LARES TO MACHUPICCHU

Dia 1: Cusco to Lares

We leave Cusco at 6:00am in a private transportation and drive for an approximated 4h through part of the Sacred Valley to then head towards Lares (3100m/10168ft), a little rural village located in the beautiful valley of the same name, hosting some well-known hot springs. Upon arrival, we leave our equipment and continue towards Choquecancha, an impressive archaeological site with amazing views of the neighboring valleys. After our visit, we hike back to Lares, where we can enjoy an evening dip in its hot springs before or after our dinner is served. Our camp will be set next to the thermal baths and access is free the whole night. Meals: L, D

Dia 2: Lares to Ipsayqocha

After an early wake up and breakfast, we meet our horsemen and horses and leave our campsite at around 9.00am to walk along an ascending path that will lead us to Huacahuasi, (3600m/11808ft). This remote Andean community is located in an impressive valley, where the typical lifestyle and house constructions of the Quechua communities living at high altitude can be appreciated. We stop to visit a typical house and family, before we enjoy our lunch. In the early afternoon, we continue our hike ascending toward the mountain pass of Ipsay (4450m/14596ft/3h), walking through little communities and impressive flats (pampas) with the presence of llamas and alpacas. The pass offers impressive views of Mount Veronica and the surrounding snow-capped peaks. Just half an hour from this point is Ipsayqocha, a beautiful lagoon next to which we set our camp and spend the night, amidst an awesome scenery. Meals: B, L, D

Dia 3: Ipsayqocha to Aguas Calientes

We leave our camp at around 7.30am and following a downhill path, we continue our hike towards Patacancha (1,5-2h). This is a well-known textile Andean community that still preserves the ancient Quechua traditions and dressing code at its best, where we will stop to visit. We then continue an additional 1,5 hour until we reach Huilloq, hiking along a gorge with increasing vegetation as we approach the Sacred Valley. Huilloq is another well-preserved authentic Andean community, where our private transportation will be waiting for us to take us to Ollantaytambo. We then board an afternoon train that will take us to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, we will be accommodated at the selected hotel/hostel. Meals: B, L, D

Dia 4: Machupicchu to Cusco

After an early breakfast, we board a bus to go up to Machupicchu and then immediately begin a complete guided tour of the Inca citadel that will take approximately two hours. We then have free time to walk around, climb the Huaynapicchu Mountain, where one can appreciate spectacular views of all of Machupicchu, the valleys and mountains that surround it, or visit the Temple of the Moon or the fabulous Inca Bridge. In the afternoon, we meet in the town of Aguas Calientes where, if you like, you can visit and relax in its hot springs. From here we take the train back to the city of Cusco, where we arrive after nightfall. Meals.

What is included

» Collection from your hotel in the morning and transfer in private bus to Lares, the starting point of the trek
» Personal tents: 2 people in each 4-people-capacity tent, to allow for higher comfort and a safe keeping of backpacks. Our tents are 3-season, 2005-new, highly maintained to ensure an excellent performance in field.
» One foamy sleeping pad per person
» Sleeping Bags -5° C
» Dining tent with tables and chairs
» Kitchen tent
» Toilet tent
» English speaking professional guide (2 guides for groups over 8 people)
» Cook and cooking equipment
» Horsemen and horses (to carry tents, food and cooking
» 1 emergency horse every 6 persons
» Accommodation for our guides, cook and horsemen
» Meals (02B, 03L, 03D + daily morning snack +daily tea service except last day)
» Others: hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunch time if requested with enough time ahead
» Lares hot springs entrance fee
» First-aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
» RT train ticket Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes – Cusco (in the event of not finding spaces available for the return trip direct to Cusco: RT train ticket Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes –Ollantaytambo + private transportation Ollantaytambo – Cusco)
» Machupicchu entrance fee
» RT bus ticket Aguas Calientes – Cusco – Aguas Calientes (day 4)
» equipment).

What is not included

» Breakfast on the first day
» Dinner on the last day