LARES TREK - 4 DAYS
Probably one of the best Peru treks as an alternative tour to Machu Picchu. The Lares trek route transverses farms and ancient townships for a fascinating insight into authentic Quechua culture.(Quechua (qheshwa) is an indigenous language of the Andean region. You are likely to meet Andean children and local people, in abundantly coloured traditional dress; as well as a range of wildlife as Llama, Alpaca, andean goose and the affable Andean sheep.
- Departure: 8 a.m
- Highest pass: 4600 m.
- Trip grading: Good physical level is required for this trip.
- Hiking time per day: 7 to 6 hours between 15 to 17 km a day
Itinerary
DAY 1
Passengers will be collected from their hotels at 8 am. and depart from Cusco by bus following the Sacred Valley route until the district of Huaran (2850 meters above sea level), where we are going to meet with the rest of the staff (cook, horse man and the horses as a porters). Once we pack all the gear on the horses this Peru treks tour begins. Geography changes with every step, from green valleys, trees, and corps as maize onions, carrots and fruit; to green Andean mountains covered with wild grass call Ichu, small forest with a peculiar tree (Queuña) (small tree who has perfectly adapted to high alitudes), snow capped mountains and cold weather, typical of the Peruvian Andes, until the Andean Village of Cancha Cancha (3,600 meter sea level), place where we are going to camp.
DAY 2
After a wake up morning and healthy breakfast the second trekking day starts, today is the hardest day, the route take us to the highest pass of the trek Pachacutec (4600 meter sea level), scenery is fantastic while ascending, turquoise lagoons, black and snow capped mountains make this hard walking day worthy. After a good rest is coming a 2 hours down hill walking until we reach the death road that take to Lares (small town at 3300 m sea level), from here there will be 25 more minutes walking to Lares hot springs, where we rest for the second night. This place is very good, the water is warm and combines very good with the cold weather of the Andean mountains.
DAY 3
Today is easy day, we take our bus to Ollataytambo in one of the most stunning roads from the Peruvian Andean mountains, small villages with houses made out of stones and roofs cover with andean grass, small lagoons, waterfalls and variety of Andean births are mostly part of the scenery. The highest pass for this tour is Lares(4460 meters sea level) and wo more hours later is Calca small city in the Sacred Valley, from where we drive for 20 more minutes until Alhambra Restaurant where we can enjoy the buffet lunch that this place offers. From here takes about 25 more minutes to Ollnataytambo train station to catch the train to Aguas Calientes (town bellow Machu Picchu) where we are to rest in a litte hotel with hot showers.
DAY 4
We recommend to start the trek early in the morning. The idea is to hike Machu Picchu to see the sun rise that for many of our clients this is a wonderful natural spectacle. From Aguas Calientes take two hours and a half approx., until Machu Picchu where our guide will take you in complete tour guide about this ancient city, after there will be plenty of time to walk aroun and take prictures. Later we meet with the rest of the group to go by bus down to Aguas Calientes and then take the train to go back to Cusco.
What's included
- Personal equipment such as tents, dinner tent, toilet tent, sleeping pads, chairs, tables.
- Mules to carry the gear, notes that you need to carry your personal thing like sleeping pads, water clothes. You can hired and extra horse to help you up with that (25 USD per day).
- A professional guide (English/Spanish speaking all along the trekking), and complete tour guide at Machu Picchu.
- Meals (3 lunch, 3 dinner, 3 breakfast)
- Entrances fees to Machu Picchu, train tickets from and to Aguas Calientes Cusco, bus ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes after visit Machu Picchu.
- Hostal 3 stars at aguas Calientes.
What's not Included
Sleeping bag (may rent in our office for $ 4 a day), lunch on the last day, bus tickets from Aguas Calientes in stead of hiking Machu Picchu on the last day.
Lares Trek options
Personal porter: We can hire an extra horse for 25 dollars to help you carrying up your personal things such a sleeping bag and rain coat etc. however, even with this service you will still need to take a daypack to carry your essential items such as camera, water bottle sun cream etc.
PRICE PER PERSON 2010
USD 420
EUR 305
ASK FOR OUR PRIVATE SERVICE
Many of our Peru treks - tours can combine with our rafting tours or adventure packages.