikes after the Machu Picchu guided tour:

DAY 1: CUSCO – LARES THERMAL BATHS – KISWARANI FALLS – CAMPSITE

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
Trekking distance: 9 km/5.59 miles
Duration: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Camping under million stars
Difficulty: Easy

DAY 2: CAMPSITE – CONDOR PASS – CANCHACANCHA COMMUNITY

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
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

DAY 3: CANCHACANCHA – SALINERAS – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES

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
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

DAY 4:  MACHU PICCHU (LOST CITY OF THE INCAS)

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
Distance: 6km / 3 miles
Duration: 2 – 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast (hotel)
Difficulty: Easy

Included during the Lares Trek

* 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 In the Lares Trek

* Sleeping bags, air mattress, or trekking poles ( Can be rent from us)
* Last day Lunch in Aguas Calientes
* Huayna Picchu or Montaña entrances (can be done after Machu Picchu tour)
* Tips for porters, chef, guides (optional)

For the Lares Trek, you need a 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.

ABSOLUTE ESSENTIALS FOR THE LARES TREK TO MACHU PICCHU:

• Valid, original Passport (a copy will not be accepted)
• Valid, Student Card (if you booked as a student)
• Hiking boots (light, comfortable and broken in)
• A good quality day-pack (light, small and comfortable)
• Water storage for at least 2 liters; either a camel bag or water bottle(s)

FOR YOUR DAYPACKS:

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.

• Hat and sunglasses
• Rain gear
• Warm layers (fleece / long sleeved tops)
• Sun cream, bug spray
• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet paper
• Personal medication
• Band-aids, moleskin
• Camera, extra batteries
• Head Torch
• Extra snacks, power bars, chocolate
• Extra money for souvenirs, drinks & tips during the Lares Trek (small change is useful for paying to use the villagers’ toilets on the first day)

ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR YOUR DUFFEL BAGS:

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!

What to Take to Lares Trek:

• Sleeping bag for Lares Trek (can be rented from us)
• Air mattress (can be rented from us)
• Some light, comfortable shoes for the camp
• Warm jacket, hat, and gloves for trekking
• 2-3 t-shirts (quick dry t-shirts are best)
• 1-2 hiking pants/trousers
• 4 sets of undergarments
• 4 sets of hiking socks
• 1 Fleece
• 1 Warm, down jacket for the coldest nights
• Quick-dry towel
• Soap
• Wet wipes
• Toothbrush and paste
• Face moisturizer
• Power pack/battery charger
• Plastic bags to keep wet or muddy clothes separate