Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days
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Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days
Highlands, llamas/alpacas, highland villages, history, and Machu Picchu: this 4-day Lares trek covers them all. Incredible hiking and idyllic camping through the dramatic Andes mountains to the ultimate destination “the lost city of the Incas”.
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu takes you to true off-the-beaten-track, the hike begins at the hot springs of Lares in the Cusco region and passes through several remote indigenous communities that keep the Inca culture alive from the eastern to the western side of the Urubamba Mountain range. Along the way, it offers breathtaking views of the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, beautiful high-altitude lagoons, llamas/ alpacas grazing freely, and locals in their typical outfits.
4-day Lares Trek to Machu Picchu has been specially designed for those people who are looking for less-visited hiking routes, away from the classic tourist trails. As well, for those travelers or adventurers who wish to personally get into the changing ecosystems from one day to the next, and experience the real life of locals of Peru’s background as it once was. This 4-day trek is a great opportunity to enjoy the best mountain scenery and the true taste of the Peruvian Highlands, and perhaps most importantly for some, it is much quieter than the classic Inca Trail, and also the path is arguably easier than the classic Inca Trail in that one doesn’t need to deal with as many steps either getting permits with many months in advance.
Join us and make your dreams happen, making one of the most exhilarating treks with breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains, great valleys, and curious alpacas/llamas. Give us a call at +51 984 585 909 or shoot us an email at info@cuscolocalfriend.com to learn more or book your spot today.
Why you will love this tour
- Lares Trek 4 days is a fascinating hike to immerse in the Andean culture and learn about their traditions and lifestyle.
- Hike through wondrous mountain scenery and reach 4,800m/ 15,748ft the highest point before making your way into the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
- Enjoy the comforts of our premium Lares Trek camping services—the best on the trail.
- Small groups Big adventure (min 2ppl – max 8ppl — average 4ppl).
- Spend the last day at famed Machu Picchu, “Lost City of the Incas” with a private guide.
- Hike this Lares trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days with a local tour operator, managed by expert local guides, accredited by the Peruvian Ministry of Tourism.
Trip Details
- Tour duration: 4 days
- Activities: Hiking, history & archaeology, culture.
- Trek starts from: Cusco
- Trek ends in: Cusco
- Group Size: Small groups for big adventures (min 2ppl – max 8ppl – average 4ppl)
- Good For: Those with a sense of adventure and in good hiking shape
- Physical rating: Moderate – demanding due to the altitude of the trail
- Consideration: Please remember coming prepared for this trek. And allow you at least 2 days to get acclimated in Cusco before the trek begins.
- Hiking time: 7-9 hours every day.
- Trail distance: 35km/ 21.75 miles.
- Highest point: 4,800 m/ 15,78 ft.
- Departure: Daily
ITINERARY
Welcome Briefing
You will have a thorough pre-departure briefing with our guide the evening before your trek. This meeting will be at your hotel and you can take this opportunity to ask final questions and make any final preparations for your hike. The meeting is at 5:00 pm.
Day 1. Cusco – Lares Hot Springs – Cuncani Camp
Your Cusco Local Friend tour guide will pick you up from your hotel at 4:30 am, next, we’ll drive to Calca town through the Sacred Valley, where we’ll have a short stop to grab some breakfast and get some items for kids in the trail. We will then keep driving to Lares hot springs crossing the Amparaes Pass (4,500m/ 14,764 ft) for 2 hours and 30 more minutes. At our arrival at the trailhead, we’ll meet up our muleteers, horses and get ourselves introduced to them and make our rucksacks ready to get the adventure started.
Following the meeting, we’ll start our hike up the highland valley, as we’ll get hiking further, we’ll start seeing some llamas and alpacas close by, the perfect time to snap some great shots of course. The first section to lunch spot on day 1 is basically gentle, the trail goes up gradually for 2 hours. Today, we’ll have lunch at a nice scenic spot (3,650m/ 12.139ft). After lunch, we’ll still hike for 2 more hours to our first campsite located in Cuncani. village at 3,850m/ 12,631ft. Upon our arrival at the campsite, our crew will welcome you, you will have time to take a rest and change into something warmer clothes before tea time. At this campsite, we will spend some time mingling with local children dressed nicely and colorfully. Later, we’ll enjoy our just made dinner followed by a briefing for the second day. Lunch and dinner included.
- Hiking Distance: 11 km / 6.83 miles.
- Hiking Time: 6 hours.
- Lowest elevation: 3,350m / 10,991ft (trailhead).
- Highest elevation: 3,850m/ 12,631ft (camp site).
- Meals: Lunch, tea time, dinner, and snacks.
Day 2. Cuncani Camp – Sicllacasa Pass – Cuyuq Camp
We’ll be woken up with a hot tea or coffee in the morning still in our tents and we’ll take a nutritious breakfast which will make us ready for the toughest day. Next, we’ll start hiking up to the highest point for 4 hours, we’ll be rewarded with beautiful highland scenery of snow-capped peaks and llamas/alpacas, we can even spot condors soaring overhead if we are lucky, an important symbol of the Incan people. After strenuous hiking, we’ll reach the pass called Sicllacasa at 4,800m/ 15,748ft, this place offers us some stunning vistas in every direction, of course, a worthy picture place. And, at this place, we’ll have time to rest and make some offerings to the mountain spirits and Pachamama (mother earth). After taking some pictures and resting, we walk downhill for 1 hour to reach our lunch spot. Following lunch, the trail comes all downhill until the next campsite for 3 hours. This evening we’ll stay at the campsite called Cuyoq (4,100m/ 13,451ft) where we’ll have our afternoon tea followed by a delicious dinner. All meals included.
- Hiking Distance: 16 km / 9.94 miles.
- Hiking Time: 9 – 10 hours.
- Lowest elevation: 4,100m/ 13,451ft (camp site).
- Highest elevation: 4,800m/ 15,748ft (pass).
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, tea time, dinner, and snacks.
Day 3. Cuyuq Camp – Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu Pueblo/ Aguas Calientes
After breakfast, we walk downhill for 3 – 4 hours through Pumahuanca highland valley, passing many queuña native trees towards Pumahuanca village located in the Sacred Valley, which is located 2,950m/ 9,678 ft.
As we descend down, we will see the change of flora, fauna, and temperature. When we arrive at the lunch spot, we´ll have the last lunch prepared by our cook. After lunch, we’ll say goodbye to our cook and muleteers, right after this farewell ceremony, we’ll settle in and scan the scenery for 30 minutes from the convenience of a private vehicle until Ollantaytambo train station. Once at the train station, we’ll go aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride by train to Machu Picchu Pueblo / Aguas Calientes for 1 hour and 45 minutes. At our arrival in the town, we’ll make our hotel check-in. Later, we’ll have dinner at one of the local restaurants (this dinner is not included). Breakfast and lunch included.
- Hiking Distance: 8 km / 4.97 miles.
- Hiking Time: 3 – 4 hours.
- Lowest elevation: 2,950m/ 9,678 ft (end of the trail).
- Highest elevation: 4,100m/ 13,451ft (last campsite).
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, tea time, dinner, and snacks.
Day 4. Machu Picchu Guided Tour
After an early breakfast at the hotel in Machu Picchu Pueblo/Aguas Calientes, we will take the bus to the Machu Picchu main entrance for 30 minutes. This morning, you’ll have a 3-hour private guided tour of this spectacular and mystical site.
This private guided tour includes walking through the different sections of the city like shrines, granaries, farming terraces, dwellings, solar observatory where you’ll learn the real significance of this unique place from your guide. If you have booked a permit for Wayna Picchu Mountain, you’ll climb the mountain after the tour; however, spaces are subject to availability. In the unlikely event that Wayna Picchu permits are not available for your departure date, you will climb Machu Picchu Mountain instead. If you are planning to hike one of these mountains, please let us know at the moment of booking to purchase an extra ticket. After Machu Picchu exploration, we’ll take the bus back to Aguas Calientes town, where we’ll celebrate our Lares Trek accomplishment with some Pisco Sours or Inca Kola. We’ll eventually take the train to Ollantaytambo from Ollantaytambo, you’ll be transferred by private van to your hotel in Cusco. End of the adventure. Only breakfast included.
Note on the Itinerary
Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. Reasons which may include incidents in the location where the trip will be operated, strikes, political disputes, entry or border difficulties, extreme bad weather, flight cancellations, and other unpredictable or unforeseeable circumstances which are beyond the reasonable control of Cusco Local Friend and that Cusco Local Friend is not liable for such changes or amendments. On some occasions, these conditions may demand us to deviate from our original schedule, in which case we will provide the best available alternative options. And we’ll make a great experience of it! However, some extra expenses may be incurred, these extra expenditures will be covered by the client in their totality and not by Cusco Local Friend.
Included
- Private transportation for all transfer services.
- Camping Equipment (tents, sleeping pads)
- Other camping equipment like a dining tent with table and chairs; and a kitchen tent.
- Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu.
- Round trip bus tickets in Machu Picchu.
- Round trip train tickets.
- 1 night hotel in Aguas Calientes town.
- “Cusco Local Friend™” Tour Guide.
- Meals: Breakfast (3), lunch (3), dinner (2), and snacks. If you’re veggie? no problem! we have great options.
- A professional cook.
- Horses, and muleteers; horses carry your 8-kg / 16-pound personal items.
- Emergency horse to escort us during the trek.
- Oxygen tank.
Not Included
- First breakfast on day 1 and last dinner on day 3.
- Sleeping bags.
- Hiking poles.
- Entrance ticket to hot springs if want to enjoy it (optional).
- Extra expenditure during the trek.
- Tipping for the trek leader, porters or muleteers, and other staff.
- Travel Insurance.
Book this Experience
Prices are based on semi-private service (intimate small group), our treks are limited to 8 participants on a group led by experienced tour guides.
What to Expect
Impressive views, mild temperatures during the hiking days although kind of windy at high points and very cold temperatures at night; mostly sunny days during the months of May, June, July, and August; mosquito area; big altitude gain and loss every day so you need to have enough time in Cusco to get acclimated before your trek begins.Food is amazing from vegetables, just made soups, pasta, to Peruvian delicious cuisine, desserts, and buffet options. All this, prepared by our experienced cook.
Why Travel with us
Local Knowledge & Expertise
It's great to travel with professional experts from the same destination you are going, that's how you get first-hand information. With deep in-country knowledge, We know the ins and outs of all the logistics, we will ensure you can make the most of your time away.
Personalized Experiences
Your time is precious - we know that. Your experience is our top priority. No big bus groups, No flags to follow! Traveling with a private guide and driver you’ll do what you want, when you want with the freedom to change your plans on the fly.
Friendly Local Guides
Great sights don’t make an amazing tour. Great guides do! Our guides don’t read from a script, we give them the freedom to make each tour their own, and your experience unique. We love what we do and it shows. From the moment you arrive, you'll feel the buzz and excitement that Cusco Local Friend to offer.
Exclusive Itineraries
It’s not all about the destination, it’s also about the journey. We offer only the best itineraries and tours. As local experts, we know first-hand what tours or experiences are the ones that most travelers enjoy and request. Escape the crowds! Never waste any minute, never miss any highlight!
Trip Reviews
Cusco Local Friend has been awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence due to the most consistent 5-star reviews in Cusco, the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu for exceptional levels of service and care.
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