LARES TREK PERU – MACHU PICCHU TRAIL 4 DAYS

Day 1: Training Day: Cusco – Urubamba – Pumahuanca Valley – P´acchayoq – Cuyoc campsite

We will come and pick you up from your hotel at 5:00 am. Our private bus leaves Cusco at 5:40 am for a scenic drive through the Sacred Valley until we reach the town of Urubamba, which is also part of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Here we will have a shortstop to serve you a hearty breakfast and allow you to buy any last-minute snacks and drinks. As soon as breakfast is over we will head out for a 20-minute drive to the beginning of the Pumahuanca Valley. This is the place where we will meet our horsemen, horses, and Chaskis (porters).

All of our required equipment will be carried by mules and horses. As soon as we finish packing our equipment we begin our Lares Trek Adventure. On the way, you will see Inca remains and ancient pre-Colombian paths. You will enjoy the beautiful scenery, waterfalls and much more. You arrive at your first campsite at around 5 pm, followed by dinner. Make sure to get a good night’s rest for the next day as it will be the most challenging day of all.

Meals: B/L/D snacks, hot drinks, and popcorn
Maximum Altitude: 4,000m/13123ft
Minimum Altitude: 2,800m/9186ft
Distance Travelled: approximately 13km/8.1miles
Walking Time: approximately 7 hours

Day 2: The Most Challenging Day: Cuyoc – Pumahuanca Pass – Lares Hot Springs Campsite

Early wake-up call at 5:00 am. You will have 30 minutes to pack up your personal belongings until breakfast and coffee/tea are served. Afterward, your trip continues with scenic glaciers surrounded by native forests for a long hike towards Pumahuanca Pass. Once we arrive at Pumahuanca pass we honor the top of this mountain with coca leaves as is the local Andean custom. A glimpse of Maras and Moray (salt mines) will be seen while trekking.

We then descend a gravel road towards Cuncani Village. We’ll meet local Andean people in their colorful and traditional clothing. From here we walk for about 2 ½ hours towards Lares Hot Springs where you will camp and rest! This is your most challenging day of all, but it will be worth the hike as you relax your muscles in the natural and medicinal hot springs. You will feel refreshed and renewed the following day.

Meals: B/L/D snacks, hot drinks, and popcorn
Maximum Altitude: 4780m /15682ft
Minimum Altitude: 3750m/12303ft
Distance Travelled: approximately 18km/11.2miles
Approximate Walking Time: 10 hours</strong

Day 3: Adventurous Day– Lares Hot Springs—Totora –Salt Mines — Aguas Calientes

Early in the morning you will have breakfast at the campsite and await the bus that will take you for a 2-hour ride to the Quellopuito community. From there you will trek a short pre-Colombian Inca trail to Totora Community while seeing gorgeous views of cascades and tomb remnants, lunch will be served here as well.

From Totora you will get back on the bus and head to the salt mines of Maras, a site that has existed for thousands of years. After the salt mines, you will be taken to Ollantaytambo town and have dinner in a fine restaurant. The train to Aguas Calientes will depart at 7:00 pm. Your tour leader will drop you off at your hotel and brief you for the next day.

Meals: B/L/D and snacks
Accommodation: Hotel in Aguas Calientes
Maximum Altitude: 3750m/12303ft
Minimum Altitude: 2750m /9022ft
Distance Travelled: approx 6 km
Walking Time: approx 3 hours

Day 3: Your Awaited Destination: Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco

Early breakfast (5:00 am) before taking the earliest bus to Machupicchu. We recommend everyone try and be the first ones in line because it fills up incredibly quickly. As soon as you arrive at Machupicchu enjoy the sunrise (depending on the weather).

Your tour leader will guide you through this magnificent site and one of the seven wonders of the world for about 3 hours. Afterward, you will have your own free time to explore this citadel and take numerous photos. If you book well in advance and have a Huayna Picchu or Monta~na Machupicchu ticket, your tour leader will guide you to the entrance where you can explore these sites on your own.

Not everyone explores these sites, if interested be sure to mention this while you book your trip. If you choose to not purchase these extra sites, the Inca bridge or Sun gate are free options located within Machupicchu. Be sure to arrive back to Aguas Calientes on time well before your train departure as the bus lines fill up quickly. Your tour leader will specify the exact times after your guided tour.

Meals: Breakfast is included at your hotel. Lunch not included
Maximum Altitude: 3400m/11155ft
Minimum Altitude: 2100m/6890ft
Distance Travelled: approx 6 km
Approximate Walking Time: 5 -6 hours exploring

How Many Days Do You Need in Order to Hike In Peru

The Classic Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu is one of the most popular combined routes. Each route varies in length from one to fourteen days, depending on the demand and availability of lodging along the way. All four journeys are one-way trips. You will generally travel back to Cusco using a combination of public and private transportation, depending on which tour company you use to make your trip reservations.

The One-Day Inca Trail Hike (1-day trek)

You can see Machu Picchu in one day if you’re short on time (but be prepared to wake up early!). You’ll take the train from Cusco to Kilometer 104, which is a location on the trail. Then, you’ll hike around 15 kilometers (9 miles) through the Sun Gate until you reach the Machu Picchu sanctuary. This option is great if you want to view Machu Picchu and experience a small section of the Inca Trail trek all at once.

The Lares Trek (3-day trek)

The Lares Trek, also known as the cultural alternative to the Inca Trail, is a three-day journey into the historical weaver communities on the eastern slopes of Machu Picchu. But don’t expect it to be a trip to the museum.

To glimpse into time-honored villages, you must earn access by obtaining passes that soar to over 15,000 feet and zigzag across Pumahuanca’s peak. On day four of your Lares trek, you may add another stop at Machu Picchu ruins.

Vilcabamba Traverse Route (1 – 2 week trek)

The trek to Machu Picchu is not for the faint of heart. At 65 kilometers long, this is regarded as one of the most difficult ways to see Machu Picchu. The route starts in Cachora and winds a mile-deep canyon to Choquequirao, or “Cradle of Gold.” The Vilcabamba Trail follows the same route that Hiram Bingham took when he rediscovered Machu Picchu in 1911, albeit via more isolated towns.

The Salkantay Route (1 – 2 week trek)

The Salkantay Trek is the only Inca Trail option that lets you sleep in a comfy bed and take a hot shower at the end of every day’s hike! Though it still requires reasonably fit participants, The Lodge Trek runs along the Salkantay Trail through the Cordillera Vilcabamba mountain range but permits nightly rest at fully serviced lodges placed along the route. Machu Picchu is reached by following the trail to an elevation of 15,000 feet.

The Classic Inca Trail Route (3 – 5 day trek)

The Classic Inca Trail Hike is the most popular trek of the four alternatives described in this piece. It begins at kilometer 82 along the route, at the village of Piscacucho. The first day is a moderate hike through the Andean foothills, crossing the Urubamba River and arriving at your campsite in Huayllabamba. On the second day, you’ll ascend what’s known as “Dead Woman’s Pass,” which is the highest point of the Inca Trail Elevation at 4200 meters (13,776 feet). After that, it’s all downhill to the Pacaymayo River campsite.