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Cusco · Peru
Lares Trek And Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 5 Days
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From $952.94 per person
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The Experience
What your day looks like
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu and Inca Trail tour combines a cultural hike in the mountains with the short version of the Classic Inca Trail, visiting the ice glaciers, piercingly blue glacial lakes and stunning waterfalls, train ride to the Inca trail and arrive at Machu Picchu through the Sungate. Come and join us on this natural and cultural expedition to the legendary city of Machu Picchu.
At a Glance
The experience, in brief
- Visit the hot springs of Lares and Aguas Calientes
- Pachamanca cooking ( Underground barbecue)
- Arrive at Machu Picchu twice
- Support Social project in the places we visit
Your Itinerary
Your day, step by step
Day 1
Cusco
Cusco - Lares Thermal Bath's - Kiswarani Falls - Campsite Our team will pick you up from your hotel at around 4:30 am (depending on your location) and drive you through the beautiful landscape of the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the famous Lares thermo-medicinal baths – arriving at approximately 8:00 am.
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Hot Springs. We’ll jump straight into the medicinal pools – all of which are set at different temperatures. The water is great for your bones, muscles, stress, and headaches and therefore this is the perfect way to prepare for your tour.
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After soaking our bodies we will enjoy breakfast in a beautiful location surrounded by the majestic Andean mountains.
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Hiking at Lares Trek. After breakfast, we have time to enjoy nature and take in your beautiful surroundings. Today’s route is relatively easy with a 2-hour trek uphill until we reach Kiswarani village. Our chef will be waiting with a delicious lunch that has been freshly prepared using natural, organic, local produce. It’s then another 2-hour walk to our campsite, located on the bank of a beautiful blue lake at (3750 m/ 1230 ft). Along the trail, we will pass picturesque landscapes adorned with traditional Andean houses made of adobe bricks and thatched roofs. Here local villages survive by farming potatoes and raising llamas, alpacas, and sheep. We will pass beautiful streams and a waterfall which is the source of the Amazon river the largest in the world. Distance: 9 km/5.5 miles.
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On reaching our campsite your tents and a hot cup of tea will be waiting for you. This is a perfect place to relax, stargaze, and learn about Inca astronomy. Campsite Altitude: 3850m/ 1230ft Accommodation: Camping. Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner.
Day 2
Cusco
Hiking at Lares Trek. Quiswarani - Condor Pass - Canchacancha Community We will wake you up bright and early with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa tea. This is our longest and most challenging day and after breakfast, it is a 4-hour hike uphill to Condor Pass (4700 m / 15354 ft) – the highest point of this journey. Along the way, we will enjoy beautiful lakes where Wallatas (Andean geese or ‘love birds’) swim in the crystal clear waters and pass the imposing Andean mountains of Pitusiray, Sawasiray, Qolquecruz, all of which are over 18,000 ft. At the summit of Condor Pass, we will serve you a well-deserved cup of hot tea and you can take some time to rest while your tour guide performs a spiritual offering ceremony to the sacred mountains. It is then over a 3-hour descent through the breathtaking scenery. You will be able to see lagoons, exotic birds, llamas, alpacas, vizcachas (which look a lot like rabbits), and Wallatas along the way. Highest altitude: 4700 m / 15354 ft Distance: 16 km/ 9.9 miles
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Local Flavor. Our campsite is located at Cancha Cancha (3750 m / 12 303 ft) the only village in the Lares Valley that is completely isolated from any modern technology. This includes no drainage system, electricity, computers, internet connection, or cellphone service. Here they speak only Quechua the ancient language spoken by the Incas. You will have the afternoon free in Cancha Cancha meet and interact with the local people, visit a local school, and help teach and play games with the children. The villagers will welcome any donations of food, school supplies, or anything else you would like to give to help support the health and education of this isolated community. Late in the afternoon, your guide will take you to visit one of the families’ homes. Here you can experience first hand their traditional lifestyles passed down from the Incas, sample traditional food, and see how they raise guinea pigs, llamas, and alpacas. By the evening our chef will have prepared dinner for us to enjoy together before a well-earned night’s rest.
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Accommodation: Camping. Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner. Campsite Altitude: 3750 m / 12303 ft
Day 3
Cusco
Hiking at Lares Trek. Canchacancha - Huaran - Ollantaytambo Starting the day with a beautiful view of the mountains and a delicious breakfast we then prepare for our final descent from the highlands into the sacred valley. First, we will say goodbye to the last remaining village still practicing Inca traditions, and isolated from all modern technologies, before we begin our 4-hour trek downhill. Along the way, you can observe different types of ecosystems from the colder highlands, where only potatoes are grown, to the fertile soils of the sacred valley, where maize is the main produce. Our tour concludes in a small town called Huaran (2700 m / 8856 ft), and from here a private bus will drive us to Ollantaytambo; “Last Living Incan City”. Or as it is sometimes known; “World Capital of the Native American”. We will take some time to explore these ancient streets and the water channel that has been in use since Inca time. Highest altitude: 3,750 m / 12,303 ft Distance: 12 km / 7.4 miles
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We will have dinner in a local restaurant in Ollantaytambo and spend the night in a hotel. Accommodation: Hotel. Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner.
Day 4
Cusco
Ollantaytambo - KM104 - Aguas Calientes After an early breakfast in your hotel, we will take the train for 1 hour 30 minutes along the Urubamba river from Ollantaytambo (in the highlands) to km 104 at Chachabamba (in the cloud forest). We will head straight to the checkpoint at Chachabamba to start your tour. Please note, you will need your original passport in order to pass through the checkpoint.
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Hiking at Winay Wayna. Our first stop is a beautiful Inca ruin also called Chachabamba. We will then hike along an ancient Inca trail, that was abandoned in the 16th century and leads to Machu Picchu. The first section of the trail is a gradual uphill hike for 4 hours until we arrive at Wiñay Huayna (the place that never gets old). At this point, we will take some time to explore this stunning archaeological site and enjoy the spectacular views of the Andes. A packed lunch and refreshments will be provided. Once fed and energized we will continue our hike to the Sun Gate to catch your first glimpse of the Lost City of the Incas – a truly unforgettable sight. From the Sun Gate, it's a one hour downhill walk to the city, with breathtaking views along the way. We will arrive at Macchu Picchu in the afternoon and will, therefore, have the unique opportunity of experiencing the city almost empty. This is the perfect photo-taking opportunity. Highest altitude: 2700m / 8858ft Distance: 15km / 8 miles
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We will then take the bus down to Aguas Calientes where we will have dinner and spend the night in a hotel. Accommodation: Hotel. Meals: Lunch, snacks, dinner.
Day 5
Cusco
Hiking at Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu (Lost City of The Incas) On our final day, we have to get up very early to prepare for the highlight of our tour; visiting Machu Picchu the Lost City of the Incas. We will go straight to the line to wait for the first bus going up to Machu Picchu at 5:30 am. Arriving as the sky brightens, we will walk up with incredible views of the city along the way. On a clear day, you can watch the spectacular sunrise over Machu Picchu. This is truly an unforgettable sight. Your guide will take you on a 2 to 3-hour comprehensive tour of the city before leaving you in Machu Picchu to explore on your own or climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (tickets must be booked as far in advance as possible).
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Your guide will explain how to take the bus from Machu Picchu back to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included) and then take the train and bus back to Cusco. We will meet you off the train and return you safely to your hotel.
Before You Go
What to know before booking
Included
Complimentary airport Transfer (upon your arrival on any date) Pick up from your hotel on the day of the tour Licensed Local Tour guide ( 2 guides for groups more than 8 people) All Transportation Included from hotel to hotel (Door to door service) Round trip bus tickets to Machu Picchu Entrance ticket to Inca Trail and Machu Picchu Entrance fee to all the places we visit Duffle bag for your personal stuff up to 7 kilos Chef, Porters, horsemen, Cargo Mules to carry food Equipment and your personal stuff. Emergency horse in case someone in the group needs First-aid kit, satellite phone, oxygen tank Rain Ponchos, Pillows, dining tent, chairs, tables Vitsadome Panoramic Train on the way back to Cusco
Not Included
Sleeping Bag, Air Mattress, Trekking Poles (Can be rented) Huayna Picchu Mountain, Machu Picchu Mountain (different form Machu Picchu citadel) Lunch on the last day in Aguas Calientes Travel Insurance Tips (Optional)
What to Bring
Passport Rain gear Sun protection Warm layers (fleece / long-sleeved tops) Personal medication Camera, extra batteries Head torch Extra snacks, power bars, chocolate Extra money for souvenirs, drinks & tips (small change is useful for paying to use the villagers' toilets on the first day)
Meeting & Pickup
We will pick you up from your hotel at around 4:30 am.
Planning Notes
Hotel pickup offered: Yes Confirmation: Manual By Business
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