Lares Trek & Machupicchu 4 Days – 3 Nights

Lares Trek: Cusco - Urubamba - Pumahuanca – Cuyoc

We will pick you up at your hotel at 5:30 am in order to take a panoramic route by car into the Sacred Valley, passing through Chincheros and stopping in Urubamba for a short and small breakfast at a local restaurant. Restrooms are available and you have the opportunity to buy last snacks and water etc. We will leave Urubamba around 7:20 am, traveling another 25 minutes by bus to the entry of the Pumahuanca valley, famous for its crop of white corn and the Chicha (traditional beer of the Incas). Here we will meet with our horses and the horse-wranglers. We begin our trek through this gorgeous valley - where the woods of the Queuñas (Polylepis) trees predominate the landscape - on a gentle serpentine ascent with impressive views into the valley and of the surrounding mountains. We will hike for about 3 to 4 hours to the archeological site of Inka-Kancha, after exploring the complex we will have our first lunch. Then we continue our hike through the woods of Queuñas to the community of Paccha where a spectacular mountain landscape with plenty of lamas, alpacas and sheep awaits us. We will walk for another two hours, passing an abundance of small waterfalls, and finally arrive at our campsite in Cuyoc (13156 ft / 4.010 masl)

Meals:  L, D - Snacks

Accommodation: Camping

Maximum Altitude: 13156 ft / 4.010 masl

Minimum Altitude: 9219 ft / 2.810 masl

Distance: approximately 13,5 kilometers

Approximate walking time: 6-7 hours

Lares Trek: Cuyoc - Pumahuanca pass - Cuncani

After breakfast at 7:30 am we will begin our trek with a view of the snowcapped peaks of Chicón, San Juan y Verónica. Surrounded by woods, a challenging five hour adventure awaits us, climbing up on a path with  steep stone steps and stairs, some parts have tight serpentine bends up to the pass of Pumahuanca at an altitude of 4.780 m ASL (the “Apachetas” at the pass are stone piles which the travelers crossing the pass have left in order to honor the Apus). Once we reach the pass, we will also honor the mountain gods with the local custom of

offering coca leaves. From here we can enjoy the view of Moray, Maras and the salt mines. Now we are ready for our descent of about one hour along a stone path with a lovely view to both sides of the mountain until we are close to the impressive lakes where we will have our lunch and enjoy a brief rest. After lunch we will have to walk for about two more hours mainly downhill, on the way we will surely meet local farmers wearing the traditional and colorful clothing which is typical for the valley of Lares. Cuncani is the main community of the area, we will camp here at an altitude of 3.900 m ASL and enjoy our delicious dinner at the camp site. Cuncani is also very famous for its textiles which are still being woven according to ancient traditions and techniques. You will have the opportunity to buy handmade textiles directly from the people of Cuncani / Lares.

Meals: B, L, D - Snacks

Accommodation: Camping

Maximum Altitude: 15682 ft / 4.780 masl

Minimum Altitude: 12795 ft / 3.900 masl

Distance: approximately 13 kilometers

Approximate walking time: 6-7 hours

Cuncani - Lares - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes
Today is the last day of the Lares Trek, it will be an easy day so you will be able to sleep a little longer, breakfast will be at 8:00 am. In this small village we will have the opportunity to visit the home of our horse-wrangler, who will share with us his simple and humble way of living, always in close connection to nature, preserving the traditional customs of farming and weaving, showing us textiles which have been passed down for generations, and giving us an insight to his knowledge of medicinal plants. Afterwards we walk another four hours downhill until we reach the village of Lares, famous for its medicinal hot springs, where we will enjoy a hot bath. After lunch our private bus will take us in a three hour trip to the town of Ollantaytambo where we will catch the train to Aguas Calientes, a two hour ride.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Hostel
Maximum Altitude: 12270 ft / 3.740 masl
Minimum Altitude: 8973 ft / 2.735 masl
Distance: approximately 6 kilometers
Approximate walking time: 3-4 hours

Machupicchu - Ollantaytambo - Cusco
Approx 05:30 am. Early walk (approximately 1.5 hours uphill from Aquas Calientes) or bus for 30 minutes to the Sanctuary of Machupicchu, guided tour for 2.5 hours and plenty of free time for further exploring, photos and optional climb of the mountain Waynapicchu, Temple of the Moon, or the Gate of the Sun. Generally, around 1:20pm people walk down the steps back to Aguas Calientes for the buffet lunch and at approx 16:00 hrs we take our return train to Ollantaytambo with bus connection arriving to Cusco city, near to the main square.
Meals: breakfast
Maximum Altitude: 7874 ft / 2.400 masl
Minimum Altitude: 6561 ft / 2.000 masl