Lares Cultural Trek 4d/3n

DAY 1: CUSCO–PATACANCHA-PALLCA–CHAULLACOCHA

We will leave Cusco at around 6:00 a.m. for the drive in our private vehicle through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, as far as the village of Ollantaytambo, where we will stop to eat. There will be time to explore this fascinating village, with its original Inca street plan. From Ollantaytambo we will continue for about another hour as far as Palca, where we will begin our hike, enjoying fine panoramic views of surrounding mountains, lakes and plains grazed by llamas and alpacas. After about three hours, at the small village of Chaullacocha (4121 meters / 13,520 feet) we will stop to rest and eat a good lunch consisting of traditional Peruvian food. We will also take the time to visit the local village school and to observe how local people produce traditional Andean handcrafts and weavings. We will camp close to the village, and get a good night’s rest in preparation for our next day’s hiking.

DAY 2: CHAULLACOCHA-HUACAHUASI–LARES HOT SPRINGS

We will begin our trek today at around 7:00 a.m. After hiking for about 2 hours, we will reach Huacahuasi Pass, from where it is possible to observe Andean birdlife, such as Andean geese, known in Quechua as “huallatas”. Beyond the high pass we will pass through the tiny village of Huacahuasi, where indigenous people’s lives have remained largely unchanged for generations. From the village, our trail will take us down for around 5 hours to the hot springs in Lares, where in addition to enjoying the soothing waters it is possible to get a massage from a professional masseuse. We will spend the night close to the hot springs.

DAY 3: LARES HOT SPRINGS – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUA CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU

Leaving at around 8:00 a.m., we will travel for 3 hours in our private vehicle to Ollantaytambo, where we will visit the impressive local archaeological site. This fortified temple complex is the most impressive archaeological site in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. After lunch, we will take the train to Aguas Calientes, which is also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. We will spend the night in Aguas Calientes, in a comfortable local hostel with private bathrooms and breakfast included. In the evening we will get together for a dinner to celebrate our arrival and look back at the experiences we shared during the trek.

DAY 4: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO

Today we will finally visit the magnificent ruins of Machu Picchu (2453 meters / 8045 feet). Our plan is to leave the hotel at around 5:30 am for the fifteen minute bus ride up to Machu Picchu, so we can be among the first visitors to reach the ruins, but we can set off a little later on if you are too tired. Your guide will allow some flexibility in this regard, after discussion with the group the night before. We will spend the day visiting what has been hailed as one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. Machu Picchu is situated on a forested mountain peak amid spectacular scenery. During a guided tour of the site the guide will talk about historical and cultural aspects of this lost city. Our visit to Machu Picchu will begin shortly after sunrise, and in the afternoon we will take the train to Ollantaytambo, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, from where we will head back to Cusco by road in our private vehicle.

NOTES ON THE ITINERARY

• The times given on this itinerary are approximate.
• Hiking times depend on how the group progresses.
• The trip offers plenty of adventure.

INFORMATION

• For complete information, please send us an email.
• We will have a meeting at your hotel before leaving to give you complete trek details and to answer any questions.

Available discount these discount are not cumulative

• Students: US$ 29 students require a valid International Student Identity Card. Please note that Youth Travel Cards are not valid
• Teenagers: US$ 20 up to 16 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings
• Children: US$ 46 up to 10 years of age, passport

DEPARTURE DATE

• copy required for all bookings

Departures are available along the year although due to weather conditions, the recommended period for this trek is April to Novembe

What is included?

• Pre trek briefing
• Collection from your hotel in the morning of trek departure
• Transport from Cusco to the trailhead at the beginning of the trek in private car
• Entry fee to Machu Picchu (Huayna Picchu $15 extra)
• English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guide (you will have an assistant guide for groups over 6 people)
• Tents – 2 people in a 4 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks
• Basic foam mattress
• Cook and Cooking equipment (Assistants are provided for larger groups)
• Toilet tent
• Toilet paper, packing & pack out
• Meals (optional vegetarian food). Our professional cooks prepare meals that incorporate elements of the western diet and also traditional Peruvian delicacies. (Please communicate with your guide/cook during the trek if you have a preference for certain types of dishes) Salads, if served, are washed in boiled water.
• Bio-degradable personal hand soaps
• Horses (for equipment and personal items) including horsemen. They carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items (up to 7 kg/15lbs per person)
• 1 emergency horse which can be ridden if you are feeling ill or if are a little slower
• Dining tent with camp tables and chairs & Kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals
• Tents for our staff to sleep in
• First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
• private transport from Lares to Ollantaitambo
• train ticket (expedition service) Ollantaitambo to Aguas Calientes
• Bus up and down from Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu
• Train or equivalent luggage from Hydroelectric station to Aguas Calientes
• Train ticket (Expedition service) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
• Private transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
• Celebratory dinner in Aguas Calientes
• Lunch on the last day is included
• 1 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes in a basic hotel
• One textile snack bag per person, to avoid the usage of plastic bags that contaminate our environment
• Others: hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunch time if requested with enough time ahead

What is not included?

• Dinner on the last night
• Huayna Picchu entrance fee: if you would like to climb this mountain an additional fee of US $16 per personal applies Breakfast on the first morning
• Entrance to the thermal springs
• Sleeping bags – If you haven’t got a sleeping bag or you don’t want the hassle of bringing one all the way to Peru with you, then we have sleeping bags for hire
• Tips: please note that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip or not as you wish.

What we recommend that your bring :

• A light day pack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek – prepare for a vast range of changes in temperature
• Sandals or plastic slip on thongs are also good to give your feet a chance to breath in the evenings if you wish to carry them.
• Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces, gloves, scarf and beanie/tour. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping
• Sleeping bag (we can hire these to you)
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
• Sun block
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
• Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – although no malaria risk has been reported
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
• Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning.
• Your own medical kit with any special medications that you might require, paracetamol, second skin for blisters etc
• Small towel
• Swimsuit (if you wish to go to the hot springs
• Cash in soles and/or US$
• Original passport
• Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended
• Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
• Camera and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
• Water container and water for the first morning. Important notice: plastic water bottles are no longer allowed into Machu Picchu. Plastic water containers (ie. Nalgene) or metal ones are recommended
• Optionally: water- sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far
• Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount
• Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required in order not to damage archaeological sites)

Prices 2023 -2024

Optional Extras per Trip

• Sleeping back $5 
• Single Tent Supplement $6 
• Walking Pole $2 
• Inflatable Mattress $5 
• Extra mule to carry your things $14 

How to make a booking

If you would like to make a reservation for this program, please go directly to the Booking Online section of this website.

• Once you have chosen your tour, please read the Booking Terms & Conditions, as your booking is subject to these terms.
• Then fill out and submit the Reservation Form that you will find in the Booking Online section of this website.
• In case your reservation is confirmed, a money deposit will be requested to secure your reservation.
• Once we confirm the deposit reception, your booking is confirmed. A Service Confirmation Form will be sent to you including all the details of your program.

In case you have any doubts, queries or require additional information, please contact us, we will be very glad to assist you. Your request will be answered by return mail.