Inca Trail & Lares Treks to Machupicchu

Day 1: Cusco – Huaran – Cancha Cancha

This Andean Mountain adventure through the Lares Valley to Machu Picchu begins early with picking up at 5:00am from your hotel in Cusco the  we will drive to Huaran, where we are going to  meet up our horsemen and horses. Time to get ready, boots on and begin our first 3 hours gradually ascending towards Cancha Cancha. Along the way, your lunch will be served next to the river, replenishing your energy for the trek ahead with a delicious meal prepared by your trekking chef.

Cancha Cancha (3,800m/12,465ft) is one of the most isolated and traditional communities, self-sustaining as it has been for hundreds of years. There is no road to the community and they were recently connected to electricity in December, 2019. After settling into your tents and having afternoon tea, you will have the opportunity to visit a local family. You will learn all about life in a traditional Andean village, with your guide as your interpreter. After dinner, your guide will show you the Inca constellations on which they depended for their agricultural guidance and still do today.

• Meals included:  Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping 
• Distance: 9kms / 5.6 miles
• Time: 3.5hrs approximately
• Difficulty: Moderate 

Day 2: Cancha Cancha – Quiswarani – Ollantaytambo

Your guide will wake you with a hot mug of tea or coffee to enjoy before you get up for breakfast. Feeling with the whole energy to begin our second day we start our 7 hour hike northeast. It starts out as an intense walk, accomplishing high passes on our way to the highest point of our trek at Pachacutec Pass(4,500m /14,800 ft). Motivating you along the trail for this intense part of the trek are the views of glaciers, remote lakes, alpaca herds, rugged valleys and spectacular mountain vistas. Keep your eyes on the sky for the Caracara falcons and Andean geese!

After enjoying the summit, we descend for 3 hours until we reach our Lunch spot by the Quiswarani community, (3,700m/12,139ft). On the way, we will be taking an isolated trail where we will see indigenous highland people in their traditional outfits herding their llamas and alpacas. The local indigenous people will interact with you in the Quechua (the Incas’ language). Your guide will act as your interpreter to translate and teach you some Quechua. When you arrive at the spectacular seven waterfalls, you are almost to the Lunch spot!

where you have your lunch and where you will say goodbye to your horses, horsemen, chef and porters, as they will be going back to their homes. From Quiswarani, you will take a van and drive into the valley to Ollantaytambo and you will stay in a hotel. Ollantaytambo is the only living, intact Inca village. It still has many Inca water channels, houses and walls. Your guide will take you around to view this small town until it is time for dinner, which will be at a local restaurant. After your dinner your tour guide is going to explain to you the plan for the next day Inca trail

• Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel 
• Distance: 12kms / 7.5 miles
• Time: 7hrs approximately
• Difficulty: challenging

Day 3: Ollantaytambo – Km 104 – Machupicchu.

We will start your trip by picking you up from your hotel and then we will take you to  Ollantaytambo train station. From here, we will take the train for 1 hour approximately to Km 104 where we will start our amazing trek on the Inca Trail! Our adventure begins with an uphill hike for about 4 hours until we arrive to the archeological site of Wiña Wayna (Always Young). We will enjoy our  box lunch  here in the middle of the mountains and will have free time to rest and enjoy the beautiful view.
Next, we will continue our hike, moving toward a site called Inti Punku (the Sun Gate). From this place, we will be able to look down and admire the great beauty of the Inca citadel Machu Picchu! Here, the Inca Trail officially ends.
We will finish our first day’s adventure following the lateral trail in direction to the exit of Machu Picchu where we will take a bus to Aguas Calientes town, We will have dinner there and then rest comfortably and private Hotel.

Walking Distance – 12km / 7.45 miles
Starting Elevation – 2,100 meters ASL / 6889 feet ASL
Aguas Calientes Elevation – 2,000 meters ASL / 6561 feet ASL
Difficulty: Moderate
Meals: Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Aguas Calientes
Adventure: Absolutely, completely satisfactory

Day 4: Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Cusco

Today you will get to enjoy exploring Machu Picchu and experience her magical presence by taking the first bus at 5:30AM to the Machu Picchu archeological site.  If you hurry you will get to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu. Take your time, making sure you tour every nook and cranny of this New 7 Wonder of the World and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. It is an unforgettable experience.

Your guide will expertly direct you through the energetic ruins and its diverse main streets. Then on your own, wander around the town squares of the world’s spiritual center of esoteric wisdom as well as climb the intricately carved stairways made of stone. Or stay still and drink in the pure majesty of her presence, and enjoy the pure delight of the moment.
Here are a few of alternative activities that you might wish to indulge in on your own:

• Climb up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain and appreciate the beauty and magnificence of Machu Picchu (not included in your tour price and must be booked in advance.)
• You will be given some time to walk to the Sun Gate or Inti Punku (free of charge)
• Other optional activities in Aguas Calientes include a visit to the new local museum or to the hot springs (entrance fees required)

You will descend to Aguas Calientes and later on, board the  train around 15:20 or 16:20  depending of the availability of the train tickets for the return trip to Cusco stopping at the Ollantaytambo Station and be driven back to Cusco by Bus and finally back to  your hotel.

• Difficulty: Easy.