Explore Lares Treks to Machu Picchu 4D/3N

Day 1: Cusco – Huaran – Cancha Cancha

Our Cultural trek to Machu Picchu will start with the pick up at your hotel at 6 am, and then we will drive in our private van towards the Sacred Valley, taking the direct route to Pisac Town. Our first stop is on the way to have a classic view of the Sacred Valley with crops dressing the mountains in terraces. 

After taking a pictures of the sacred valley and  Pisac town, we will drive to Calca where we stop to visit the local market and buy the last supplies for our adventure trek

Then we drive to Huaran, where we meet your 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 (3,900m/12,800ft) 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 (depending of the weather and time). 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: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities with bathroom building
• Distance: 9kms / 5.6 miles
• Time: 3.5hrs approximately
• Difficulty: Moderate 

Day 2: Cancha Cancha – Quiswarani

Your guide will wake you with a hot mug of tea or coffee to enjoy before you get up for breakfast. Feeling all revved up 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 campsite located 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 campsite!

At the campsite, everything will be ready. Enjoy hot drinks and appetizers before dinner, then snuggle in for a comfortable night sleep.

• Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon Tea Time – Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities with bathroom building
• Distance: 12kms / 7.5 miles
• Time: 7hrs approximately
• Difficulty: challenging

Day 3: Quiswarani – Cuncani – Lares – Ollantaytambo 

Your adventure continues as you begin the most scenic day yet!  We begin our ascent for 3 hours until we reach the Willqaqasa Pass, (4,200m/13,779ft) getting a bird’s eye view of the reflections of the mountains in mirror images in the glacial lakes. The majestic Colquecruz and Pitusiray Mountains are inspiring and we can admire them from the pass. We continue our trek through the Puna grasslands,  productive agricultural sites and natural pristine lakes. Descend for 2 hours to the Cucani community. Connecting with the local indigenous children (depending of the time)

From Cuncani you will hike down through lush valleys with extensive agricultural areas, fruit bearing trees, varied flora and native flowers like begonias and wild orchids. Finally, we reach our last stop which is the Lares Hot Springs (3,100m/ 10,170ft), where we cannot wait to soak in the natural volcanic hot springs for an hour, have lunch and relax.Time for our goodbyes for our remarkable chef and horsemen. 

After lunch in Lares, we take our private transport to 2.5 hours Ollantaytambo, where we have dinner  and then we take  the train to Aguas  Calientes. Where we spend the night.

•  Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon Tea – Dinner
• 3* Accommodation: Ferre Hotel Machu Picchu
• Distance: 15kms / 9.3 miles
• Time: 6 hrs approximately
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 4: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Today’s highlight is the amazing Machu Picchu!

After an early breakfast at your hotel, take one of the first busses up to Machu Picchu so that you can be there to witness the sunrise. It is a truly extraordinary site and not something you’ll want to miss! The guide will give you a tour of about two hours. See many of the most important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel.  You will also learn about how Machu Picchu is divided into three sectors: agricultural, residential and religious.

When you have had your fill of the exceptional views of Machu Picchu, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Depending on your train departure time, you may also have time for some shopping, sightseeing or a visit to the museum or hot springs. 

The Expedition train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:55pm or 3:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater. See Wiñay Wayna from the train, if you look up high on the steep canyon wall! Back at Ollantaytambo, the driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private vehicle. You can expect to arrive at your hotel by 7:00pm.

• Meal included: Breakfast
• Difficulty: Easy

After your tour, those who have booked in advance for the extra hike up Huayna Picchu Mountain this tour will be done without a guide.

***IMPORTANT:

• You can upgrade to the Vistadome Train for the same times, 2:55 or 3:20, 4:22, or 4:43pm. The cost is $67 USD.
• Early trains can be organized by request and it has to be done by booking time.

**Huayna Picchu is an optional trek within Machu Picchu Citadel which do not include a guide. The climb is usually done on your own after your tour of Machu Picchu Citadel. If you would like the extra hike to be guided, please request in advance. There is an extra cost for this extra guided tour. 

OPTIONAL UPGRADES

• VISTADOME TRAIN: $65 USD per person (Return Only)
• La Cabaña Hotel: $40 USD per person
• Tierra Viva Hotel: $70 USD per person
• El Mapi Hotel: $120 USD per person
• Additional Night in hotel in Aguas Calientes – From $60 USD per person (depending on choice and availability)