Lares Trek to Machupicchu

OVERVIEW:


Get off the beaten tourist track and escape to a part of Peru that has changed little in the last 500 years, trek through the spectacular scenery of the Lares Valley and the snow-capped Urubamba mountain range, have a rare opportunity to see how the Quechua speaking indigenous people (dressed in their traditional colourful clothing) of the high mountain villages live from weaving (they are the best weavers in the Cusco area), growing potatoes and oca, and herding llamas and alpacas on the inhospitable flanks of the towering peaks. This programme also includes the best of Cusco, the Sacred Valley & Machupichu, learning about the Incas, Peruvian culture and visiting 1 of the new 7 wonders of the world!

ROUTE & HIGHLIGHTS:

Meals Included: B= Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner

DAY 1: ARRIVING TO LIMA

DAY 2: LIMA CITY TOUR - CUSCO. (B)

DAY 3: CUSCO CITY TOUR: Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman, kenko, Puca Pucara & Tambomachay. (B)

DAY 4: AWANACANCHA, PISAC MARKET & RUINS, OLLANTAYTAMBO and CHINCHERO (B,L)

LARES TREK

DAY 5: CUSCO - CALCA - LARES VILLAGE (3100 m.a.s.l. / 10170 ft) - HOT SPRINGS – QUISHUARANI (3800 m.a.s.l. / 12540 ft) (B,L,D)

DAY 6: QUISHUARANI TO CANCHA CANCHA (3800 m.a.s.l./12500 ft) (B,L,D)

DAY 7: CANCHA CANCHA – HUARAN - OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES TOWN (by train) (2000 m.a.s.l./6600 ft) (B,L)

Optional Activity: Visit the hot springs (entrance fee not included)

DAY 8: MACHUPICCHU – CUSCO. If available also hike to Huaynapicchu or Montana Machupicchu. (B)

DAY 9: CUSCO – LIMA (B)

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Lima: Plaza de Armas

DETAILED ITINERARY: Meals: B= Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner


DAY 1: ARRIVING IN LIMA

Upon arrival at any time reception, assistance and transfer to the selected hotel

Notes:

- You are in charge of arriving in Lima by plane at any time. Our Services start in Lima and finish in Cusco

- Check in at the hotel starts after 1 - 2 pm


DAY 2: LIMA CITY TOUR - CUSCO

In the morning a trip to the essential Lima, “The City of Kings” including the most important architectural icons of the city, such as the Main Square, where you can find the Government Palace, the City Hall, the Cathedral and the Archbishop’s Palace. Then, we continue with a visit to the San Francisco Convent, an architectonic jewel dating back to the 16th century.

Cusco: Plaza de Armas

On our way to the modern area of the city, we will cross the exclusive district of San Isidro, the new financial heart of the city, we conclude our circuit in Miraflores, where we will visit the “Parque del Amor” (Love Park) an excellent spot to enjoy a great view of the Pacific Ocean. After 3 pm transportation to the airport to take the flight to Cusco. Upon arrival reception, assistance and transfer to the selected hotel; where you should rest to adjust better to the altitude (11,000 ft a.s.l.) (B)

Note: Your flight from Lima to Cusco must be at or after 6 pm


DAY 3: CUSCO

Free morning to visit the city and its museums: Inca, Preculumbian Art & The Machupicchu Museum. Afternoon Combined tour; visit the Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay. (B)

Note: Whenever it will be possible; to avoid the crowds and in the high season we will program this tour in the morning.

Pisac Ruins

DAY 4: SACRED VALLEY: PISAC RUINS, MARKET & OLLANTAYTAMBO - CHINCHERO

Visit PISAC located right at the entrance to the Sacred Valley, the amazing Inca city that constitutes one of the most important Archaeological Parks in the region. Visit the fine temples, palaces and the well preserved and vast farming terraces; built even as far as the edge of precipices that still keep their straight sometimes vertical aqueducts; an imposing and unforgettable sight that also offers very beautiful landscapes. Later visit PISAC the Colonial Village, where you will see the famous "Indian Market" and the handicrafts or "souvenirs" market, this is your chance to enjoy a blend of color, traditions and people, and bargain for exotic craftworks. After Lunch at Urubamba Village, tour to the oldest continuously inhabited dwellings in South America, where people are still living in the same houses and palaces as 500 years ago; the ancient Incan town of OLLANTAYTAMBO, with its very impressive constructions built with huge boulders and its ancient heritage that will leave us astonished. Finally visit Chinchero inca town. (B, L)

Lares Trek: Waterfalls

LARES TREK: You MUST be in good shape

The described camps and hiking times are approximate; they may vary according to your physic conditions and guides recommendations.


DAY 5: CUSCO - CALCA - LARES VILLAGE (3100 m.a.s.l. / 10170 ft) - HOT SPRINGS – QUISHUARANI (3800 m.a.s.l. / 12540 ft)

The night before your trek, you will get a trekking briefing with your tour guide. Early bus ride to Calca (2900 metres/ 9512 feet) over here will visit a traditional market where people from all over the Sacred Valley trade crops. After Calca we pass by Inca burial tombs and ruins, local farms and herds of wild llama. We arrive to Lares Valley (3 ½ - 4 hrs car ride) before lunch; over here you will have the chance to enjoy the hotsprings. After lunch we will continue our car ride (20 minutes aprox.) until the beginning of the hike; spot known as Pascana, we will hike to Quishuarani campsite (1 ½ - 2 hrs aprox.)

Lares Trek

In this village we will have a chance to meet the locals “campesinos” and share some time with them, and also we will have a weaving exhibition and lectures about their ancient techniques.

This is a beautiful day with stunning views and great landscapes and the experience to visit along the path several Andean villages, and have a chat with the local people. (B,L,D)

Trekking Distance: 10 km/ 6.21371 miles

Camp Elevation: 3,850 meters / 1,2631 ft

Weather: Cold

Optional camp: Lake Collalay: 4200 mts / 13780 ft (1 more hour)


DAY 6: QUISHUARANI TO CANCHA CANCHA (3800 masl/12500 ft)

Early wake up, breakfast, and start of the hike. This Second Day is going to be the longest day (7 hours aprox). We start our ascent at your own pace to the highest point of the circuit, the climb is difficult until the pass of Pachacutec (4450 m.a.s.l./14500 ft) but we will have amazing views of glaciers and snow-capped peaks: Pitusiray, Sawasiray and Chicon.

Lares Trek

After the pass we hike down hill for about 2.30 hours. Lovely day and chance to see Andean Wild Life and Flowers, Camp at Cancha Cancha. (B,L,D)

Walking Distance: 14 km/8 miles

Elevation Gain: 830 meters / 2,723 ft

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

Weather: Cold

DAY 7: CANCHA CANCHA – HUARAN - OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES TOWN (by train)

After a delicious breakfast we start our easy hike down hill, after about 4 hours we arrive to Huaran; this is where we will take a transportation to Ollantaytambo, over here we will take the train (in the afternoon) to Aguas Calientes town overnight in a hotel. (B,L)

Walking Distance: 9 km /6.2 miles

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

Weather: Cold in the morning, warm in the afternoon. Watch out for mosquitoes this day.

Optional Activity: Visit the hot springs (entrance fee not included)

Machupicchu

DAY 8: MACHUPICCHU – HUAYNAPICCHU - CUSCO

Early visit of Machupicchu; to spot the amazing sun rise and guided visit (2 1/2 - 3 hours) of the wonderful temples and palaces, later on your own you can take the optional hike to Huaynapicchu Peak (2 hours. Afternoon return to Ollantaytambo by train (1 1/2 hours) and transfer to the hotel. (B)


Note: You have to pay extra (US$25 pp) if you are interested in climbing to Huaynapicchu or Montana Machupicchu and you have to let us know in advance, we must buy tickets ASAP, there is a short limit per day.


DAY 9: CUSCO – LIMA

Transfer to the airport for departure flight. (B)


Notes:

- Your flight to Lima can be at any time you want

- Check out at the hotel is at 10 - 11 am

PRICES PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS

DOUBLE or TRIPLE OCCUPANCY:

SINGLE OCCUPANCY:

Extra Payment for Private tours: Paying this TOTAL EXTRA COST per PARTY; for ALL the TOURS in LIMA & CUSCO we will provide: a PRIVATE transportation + an English Speaking guide just for your party.


IF YOU ALSO WANT A PRIVATE LARES TREK PLEASE ASK FOR THE EXTRA COST

INCLUDED IN THE PRICES ACCORDING TO THE ITINERARY:

- Double or Twin rooms at Described Hotels + breakfasts for 8  nights, Lima: 1 night, Cusco: 4 nights, Aguas Calientes: 1 night, Lares Trek: 2 nights in tents.


- GROUP Tours: For the all the tours you will have an English speaking guide, all the entrance fees to visit all the attractions described on the itinerary, all the roundtrip transfers and bus transportation.


TOURS: Lima & Cusco City Tour + 4 ruins, Sacred Valley and 4 days Lares trek & Machupicchu


Pre-trek briefing, MACHUPICCHU entrance fees. Private bus to the start of the trail, English speaking professional guide, client’s tents (2 persons in each), Well insulated Mattresses Pads, Toilet Tents: Dining tent with camp tables & stools, Chef, Cooking tent & equipment, Meals – vegetarian option without extra cost (03B,03L,02D): pancakes, omelets, soups, fresh fruit, avocado, pasta, chicken, fish, meat, rice, all rich in carbohydrates and suitable for trekking, hot drinks including coca leaf tea, coffee break every day, Horsemen & Horses to carry the tents, food, cooking equipment, and luggage (no more than 5 Kgs/10 pounds per person), Fair salary & accommodations for our staff, First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle, Round trip Bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machupicchu: 30 minutes each way, Train tickets (EXPEDITION or INCA RAIL service) from Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo. If there is room; you can upgrade to the vistadome train for US$50 per person, Transfer from the train station to Cusco.


For the GROUP Tours: We use the best available transportation and guides. On average we have:

- Lima City tour: 16 - 20 people

- Cusco City and Sacred Valley tours: 12 - 16 people

- 4 days Lares Trek & Machupicchu: 8 - 12 people


- All the transportation: Airport/Bus & Train Station - Hotel - Airport/Bus & Train Station described in the Itinerary

- Described meals

- Professional & Personal Assistance during your visit.


Does not include: International & national airfares (Lima - Cusco - Lima), extra horse to carry more luggage or ride**, sleeping bags (Save room and Rent from us for just US$25 / 4 days trek), HuaynaPicchu or Montana Machupicchu tickets (US$25 per person), Services & Sales Taxes, tips: guide, cooks, porters, etc, additional nights during the trip due to flight cancellations, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages or bottled water, non described meals & snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls, radio calls or messages & items of personal nature.


**Note: If you want to bring more luggage or ride a horse, you can hire an extra horse for US$100, for all the trek and the horse will carry a maximum of 20 kg – 40 pounds; including your sleeping bag. (Usually 1 horse between 2 persons is enough). However even with a personal horse, you will still need to bring and carry a day pack with essential items.


BOOKING & DEPOSIT FOR THE TRIP:


- To reconfirm and book we will need you to send a deposit of 20% of the trip's price ASAP.

- The remaining balance has to be paid 60 days before your trip.

HOTELS

Please note that for any package we can upgrade and use any other you wish: 4 star, 5 stars, the most recommended, expensive room, etc, etc. As a LOCAL travel agent we have good prices with ALL the hotels in Peru so please just let us know about your preferences and we will send you our best price.

CITY/TOWN RECOMMENDED BASIC HOTELS
LIMA San Antonio, Runcu, Faraona or similar
CUSCO La Posada del Viajero, El Andariego, El Triunfo
AGUAS CALIENTES/MACHUPICCHU Andino, Flower's House, Killa Inn, Pequena Casita
CITY/TOWN HIGHLY RECOMMENDED MEDIUM HOTELS
LIMA Tierra Viva Larco or similar
CUSCO Tierra Viva hotels: Saphi, San Blas or Centro
AGUAS CALIENTES/MACHUPICCHU Golden Sunrise Casa Andina or similar
CITY/TOWN BEST RECOMMENDED 1ST CLASS HOTELS
LIMA Libertador or similar
CUSCO Hilton Garden Inn, Aranwa
AGUAS CALIENTES/MACHUPICCHU Sumaq, Inkaterra Pueblo

ADDITIONAL TOURS IN CUSCO & THE SACRED VALLEY
Customize this Trip by adding extra days to any location. Please explore below or contact one of our  local  expert travel advisors

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