The Lares valley trek offers a combination of stunning scenery, traditional cultures, and Machu Picchu on the 4th Day. The trek will take you through stunning Mountain scenery, over high passes, and you will spend two nights near traditional Peruvian Villages. The fourth day you will see the treasures of Machu Picchu with your experienced guide.
Day 1: Cusco - Huaran - Cancha Cancha
Day 2: Cancha Cancha - Pachacuteq Pass - Quishuarani
Day 3: Quishuarani - Huillquijasa Pass - Cuncani - Huacahuacasi
Day 4: Huaca Wasi - Ipsaycocha pass - Patacancha - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes
Day 5: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Day 01: Cusco - Huaran - Cancha Cancha
We will pick you up at your hotel at 6:00 am, we will take the road for approximately 2 hours until Huaran (2900 m). It is a small village, in the Sacred Valley, which will be our starting point of our trek. We will join at this time the rest of the team including the llamas! We will start our magnificent trek through this fascinating valley, following the tranquil route of the high hills along the Cancha Cancha River. It will take us 5 hours to reach the picturesque village of Cancha Cancha where we will set up our first camp.
Transport time: 2 hours
Walking time: 5 hours
Climate: cold
Altitude difference: Cusco (3400 m) - Huaran (2900 m) - Cancha Cancha (3800 m)
Day 02: Cancha Cancha - Pachacuteq Pass - Quishuarani
After breakfast, we will start the climb to the Pachacuteq Pass (4458 m), the highest point of the trek. From up there you will be treated to a spectacular view of the snowy peaks, Pitusiray, Lac Pachacuteq and all around the Valley. After the Pass, we will continue walking down, this time, to the next valley to arrive at the village of Quishuarani (3700 m) where we will spend the night. Along the way, the landscapes will be breathtaking - with frozen lakes, waterfalls, and snow-capped peaks. This region is also rich in bird species and it is possible to see the Andean ibises, Andean geese and flamingos among others.
Walking time: 7 hours
Climate: cold
Elevation difference: Cancha Cancha (3800 m) - Pachacuteq Pass (4458 m) - Quishuarani (3800 m)
Day 03: Quishuarani - Huillquijasa Pass - Cuncani - Huacahuacasi
We will have breakfast and leave for an ascent of about 3 hours to reach the Huillquijasa Pass (4200 m), the second highest point of the trek. The view is impressive and worth it! After that, we will descend to the village of Cuncani (3860 m) through beautiful turquoise lakes along the way. We will continue to cross several lands and we will meet Andean local families, where agriculture and textile expertise inspired by Andean gods and symbols is very famous in this region. Once the Qasa Cruz Pass (4100 m) past we will go to the community of Huacahuasi (3800 m). With this community you will have the opportunity to share a unique and authentic moment by learning more about their culture, customs, traditions and their daily lives. We will set up the camp near the community where you can explore the surroundings if the desire and time allow you.
Walking time: 8 hours
Climate: cold
Altitude difference: Quishuarani (3800 m) - Huillquijasa Pass (4300 m) - Cuncani (3750 m) - Qasa Cruz Pass (4100 m) - Huacahuasi (3800 m)
Day 04: Huaca Wasi - Ipsaycocha pass - Patacancha - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes
Another beautiful day, thanks to the different biodiversity that we will meet, for example to the Ipsaycocha Pass (4350 m) which will take us 4 hours to reach. To join it, we will pass by several communities, where we will be able to observe the Andean farmers and their experience in the culture of the land and their rustic and authentically Andean house. Farmers have a great deal of knowledge about nature and old farming habits, as well as expertise on old textile methods filled with colors inspired by Andean gods and symbols. After this pass, we will go to the village of Patacancha (3750 m), where our bus will be waiting to take us to the Inca town of Ollantaytambo (2700 m). From there you will experience the incredible train experience to Aguas Calientes with an outstanding panoramic view. The night will be in a hotel, comfortable, in the city of Aguas Calientes.
Walking time: 6 hours
Transport time: 40 minutes (Patacancha - Ollantaytambo) and 1h40 (Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes)
Mild climate
Altitude difference: Huacahuasi (3750 m) - Ipsaycocha Pass (4350 m) - Patacancha (3750 m) - Ollantaytambo (2700 m) - Aguas Calientes (2005 m)
Day 05: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
We will leave the hotel, after breakfast, at 5:30 to go to Machu Picchu (2400 m) with a tourist bus. We will arrive at the citadel around 6:00 am. After a guided tour around the archaeological site, about the life and culture of the Incas, you will have enough free time to explore Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu (2750 m) at your own pace. We will leave Aguas Calientes by train. In the meantime you will have time to have a lunch at Machu Picchu in the Sanctuary Lodge restaurant (optional) and enjoy the hot baths of the city of Aguas Calientes to relax and give you a 5-day walk.
Walking / visiting time: 2 hours
Travel time: 4h (Aguas Calientes) - 30 minutes (Bus Machu Picchu)
Climate: Warm temperate
Altitude difference: Aguas Calientes (2005 m) - Machu Picchu (2400 m) - Cusco (3400 m)
