Travel off the beaten path with the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu, visiting isolated villages to experience the Inca culture as you interact with Local, visit the glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, and hiking the shorter version of the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu and Inca Trail tour starts in Cusco and travels by van to Lares’ hot springs. Travel across the most remote villages, hike along with llamas and alpacas, hike the last part of the Classic Inca Trail, and arrive at Machu Picchu through the Sungate in the afternoon. To book the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu & Inca Trail tour, you only need to make an initial payment of 140.USD per person; the remaining balance can be paid online, in installments, or at our office upon arrival. Discount: All travelers under 17 years old and students under 25 years old with a valid ID can get a 30.USD discount. Day 1: Cusco – Hotsprings – Kiswarani Falls – Blue Lake.- After being collected in Cusco at 5.00 am, you’ll drive for 3 hours to the hot springs of Lares, where you can relax in the thermo-medicinal volcanic waters. After breakfast, you’ll hike for 4 hours along the Kiswarani Valley to the first campsite at the Blue Lake (3750m/ 1230ft). Day 2: Quiswarani – Condor Pass – Canchacancha.- Start the day with a cup of coffee served by your trekking team in your tent. Today is the most challenging day of the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu. After breakfast, the hikes start with a 4-hour climb to Condor pass (4700m / 15,354ft), the highest point of the trek that offers incredible views, then continue two more hours downhill to the second campsite located at Canchacancha Village (3,750 m / 12,303 ft). Day 3: Cancha Cancha – Salineras – Ollantaytambo.- Your trekking team will wake you up with a hot drink and get ready for the day. After breakfast, explore the village, visit the local elementary school, and start descending into the Sacred Valley for a special Pachamanca lunch. Next, board the van to drive to Salineras to drive to Ollantaytambo to spend the night in a hotel. Day 4: Ollantaytambo – Km104 – Aguas Calientes.- After breakfast in Ollantaytambo, take the Expedition train to Km104 (Chachabamba Inca Site) to start the Short Inca Trail. After Passing the checkpoint, start a 7-hour visiting Chachmabam, Wiñaywayna, Sungate, and arrive late in the afternoon to teh great city of Machu Picchu. Dinner at Indio Feliz and spend the night in a hotel. Day 5: Explore Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco.- Wake up early in your hotel, take the bus to Machu Picchu, and explore your tour guide the most remarkable places. The guided tour starts with a short hike to Inca Bridge and then explores the streets, temples, and palaces of Machu Picchu. In teh afternoon, take the Vistadome panoramic train back to Cusco, Arrival at 7.30 pm.  Additional hikes after Machu Picchu guider tour: Huayna Picchu Mountain – The ticket must be booked in advance, takes 2 hours to complete the walk, $75 per person. Machu Picchu Mountain – The ticket must be booked in advance; it takes 2 hours to complete the hike, $75 per person.
Depart from your hotel in Cusco, or Sacred Valley at 5:00 am and drive for 3 hours to the Lares hot springs. Upon arrival, you’ll get ready to enjoy the pure volcanic hot springs with different pools divided by temperatures, from hot to warm, good for bones, muscles, and relaxing for the trek. Afterward, enjoy the first breakfast surrounded by beautiful mountains. Your trekking chef uses fresh organic products from the area to offer you the best of our cuisine. Next, you’ll drive for a 30-minute ton the Trailhead at Pampacorral (3559 m / 11676 ft9. The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu hike starts with a two-hour gradual uphill to Kiswarani Village (3820 m / 12532 ft). Along the way, you’ll observe birds, flowers, native plants, and a vast number of potato farming lands. Lunch is in the village where the chef will prepare a delicious meal with fresh organic produce from the area. After lunch, you’ll meet the whole trekking team of chefs, porters, and muleteers. Then, Explore Kiswarani village, the local school, meet the organic potato farmers and hike along with llamas and alpacas, learning their traditions, the importance of these animals, and their lifestyles. The hike takes 2 hours, gentle uphill to the first campsite located at the beautiful Blue Lake (3950 m / 12959 ft). Along the way, you’ll pass the Kiswarni waterfalls while trying to keep the pace of local children returning to their homes after school. Once you arrive at the campsite, your trekking team will have the tents ready, warm water to wash, tea time, dinner, and sleep. This campsite is a perfect place to stargaze. Wake up in your tent and enjoy a cup of coffee or coca tea with the fantastic view of the mountains, the lake, and locals taking the llamas to grass in the hills. Today is the most demanding, most beautiful, and challenging day of the Trek. After breakfast, start ascending 4 hours to Condor Pass (4680 m / 15354 ft). The trail is a steep spiral climb with stunning views, glacial lakes, llamas, alpacas, mountain caracaras, and if we are lucky, you can spot a condor. When you arrive at Condor Pass, the highest point of the trek, you’ll take some time to explore and enjoy the fantastic vistas while you enjoy a coca tea served by your trekking team to help you with the altitude. The second part starts with a 2-hour downhill to Canchacancha village ( 3950 m /12959 ft). You’ll have lunch in the town and also camp in the same place. After lunch, you can explore the villages, interact with Local children, chase llamas and alpacas, or play soccer with the children and your team. Canchacancha is an isolated village with no route access, no cellphone or internet service. All the inhabitants from Canchacancha still speak teh native Inca Language called Quechua; they all are potato farmers, raised llamas, alpacas, and even practice original Inca traditions. Visit the thatched roof houses, learn their lifestyle, and make some donations to the local school. After breakfast in the village, prepare for the final descent into the Sacred Valley. You’ll explore the town, visit the guinea pigs, and learn how they became Peru’s most outstanding dish. Then, descend for 4 hours into the village of Huaran in the Sacred Valley (2939 m / 9642 ft). Along the way, you’ll see farming lands of potatoes, beans and experience a fast change in the temperature as you descend, starting in cold weather from the mounatin and the campsite to the warm and green vegetation of the Sacred Valley. Lunch is a special Pachamanca underground hot stone barbecue; you’ll participate in preparing all kinds of meat, vegetables, and fruits. After enjoying lunch, you’ll say goodbye to your trekking chefs, porters, muleteers, and continue by van to Salineras, here you’ll visit the more than 3000 salt pans where locals are harvesting salt by evaporating salty water. Next, continue by car to Ollantaytambo to explore the beautiful town, walk along the street, and spend the night in a hotel. Dinner in a local restaurant. After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, you’ll get picked up from your hotel around 5:40 am and drive to Ollantaytambo Train station, take the first trains to Km 104, and start the Short Inca Trail. The 1.5 hours train ride itself is another wonder; you’ll enjoy the beautiful views as you travel along the Urubamba River and see a fast change in the landscape from the Andes to the Cloud Forest. Once you Arrive at Chachabamba – km104 ( 2156 m / 7073 ft) here, you need to show the original passport at the checkpoint, use the restrooms, and start hiking the Shorter Version of the Long Classic Inca Trail. Immediately after you start the Hike, you will stumble upon Chachabamba Inca Sites, with beautiful buildings, water temples, and sacred altars. Then, you’ll hike along the left side of the Urubamba for 4 hours gradual uphill until Wiñaywayna (2639 m / 8658 ft); this place is one of the largest and most beautiful archeological sites inside the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Explore the waterfalls, temples, houses, water channels, and farming terraces. Lunch is a Packed lunch provided at the beginning of the trek. After lunch, hike for 1 hour to Sungate, here you’ll have the first and most fantastic view of the great Inca city of Machu Picchu, then is another hour to arrive at the upper part of Machu Picchu. We arrive late in the afternoon when Machu Picchu has fewer people; this gives us a unique opportunity to this spectacular citadel almost empty, great for photos. Later take the bus down to Aguas Calientes (2056 m / 6745 ft), take a refreshing shower at your hotel, and dine at Indio Feliz restaurant. On the final and most important day, wake up early and enjoy breakfast in your hotel; the hotel can hold your extra bags that can’t be taken to Machu Picchu. You’ll catch the first buses up to Machu Picchu, pass the checkpoint, and start exploring Machu Picchu. The guided tour begins with a short hike to the Inca bridge, then exploring the city itself, visit the temples, palaces, and learn the history of Machu Picchu. Once you finish the guided tour, have some free time in Machu Picchu or take the extra hike to either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mounatin (not included and different from Machu Picchu citadel). Once you finish exploring Machu Picchu, you’ll take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, have lunch (not included). In the afternoon, take the Vistadome Panoramic train back to Ollantaytambo train; here, Ultimate Trekking staff will be waiting to transfer you by van to Cusco. Drop off at your hotel around 7:30 pm where your Lares Trek To Machu Picchu and Inca trail ends.
During the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu & Inca Trail tour, you need a comfortable, light backpack that you must carry at all times; according to Machu Picchu regulations, this must be no bigger than 25 liters. (if you have a bigger pack, please contact us). During the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu, the duffle bags must be carried by horses. However, we can’t take the duffle bags for the Short Inca Trail portion as we don’t have porters for this section; however, we can send by train to the hotel the stuff that is necesary for this trip. The maximum weight allowed in the duffle bags is 7 kilos of your stuff. If you are renting from us sleeping bags (2 kilos) and an air mattress (1 kilo), you need to include this on the weight allowance.
WHAT TO DO IN CUSCO? Upon arrival to Cusco (3033 m / 11154ft), you need to take some time to acclimatize to the high altitude of the city. We recommend taking tours around the city like the city tour of Cusco, Sacred Valley Tour before taking the long trip to Machu Picchu. This way you’ll reduce the risk of getting altitude sickness. If you have on Schedule tours like Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake, please try to plan after the Machu Picchu Tour. WEATHER IN CUSCO? Cusco has two seasons: The rainy season from November to March and the dry season from April to October. However, weather in the Andes is unpredictable so it doesn’t matter when you come just bring good rain gear, also prepare for sunny days. Together with our 4 seasons equipment, we will make sure you have an experience of a lifetime despite any adversity. The only one thing you can say about the weather in Peru is that it is difficult to accurately predict. You can Have beautifully clear hot days in the middle of the wet season and hail storms in the dry season – it’s one of the beauties of Peru. Since Cusco city is the main destination in South America, it should not be an issue finding flights and places to stay. However, during high season you must book in advance. If you are having trouble with your bookings don’t hesitate to contact one of our travel representatives. We will be more than happy to assist you in finding the best deals and places for you. VACCINES NEEDED PRIOR TO COME TO PERU If you’re headed to Peru, you need to make sure to consult a clinic or your doctor at least four weeks prior to the trip. Vaccines for Peru vary based on your specific itinerary. A passport health travel specialist will help you decide which vaccines are best for you. Yellow fever (this vaccine may be required based on your travel itinerary), typhoid, hepatitis a, hepatitis b, rabies, routine vaccines. Visit this Page DIFFICULTY OF THE TREKS All of our treks are moderately difficult and challenging but nothing that you cannot do it. So please before you come to Peru make sure you exercise regularly and also acclimatize to the altitude. For this, we highly recommend you arrive at least two days ahead of your tour. BOOKING WITH ULTIMATE TREKKING PERU Booking with us was never easier. We only need to submit the info required below, and a 200 dollars deposit to book your entrance, train, and bus tickets. You can pay the balance once you arrive at our office. Personal information (your full name, exactly as on your passport), Gender, Passport number, date of birth, and Nationality HOW CAN I PAY MY DEPOSIT? PayPal: (For alternative treks and Inca Trail tour reservations a $200 deposit is needed, and $400 for the deluxe tours). The remaining balance you can pay upon arrival to Cusco city directly at our office. ALTITUDE SICKNESS OR “SOROCHE†At high altitude, the air is thinner and each body starts to react differently for the changes in oxygen levels. So basically there is less oxygen going into your body than you’re used to. To counteract you need to breathe faster and deeper and pump blood more rapidly in order to take the same amount of oxygen. This could be shocking to your body manifesting in various symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, poor appetite, lack of sleep. Cusco is at 11,152 feet (3,399 meters) so you may experience some symptoms, on the other hand, Machu Picchu is significantly lower at 7,972 ft (2,430 m). So Machupicchu isn’t really the potential problem. The best way to deal with the altitude is: Breathing exercise. Deep breaths will help you get more oxygen in your body. The best way to acclimatize faster is drinking water, resting, having normal activities. Drink lots of water. This will really help you, but lots of water and try to go to the toilet often. Coca tea. It is in every corner in Cusco city, this plant used through centuries in Cusco to reduce altitude problems. Avoid alcohol and drugs. Alcohol is a big no at high altitude, so avoid the first days to your trek. The celebration is at the end. Use Diamox or the equivalent in Peru to help you adapt to the altitude faster Supplementary oxygen. If needed you can ask in your hotel for free or you can contact us. We will deliver to you at no cost. NUMBER OF VISITORS TO INCA TRAIL AND MACHU PICCHU? The number of visitors to the Inca trail has a limit of 500 per day and 2500 to Machu Picchu, according to UNESCO recommendations. Therefore, it is recommended to book in advance, especially during the high season. The trains are usually full so make your reservations in advance. You can book your visit to Machupicchu only or a ticket including the Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountains. As long as the name is the same we can update any passport number needed. If you have an old passport and a new one, please send us a photocopy of both. If you don’t have the old you can send any ID with your name. Remember to bring both passports when you travel.  DO I NEED TO CARRY MY PERSONAL STUFF? We provide a porter for your belongings (7kg), so you can go carrying only your daypack.  WHO GETS DISCOUNT?  If you have a valid UNIVERSITY STUDENT CARD at the time or you are under 17. you are entitled to a discount. In order to claim this discount, you have to send us a photocopy of this card. TOILETS DURING OUR TOURS Almost all the treks in Cusco are government regulated, therefore, is possible to find public toilets. Since past experiences with our guests showing discomfort with public toilets in the trails, we introduced our latest Alternative Porta-potty toilets and hot showers on all our tours to maximize your trekking experience. WHEN TO START PACKING? Start packing in advance all necessary equipment for trekking. if you need any assistance you can contact us anytime and come to Peru all prepared just to have fun and enjoy. DO WE HAVE A CHEF WHILE HIKING IN THE MOUNTAINS? We have highly trained CHEFS and PORTERS in our tours, capable of handling any special request or diet you may require on our tours Breakfast – Snack – Lunch – tea time – Dinner – wake up tea every day WHERE DO WE GET WATER? We will provide you drinkable water throughout the tours from the beginning until your last day with Ultimate Trekking. This is taken from the natural spring in the mountains and boiled, filtered and then cooled. To refill you must bring your Camelbak or bottle for at least 2 liters each day.
Overview
Overview of the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu & Inca Trail
Highlights of the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu & Inca Trail
Price per person 790.USD
Day by day summary of the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu & Inca Trail
Included during the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu & Inca Trail
Not Included in Lares Trek to Machu Picchu & Inca Trail
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Thermal Baths – Kiswarani Waterfall – Blue Lake
Day 2: Kiswarani – Condor Pass – Cancha Cancha Village
Day 3: Cancha Cancha – Salineras Maras – Ollantaytambo
Day 4: Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Day 5: Discover Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco
Packing List
Packing list for Lares Trek to Machu Picchu & Inca Trail
For your daypack:
For your duffle bag.
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