The Ultimate Cultural Trek- known as the “weaver's route” LARES TREkking AND INCA TRAIL HIKE TO MACHU PICCHU 4 days is a great choice - Hike both Lares and the short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The Lares trek is our most popular alternative to the Inca Trail. Yet it is still relatively unknown. Our trek combines it with inca trail and the Sacred Valley to give you real insight into life in rural
indigenous towns, the Lares Trek has the benefit of providing a true Andean cultural experience. The Lares Valley is home to a number of traditional Andean communities that have changed little in the last 600 years and the Lares trek is a series of walking paths that connects them..Then you get to walk through the Sun Gate to Machu Picchu. To trek in Lares is to walk back in time, into a world little changed since the time of the Incas. Each day, as the sun rises over the hill, locals clad in hand woven red ponchos and felt hats, emerge from simple stone cottages to pasture their alpacas in the shadow of the mountains. 
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BRIEFING: The day before the trek, you will meet with your trekking guide at our EXPLORE ADVENTURES PERU office and meet all the members of your group. Your guide will explain to you about the trek, route and all the necessary recommendations will be provided to you. This will take approximately 40 minutes, where you will receive your duffel bags that will be carried by the horses along the trail.
Overview
The Lares Trek with Inca Trail. Taking you off the beaten track with visits to authentic Andean communities whilst being surrounded by stunning mountains, lakes and valleys this fabulous trek offers a real insight in to the lives of the people of Cusco region as it once was.
LARES VALLEY & INCA TRAIL ITINERARY:
DAY 1. CUSCO/ HUACAHUASI VILLAGE/QOMERCOCHA LAKE
Distance: 7 Km.Walking Hours: 4-5 hours
Low Altitude: 3750 m.
High Altitude: 4000 m.
Campsite Altitude: 3750 m.
lares trek Day 1 highlights
Herd of llamas, and alpacas
Remote village of Huacahuasi
Local Quechuan people
DAY 2. QOMERCOCHA LAKE - IPSAYCOCHA LAKE/- OLLANTAYTAMBO SACRED VALLEY
Distance: 11 Km.
Walking Hours: 6 -7 hours
Low Altitude: 2800 m.
High Altitude: 3350 m.
Campsite altitude: 2800m.
lares trek Day 2 highlights
Herd of llamas, and alpacas
Remote villages of Huacahuasi
Local Quechuan communities
Sunsets paint the Sacred Valley
Ollantaytambo old town
Day 3: OLLANTAYTAMBO SACRED VALLEY – 104kms – WINAYHUAYNA – SUNGATE - MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES
Meals: breafast Box lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Private hotel
Minimum Altitude:2040m/6000ft
Maximum Altitude: 2720m/8160ft
Distance: 12 kms/ 7.5 miles
Time: 6hrs approximately
Difficulty: Moderate.
Highlights: Train ride – Archeological site of Wiñaywayna – Sun Gate – Sunset over Machu Picchu
Day 4: AGUAS CALIENTES/ LOST INCA CITY, MACHU PICCHU
Meal: Breakfast
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Sunrise at Machu Picchu – Private guided tour of Machu Picchu – Ascent of Wayna Picchu (optional) – Early return trip by train expedition
Itinerary
Day 01 Cusco – Wacawasi– Qqomercocha lake
We leave from Cusco early in the morning by bus and travel through the Sacred Valley arriving to Community of Huacawasi. People here produce some of the finest weavings in Peru. Here we can observe their talented skills and brilliant techniques in the fabrication of ponchos and other garments. Passing the village, we begin climbing up to Qqomercocha lake at 4,000 masl. From here, we catch a stunning view of the renowned Mount Veronica (5,750 masl).From here, we catch a stunning view of the renowned Mount Veronica (5,750 masl). Qomercocha is small lake with an abundance of high-altitude birds, including the Andean goose, known for its color and size; the Puna ibis, and other aquatic birds that soar through the mountains also you will see large herds of alpacas and llamas. where we will stop for campsite for the night.
Day 02 Qomercocha lake - Iqsaycocha lake- Patacancha Village -Ollantaytambo sacred valley
Best morning with coca te breathtaking views after breakfast we start ascending for approximately 1-2 hours, we will arrive at the highest pass on our trek- Ipsaycochaccasa (4,400 masl). Here we will rest for a bit, feeling the cold of the air high in the Andes, almost touching the cloudand after all nice views and pictures we descending into the Ipsaycocha lake here we will have our first campsite, close to the Lake of Ipsaycocha. After lunch we descending to valley of Patacancha village where we will be able to appreciate the typical life of the locals; then we will do a small walk through the village, after we will take a local bus to Ollantaytambo sacred valley(approximately a 40 min. ride). we eventually arrive to the Ollantaytambo tonw. The view from the top of the ruins at Ollantaytambo at sunset is outstanding: the valley turns golden from the reflection off the hillsides, and bright greens from terraced agriculture that goes for miles. Here we will set our campsite for the nigh
Day 3: OLLANTAYTAMBO SACRED VALLEY– 104kms – WINAYHUAYNA – SUNGATE - MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES
Distance: 12 Kilometers / 7.5 Miles
We take the early morning Expedition train from Ollantaytambo through the picturesque Sacred Valley to Km 104, where we enter the trail. Our hike continues gently upwards for approximately 4 hours until we reach the beautiful Inca complex of Winay Wayna, where we stop to eat a nutritious and plentiful bagged lunch. Sub-tropical flora and fauna surrounds us as we continue 2 hours to the Sun Gate, from where we will see Machu Picchu. We will walk down past the majestic ruins, and then take the bus to Aguas Calientes to spend a relaxing night in a comfortable hotel.
Day 4: AGUAS CALIENTES/ LOST INCA CITY, MACHU PICCHU
After breakfast and an early start, we take a 30 minute bus ride up to the Machu Picchu ruins, where we will tour the amazing architecture and mysterious temples left by the Incas. A professional, English-speaking guide will help us understand the sophisticated ideas and technology of this highly-advanced culture. Once the official tour is completed, we will have plenty of time to explore the Sanctuary on our own before returning to Cusco by train in the afternoon.
Included
With the Lares Trek package you will receive:
Transportation and Tickets
- Private transport from your Cusco hotel to the start of the trek
- Bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machupicchu
- Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Cusco
- train tickets to km 104
- Transfer from Cusco train station back to your Cusco hotel
- Entrance tickets to Machupicchu
- Entrance tikets to Inca Trail
Camping Equipment
- We use four-season Eureka tents with two entrances and a capacity for four people (for comfort, only two people per tent)
- Foam mattresses, tables, and seat for each tent
- Food and drink utensils
- Dinner tent and kitchen tent for the group
- First aid kit and emergency oxygen bottle
Team
- Professional, knowledgeable bilingual guide
- A cook to prepare your meals
- Porters to carry provided equipment and food (additional porters can be hired to carry your personal belongings)
- Our guides are professional and multilingual. Not only do they possess an excellent knowledge of the Inca Trail, but they’re also wholly familiar with all of the intricate archaeological, historical, and cultural Inca traditions. All of our tour personnel are also highly qualified in tour group management and in first
Hotel
- Basic hotel accommodation in Aguas Calientes
Food
- High quality meals to provide the necessary energy for this challenging trek
- In addition to three meals daily, you will be given revitalizing snacks
- Hot drinks such as tea and coffee, as well as enough water for your canteens, water bottles, or hydration packs (collected from local streams and boiled while on the trek)
Why Explore
Cultural Immersion Experience,Travel is about meeting the local people and experiencing different ways of life. That is why EXPLORE ADVENTURES PERU immerses you in the local communities. Visit the most interesting and off the beaten track locations to experience the real Peru! Have a unique cultural adventure at local communities, COMMUNITY STAY and CULTURAL IMMERSION before each trek and take part of our tours.
We are a 100% locally owned and operated company! EXPLORE ADVENTURES PERU offers an assortment of adventurous treks and exciting tour packages in Peru, specially designed to appeal to most visitors' budgets that doesn't have a negative impact on the environment or adversely affect local communities. EXPLORE ADVENTURES PERU employees are local, Peruvian people. We work to invest in our own country and develop social work to offer our people a better lifestyle and provide opportunities to keep growing. This is the main difference between local companies and foreign companies and associated companies.
Price
Price per person: US$ 720 (Minimum 2 persons; departures all year)
* We include duffle bags 8kls and a horse that will carry your personal belongings in all of our treks at no additional cost.
*Emergency horse available throughout the trek, in the event someone is not feeling well.
Discounts
- Student Discount (with valid ISIC card) – $25
- Under 15 Discount – $25
- Under 7 Discount – $35
Rentals
- Black Diamond Hiking Poles- US$15.00 (pair)
- Sleeping bag -4 season - US$25.00
- Private Tent - US$30.00
- Air mattress -$15
Extras
Would you also like to hike Huayna Picchu? Sure you we can make it! Its price is US$85.00 per person and there are 2 turns (at 7 am and 10am), Only 400 people can hike Huaynapicchu per day. You will climb it on your own after the tour in Machu Picchu, starting around 10:00 a.m. We recommend that you book your tickets in advance to let us know of your interest in Huayna Picchu. Machu Picchu Mountain is an alternative climbing mountain, which also offers fantastic views of Machupicchu. We recommend it if Huayna Picchu Mountain is full.
Our Treks: Ancascocha Trek – Moonstone Trek – Huchuy Qosqo Trek – Salkantay Trek – Lares Llama Trek – Ausangate Trek – Choquequirao Trek
Optional Tours / Activities : City tour, Sacred Valley , Extreme Sports Cusco, Off the Beaten Track tours.
