LARES 4D

Mountains, Lakes and Hot Springs

This trek is an excellent alternative for those who want to get off the ‘beaten track’. You will have the opportunity to visit authentic Andean communities while being surrounded by astonishing mountains, lakes, and valley landscapes. The trek begins from a small village in the Sacred Valley and ascends over two passes, walking through traditional and colorful villages, relaxing hot springs, and an unforgettable arrival to Machu Picchu.

International Youth Travel Cards (IYTC) or other forms of student identity are not acceptable. we can also offer a US$20 per person discount for group bookings of 3 persons or more, provided just one person in the group is responsible for marking the booking and sending the trek deposit.

We will meet with you at your hostel / hotel to discuss the final preparations for the trip and finalise payment.

Pre Departure Briefing

Day 1: Puma Huanca – Huaran – Cancha Cancha

We will pick you up at 5:00am and travel in private bus for one and a half hours to the village of Puma Huanca, located in the Sacred Valley between the towns of Pisac and Urubamba.

We´ll join our wranglers and pack the horses that will be carrying our gear. From here, we will begin our trek. Leaving the Sacred Valley behind us we head northwards following a gently climbing trail that runs parallel to the small Cancha Cancha River. We will soon reach the village of Huaran, where we will enjoy our first lunch on the trail. After lunch, it is a four hour trek to our destination, the small village of Cancha Cancha (3800m/1250ft), where we’ll spend the night.

Day 02: Cancha Cancha – Quishuarani

This day will be the most challenging day of the trek. We will leave Cancha Cancha in the morning and continue up the valley, passing small thatched stone houses. After half an hour, the trail flattens out before climbing steeply for a two and a half hour trek to the highest pass, Pachacutec Pass (4758m1558ft). From this pass, you’ll be rewarded with superb views of Pachacutec Lake and the snowy peak of Pitusiray. The trail continues for an hour along a narrow ridge until it descends into a beautiful isolated corrie filled by a glacial lake, where we will have lunch. The lip of the corrie descends into the next valley, following a series of cascading waterfalls to the village of Quisuarani (3700m1220ft), where we’ll camp here for the night.

Day 03: Quisuarani – Hot Springs

We will follow the trail in the river valley downhill for about three and a half hours to the town of Lares (3100m1020ft). Half an hour before arriving to the town of Lares, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a soak in some open air thermal springs. At about 1pm, the bus will pick us up and leave for Ollantaytambo, where you will have some time to rest and explore the historic town. We will then take the train to the town of Aguas Calientes, where we will enjoy a celebratory dinner.

Day 04: Machu Picchu!

On the fourth day, we will have two options to arrive to Machu Picchu. We can either hike up for one and a half hours from Agua Calientes or catch an early bus. We will be able to witness the magnificent sunrise at the ancient Inca city. There will be a walking tour for approximately 2 hours, after which you can explore the mysterious city by yourselves.

After exploring Machu Picchu, you will meet your guide in Aguas Calientes for lunch and be given your complimentary train tickets back to Cusco. If desired, an extra night in Aguas Calientes can be arranged. Please let us know whether you would like to stay an extra night when booking your tour.

All our departures are available along the year except in february. But we highly recommend that you book your tour far in advance because during the high season (May to September) Machu Picchu entrace fee and train ticket can be sold out several weeks in advance.

Included

Transfer Airport/Hotel upon arrival in Cusco (please specify arrival time and flight number)
Professional guide fluent in English
Private bus to the start of the trail
Machu Picchu entrance fees
Two-people tents with plenty of room for your backpacks
Sleeping mattress
Meals cooked by an experienced chef: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, and snacks!
Delicious food rich in carbohydrates and suitable for trekking
Vegetarian/special diet options available
Weight Allowance: 8 Kilograms /16 pounds per trekker (weights to be carried by horses)
Horse ( to carry the tents and cooking equipments
Dining and kitchen tents
First aid kit including emergency horse and oxygen bottle
Round-trip bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
One night accommodation in Aguas Calientes
Round-trip Expedition train from Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes
Bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco

Not included:

Breakfast on the first morning. Some hotels offer an early morning breakfast service. If not, we stop at the town of Calca on the way to the start of the trek, where you’ll have the chance to buy breakfast.
Lunch in Aguas Calientes on the final day
Entrance to the thermal springs in Aguas Calientes (10 soles)
Sleeping bags. These can be rented in our office for the entire trek (US$ 20) every sleeping bag is washed prior to each use
Tips for the guide, cook and wranglers