Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days / 3 Nights

Early in the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel at 5:30 AM and then travel for an hour to the Sacred Valley. We will stop at the Mirador viewpoint to take panoramic photos of the valley, and the guide will give a brief explanation of the area. Then we will continue to the town of Calca, where we will make a short stop and visit the local market selling typical products. Afterward, we will continue the journey for about two more hours until we reach the town of Lares (3,100 m / 10,170 ft), the starting point of our trek. Here, we will introduce you to our team who will accompany us during the trek (chef and muleteer). Before the hike, we have the opportunity to visit the Lares hot springs and enjoy a relaxing soak. The temperature varies between 28°C and 34°C.

After the hot springs, we’ll continue our adventure, hiking across flat terrain for about two hours to acclimatize to the altitude, until we reach the Vilcabamba Bridge. There, our team will be waiting with a delicious lunch. After lunch, we’ll enjoy a short rest before continuing our hike for another three hours to reach the village of Wacahuasi (3,750 m / 12,303 ft). During the trek, we’ll encounter children from nearby villages in their traditional clothing who will welcome us to the Lares Valley. This will be a great opportunity to support them and share some quality time. Wacahuasi is where we’ll camp for the first night. Nights here will be colder, so we recommend bringing warm clothing, as temperatures can drop to -5°C. After settling into our tents and exploring the village a bit, we’ll have tea time, perfect for sharing experiences. Our guide will give a talk about the customs and traditions of this small village. Later we enjoyed dinner and finally we went to rest and get ready for the next day.

Night camping in Wacahuasi

Estimated walking time: 4 to 5 hours.
Total distance: 11 km
Altitude of our camp: 3,750 meters above sea level.

Very early in the morning, after breakfast, we will begin our hike at 7:00 AM, where we will have the best views of the incredible Andes Mountains. We will hike uphill for 3 hours, reaching the Sacsallaully Pass (4,646 m / 15,242 ft). This point offers a rewarding view of the valleys, snow-capped peaks, and Lake Aruray Cocha. We will also appreciate native bird species, including geese (Cara Cara), ducks, and other animals typical of the area such as llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos. From Aurora Cassa Pass, we descend to the two lakes known as Aruraycocha and Yuraccocha, with their forest of Queuña trees (a tree typical of the Incas). We will have our Andean lunch beside one of the lakes, enjoying the beautiful views.
During the next two hours of our hike, before we reach Mantanay, our second campsite (3,850 m / 12,631 ft), the landscape will change dramatically. The hike descends through a picturesque valley of native Queuñares trees, offering ample opportunities to photograph the Andean flora. Upon arriving at camp, we can rest and share stories from this long and arduous day. To conclude the day, we’ll enjoy afternoon tea and a delicious dinner.

Night camping in Mantanay.

Estimated walking time: 6 to 7 hours.
Total distance: 15 km
Altitude of our camp: 3,850 meters above sea level.

This day will be the easiest. We’ll get up a little later and leisurely pack our belongings before having breakfast. Afterward, we’ll say goodbye to our trekking team (cook and muleteer) and begin our one-hour descent to the village of Yanahuara (2,850 m / 9,350 ft). This village, with its temperate climate, supplies food products to the city of Cusco. From there, we’ll take our transport for a 20-minute ride to the town of Ollantaytambo (2,850 m / 9,350 ft), a living Inca town where you can admire the beautiful, narrow streets and Inca architecture. We’ll also have the opportunity to visit its typical artisan market and learn a bit about the customs and traditions of this town.

After lunch, we’ll take the train at 12:58 PM. The journey takes approximately two hours to Aguas Calientes (2,000 m / 7,000 ft). Upon arrival, our guide will take you to your hotel, where you’ll be informed about some activities you can enjoy in the afternoon, such as visiting the hot springs or the local artisan market. In the evening, we’ll have our last dinner and discuss and receive recommendations regarding our Machu Picchu tour for the following day.

Hotel night in the town of Machu Picchu.

Estimated walking time: 1 hour.
Total distance: 3 km
Altitude of our accommodation AC: 2,000 meters above sea level.

Very early after breakfast (approximately 5:00 am), we will begin our one-hour hike up to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. This way, we can be among the first groups inside the Inca city, allowing us to enjoy the majestic sunrise. Afterward, we will have a guided tour of the most important Inca temples and palaces within the citadel, with your guide, for approximately three hours. Afterward, you will have free time to explore the mysterious Inca city on your own. (Optional: Climbing Huayna Picchu mountain at an additional cost of $75 USD per person).
At the appropriate time, we will descend from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes to board our train back to Ollantaytambo and from there by car to Cusco. Our average arrival time in Cusco will be 8:00 pm, after which you will be transferred to your respective hotels.

End of services.