EXPEDITION OVERVIEW

Lares trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days And 3 Nights

This remote and rarely visited region offers the trekker an insight into the real lives of the Andean farmer, dressed in their traditional brightly colored ponchos. You’ll have the opportunity to see thatched stone houses surrounded by herds of llamas and alpacas. Inside the houses you’ll see guinea pigs running loose. The advantage of this trek is that permits are not required and, in theory, you could just turn up in Cusco and make a booking 2 or 3 days in advance. However most companies are combining these treks with a visit to Machu Picchu and therefore train tickets between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes are best bought several weeks in advance. Trekking in this area takes you into the remote and rarely visited Lares Valley with the spectacular backdrop of the Urubamba Mountains, and has several snow-capped peaks, the best know of which is Veronica (5,750m. The Lares Valley lies to the east of the Urubamba range and its easily accessible from Cusco. The Area offers moderately strenuous trekking, though small mountain villages, crossing passes of over 4,000m with spectacular views of the surrounding snow-capped peaks of Pitusiray, Sawasiray and Chicon.during the trek you will have opportunity to see how the Quechua-speaking Indians of the high mountain villages live by farming potatoes and oca, and herding llamas and alpacas on the inhospitable flanks of the towering peaks. The Lares valley is one of the most picturesque villages in the southern part of Cusco. Lares Valley is particularly well know for its very high-quality, brightly coloured weavings and characteristic upturned hats, many of the popular tourist markets being supplied from here. The trek itself is rated moderate, similar to the Inca Trail. There are, however, one pass over 4000m so it is essential that you are well acclimatized to the altitude. This 4 day, newly developed itinerary offers an outstanding combination of amazing mountain scenery in a remote area and visits to authentic Quechua communities such as Wacawasi, Willog, Patacancha and reaches Aguas Calientes on the third day. The last day is devoted to the visit of the impressive Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
We leave Cusco in the early morning, driving to the provincial town of Calca in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and climbing northward to a spectacular high pass before dropping down to the village of Lares on the east slope of the Andes. Here we take a delicious dip at a hot springs in the meadows outside of town and then enjoy a picnic lunch. Then we begin a leisurely half-day hike up the valley of the rushing Trapiche River, before reaching the highland village of Huacahuasi, where we camp for the night. Huacahuasi (3,600 m / 11,800 ft) is an authentic Andean community located in an impressive valley. Typical house constructions of the Quechua communities living at high altitude can be observed here. (L,D)
We climb steadily, traversing an open, treeless landscape of ground-hugging plants and flowers among pastures of Andean bunch-grass scattered with roaming herds of alpacas and llamas. Reaching an altitude of 4,500m (14,760 ft) we cross the pass of Ipsayccasa. The pass offers breathtaking views from Mount Veronica (5,750m/ 18,864 ft) and the surrounding snow-capped peaks. Then we descend to Ipsaycocha or Ipsay Lagoon. We may see Andean Geese, Puna Ibis and other water birds in the wetlands here as we journey through the heartland of these Quechua people, who are locally nicknam ed “Huayruros”. These seeds from the jungle have two colors: black and red; similar to those of the villagers dress. We reach the village of Patacancha, a well known textile Andean community that.
After breakfast we continue our trek to the village of customs Willoq original population, so we can see the archaeological remains and Pumamarca and Qochapata. Around the afternoon we arrive to Ollantaytambo town, and after lunch we have free time during the night until take the train to Aguas Calientes (2 040 m). ) where we will stay the night in a hotel.
Up early, breakfast, then we will visit Machu Picchu. You will have free time to explore, take photos and of course if you have the energy, choose to hike up Huaynapicchu Mountain that has the best view of the city to offer. This will take approxamitely 2 hours up and back, also you must get in early as there are only 400 people a day allowd to hike up. After free time you will have a 2 hour guided tour, then its time to head by bus back to Aguas Calientes, then return to Ollantaytambo on train, at the train station is going to wait for us the bus for come back to Cusco Important:
  • If you want to access to the Huayna Picchu mountain,contact us.
  • All the buses the coming back from the Inca Trail leave the passengers one block from the main square, you are going to return to the hotel by yourself.
  • Transportation bus Cusco-Calca-Lares.
  • Professional bilingual guide English  Spanish).
  • Entrance fee to Machupicchu.
  • Meals: 3 Breakfast/3lunches/3 dinner.
  • Cook.
  • Mules and porters (camping equipment and food).
  • Camping equipment (tents, dining tent, mattresses, tables, chairs).
  • Train round trip (Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo) – standard Backpacker Service, if you would like to make a change to the service, or request a specific departure time, please let us know.
  • 1 night in a hostel in Aguas Calientes (double rooms with private bathroom and hot water)
  • Bus Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes.
  • First aid kit.
  • Oxygen bottle.
  • Do not include sleeping bag
  • First breakfast
  • Last lunch.
  • Gratuities.
  • Entrance fee to the thermal baths of Lares.li>
Are recommended:
  • Snacks.
  • Sunscreen.
  • Hat.
  • Comfortable clothes.
  • Camera
  • Rain coat.
  • Comfortables shoes.
  • Bottle of water.
Note: During the walk you must load the sleeping bags, mattresses and personal items (eg. backpack).
From 580 USD BOOK HERE reservas@leadingperutravel.com