Sign in to book

Duration: 4 Days
Departure point: Cusco, Peru
Accommodation: 2 nights in tent, 1 night Hotel in Aguas Calientes town
Type of Trek: Hiking, Camping, Adventure, history, Culture
Group Size: Min 02 and Máx 16
Best Season: April to November
Meal: Full board on trek vegetarian available at no extra cost
Transportation: Private vehicle & train

Detailed itinerary

DAY 1: CUSCO – PISAC – PAMPACORRAL – MAPACOCHA – QUISHUARANI. (Meals: L,D) Camping.

We will pick you up from your hotel at 5.00am and drive for 2 hours to the Ancash Marka inka site. There you will have breakfast. And then continue the travel for 40 minutes to Pampacorral Miyoc (an old village at 3450 m / 11320 ft) which is at the beginning of the trail. Our cook will provide you with a snack and then you’ll have time to prepare for the hike. There are some local houses at the trailhead and we’ll start walking along the lovely Vilcanota mountain range. The first 4 hours of the hike are gradual up and down. It offers amazing views of the Lares Valley, local farming areas, llamas; alpacas and along this route we’ll have the chance to see the famous (Puya Raimondi), also known as “Queen of the Andes”. This is the only place in Cusco to see this largest species of bromeliad.

After taking in these gorgeous views you will arrive at Quiswarani Andean Village where we’ll have lunch. From there It is a 2 hour hike of gradual climb up to the first campsite in the shores of the lagoon Coricocha (Blue lake 3850 m / 12631 ft), Along the way you will enjoy the great views of the 7 lines waterfalls that are about 50 meters high. Then upon your arrival to the campsite you will be able to enjoy the amazing views of the surrounding andean mountain range and the magical sunset over the andes. Also the especially beautiful view of the lagoon and you will be able to pay a visit to the local family’s house.

Walking Distance: 12 km/7.8 miles – Elevation Gain: 400 meters / 1312 ft – Camp Elevation: 3850 meters / 12631 ft. Weather: Cold.

DAY 2: QUISHUARANI – CONDOR PASS – CANCHA CANCHA VILLAGE. (Meals: B,L,D) Camping.

Today you will be awakened by your porters with our service of hot drinks in your tents around 5.00 am. This is a perfect way to be awakened, as you will have amazing views of the colorful lake and the valley of Quishuarani. And see the local people who will already be up and about, taking their llamas and alpacas out to graze. Breakfast will be served as soon as you finish packing your gear. Then we’ll fill up our water bottles and organize snacks before beginning the most memorable day of your expedition to Machu Picchu!

From here It will be a 3 to 4 hour climb to get to the summit of the mountain; this pass is called Condor Pass. This uphill can be a little taxing – quite steep, but we’ll zigzag our way up. It is a great adventure and the views of the area are stunning – lakes, waterfalls, llamas, and alpacas. We will have an emergency horse to ride in case you are tired at this point, and once you arrive at the Condor Pass you will feel like you are in the Heaven – way above the clouds, above the mountain peaks where the surrounding 360° views are astounding!! In front of you is the majestic mountain of Pitusiray which is at 5700m/ 18700 ft and the Condor pass is at 4680 m/ 15354 ft. Afterwards we will enjoy the hot drink service that your porters offer. And after taking advantage of some phenomenal photo opportunities, we’ll will start our descent and say “Goodbye!” to the toughest part of the hike.

You will begin the descent of about 1 hour to (the viewpoint) where you will enjoy lunch – perhaps with some llamas grazing nearby. After lunch you will begin a hike of 3 hours downhill with fantastic views of many lakes, llamas and alpacas before arriving at the campsite – the village of Cancha Cancha. This is the only village that never had the introduction to modern technology. Cancha Cancha is a village (3750 / 12303 ft) where people still practice the real traditions of Incas. And In this Incan village, 85% of the houses are the original ancient construction, made of stone with grass-thatched roofs. This is the only village where there is no electricity – unlike the other villages in the Lares Valley. Here you can really enjoy the wilderness and have time to meet with the local children! After this time has passed, your guide will take you to one of the local family’s houses where you will learn about the lifestyle of the locals. Here you can see how they raise their guinea pigs, and will learn about the traditional hand-woven textiles made of llama and alpaca wool, just as the Incas used to do. This is a beautiful day to be had. In the evening you will enjoy hot drinks and a hot dinner.

Walking Distance: 14 km/8 miles – Elevation Gain: 830 meters / 2723 ft – Camp Elevation: 3750 meters / 12303 ft. Weather: Cold

DAY 3: CANCHA CANCHA – HUARAN – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES. (Meals: B,L,D) Hostel.

Our porters will wake you up with a hot drink at your bedside. Then you will have some time to pack your backpacks and duffle bags, enjoy breakfast, and get to take in the lush green mountains that surround you. After breakfast you’ll still have some time to explore the village and maybe visit the local elementary school – where the ancient Inca language, Quechua, is still taught. Once you are ready, you’ll begin the last leg of your Lares trek. Say Goodbye!” to native villages and your introduction to this fascinating civilization.

Then it will be 4 hours of walking downhill along this lovely path, passing by more llamas and alpacas, these being the traditional animals of local culture. We’ll pass by farms where they cultivate potatoes, fava beans, and many other traditional tubers, in the traditional Inca style. This is a great opportunity to learn about Peruvian agriculture where people still farm by hand using traditional Inca farming tools. Now we will start to descend to a more warmer area of The Sacred Valley, and you can begin to feel the microclimate changes and start seeing other kinds of crops that people farming different from the high mountains. Around the Sacred Valley people farm corn, quinoa, kiwicha, peaches, avocados and other types of fruits. This area is also a perfect area to learn about the history of Inca culture.

The final part of the tour will end in a little village of Huaran in the Sacred Valley. This village is at 2700 m/ 8858 ft And here you will say goodbye to your horses, horsemen, chef and porters as they will be going back to their villages, Also our staff will return to Cusco.

After we take our transport for a 45 minute drive that skirts along the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo is a magnificent functioning Inca village, the only one, and still has many Inca water channels running through it with beautiful houses and Inca walls. Your guide will take you around this small town until dinnertime which will be at a local restaurant. After that we’ll then catch the 7:00 pm train to Aguas Calientes, the town of Machu Picchu. * Sometimes we provide earlier train at 3:36pm or 4:30pm, depending on the train availability and also how far in advance you are booking your trip). Upon your arrival to Aguas Calientes you will check-in to your hotel where you will be able to relax with a nice hot shower.

Walking Distance: 9 km/6.2 miles – Aguas Calientes Elevation: 2000 m / 6562 ft – Weather: Cold in the morning, warm by the afternoon. Watch out for mosquitoes this day.

DAY 4: MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO. (Meals: B) End.

Day four is the most magical day: because you will be visiting Machu Picchu whole day!!! You will wake up really early to take one of the first buses leaves 5:30am, takes 30 minute ride up to Machu Picchu check point, Machu Picchu is open 6:00am then you will have chance to see the Sunrise over the ruins. Your guide will take you for a very informative about 2 hours, afterwards you will have 6 hrs free time to explore on your own, in the afternoon you you’ll catch your bus down to Aguas Calientes town, then catch your train at (18:20 hrs or 19:00 hrs) back to Ollantaytambo and then a bus back to Cusco arriving at 22:35 hrs. End

What’s included?

Pre briefing 1 or 2 days before to start the trek.
Pick up from your hotel in Cusco the first day.
Private transportation to the trailhead, along the Sacred Valley with amazing views
Guide service: English, Spanish speaking.
Double tent for 2 people as well travel mattress (very spacious, large and comfortable).
Excellent buffet meals plus snacks – Meals each day: 03 Breakfast, 03 Lunches, 03 Dinners.
Equipments Kitchen and dining tents plus table and chairs. Chef, porters and horsemen, horses to carry the camping gear and food, as well your personal thing 7kg to be carried.
Train service: Expedition class train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes town round trip.
Hostel at Aguas Calientes with private room, private bathroom, hot shower, wifi and storage (where you can leave your luggage while you visit Machu Picchu).
Bus ticket from: Aguas Calientes town – Machu Picchu round trip.
Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu.
First aid kit and oxygen tank,warm water at camps to wash your hands.
Bus from: Ollantaytambo – Cusco. End.
What does not included:

Sleeping bag – 15° celsius as well walking stick, available for hire in our office.
Meals: First day breakfast and last day lunch and dinner, at Aguas Calientes town with lots of restaurant options.
tip, are appreciated for support staff.
Optional school supplies that you want to take for kids at the village everything voluntary