Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 7 Days with Mountain Lodge

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.

After breakfast, we’ll take a ride to the small village of Quiswarani at 3829 meters from where we’ll start hiking up the valley surrounded by small lakes and grazing alpacas. Our trail then narrows into a series of switchbacks to Abra Huchuyccasa pass at 4414 meters after 3 hours. After taking time to admire the amazing view we’ll hike down another hour to Phoñoccasa Pass at 4387 meters. We’ll keep hiking downhill to Qeywaqocha Lake where we’ll have lunch and relax for a little while before hiking to the small village of Qelqena at 3647 meters. We will take our vehicle from the trailhead and drive back to Huacawasi. We’ll have dinner together and stay overnight at the Huacawasi Lodge.

Huacawasi is famous for being a weavers’ village where men still wear their traditional colorful ponchos and women wear handmade colorful skirts and decorated hats. We’ll leave the lodge and start our hike by walking through the village until we reach the trail where we’ll hike uphill for about 2 ½ hours to the Ipsaycocha Pass at 4499 meters. On our way we’ll meet the local people as they hike between the villages with their herds and goods and when we reach the pass we’ll have a beautiful view of the surrounding area. From here we’ll hike downhill for about 40 minutes to Lake Ipsaycocha at 4292 meters. Here we’ll have lunch and maybe we’ll have the chance to see condors flying overhead. After lunch we’ll hike an additional 2 ½ hours to the small village of Patacancha at 3848 meters where they are known for their high quality weavings. We’ll take our vehicle and drive to Ollantaytambo at 2792 meters in the Sacred Valley. We’ll have dinner and stay overnight in Ollantaytambo.

Today we’ll recover from our trek and have a more relaxing day, starting with a visit to Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo has an interesting archaeological site and is an Inca town with a well-preserved Inca town structure. The town dates back to the 15th century and has some of the oldest continuously occupied houses in South America. In the late morning, we’ll take a train to Aguas Calientes (also known as Machu Picchu Town) which will take about 1 ½ hours. We’ll arrive in Aguas Calientes and have lunch. We can also visit Machu Picchu Sanctuary in the afternoon since there are fewer visitors, but this is optional. We’ll have dinner and stay overnight at the 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.

• 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.