Adventure Travel Along the Lares Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru

Price (Land Only)

$1899 USD

Minimum 2 Travellers

Trip Dates

Trip departs every Sunday from April to November 2010 and 2011

Trip Rating

Challenging

Ratings Explained

Meals

7 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 3 Dinners

Accommodations


Hotel	Camping
4 Nights	3 Nights

Trip Includes

All accommodation (shared twin), airport transfers, internal transportation excluding internal flights (Lima-Cuzco-Lima), entrance fees, meals as indicated (B- breakfast, L- lunch, D- dinner), camping equipment, and veteran wilderness guides.

Trip Doesn't Include

International and internal airfare, airport taxes, gratuities to guides, and items of personal nature, extra accommodation due to missed flights, alcoholic beverages.

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Destination Guide

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Peru

Trek the Lares Trail

Hiking and Horseback Riding

(8 Days)

Slide Show

For those of you who like to get off the beaten track, consider The Lares Trek as an alternative to the over-crowded Inca Trail. The Lares trek has some of the best scenery the Andes have to offer. The journey begins in the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco, and travels through small highland communities that have experienced little change over the centuries. We’ll witness firsthand the traditional lifestyles of the locals as we pass by artisans, weavers, and shepherds with their flocks of llamas and alpacas. With any luck, we’ll also see the impressive Andean condor soaring above. The grand finale is a visit to the legendary Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas”. This trip is a sure winner to ignite your spirit and enrich your soul.

Trip Highlights

Exploring the cobblestone streets of Cuzco
4 Day Trek on the Lares Trail with Llamas providing support
Tour of Machu Picchu

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival into Lima

Fly to Cuzco Early this morning you'll arrive into Lima and immediately connect with a domestic flight into Cuzco. The remainder of the day is at leisure to acclimate to this high altitude colonial city located at 11,500 feet. The streets of Cuzco are filled with artisans selling sweaters, pottery, and a variety of other handicrafts. Overnight in a comfortable hotel.

Day 2: Cuzco - Sacsayhuaman (Horseback)

This morning is at leisure to wander through the cobblestone streets of Cuzco exploring the cathedral, museums or shopping for local handicrafts. Later this afternoon we depart by horse, riding to the nearby ruins of Kenko, Tambomachay, and Pucapucara. Our final destination is Sacsayhuaman, a spectacular, mountaintop fortress overlooking Cuzco. We return to the hotel late afternoon. Approximately 4 hours on horseback. (B)

Day 3: Lares Trail (Hike)

This morning we set off by vehicle bright and early towards Huaran (2,840 m/9317 ft), a small village in the Sacred Valley and the start of the trek. We'll meet up with our pack llamas and begin our beautiful hike through the lush valley, following the gentle uphill route of the Cancha Cancha River. It will take us approximately 5 hours to reach the picturesque village of the same name where we'll set up camp for the night (3,800 m/12,467 ft). (B,L,D)

Day 4: Lares Trail (Hike)

After having a hot breakfast, we'll leave the campsite and begin our steep ascent to Pachacutec Pass at 4,458 m/14,625 ft, the highest point of the trek. From the top of the pass there are spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, valleys and Pachacutec Lake. After the pass, we'll continue our trek and descend into the next valley to reach Quiswarani village (3,700 m/12,138 ft) where we'll spend the night. Along the route, the scenery is dramatic with glacial lakes, waterfalls, and snow-peaked mountains. This area is also rich in birdlife and there is a possibility of seeing Andean ibis, Andean geese and flamingos. In the evening, we'll enjoy traditional Peruvian food and spend time with the local children and women weavers. Overnight camping.(B,L,D)

Day 5: Lares Trail (Hike)

We have another early start this morning! We'll begin with a 3-hour ascent to reach Huillquijasa Pass (4,200 m/13,779 ft), the second highest pass of the trek. The views are impressive and well worth the effort. We'll then descend towards the village of Cuncani passing turquoise lakes along the way. This was the last refuge of the "Royal Panakas", an Inca sect. Overnight camping. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Lares Trail – Aguas Calientes (Hike)

After breakfast, we'll walk down a fertile valley, passing typical vegetation and high altitude crops such as beans and potatoes. Along the trail we'll see native flowers such as begonias and wild orchids. After walking for around 3 hours we arrive into Lares, capital of the district. Lares is a large village whose main attraction are hot springs. We'll treat ourselves to a well-deserved soak. Late afternoon we'll board the train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. Overnight in a comfortable hotel. (B,L)

Day 7: Machu Picchu-Cuzco

We have a full day dedicated to exploring Machu Picchu. There is also the option to climb Huayna Picchu, a young peak adjacent to Machu Picchu. If you are keen to climb this, you will need to get up really early as only a certain number of people can climb Huayna Picchu a day. The hike is a challenging one, but the views are well worth the effort! Afterwards, our guide will give us a tour of Machu Picchu explaining the history and significance of the major sites. The tour takes about 2 hours after which you will have free time to explore the ruins on your own. In the afternoon, after lunch in Aguas Calientes, we'll take the train through the Urubamba valley destined for Cuzco. We'll be met at the train station and transferred back to our hotel. (B,L)

Day 8: Cuzco-Lima

After breakfast you'll be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Lima. From here connect with international flights home. (B)