4 Days Lares Valley Expeditions via Huaran

Best time to travel: April - Nov December
Activities: Culture, History, Fauna, Flora, Trekking & Hiking.
Trip Level: Medium / Hard
Places: Cusco, Calca, Huaran, Lares Valley, Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes
Transportatation: Private bus, Train and Trekking
Accommodation: Camping and Hostel or Hotel in Aguas Calientes
Starting Point: Cusco or Urubamba
Ending Point: Cusco
Small Groups: (no more than 8 travelers)
Pick-up: From your Hotel in Cusco city

DAY 1, LARES TREK: CUSCO - CALCA - FONDO HUARAN - CANCHA CANCHA - ACOPATA
At 6 am you will be picked up at the hotel by our private transport which will bring you into the sacred valley of the Incas. The ride will take about 2 hours. We will take a short break close to the town of Calca in order to have breakfast. You will also have the opportunity to buy snacks like fruit, chocolate and water etc. in case you didn't get a chance to do so in Cusco. We will drive a bit further to our starting point, the plains of Huaran (3.000 m / 9.840 ft ASL) where we will meet our wranglers with their horses and commence our trek. The trail ascents steadily for 4 hours to the center of the valley of Huaran, following the river Cancha Cancha to a small community of the same name. Along the way we'll be able to see the traditional farmland of the locals, enjoy the view into the impressive valley of the river and walk through the typical Polylepis woods, which unfortunately are diminishing. This vegetation is particularly interesting due to its abounding wildlife, especially the humming birds and the Venus-flytrap. In the village we will be able to enjoy a traditional, Andean lunch and continue with our hike after a short break. After two more hours of hiking we will reach our campsite “Acopata” at 3.950 m/ 12.960 ft ASL. We will spend the night here after a traditional dinner and a short briefing for the next day.

Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation / Lares Trek: Camping
Maximum Altitude: 3,700 m.a.s.l - 12 139 feet
Minimum Altitude: 2,800 m.a.s.l - 9 186 feet
Distance Travelled: 10 km approx - 6,213 miles
Approximate Walking Time: 5-6 hours

DAY 2, LARES TREK: ACOPATA - PACHACUTEC PASS - QUISHUARANI
After breakfast we continue our ascent. This is the longest and most exhausting day of the trail. We will climb for about 3 hours to the highest point called “Pachacutec” at 4.750 m / 15.580 ft ASL. The view from up here is breathtaking, you can see the impressive mountains and the glaciers Pitusiray and Sahuasiray as well as emerald green lakes. From there we descend for about 2 hours to the glacier lake Qoyalaycocha where we will break for our traditional lunch. After a short break we continue for another 2,5 hours to the village of Quishuarani. Along the trail we will be able to observe free range flocks of lamas, alpacas and sheep, and with a bit of luck we might be able to spot the gray Andean deer, the Andean goose, falcons, ducks or even the noble Andean fox. We will camp at the community center which offers bathrooms and a camp site. In Quishuarani you will be able to purchase alpaca textiles which are still handmade according to the original style and tradition of the Lares valley. In the afternoon we will provide a small snack and later our ample traditional dinner.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation / Lares Trek: Camping
Maximum Altitude: 4,540 m.a.s.l - 14 895 feet
Minimum Altitude: 3,900 m.a.s.l - 12 795 feet
Distance Travelled: 14 km approx - 89,477 miles
Approximate Walking Time: 7-8 hours

DAY 3, LARES TREK: QUISHUARANI - CUNCANI - LARES -OLLANTAYTAMBO - AGUAS CALIENTES
We will have to get up at 6 am and begin our ascent after breakfast. We will climb for 4 hours to the pass of Cuncani 4.200 m / 13.780 ft ASL from where we can admire the mountain range of Urubamba with the peaks of the Willcaccasa (4.458 m / 14.625 ft ASL), the Padreyoc (5.500 m / 18.045 ft ASL), and part of the Veroni (5.800 m / 19.030 ft ASL) as well as turquoise lakes and the marvelous landscape of the valley itself. We will now descend for about 2 hours past several lakes until we reach the banks of lake Cuncani where we will enjoy our lunch. Another hour of walking will bring us to the village of Cuncani ( 3.900 m / 12.795 ft ASL). In Cuncani you can buy traditional woven fabrics. Along the way we will meet people who are dressed in these colorful fabrics. The flock of lamas, alpacas and sheep will also accompany us on this stretch of the way. From Cuncani we will descend further into the valley of Lares, known for its medicinal hot springs, where we will enjoy a well-earned hot bath. Our bus is waiting for us at Lares and will take us to Ollantaytambo in the afternoon. There we will change onto the train to Aguas Calientes. You will be picked up upon arrival and accompanied to your hostel. In the evening there will be a briefing by your guide, coordinating your visit to Machu Picchu for the next day.

Accommodation: Hotel
Maximum Altitude: 4,458 m.a.s.l - 14 625 feet
Minimum Altitude: 3,190 m.a.s.l - 10 465 feet
Distance Travelled: 13 km approx - 8,077 miles
Approximate Walking Time: 5-6 hours

DAY 4, LARES TREK: Sunrise over Machu Picchu and return to Cusco by train.
We meet our guide early to drive up to Machu picchu arqueological complex. We have to get our tickets checked at the entrance. Once we are inside we start with our guided tour ( 2 – 2,5 h). Afterwards we have free time to explore on our own or enjoy the views. In the afternoon we have to return to the train station to take the train back to the Sacred valley Ollantaytambo or Poroy train station, transfer to your hotel upon arrival.

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 tickets from ollamtaytambo to Aguas Calientes
• Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Cusco
• Transfer from Cusco train station back to your Cusco hotel
• Entrance tickets to Machupicchu

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
• horses to carry provided equipment and food (horses 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

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)

Price per person: US$600  (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.

Discounts

• Student Discount (with valid ISIC card) – $25
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• Under 15 Discount – $25
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• Under 7 Discount – $35

Rentals

• Hiking poles - US$15.00 (pair)
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• Sleeping bag -4 season - US$25.00
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• Private Tent - US$30.00
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• 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.

Peru  Behind The Scenes

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.

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ALL DEPARTURES 100% GUARANTEED - IF YOU'RE BOOKED, YOU'RE GOING

Upgrades - HOTELS

Belmond Sanctuary Lodge($460 USD), Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is a luxury hotel in the Sacred Valley,  Machupicchu Peru.

Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel 5-star hotel($335 USD) , hotel Privileged located at the Urubamba River and only 20 minutes from the famous Machu Picchu archeological site, this 5- star hotel offers comfort, elegance and relaxation, in Andean Design.

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo 3,5-star hotel ($445USD) , Hotel is a colonial-style property that features massage sessions and an Andean sauna. The spacious rooms feature tile floors and sitting areas.

Tierra Viva Machu Picchu 3-star hotel($110 USD) , hotel Offering impressive views of the surrounding hills, Tierra Viva Cusco Machu Picchu.

Andina Luxury hotel ($100 USD),This hotel is located in Aguas Caliente (Machu Picchu town), a few meters from the railway station en route to the hot springs with a breathtaking view of the surrounding vegetation.

Casa Andina Machu Picchu hotel ($150 USD),Casa Andina Classic Machu Picchu is a cozy and comfortable hotel strategically located in Aguas Calientes, the access point to the Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

Upgrades - Restaurants

Indio Feliz Dinner at the Restaurant, Bistro, Bar, Crêperie in MachuPicchu. on Day 1-($35 USD)
Tinkuy Buffet Lunch at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge on Day 2 – US $45

DON'T JUST TRAVEL. EXPLORE!   Explore Adventures Peru team!!