Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days with Mountain Lodge


If you are looking for a trekking experience going through the rural areas of Peru, seeing the local people in their daily lives, well-known for their weaving tradition, join us on the Lares Trek! The Lares trek with the Mountain Lodge experience is a great mix of adventure and comfort!

Lares Trek

The Lares Trek with the Mountain Lodge throughout the year, although the dry season (April through October) is definitely a better time of the year to travel.


ITINERARY


Cusco – Ayar Cancha - Challwaccasa Pass – Viacha – Pisac - Lamay

We’ll start our first day with an early breakfast before leaving Cusco for the Urubamba Valley, also known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will drive past Pisac to the Ayar Cancha community where we’ll start hiking at 3850 meters altitude. From here we’ll hike uphill for about 2 hours to the Challwaccasa Pass at 4250 meters. From here we’ll have a great view of the surrounding area as well as the peaks of the Vilcanota and Vilcabamba mountain ranges and you’ll even be able to see the Ausangate and Salkantay snow covered peaks in the distance if the day is clear. We’ll hike downhill to the Viacha community at 3950 meters where we’ll have a gourmet lunch. After lunch and a short rest, we will start hiking on a restored Inca trail leading to the Pisac archeological site at 3200 meters. Parts of the slopes of the surrounding mountains are covered with agricultural terraces and irrigation systems constructed and used by the Incas. From the ruins, we’ll hike downhill for about an hour to the village of Pisac, famous for its colorful handicraft market. From here we’ll take our vehicle to the town of Lamay which is at 2941 meters. Here we’ll have dinner and stay overnight at the comfortable Lamay Lodge.

Optional Activities Day1:

If you prefer an easier hike for the first day, you can have breakfast and relax in the morning at the Lamay Lodge. In the afternoon you can take a private van to the Viacha community to have lunch with the rest of the trekkers. If you decide to hike, you can hike with the rest of your group downhill to the Pisac archeological site.

Today we’ll start the Lares trek, one of the most impressive trails in the Cusco area! We will leave Lamay after breakfast and drive for about 2 hours towards Lares which is north of the Sacred Valley. We will arrive in the small village of Quiswarani at 3829 meters to begin our hike. We will start hiking uphill along a valley with small lakes and grazing alpacas before heading up to Abra Huchuyccasa Pass at 4414 meters which should take about 3 hours. After taking in the beautiful view of the surrounding mountain ranges and lakes, we’ll start hiking slightly downhill for another hour towards the Phoñoccasa Pass at 4387 meters. We’ll keep hiking downhill towards Qeywaqocha Lake where we’ll have lunch and some time to relax before hiking on to the village of Qelqena which is at 3647 meters. Our vehicle will meet us to drive us to the village of Huacawasi, a weavers’ village, at 3835 meters. We’ll have dinner and stay overnight at the Huacawasi Lodge.

Optional Hike Day 2: Lares Trek: Cuncani to Huacawasi (Meet the Communities)

For a milder hike, you can choose to hike this alternative trek for Day 2.

We start with a drive to Ancasmarca at 4044 meters where we’ll tour an Inca site used as food warehouses, houses, and farming needs. From here we’ll travel to the Lares Pass at 4420 meters then to Cuncani at 3884 meters where we’ll start our hike for today. We’ll hike uphill for about 2 hours past local farmhouses owned by descendants of the Incas, still living in a traditional way growing potatoes, using their llamas as transportation and alpacas as food and for their clothing. When we reach the Cruzccasa Pass at 4188 meters we’ll have a great view of the peak of Veronica. From here we’ll hike downhill for another hour before enjoying a rest and our picnic lunch. After lunch we’ll continue hiking to Huacawasi Lodge at 3835 meters. In the afternoon we’ll have a unique cultural encounter with the local community. Afterwards we’ll have dinner and stay overnight at the Huacawasi Lodge.

We’ll start hiking after breakfast from our Huacawasi Lodge through the village of Huacawasi, witnessing the daily life of the local people, children going to school, women working on their looms while everyone is still dressed in their traditional dress of colorful clothes. This part of the trail is fairly easy, hiking uphill for about 2 ½ to the Ipsaycocha Pass which is at 4499 meters. From here we’ll have a great view of the surrounding areas and mountains. We’ll hike at a slow decline for another 40 minutes to Lake Ipsaycocha at 4292 meters. Here we’ll have the chance to see condors circling the sky while we have lunch. After lunch we’ll hike downhill for about 2 ½ hours to the village of Patacancha which is known for its high quality weavings. From here we’ll take a vehicle to the town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas which is at 2792 meters. We’ll have dinner and overnight at a hotel.

Today we’ll be able to relax a little more after trekking along the Lares route for the past few days. We’ll start off with breakfast before visiting the Inca town of Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo dates back to the late 15th century and has some of the oldest continuously occupied dwellings in South America as well as a well preserved Inca town structure and archaeological site. Latter in the morning, we’ll board the train for Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Town, which will take about an hour and a half. We’ll have lunch in Aguas Calientes and there is an optional visit to Machu Picchu Sanctuary in the afternoon to enjoy when there are fewer visitors. We’ll have dinner and overnight at Inkaterra Pueblo Hotel.

Today we’ll start with an early breakfast before walking to the bus station. Here we’ll take a bus up to Machu Picchu Sanctuary which will take about half an hour. We will have a two-hour guided tour of some of the most important sites within Machu Picchu. You’ll have free time afterwards and the option to hike up the Inca staircases of Huayna Picchu for a great view of the city below and which will take about 2 hours. We will meet up with our guide to take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes and have a late lunch. After lunch we’ll board the train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo which will take about an hour and half. In Ollantaytambo our vehicle will be waiting for us and take us back to Cusco which will take another hour and a half. When we arrive in Cusco at around 7:00 or 8:00pm, we will be dropped off at Mercado Tunqui Hotel (or another hotel of your choice) where you’ll stay overnight.


MORE INFORMATION


  • All entrance fees to sites mentioned in itinerary
  • Entrance ticket for Huayna Picchu
  • Transportation from Cusco to Cusco
  • Accommodations mentioned in itinerary
  • All meals mentioned in itinerary
  • Experienced professional guide
  • Tips for staff (not trip leaders)
  • Other activities mentioned in itinerary

There will be a briefing before your trek on the evening before the trek at the El Mercado Hotel in Cusco. The briefing will include the following:

  • A meet and greet with the group and the guide
  • Review of the itinerary and any changes
  • Confirmation of the dietary and medical needs of the participants
  • Answer questions
  • Verify that everyone has the necessary gear and equipment
  • Trekking poles/Walking Sticks (rental $15 for trek)
  • Upgrade to a single room ($35 per night)
  • Extra horse ($80)
  • Sleeping bag ($25)
  • Personal tent (rental $35 for trek)
  • Upgrade in class from Expedition Train service to Vistadome (panoramic) Train service (upgrade $50)
  • Entrance fee for hot springs in Aguas Calientes (10 Peruvian Nuevos Soles)
  • We can also provide great prices on hotels for all of Peru (Standard to Luxury)!
  • Original passport
  • International Student Identity Card (ISIC) if you have a student discount
  • Sleeping bag (can be rented as well)
  • Walking boots/shoes
  • Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
  • Warm jacket, hat and gloves
  • T-shirts
  • Comfortable trousers
  • Sun hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun protection cream (factor 35 recommended)
  • Re-usable plastic or metal water container or camel bags
  • Water, money to buy water along the way or water purification tablets
  • Insect repellent
  • Toiletries
  • Personal medication
  • Camera
  • Torch with batteries

The Lares Route is an Adventure Travel Activity going through remote areas and high altitudes involving a certain level of risk. To make sure everyone has a safe experience, we request that you present a valid proof of insurance coverage with a minimum of including Medical Emergency Treatment and Evacuation. Please note that some insurance policies exclude Adventure Travel Activities from their coverage so please make sure this is included in your policy. We will need the following information at least 60 days before your start date for the Lares Trek:

  • Name of the Insurance Company and Name of the Specific Policy
  • Coverage registration number or code
  • 24 hour emergency telephone numbers provided by the insurance company

If you are unable to acquire an insurance policy, an insurance policy can be purchased on your behalf. If you’re unable to show proof of insurance at least 60 days before your trip start date, the aforementioned policy will be provided (at the rate of US$8 per person per day for the duration of the itinerary purchased). Please contact us for more information.

  • Please, no hard suitcases or wheeled bags. Soft duffel bags and / or backpacks (“soft” luggage) are recommended.
  • We provide a limited amount of hair-dryers at each lodge, due to limited energy supply and environmental concerns.
  • Shampoo, conditioners and bath gel are provided at each lodge.
  • Bathrooms are equipped with drying lines.
  • Any additional clothing and luggage that you will not need on the trek can be stored at your hotel in Cusco.
  • If you do not have an appropriate sized duffel bag, we can provide a duffel bag on loan at the pre-trek briefing (the night before departure from Cusco). Please return it to your trip leader after the trek.
  • Though we do not establish a weight limit for luggage or charge for excess baggage, we inform guests that luggage is mainly transported by mules and/or porters along the trail. We kindly ask that you consider restricting the weight of your luggage on the trail up to 10Kg/22Lbs
  • Itinerary and campsites may change according to the climate and health status of the trekkers.
  • Train times for the Expedition train to Ollantaytambo may change according to the train company’s availability and will be confirmed close to the time of the trek. If someone books later than most of the group, we may not be able to provide the same train as the rest of the group.
  • Change to earlier/later train time at time of booking (price depending on train availability)
  • Tips/gratuities not included but are optional according to the services rendered

For availability of spaces for this service, please contact us info@salkantaytrek.org and we`ll send you detailed information, prices, terms and conditions.

Please keep in mind that significant price reductions are available for groups. All our tours are fully guaranteed, departure every day. Contact us for more information for the tour that you are choosing, or to begin customizing your own itinerary. recommendations:

" Itep Travel is a tour operator travel agency in Peru and the city of Cusco, We really know what we do and offer, We are well managed, with several offices in Peru and a long list of travel destinations , offering all travel alternatives in Perú, from family trips, honeymoon trips and luxury travel, including adventure tours and exploring trips to the jungle, for almost any budget

NOTE: ITEP TRAVEL, specializes in organizing the ideal travel plan to Peru, with hotels and destinations that you choose, because we have all confidential and promotional rates. For guidance on how to organize your custom package. Please write us.


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Information that may interest you

  • What is Lares Trek?

    The Lares Trek is one of the main alternative treks to Inca Trail to reach Machu Picchu.

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    *This is an important information
  • How difficult is the Lares Trek?

    The Lares Trek is considered a moderate hike. It's not a technical hike but the altitude may affect some individuals

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    *This is an important information
  • Is purified water available on the trek?

    We recommend that you bring a refillable water bottle as boiled water will be provided in the morning at breakfast, at lunch and every evening after dinner.

    Read more

    *This is an important information

TRIP DETAILS

Duration:

5 Days & 4 Night

Departures Dates:

Every day (Please check availability in our groups)

Activities:

Visit Pisac and Ollantaytambo, trek the Lares route, visit Machu Picchu

Type of Tour:

Archaeological Cultural Landscape Ecological

Meals provided:


Vegetarian option at no extra cost. Check our regular menú

REVIEWS

TripAdvisor
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Based on 83 traveler reviews
TripAdvisor Ranking #45 of 329 Outdoor Activities in Cusco
Most Recent Traveler Reviews
  • Oct 16, 2016: “Good fun, good trip!!!”
  • Aug 17, 2016: “Hiking the Inca trail at 62 (...”
  • Aug 14, 2016: “2D-1N Inca Trail Trek”
  • Aug 5, 2016: “Above and beyond!”
  • Jun 29, 2016: “An Unforgettable Adventure!”
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