Inca Trail Lares Trek

This first day we will wake up very early and we will pick you up from your Hotel at 5:00 a.m and start our Lares Inca Trail trek. We will pass 3 hours traveling along the beautiful landscape of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Arriving at Lares baths, where we will have our delicous breakfast. Then you will have time to enjoy the thermal waters, which are divided into several pools.Do not be scared by its yellowish color, it is due to its high content of sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulfates, iron, zinc and copper. It is highly recommended for joint and muscle pain. The pools are made of stones with the mountains in sight. Then we will walk for 20 minutes until start our Lares Trek. Arriving at "Punta Carretera" where horses and riders will be waiting to take our luggage and transport it to the camp.We will walk for around 2 hours until lunch at Quiswarani (the potato valley). After our lunch you will have time to explore the villageand visit some local houses, where you can see the lifestyle of local people.Then we start another two hour hike uphill until we reach our first campsite, where we will be welcomed by our trekking staff, who will have their tents ready. We will enjoy some hot drinks while the sky darkens and the stars begin to appear. Our guide will take you to a specific place to enjoy the magnificent view of the sky, and we will learn about the Inca constellations.

Trekking Distance: 10 km / 6.21371 miles

Today, we will start a short walk to the impressive and colorful lake and the Quiswarani Valley. Our path takes us straight, we will pass through many small waterfalls and later we will follow an original Inca stone path. When we reach the Pachacuti pass at 4500 m.s.m.), we will have wonderful views of the snow-capped peaks of Pitusiray (5750 masl), Chicón (5500 masl) and the Condor Pass  at 4,680m / 15,354ft. The descent will start for an hour towards El Mirador (View Point), where you will enjoy lunch. There you wil see some llamas grazing nearby. After lunch, you will walk the last three hours downhill, with fantastic views of many lakes, llamas and alpacas, before arriving at our second camp, the village of Cancha Cancha, which is the only town that does not have modern technology. It is a village located at 3,750 m / 12,303 feet where people still practice traditions of the Incas. In this village, 85 percent of the houses are still of original, old construction, made of stone, with thatched roofs. Unlike any other town in the Valley of Lares, this town has no electricity or cars.

Walking Distance: 14 km / 8 miles

Maximum Altitude: 830 meters / 2,723 feet

Camping Altitude: 3,750 meters / 12,303 feet

This day we will wake up and take the breakfast. Then you can visit the local primary school of the village. This day will be the last in our Lares Trek. During the trek you will appreciate local farms that are cultivated by local people in traditional inca way. This is a great opportunity to learn about Peruvian agriculture. Then we will walk to the warmest area, we are talking about the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Around the Sacred Valley they grow corn, quinoa, kiwi, peaches, avocados and other types of fruits. Of course, this area has a lot of Inca history. You will finish the tour in the small town of Huaran, in the Sacred Valley, at 2,700 m / 8,858 feet, where you will bid farewell to your horses, riders, chef and porters, as they will return to their homes.Then we will visit by car the famous Salineras or Salt mines in the city of Maras.After visiting Salineras, we will go to our hotel in Ollantaytambo to spend the night at the hotel.

Walking distance: 9 km / 6.2 miles

On this day, we will take the train at 6:10 a.m to start the famous Short Inca Trail, the best 2 day Inca Trail Tour.The train will leave us at km 104, where we will start our trek. First we will start at Chachabamba (2270m / 7448f), where our guide will inform us about the previous function of this archaeological site. From then on, we will arrive at Wiñayhuayna (2650m / 8694f), the most important archaeological site, besides Machu Picchu. After that, our trail continues towards the Sun Gate "Inti Punku", a beautiful viewpoint from which we can enjoy the nightfall at Machu Picchu (2400m / 7874f).A great advantage of this hike is that by the time we get to Machu Picchu, most of the travelers of the day will have returned home, so they will have the area for you. After taking pictures, we took the bus to Aguas Calientes and went to his hotel, where we had dinner and went to rest early, to make the most of the next day.

Early on awakening, we have breakfast, we leave our luggage in the hotel, we will take the first tour buses to Machu Picchu, of course, with a bilingual guide, we usually arrive at Machu Picchu at 6: 50 a.m. Of course, at this moment, Machupicchu is empty, so we will have the best opportunity to enjoy the beauty and magic of Machupicchu. We will have a guided tour of approximately 2.30 hours and then have time, to explore on your own and maybe go up to Huaynapicchu and get the best view of Machu Picchu that takes 1hr with 40 minutes round trip time or the option of going to the temple of the moon that lies behind the Huaynapicchu mountain.Then you will have free time to  enjoy the Hot Springs of Aguas Calientes or go to the Museum.In the afternoon, you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo, and then a bus to Cusco, where you will be taken back to your hotel.

• A private tourist bus from the hotel to the town of Lares
• Tourist train from Ollantaytambo to 104 Km
• Tourist bus from Machupicchu to Aguas Calientes round trip.
• Tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco
• Entrances to the Inca Trail and the Machu Picchu Sanctuary
• Hotel in Aguas Calientes
• Professional bilingual guide (Spanish and English)
• Camping equipment (Eureka professional shops, additional light / 4.5kgs for 2 people, mattresses, dining tent with table and chairs, toilet service tent).
• Meals during the excursion (Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks / Vegetarian option)
• Muleteers for all camping and personal equipment 
• Emergency horse (minimum 2 people)
• First aid kit and oxygen ball.

• Breakfast on the first day and the last lunch in Aguas Calientes
• Entrance to the thermal baths in Aguas Calientes (costs S / 10.00 nuevos soles)
• Tips to local staff
• Other extras not mentioned

• Original passport Sleeping bag (not included, but can be rented in our offices) 
• Hiking boots 
• Waterproof jacket / rain poncho 
• Wool jacket for warming, hat and gloves 
• T-shirts 
• Comfortable pants 
• Sun hat 
• Sunscreen  (factor 35 recommended) 
• Reusable plastic bottle or metal water container. 
• Water (only for the first 4 hours of walking, then we will give you the previously boiled Water. 
• Insect repellent 
• Hygiene items 
• Personal medications 
• Photo camera
• Flashlight with spare batteries (headlights are useful)

• Shorts 
• Walking stick (with rubber tip) 
• Bandages 
• Flips flops 
• Extra money 
• Bathing suit (also for hot springs in Aguas Calientes)

What I will see? 

The Andes of Cusco are really wonderful, because they are made up of huge series of mountains, many snows in the highest parts, rivers, lagoons, valleys, canyons and as we approach the western jungle the geography is full of green forests and mountains. You will surely have many unforgettable views to admire, photograph, film. In addition, the route has a tremendous energy that comes from nature, a very relaxing and invigorating energy, which all hikers perceive and comment. It is a perfect tour for an immersion in the ecology, to renew itself, strengthen physically and mentally in the peace of the heights that the Incas appreciated so much, hence their veneration and respect for nature.  

What level of difficulty does the Lares trek have? 

It is not as long as the Classic Inca Trail, because it covers about 33 kilometers, plus camp nights are only 2, but it does require an adequate capacity for physical resistance, a mental attitude patient and practical at times. It includes several sections of ascent but also of descent. It should come prepared for the cold, but as we get closer to the jungle the temperature becomes very pleasant. In level of difficulty it is lower than that of the Classic Inca Trail and the Salkantay trek of 5 days. Our best advice is to do simulations of the Lares tour in your country of origin (with the same backpack, clothes, boots, etc) and then come to Cusco about 2 or 3 days before to adapt to the altitude, as many people do. The city offers many interesting activities.

What age range is suitable for this tour? 

That is one of our important frequent questions. In general, children from 10 years old are accepted but in the form of a private tour. To do some Inca Trail in group form (that is, with the usual prices) such as the Lares trek, usually the minimum age is 16 years. From there there is no specific age limit, but the idea is that adolescents, young people, adults are in the right physical form for this adventure. In the case of older adults, it would be advisable to have a previous self-evaluation: simulate the trek in your country, know how they will react to altitude etc. For those between 10 and 16 who wish to come to a group tour at a lower cost, it would be a decision of the parents, that is, if the adolescent has physical and mental resistance, a positive attitude and practice before the inevitable efforts of Lares trek, then there would be no greater problem.  

What is the best time to do it?

 Another mandatory question. Most people prefer to do the Lares tour during the dry season in Cusco, that is, between the months of April and October. Obviously, the roads are dry, there is no rain, the views are assured all the time. But the rainy season -between November and March- attracts the most adventurous, risky, those who want to challenge nature and also people who look for the good discounts that are offered, fewer people and those who do not have another date to holidays. The Lares tour receives travelers throughout the year, and unlike the classic Inca Trail and the short (2 days) is also available in February.