LARES TREK 4 DAYS

The 4-day trek from Lares to Machu Picchu will provide you with a magical and breathtaking experience that you’ll never forget. Along the trail, you’ll find rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and impressive views of the snow-capped peaks of the Andes mountain range. If you’re interested in Andean culture, this trail will be the best option for you. You’ll see various countryside communities that raise llamas and alpacas and also keep tradition alive through their sophisticated weavings. Textile art from these communities is truly impressive! Take advantage of this opportunity to make new friends and open your mind. The path is intense, but not as intense as others. The rivers will roar by your side, and impressive waterfalls will appear in front of you to help you relax and catch you by surprise. You’ll also see eye-like ponds of all colors: blue, green, turquoise, and yellow. After this magical experience in the mountains, you’ll finish your trek with a visit to one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World: the historical sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

DAY 1: Cusco – Famous thermal baths – Quiswarani waterfall - campsite

Trekking Distance: 10 km/ 6.2 miles

Camp Elevation: 3,850 meters / 12,631 ft

Weather: Cold

Accommodation: Camping

Difficulty: Moderate

Meals: Lunch, dinner and snacks

This is the beginning of our big adventure in the mountains. For Lares Trek our guide will collect from your hotel in Cusco and drive for about 1:20 hours to Calca, where we will have a short spot to purchase some important items for the trek. Then, we continue our drive for another hour and a half until we get to Lares town. We will meet with our horse driver and repack our luggage for this trek. You can also enjoy the thermal baths and relax while our chef prepares the lunch.

Afterwards, we hike for several hours to reach Quiswarani, where you will be able to see the waterfalls. Then hike to our campsite, which is 3,850 meters (12,631 feet). Dinner and spending the first night

DAY 2: Quiswarani – Condor Pass – Canchacancha Village

Trekking Distance: 14 km/8 miles

Camp Elevation: 3,750 meters / 12,303 feet

Accommodation: Camping

Difficulty: Challenging

Weather: Cold

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

This is the longest day on this Lares Trek. Our team will wake us up early at 5:00am, then enjoy the Andean breakfast prepared by our chef using local ingredients. We will begin the hike by ascending for several hours to reach the famous Condor Pass at 4,700 m (15,354 ft). From here, you can appreciate the stunning views of both valleys, Lares Valley and Urubamba Valley. While

you are descending, the views turn better: snow-capped mountains, beautiful lakes, herds of alpacas, and local families who live from weaving activities.

Your guide will take you to visit one of the families and learn the process of weaving. You will also have time to share some experiences with this family.

After lunch, you will hike down to reach the next campsite located near Cancha Cancha village.

Have dinner and spend the second night there.

DAY 3: Cancha Cancha – Huaran – Maras Salt Mines – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

Walking Distance: 9 km /6.2 miles

Accommodation: Hotel

Difficulty: Moderate

Aguas Calientes Elevation: 2,000 m / 6,562 feet

Weather: Cold in the morning, warm in the afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

We wake up between 6:00 and 6:30 am and hike down to the Sacred Valley, crossing some picturesque villages, where you can see how the locals are working on their farms, growing some crops such as potatoes, corn, and vegetables.

We will reach the lunch spot, enjoy it, and then board the van, which will take us to Maras Salt Mines, an incredible place where locals are producing salt in a natural way. You will explore and learn about the process.

Then we will drive to Ollantaytambo, where we are boarding the train to Aguas Calientes town.

Have dinner in a restaurant in Aguas Calientes and spend a well-deserved night before exploring the incredible Machu Picchu.

DAY 4: MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO

Walking Distance: 2 km /1.2 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Weather: Cold in the morning, warm in the afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast,

In order to avoid the crowds and enjoy the sunrise in Machu Picchu, we will wake up early. After breakfast, we’ll board the bus towards the Machu Picchu checkpoint, then hike for about 10 minutes to reach the upper part, where you can see the entire Machu Picchu and the sunrise.

After have been hiking on the Lares Trek for 3 Day finally we arrive to Machu Picchu. Enjoy the magical moment; then, you will have the explanation from your guide and explore the most important sectors.

The circuit ends at the exit, where you can board the bus to Aguas Calientes town, have lunch, and take the train back to Ollantaytambo, followed by a bus drive to Cusco.