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Lares Trek 4 Days

Cultural tripsWalking & Trekking

A good tourist destination of Cusco-Peru

LARES TREK 4 DAYS 

Lares was a pre-Inca regional culture that appeared many years before the Incas.  The Lares people were conquered by the Incas at the beginning of their reign and today their heritage is preserved and can be found in local communities such as Cancha Cancha, Quiswarani, Cuncani, etc.  These Lares communities provide the opportunity to experience, share, and learn from the local people about everything inherited from our ancestors including agriculture, herding, weaving and religion. So, through our itinerary “LARES TREK” you will discover the authentic Andean world and contemplate visiting the charming lost Inca city “Machu Picchu”

DESCRIPTION:

HIGHLIGHTS OF LARES TREK

  • DURATION: 4 Days/ 3 Nights
  • TOUR TYPE: Camping, adventure, and culture.
  • ACCOMMODATION: 2 Nights Camping /1 Night Hotel 
  • MEALS: 3 (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
  • WALKING DISTANCE: 36 km / 22.3 miles
  • MINIMUM HEIGHT: 3,000 meters / 9,840 feet
  • MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 4,700 meters / 15,419 feet
  • TEMPERATURE: Minimum -5 °C (23 °F) / max. 24 °C (76 °F).
  • PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY: Moderate, but challenging.

TRIP ITINERARY

FIRST DAY.-  CUSCO-HUARAN-CANCHA CANCHA

We will leave the city of Cusco after picking you up from your hotel in our private transport service to go to the sacred valley and reach the beginning of Lares trek Huaran district (3,000 meters / 9,840 feet) located 1 1/2 hours from Cusco.  This is where we will meet our staff (porters and cooks), who come from the community of Cancha Cancha.  We will then begin our walk enjoying the views that nature offers us with a landscape rich in flora and fauna through native shrubs in the area, covering endemic bird varieties, and the capricious rock formations of the Urubamba range with a view of the sacred valley.  We will arrive at the community of Cancha Cancha (3,956 meters / 12,976 feet) where we will have the opportunity to observe the daily life of the locals in this community.

  • MEALS: Snack, lunch, coffee break and dinner
  • ACCOMMODATION: camping facilities.
  • DISTANCE: 10 km / 6.2 miles.
  • WALKING TIME: 5 to 6 hours.
  • TEMPERATURE: minimum -5 ° C (23 ° F) / max. 15 ° C (59 ° F).
  • PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY: Medium 3/5

SECOND DAY.- CANCHA CANCHA – STEP PACHACUTEC – QUISWARANI

We will begin Lares trek day 2 as soon as we finish breakfast and will gradually ascend towards Pachacuteq Pass (4,700 meters / 15,419 feet).  This will provide gorgeous views of the Puna region and the impressive Q’olque Cruz glacier (5,400 meters / 17,720 feet).  Along our journey we will see the grazing of llamas, alpacas and sheep that the country highland people herd to survive.  We will also be able to observe lagoons, snow-capped mountains and a lovely waterfall.  Finally, by the end of the day we will arrive at the beautiful Quiswarani camp (3,800 meters / 12,460 feet) where you can interact with warm indigenous people.

  • MEALS: breakfast, water, snack, lunch, coffee break and dinner
  • ACCOMMODATION: camping facilities.
  • DISTANCE: 12 km / 7.2 miles.
  • WALKING TIME: 8 to 9 hours.
  • MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 4,700 mt. / 15,419 ft.
  • MINIMUM HEIGHT: 3,800 mt. / 12,460 ft.
  • TEMPERATURE: minimum -5 ° C (23 ° F) / max. 15 ° C (59 ° F).
  • PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY: challenge 5/5

 

THIRD DAY.- QUISWARANI-STEP Q’ALLAQASA –QUISWARANI – LARES – AGUAS CALIENTES 

After breakfast we will start an uphill climb that will take approximately 2:30 hours.  This will put us at the summit of the Q’allaqasa Pass (4,400 meters / 14,430 feet) where we will be rewarded with a spectacular and unique view of the valleys and mountain ranges of the Urubamba.  After a break we will start our descent towards the community of Cuncani (3,800 meters / 12,460 feet).  During our descent we will see more herding along the way with hundreds of sheep, llamas and alpacas.  At the end of the hike we will take our vehicle to the Lares thermal medicinal baths (3,120 meters / 10, 2660 feet) where we will soak in the hot water as a reward after a hard day’s walk.  We will also enjoy lunch before getting started again.  After being totally relaxed, we will ride our private transport for 3 hours back to the town of Ollantaytambo (2,792 mt. / 9,158 ft) where we will have dinner.  After dinner, we will take the train to the town of Aguas Calientes for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Upon arrival we will go to the hotel for our accommodation and rest.

  • MEALS: breakfast, water, snack, lunch, coffee break and dinner
  • ACCOMMODATION: camping facilities
  • DISTANCE: 11 km / 7 miles
  • WALKING TIME: 5 to 6 hours
  • MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 4,400 meters / 14,430 feet
  • MINIMUM HEIGHT: 3,800 mt. / 12,460 feet
  • TEMPERATURE: minimum 0 ° C (23 ° F) min and 18 ° C (59 ° F) max.
  • PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY: moderate ⅗

 

FOURTH DAY.- AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU-CUSCO

After a pleasant breakfast at your hotel, your guide will pick you up to take you by bus to the citadel of Machu Picchu and watch the sunrise and take advantage of the tranquility and the pure air during the sunrise. You will have a guided tour for approximately 2 hours, during which you will visit the most important places of the winding citadel. Afterwards you will have an extra time to explore the citadel by yourselves and then you will start your walk to HUAYNA PICCHU (round trip 1 ½ hours) or to the MOUNTAIN of Machu Picchu at 10 in the morning (round trip 2 1⁄2 hours approx.), Then board the bus to the town of Aguas Calientes, and then board the train. Trains usually leave in the afternoon between 14:55 – 18:20 hours depending on the reservation availability and space in our EXPEDITION service or other requested service. Then we will return to Ollantaytambo or Poroy. Of course, our private transportation will be waiting at any of these stations to take you back to your hotel in Cusco. The return from the town of Aguas Calientes to the city of Cusco lasts approximately 4 hours.

  • ACCOMMODATION: hotel
  • MEALS: breakfast
  • TEMPERATURE: minimum 8 ° C (46.4 ° F) / max. 26 ° C (78.8 ° F)

ADDITIONAL TRIP INFO

  • Professional bilingual guide
  • Entrance to the Lares thermal baths
  • Entrance ticket to the Machupicchu citadel
  • Hotel ** (3rd night)
  • Bus service Aguas calientes – Machupicchu (round-trip)
  • Train ticket round trip  (Expedition service)
  • Food during walking: 3 (lunches, dinners and breakfasts)
  • Boiled cold water along the walk (after each meal). You will only bring the first day until lunch
  • Mattress (sponge)
  • Pillow
  • Camping Tents (accommodation for 2 people)
  • Horse team that will carry the equipment, food and personal things of 8 kg’s (approximately 18 pounds).
  • Transportation Cusco – Lares Trek – Ollantaytambo station
  • Transportation station Ollantaytambo- Hotel Cusco
  • Oxygen tank
  • First day Breakfast and 3rd-day lunch
  • Sleeping bag (can be rented from the company)
  • Inflatable mattress (can be rented from the company)
  • Walking sticks (can be rented from the company)
  • Tips for the guide and support staff

NOTES

NOTE: According to the rules to climb the HUAYNA PICCHU mountain, due to its popularity, it is regulated in 4 shifts: at the following times: 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. with limited availability.

Therefore, reservations will be made in advance to get the tickets.

  • AGUAS CALIENTES HEIGHT: 2,100 meters/ 6,890 feet
  • ALTITUDE OF MACHU PICCHU: 2,400 meters/ 7,874 feet
  • HUAYNA PICCHU MOUNTAIN HEIGHT: 2,700 meters/ 8,860 feet
  • PUERTA DEL SOL ALTITUDE: 2,720 meters/ 8,924 feet
  • OLLANTAYTAMBO ALTITUDE: 2,700 meters/ 8,860 feet
  • TEMPERATURE: minimum 7 °C (44.6°F) / max. 28°C (82.4°F)

INFORMATION BEFORE THE TRIP

We will previously prioritize your queries, doubts and concerns you may have about the trip. The guide will go to your hotel 1 to 2 days before departure to inform you and answer questions about your trip.

RECOMENDATIONS

WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU BRING FOR LARES TREK

  • Original passport (the same one that you used to make the reservation)
  • Backpack (must be very comfortable to carry all your belongings during the day)
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping Bag Liner
  • Silicone earplugs
  • Hiking Shoes
  • Extra Flip flops or river shoes
  • Rainwear or rain poncho
  • Outerwear for the nights like a jacket, scarf, gloves and a woolly cap
  • Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses.
  • Comfortable hiking shoes
  • Light clothing
  • Trekking pants
  • Shirts or t-shirts (we recommend long sleeved) preferably quick-dry or regular cotton
  • Head lamp
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Quick-Drying Travel Towel
  • Personal medication
  • Walking stick with rubber bands on the tip
  • Reusable water bottle or CamelBak water bladder
  • Hand sanitizer gel
  • Toilet paper
  • Extra money

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