Lares Trek to Machu Picchu – 4 Days Cultural Hiking

• Hiking distance: 4.5 miles/8 km (3 to 4 hours)
• Campsite altitude: 3.850 meters above sea level
• Considered:  easy to moderate 
• Weather: Cold 

We pick you up from your accommodation at 5:30 am to be driven for three and half hours to the lares trek trailhead  located at 3300 m.a.s.l. then we will hike for around one hour through alpine grassland towards the Qiswarani hamlet where we wil visit the local school to learn how these kids on this remote area are improving their skills: we will interact with them teaching some english words and also learning some words of their native languege " Quechua" and we will make some engaging games bewteen the children and our hikers to distribute them school supplies such notebooks, toys, pencils that you may bring.

Following we will participe and cook with our whole team  a typical peruvian dish called Pachamanca which is an underground hot stone barbecue; after tasting this lovely andean dish we will hike uphill for two hours to our campsite through organic potatoes and andean lupin crops.

Upon arrival to our campsite our tent and duffle will be already pitched, we give you warm water in buckets to you wash up, change into some clean clothes and  rest after an easy and beautiful day within the lares trek; then get ready for happy hour with hot chocolate, cookies, popcorn and finally our yummy dinner.

** Perfect itinerary on this lares trek to interact with the local kids, taste the hot stone barbecue; and at night have the marvelous experience of stargazing the andes and milky way from our fantastic campsite located next to a lagoon and in the middle of imponent mountains.

• Hiking distance: 8 miles/14 km (7 to 8 hours)
• Campsite altitude: 3.750 meters above sea level
• Considered:  challenging
• Weather: Cold 

We come to your tents at 5:00 am with a hot coca tea to wake you up and enjoy the great morning view with the sunrise over the sakantay mountain, after 5 minutes we provide you with warm water in buckets so you may washed up and wake up in a better way, then we give bewteen 30 to 40 minutes to pack essentials and then have breakfast for another 30 minutes.

Following we start ascending on the lares trek for four hours through a stretch with amazing views of the blue lagoon, with andean geese, andean gulls and wild ducks inside it  and imponent snowy mountains around us; upon our arrival to the Silver Cross mountain pass we will stay astonished due to the incredible 360 degrees view of the Colque Cruz glacier and the mountains around it.

On the mountain pass our guide will share interesting facts about the lares trek, the glaciers and lagoons while we enjoy a sandwich and hot drinks provided by our porters, later we descend for two hours through an region crowded of green bluish lagoons towards our lunch spot; where our team will be waiting with cooled drinks and a delicious buffet lunch.

Following with our lares trek itinerarywe hike downhill for one hour to our second campsite; upon arrival to our campsite our tent and duffle will be already pitched, we give you warm water in buckets to you wash up, change into some clean clothes and  rest after an challenging but rewarding day within the lares trek: then get ready to visit a community family and get inmersed in their traditions, outfits and lifestyle; later al night we will enjoy our happy our with hot chocolate, cookies, popcorn and finally our yummy dinner.

** Although the second day in the lares trek will be challenging it also will be wonderful due 360 degrees views and the visit to local families.

After woken you up get ready to enjoy the amazing sunrise on this typical andean hamlet crowded by snowy mountains, llamas, alpacas and stone mud houses thatched, following we will enjoy our nutritious breakfast to then hike downhill for four hours towards the village of Huaran; along the way we will be see large crops of potatoes, corn, fava beans, cabbage, carrots, beetrots due this area  is known as the bready basket of Cusco.

Upon our arrival to to our lunch area our team will be waiting with cooled fruit juice and a buffet lunch, following our lares trek program we will catch our private van for 40 minutes to the train station at Ollantaytambo to catch our panoramic train class called vistadome at 15:48 pm that will drive us for one hour and 45 minutes to Machu Picchu town. 

Once in the town of Aguas Calientes we can say “the lares trek is done”, your guide will accommodate you at your hotel, coordinate dinner time and plan the next day at Machu Picchu.

** Perfect itinerary on the lares trek to delight on a slow a steady pace the sacred valley food crops and the views from the panoramic train on their way to Machu Picchu town or Aguas Calientes.

Meals Included: on this lares trek: Breakfast Only 

In order to get well rested and have plenty of time to enjoy the views, pictures and lessons at Machu Picchu We suggest you to wake up by 5:00 am in the morning get ready, pack the essentials and take the bus  from Aguas Calientes town to Machu Picchu, this will a ride of 30 minutes untill reaching the inca citadel at 6:15 am more or less which will give you the chance to see the sunrise on this magnifecent location.

Your guide will give enough time to take pictures into the most beautiful spots of the Incan city, share lessons about this amazing Incan masterpiece and display you the most impressive details of Machu Picchu; then We take the bus back at more or less 12:00 pm down to Aguas Calientes to enjoy without rush our lunch. This lunch is optional and not included. At lunch, your guide will deliver out train tickets so if you opt to skip this, please arrange to get these train tickets before leaving him at Machu Picchu. Unless you requested for an upgraded train, We will book the Expedition class train departing Aguas Calientes at 3:20 p.m. or  4:22 p.m. This will be a 2 hour train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy (based on which train you get), where an Incas Path driver will meet you and drive you back to the city on our van, then we drop you off at the door of your hotel or the closest possible if the is not car access until your hotel.

** Our service is from the door of your hotel to the lares trek and Machu Picchu and then back to the door of your hotel again.