4 Days
Daily Tour
8 people
English
Sacred Valley: Lares Trek & Machu Picchu Tour – Embark on a beautiful 3 day Lares Valley trek; weaving through traditional native communities where you can see how these populations survive & thrive using local resources. Traditions and cultures exist in this part of the Andes that were alive centuries ago and stay prevalent because of the strong sense of community that permeates throughout the region.
Starting at Huaran in the Sacred Valley Lares you’ll pitstop for lunch after a fairly long drive from Cusco in the morning. After lunch you follow a trail for about 4 hrs to the first campsite of Cuncani.
On day 2 you’ll trek from Cuncani through to Huacahuasi, encountering local farmsteads and communities along the way. Traditional farming practices will be seen and herds of llamas and local children point the way along this historic valley.
On the third day beginning from Huacahuasi you’ll head deeper into the valleys of this area and experience more traditional quechuan farm practices, whilst also scaling a 4,800m mountain pass. On the descent from this; you’ll pass alongside Ipsaycocha mountain lake & then descend towards the town of Patacchanta for a final lunch; capping a great few days before heading to the amazing Incan Citadel of Machu Picchu.
There is the option to overnight in Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes, before heading up to the Inca Citadel. There are 2 entrance times for Machu Picchu – 7am & 12pm; if you decide to stay in Aguas Calientes the night before then you can make the early morning entrance. You can also include hikes to Machu Picchu & Huayna Picchu mountain
Returning to Cusco for the transfer back to your hotel.
Very early, as the sun begins to shine on the roofs Cusco, our guide will pick us up from the hotel and we will head in the direction of the Sacred Valley. The Calca market will be our last stop before losing contact with big cities. This is our final chance to buy any last minute things we may need for the trip. The road that leads to Lares and crosses the Amparaes pass at 4470m is a phenomenal drive which winds through arid landscapes, occasional rivers run across the road and the mountain views are breathtaking.
Our final destination is the banos termales of Lares. From the thermal baths unfolds a small track, you’ll pass through hand tilled fields and crops of quinoa and potato, amongst quaint stone houses. After a gradual climb of a few hours we will stop for a delicious lunch, before continuing on to the community of Cuncani, our camp for the evening. The night will be cold but charming.
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
If the day is clear, we will wake up to the imposing view of Colque Cruz, a majestic mountain capped by a glacier, which provides water to the community. You follow the path next to an icy stream that will take us towards the pass. The ascent is challenging. You’ll have some hours of demanding but rewarding uphill, on rocky trails passing through incredible landscapes punctuated by high altitude lagoons. As we get closer to the pass, the trail becomes steeper and rockier.
On reaching the summit a stunning view of the Pampas of Anta awaits us, followed by a descent that will be most agreeable after such a long climb. The descent is steep but beautiful, crossing a small forest of ‘Polylepis’, the endemic and endangered trees of the high Andes. Just after the forest and with an incredible view of the valley below we will stop for lunch. After which the drop continues until we reach our camp, a tranquil paradise, surrounded by trees and crossed by a small river. Tonight, if we find some dead wood, you’ll enjoy a campfire.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning will be our last on the trail and after breakfast, there will be a chance to take photos with our crew. From here the walk becomes easier down to the piscigranja (fish farm). You’ll feel the climate changing, becoming warmer and more alive, with more variety in vegetation as hummingbirds accompany us on our journey. After a few short hours, you’ll meet the private transportation that will go to Ollantaytambo.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
At the end of the trek, we finish near to a town called Ollantaytambo, at this point there are a couple of options.
1. You can either spend the night in Ollantaytambo, enjoy this lively little town & the ruins here, then have a leisurely morning the following day, followed by a 1.5hr train journey to Aguas Calientes.
Then you arrive by around mid-afternoon in time for the afternoon session tour of Machu Picchu. This is a more tranquil & serene time to explore the citadel as it is less crowded.
There are 2 entrance times for Machu Picchu – 7am & 12pm
You can also include hikes to Machu Picchu & Huayna Picchu mountain
2. Head straight to Aguas Calientes directly after the trek. Most take this option if they want to head up to Machu Picchu as early as possible to see the fabled sunrise. This option makes the last day of the trek a long one & the following day also, but both options are available, it really depends how you’d like to do it.
Built as a seasonal residence for the Inca family, Machu Picchu was rarely home to more than 800 people, and during the royals’ absence, a mere 100 servants would remain at the site to maintain the grounds. Machu Picchu was abandoned 100 years after construction and remained largely hidden to the outside world until the early 20th century.
If there’s time, hike up to Machu Picchu Mountain (optional & depends on ticket availability) for a bird’s eye view of the citadel. Afterward, a tour guide will show you around the site and explain the different buildings and curious corners of the building complex. Approximately one-third of the site has been reconstructed into its original structure, giving visitors a sense for the grandeur and artistry of the original citadel.
After the two-hour tour, take the bus back to Aguas Calientes to connect to your train to Ollantaytambo and your connecting transfer to Cusco.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Member Since 2022
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