Lares Trek 4 Days
to Machu Picchu

We will pick you up from your hotel at 5 a.m. to begin our adventure on Lares Trek. We will be heading for about 3 hours drive to reach Lares town where you will join the hot spring which has various pools of different temperatures, this thermal baths is natural and the water has different minerals which benifit for your skin and bones, help calm down the stress, relax the muscles, and headaches. After have relaxed in the baths for a while, you will drive 20 minutes to the trailhead, at 3,300 m (10,827 ft) above sea level. It is here that you will meet up with the rest of our trekking team. You will have a time to repack your items and be ready for your hike, following you will begin your expedition to Machu Picchu. The path will go gradual ascending for two hours to reach our first lunch spot next to the first village. During this section of hike you will appreciate different potatoes farming land supported by Quisuarani village, you guide will explain you the variety of potatoes that growds there, some local native plants that are used as medicine, you will enjoy your first delicious meal prepared by our trekking chef.

After lunch, we will enjoy a local ceremony made by our trekking team which will offer some local product to the Mother Earth (Pachamama) and they will showcasing these beautiful animals. Llamas were considered sacred to the Incas and fundamental to their economy.  Nowadays a few families in a remote areas use these animals to transport their different products, however with Vidal Expeditions we designed different alternatives routes where we can reasses the ancient traditions and supporting the communities that helps protect them. Llamas are friendly and strong animals and are a nice companion to walk with. Just don't get too close; they might try to give you a kiss.

You will also have time to explore the village and visit some local homes, where you will learn about the lifestyle and ancient traditions of the local people. It will be another two hour, gradual, uphill hike until we arrive at the campsite, where you will be welcomed by our trekking staff, who will have your tents set up. After the dinner you will have option to keep star-gazing, you may stay up for a while longer or, if you’d rather, you can turn in to your tent.

Today you will be woken up around 5 a.m. with our service of hot tea. You will have amazing views of the colorful lake and the Kiswarani Valley. Enjoy a Andean breakfast prepared by our chef using the local organic ingredients, Then we’ll fill up our water bottles, and packing our trekking items, and you will begin the most memorable day of your expedition to Machu Picchu. It will be a three- or four-hour climb to get to the Pachacute also known as Condor pass. We’ll walk up through the switchback trail. The views of the area are stunning. You will see lakes, waterfalls, llamas, and alpacas. Once you reached at the Condor Pass 4,680 m/ 15,354 ft high, you will be above the clouds and above the mountain peaks, and the surrounding 360-degree views are astounding. In front of you will be the majestic mountain of Pitusiray, which is at 5,700 m/ 18,700 ft high, and the Condor pass is at 4,680 m/ 15,354 ft high. Afterwards, Have a well deserved rest whiile the tranquility of the area involves you.

You'll begin the one-hour downhill descent towards El Mirador (view point), where you will enjoy lunch. There will perhaps be some llamas grazing nearby. After lunch, you will hike the last three hours downhill, with fantastic views of many lakes and llamas and alpacas, before arriving at your campsite, the village of Cancha Cancha (3,750 m/ 12,303 ft), which is the only village that does not have modern technology. Here, you will not only enjoy the wilderness, but your porters will also set up your tents. You will have some time to meet with the local children. We provide them with food and school supplies, so we invite our travelers to share this support for the education and health of this native village. You can join us and bring anything you would like to supplement the lives of these Quechuan-speaking children. Following this, your guide will take you to one of the local family’s houses, where you will learn about the lifestyle of the locals. You can see how they raise their guinea pigs, and you will learn about the traditional, hand-woven textiles made of llama and alpaca wool.

Our trekking team will wake you up with a hot tea and you will have a breathtaking views and enjoy the chilly morning wake up. After breakfast, you guide will share some experience with the local children and their school where the ancient Inca language, Quechua, is still taught. Once you are ready, you’ll begin the last leg of your Lares trek. We will hike for about four hourd through a lovely path, where you will pass by more heards of llamas and alpacas. also you will be able to se some fava beans, potatoes, and many other traditional tubers farms in the traditional Incan style. This is a great opportunity to learn about Peruvian agriculture because people still farm by hand with traditional Inca farming tools. Now, we will start to descend to the Sacred Valley. You will begin to feel the micro-climate changes and start seeing crops that are different from those in the high mountains. You will end the tour at the little village of Huaran, in the Sacred Valley, at 2,700 meters (8,858 feet), where you will say goodbye to your horses, horsemen, chef, and porters, as they will be going back to their homes.

From Huaran, we will catch a van and make the short drive into the valley to visit Ollantaytambois the only living, intact Inca village. It still has many Inca water channels, houses and walls. Your guide will take you around to view this small town until it is time for dinner, which will be at a local restaurant. We’ll then catch the 7 p.m. train for AguasCalientes, the town below Machu Picchu (train times may vary, depending on availability). Upon your arrival to AguasCalientes, you will check-in to your hotel and relax.

After have been hiking in the Andes mountain we will embark in a tour to explore this iconic Machu Picchu. You will wake up early in order to beat the crowds and visit this magical Inca site with many people. You will also have chance see the sunrise over the ruins. After taking the post card photos your guide will take you on an informative two-hour tour. Afterwards, you will have time to explore on your own and hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain if you choose to (this is a separate entrance ticket and costs $75 per person). In the afternoon, you’ll catch a two-hour train back to Ollantaytambo, followed by a bus back to Cusco, where we will transfer you to your hotel.