Lares Trek to Machupicchu 4 Days

Lares Trek to Machupicchu 4 Days

INTRODUCTION

The Lares Trek is not as popular as the Inca Trail Classic, but many find it just as beautiful. This trek (also sometimes called the Lares Trek) is ideal for travelers looking for alternatives that take you through rural communities in the impressive Sacred Valley of the Incas.
A walk through the spectacular Andean landscape with a rich variety of cultures, centered in the magnificent Lares surrounded by magnificent snow-capped peaks and many hot springs.

Day 1 – Cusco – Lares Trek – Thermal baths – Quishuarani – Blue lagoon

Distance: 10 km – 6 miles
Elevation gain: 400 m – 1310 ft.
Slope down: –
High elevation: 3800 m – 12,470 ft.
Camp Elevation: 3800 m – 12470 ft.
Difficulty: moderate
Meals: Lunch – Afternoon snacks – Dinner
Accommodation: Camp

Pick up at 5:00 a.m. from your hotel in Cusco. We will travel approximately 3 hours to the community of Lares (3200 m / 10500 ft.). Crossing splendid Andean landscapes and glaciers that will surround our journey. We will stop at the traditional market of Calca to buy some provisions that will be necessary for our walk. We will also have enough time to buy toys or products to share with local people.

Breakfast is high in the mountains, in complete harmony with nature surrounded by waterfalls, snow-capped peaks and beautiful views of the mountains. where you can enjoy a bath in its relaxing hot springs, then prepare our luggage, and begin our first 3 hours of ascent to the community of Quishuarani (4000 m / 13125 ft.). Then, we will enjoy our lunch prepared by the CAMINKA chef.

After lunch we will continue for 2 more hours ascending to the next Laguna Azul natural spot (4200 m / 13780 ft). Place where we will camp, our first day of trekking. It is time to enjoy the afternoon of snacks with breathtaking views of the peaks and snow. You will also have a chance to meet some of the villagers. It would be appreciated if you could share some toys, useful old clothes, notebooks, fruits or any items with the locals. After dinner, our guide will explain the ancient traditions and customs.

Day 2 – Blue Lagoon – Pachaqutec Pass – Cancha Cancha

Distance: 14 km – 10.3 miles
Elevation gain: 500 m – 1640 ft.
Slope down: 900 m – 2950 ft.
High elevation: 4700 m – 15420 ft.
Camp Elevation: 3800 m – 12470 ft.
Difficulty: high
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon snacks – Dinner
Accommodation: Camp

Start of our second day feeling renewed after a good coca tea followed by a delicious breakfast prepared by our chef. We start our 4 hour hike ascending towards the Pachacutec pass (4700 m / 15420 ft). Motivating throughout the intense walk its spectacular glaciers, alpine lakes, herds of llamas and steep valleys. In this place we will experience a ritual that connects us with the pachamama (mother earth) ritual that will be performed by our guide. At the end of the ceremony we will enjoy an energizing coca tea and snacks provided by our Caminka staff.

We will continue our walk for the next 30 minutes to finally achieve our goal, Paso Pachacutec. We will continue with the walk downhill for the next 3 hours appreciating picturesque views of the Lares Valley with herds of llamas and alpacas. Arriving at our camp located next to the Cancha Cancha community, (3900 m / 12800 ft.). Our guide will act as your interpreter to translate and teach us the Quechua language.

Cancha Cancha is one of the most isolated mountain communities that still preserve the traditions and customs of the Inca Empire. This visit will take place depending on the time you arrive at Cancha Cancha. Our camp will be ready. At the end of the day our guide will let us know a little more about the history of the Incas, which will help us to understand a little more about the history of the Inca empire.

Day 3 – Cancha Cancha – Huaran – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

Distance: 9 km – 5.5 miles
Elevation gain: –
Slope down: 1150 m – 3770 ft.
High elevation: 3800 m – 12,470 ft.
Hotel Elevation: 2000 m – 6560 ft.
Difficulty: moderate
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel

As usual, our Caminka staff will wake us up early with a Coca tea to recharge our batteries and be ready to have a fortifying breakfast. Afterwards, you will have time to explore the town and visit the local elementary school, where the ancient Inca language is still taught. Quechua. Once we are ready, we begin the last stage of the trek in Lares. Taking an approximate 4 hour walk gradually downhill, along a beautiful valley where our national tree (Queñua – Polylepis) will stand out, at the same time we will appreciate alpacas and llamas in their natural environment. Here we have the opportunity to observe the cultivation of potatoes, beans and many other traditional tubers, in the traditional Inca style.

This will be a life lesson to learn about Peruvian agriculture because people still farm by hand with traditional Inca agricultural tools. As we continue our journey we will pass the town of Huaran (2850 m / 9350ft.) That maintains its rustic structures and colonial houses, this will be the place where we will have lunch and say goodbye to our chef, muleteers who will return to the mountains to meet their families. . Here our driver awaits our arrival who will take us through the Sacred Valley on our way to Ollantaytambo. To then board the train to Aguas Calientes, where we will have dinner and rest for our big day in Machu Picchu.

Day 4 – Machu Picchu and The End Of The Lares Trek.

Difficulty: easy
Meals: Breakfast

Today very early in the morning we will have our breakfast at the hotel. To then go to the bus station where we will board and ascend 30 minutes to the Inca citadel. At the entrance to Machu Picchu we will prepare our respective documents to make our entrance to Machu Picchu. “Magnificent” is the only word that will come to mind to describe and experience the energy and connection with nature, a scenario that you will see when you are in front of the ruins of Macchu Picchu.

One of the things that fascinates is its location, high up on the crest of a mountain, at 2,430 m / 7,972 ft. above sea level. It was the royal estate of Pachacuti, the great Inca emperor who started the expansion of the empire. Here you will have a guided tour of the Citadel. Main Square, Temple of the Three Windows as well as the famous Inti Watana or Solar Clock and the Circular Tower.

After the 2 to 3 hour tour of the citadel, return to Aguas Calientes for lunch that will be organized by your guide which is not included in our tourist program. At the end of lunch our guide will say goodbye culminating with his services. Then they will have time to get to know a little more about Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu town) to finally go to the train station which will bring them back to Ollantaytambo after coordinating with your guide. A representative of Caminka expedition will be waiting for you upon arrival at the train station in Ollantaytambo and then transfer you to the city of Cusco and drop you off at your respective hotels.

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