Tour Overview
The Lares Trek takes place on a hidden valley that very few outsiders have ever entered. The trail offers the opportunity to see magnificent glaciers, lakes, waterfalls and hot springs and observe the traditional way of life in the mountains as you trek past the indigenous communities of Canchacancha, Huacawasi and Yanahuara.
Itinerary
Very early in the morning on Day 1, we will pick you up from your hotel and depart in the direction of the Sacred Valley. We will make a stop in Calca on the way to the starting point, the Lares Hot Springs. Some of us may decide to take a refreshing dip in the naturally heated hot springs, which are said to be some of the best in the Cusco region. We will then need to start with a 2 hour trek through the mountain landscapes to get to our first destination in Cuncani. That is where we will set up camp for the night.
After breakfast, we will continue our trek through the valley until we come to the small, extremely typical, community, Huacawasi. Huacawasi, is known for the extremely fine fabrics that they produce, and we will even get to watch their great skills and brilliant technique as they handcraft ponchos and clothing before our eyes.
After visiting the village and learning about their way of life for a while, we will return to the trekking, ascending now, to the second pass of the journey, Abra de Condorpasa (4100msnm). From this amazing vantage point we will soak in some truly spectacular scenery, with Mount Veronicas’ snow-capped peak (5750 meters) looming above all the while. The last hour of the journey will be in a downward descent towards the picturesque Ipsaycocha Lagoon, where will set up our campground in the perfect setting by the water. water.
After enjoying a healthy breakfast, we’ll begin a descent down into the valley beneath us to reach the community, Willoc, where we have lunch and a short rest. From this point, it is only about another 2 hours to reach Pumamarka, a typical Andean pueblo which boasts some Incan terraces and gorgeous scenery that we can appreciate.
Continuing on, we will finally come to Ollantaytambo, which is nestled in a green, fertile valley, watched over by immense mountains on all sides. This is a perfect place to appreciate some marvelous examples of Inca remains which were left here by our ancestors, as well as a wide variety of Andean birds and native flowers. In Ollantaytambo, we will also catch a train that will weave us through some stunning scenery and multiple micro climates, to Aguas Calientes. That night we will sleep early in a comfortable hotel in preparation for the next day’s adventure.
Day 4 of the journey is dedicated entirely to visiting the magical remains of Machupicchu. After an extremely early breakfast, we will take the bus up to the site, where we will need to register ourselves at the checkpoint. Afterwards, we will walk around the site with our guide, as he teaches you about the amazing history of the mystical place. In the afternoon, you should start making your way back down the mountain to Aguas Calientes so you can get to know the town a little bit more before retrieving your things from the hotel and catching the train back to Cusco.
Tour Inclusions
- Transport from Cuzco
- Tents and camping equipment
- All meals while trekking
- Porters
- English speaking guides.