Trip introduction
The Lares trek is an option for all those travelers who want to take a tour through the Andean mountains, but nevertheless it is not so demanding, much less spend several days disconnected from civilization. However, it offers you all the natural and cultural experiences throughout your journey, visiting lagoons little frequented by walkers, interaction with local families in the area and we can also learn more about the traditions and ways of life of the inhabitants of area who together with our guide will share part of that ancestral knowledge.
Responsible Travel.
By booking this trip, you will be helping provide a special Christmas breakfast for low income children in Cusco.
Overview
During the next 4 days we will combine beautiful lakes along our walk, we will visit local communities in the area, we will see their inhabitants carrying out their daily activities of agriculture and grazing together with ancestral weavers who still preserve their lifestyle hundreds of years ago.
In addition, we will be able to understand the entire natural process that agriculture entails in this area and how Andean man still coexists with nature in its purest and simplest form. In the same way, we will appreciate its typical animals such as llamas and alpacas until we reach the Patacancha community in Ollantaytambo to board the train that will take us to Aguas Calientes and make the dream of knowing Machu Picchu possible.
Day 1: CUSCO – PUMAHUANCA – PUYOC
We will start the day, going to your hotel to pick you up in our private transport and then leave Cusco and make a 3-hour car trip to the community of Pumahuanca in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, we will take advantage of the place to visit the archaeological site from the place before beginning our walk, entering one of the nearby valleys of the area and walking a total of approximately 16 km until we reach the town of Puyoc.
Along the way we will also appreciate different types of flora and fauna that our guide will tell us in detail about the use they give to many plants in these areas as part of natural medicine. It is important to mention that the Lares route is not a highly commercial hiking route, therefore we will be able to feel the peace of the place since in our surroundings it will be unlikely to find other travelers as normally happens in Salkantay or Inca Trail
Day 2: PUYOC – YANACOCHA – CUNCANI
This will be without a doubt the most spectacular day of our entire journey on foot, it will also be a much shorter day compared to the first since from our camp we will hike 12 km in toral to the town of Cuncani, which is practically on its Most of it is downhill, therefore the journey will be much easier and will give us the opportunity to enjoy the Andean landscape more.
As we walk in the direction of Cuncani we will cross some snowy peaks including the Yanacocha lagoon where it will be easy for us to see the inhabitants of the area wearing their typical costumes that are characteristic of this area because they are bright red.
Day 3: CUNCANI – LARES – AGUAS CALIENTES
After waking up early and after our breakfast we will do some experiential tourism in the area, since our guide will introduce us to a local family who wants to welcome us for a moment to learn from each other. After the visit you will have the opportunity to give any gifts you have brought to the local people. Also, you will be able to buy some of the locally made alpaca products for which this region is famous.
We will continue leaving Cuncani and we will advance about 6 km until we reach the thermal baths of Lares to relax taking a bath and finally our transport will pick us up from the place to go to the city of Ollantaytambo and board the train to Aguas Calientes and be able to rest in a hotel in the area to prepare for our visit to the great Machu Picchu the next day.
Day 4: AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES
We will have a buffet breakfast at the hotel and then we will go to the bus station accompanied by our guide to go up to the door of Machu Picchu, and in the place we will pass the control point and we will go to the upper part of the Inca city to have a drink. the classic photos of the place, our guide will show us the most important parts of the place where the temples, squares and enclosures stand out during a 3-hour tour, you can ask all the questions you like that our staff is trained to clarify all your doubts regarding to the place.
Finally we will go down to Aguas Calientes to have lunch and take the train that will take us back to Ollantaytambo where our driver will be waiting for us to take us back to Cusco, arriving at your hotel at approximately 6:30 p.m.
WHAT IS INCLUDED FOR THIS TREK?
- Pick up from your hotel to start the walk
- Briefing at your hotel the night before the departure of the trip
- Transfer to the beginning of the walk
- Professional English speeking guide
- 4 season Doite Kaylas tents
- Sea to Summit Comfortable foam mattresses
- 1 duffel bag for leave personal ítems to carry the horses (7kl)
- Meals along the Trail (3 breakfast, 3 lunches, 3 dinners + tea time every afternoon). (optional: vegetarian, celiatic option upon request)
- Train ticket Ollantaytambo / Aguas Calientes / Ollantaytambo
- Bus tickets Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu / Aguas Calientes
- Mules to transport cooking and camping equipment, plus 7 kilos
- Return transportation Ollantaytambo / Cusco
- Dining tent with tables and chairs
- Hotel in Aguas Calientes, Day 3
- Cheff staff
- First aid kit
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
**Huayna Picchu is an optional walk inside the Citadel of Machu Picchu that does not include a guide. The ascent is usually done on your own after your tour of the Citadel of Machu Picchu. If you would like the additional walk to be guided, please request it in advance. There is an additional cost for this additional guided tour.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED FOR THIS TREK?
- Sleeping bag
- Ticket to Huayna Picchu –$75 USD
- Walking poles - $15 USD
- First breakfast and last lunch
- VistaDome Train - $67 USD
- Tips for your guide
BENEFITS OF TRAVELING WITH TERRA PERU AVENTURAS
- Assistance 24/7 a week in English.
- Qualified professionals on all tours
- Professional Guides in English on all tours
- Free transfer from the airport to the hotel
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please read the following information carefully. This will help you resolve your doubts and/or questions about our services
ARRIVAL IN CUSCO
All our services start at the airport of the city of Cusco where our driver will be waiting for the arrival of your flight to be able to drive you to the hotel of your choice, this service has no additional cost.
For which it is necessary that you provide us with your flight details and confirmation 1 or 2 days before your arrival in the city, our staff will be waiting with the Terra Peru Aventuras sign which you have to locate.
THE BRIEFING
The briefing is the information that is provided to our clients prior to a trip, this will be done one night before the selected activity at the hotel of their stay. In general, the schedule will depend on the other activities that you have planned to carry out, but many times it usually takes place between 6 and 7 at night.
HOW CAN I BOOK THE CLASSIC LARES TREK TO MACHU PICCHU 4 DAYS TOUR?
To start a reservation, the first thing we request is your personal data along with the details of the date you would like to do the walk, then we will request an advance payment of 40% of the total value of the walk in order to generate the purchase of the necessary tickets for the tour.
After the deposit, our reservation staff will send you the confirmation of the reservation of the Tour which will include the DATE, NAME OF THE TOUR, PERSONAL DATA OF THE CLIENT, AMOUNT DEPOSITED AND AMOUNT PENDING PAYABLE UPON ARRIVAL IN THE CITY.
Terra Peru Aventuras offers you different payment methods depending on your needs, from bank deposits, transfers via Wester Union, as well as PayPal (consider +8% to the deposit to be made for reasons of bank commissions)
WHEN DO I MAKE THE FINAL PAYMENT OF THE TOUR?
In general, the total payment must be made upon arrival, we recommend making the payment in cash, due to commission issues from international banks that may be unfavorable to you in case you want to make a payment with your credit card. Our staff gives you more details about it.
CAN I CHANGE THE DEPARTURE DATE AFTER I HAVE PURCHASED THE TICKETS?
For all our tours with the exception of Machu Picchu, Inca Trail, Salkantay, yes! is possible to modify the date without any cost, this must be communicated to our staff as soon as possible in order to carry out the procedures for the modification with a new date.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH ALTITUDE SICKNESS?
Any good experience will depend on a good physical condition, if you practice any physical activity regularly you should not worry about a possible altitude sickness, however as an additional recommendation we suggest acclimatizing, in this sense you should consider spending at least 3 days to do some walk and 1 day to be able to carry out some activity or cultural tour.
There are medications that could achieve better acclimatization, but since we are not doctors, we suggest you drink plenty of water and coca infusions to achieve better acclimatization.
WHEN THE TOUR ENDS, DO YOU TAKE US TO THE HOTEL?
Everything will depend on the style of travel that you chose. Our clients who travel in a private service have the option of ending the tours at their hotel. However, those who opt for a group tour, our tour ends in the Plaza Regocijo or close to it so that you can walk without any worries to your hotel.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BRING?
- Original passport
- Small backpack
- Water storage: 2-3 litre reusable bottles
- Hiking shoes
- Headlamp
- Toilet paper
- 4 t-shirts
- 3 hiking pants at least
- 4 sets of undergarments
- 4 sets of hiking socks
- Bathing suit for the thermal waters
- Fleece/ Thermals
- Warm clothes, down jacket — 2nd campsite its the higher and temperture drop to 2 Celius
- Rain jacket
- Waterproof gloves
- Quickdry towel
- Small bottle of soap: we provide warm water each day to wash
- Battery Charger: No electricity along the trek
- Hand sanitizer
- Wet wipes
- Toothbrush and paste
- Personal medications
- First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc
- Water: Please supply your own water until the first lunch spot, then we will provide you with cold
- Boiled water at every meal time. Please bring your canteens
- Sun hat ; Sunscreen
- Wool hat
- Snacks like chocolate bars, cereal bars or any dry fruits
- Rain plastic poncho
- Extra money for souvenirs, drinks & tips