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Tour Map
The Lares hike to Machu Picchu, a 4-day trip, will guide you through the highlands of Peru. You will do the Lares hike, a path less traveled than the traditional Inca Trail. This walk will cover a distance of approximately 33 km or 20 miles, full of unique experiences.
We will begin in the small town of Lares, where the hike gets its name. The hike to Machu Picchu will take us through the Andean mountains. With time to walk at a steady pace, we will marvel at the beauty of the Sacred Valley.
Our route will reach its highest point at Paso Cóndor. At a high altitude of 4,600 meters or 15,092 feet, we will feel as if we are touching the sky. It’s a challenging climb but worth every step for the view.
On the third day we will board a train to Aguas Calientes. This small town serves as a gateway to visit Machu Picchu. From Aguas Calientes, we will take a short uphill bus ride to the majestic Inca citadel.
On the first day of the Lares Hike 4 days to Machu Picchu, we will begin early. At around 6:00 am, we will pick you up from your hotel. A 6-hour bus trip will bring us to our starting point.
During our journey, we’ll make a pit stop in the town of Calca. Here, you will have an opportunity to visit the local market, enjoy breakfast, and purchase any last-minute supplies. You might want to buy extra bread to give to local children we will encounter on the trek.
Reaching Cuncani village, the beautiful starting point of our Lares Trek, you will begin to experience the Andean landscape. As we journey onward, we might spot small herds of llamas, alpacas, and guanacos. You may even see the rarer vicunas, representing the diverse Andean camelid species. We will also get a glimpse of typical Andean communities at Cuncani.
After our first pass, we will arrive at Yanacocha. A picturesque lunch by the lake will be a treat to your senses. After lunch, we will trek to our first campsite at Huacawasi, located at 3600 meters or 11,811 feet. The gradual ascent of 5 to 6 hours will serve as a perfect warm-up for the challenging second day.
On the second day of our Lares hike to Machu Picchu, we will begin with a nutritious breakfast. After that, we will head towards the highest point of the hike, the Huacawasi Pass. Located at an altitude of 4500 meters or 14,763 feet, this pass will challenge us with a steep 4-hour uphill hike. To ensure everyone’s success, an emergency horse will accompany us.
We will cross incredible landscapes of enormous mountains and a mosaic of farms. The stunning views of the Andean highlands will reward you, epitomizing their beauty. But remember, we will be hiking at high altitudes and the weather can be very cold.
Once we have conquered the summit, we will descend passing through beautiful lagoons. A well-deserved stop for lunch awaits you. Here, while our cooks prepare a hearty meal, you will have time to recover.
After lunch, we will descend further through a beautiful forest. You will see Queuña trees, a species native to the Peruvian Andes. You will also see several other species of flora and fauna that enrich this wonderful park.
The descent will continue until we reach our second camp, located at 3000 meters or 9,842 feet. Upon arrival, hot tea and snacks will be ready to enjoy before dinner.
Our 4-day Lares trek to Machu Picchu enters its third day. We will continue our trip, heading towards the Inca agricultural terraces of Yanahuara. Here locals still grow the famous giant grain corn of the Sacred Valley, known as “maiz parcay.” It is a vibrant showcase of traditional Andean agriculture.
Moving forward we will head towards Pachar, joining the Inca Trail towards Ollantaytambo on the Inca terraces. Along the route we will find Choccana, a small archaeological site. This hike will take us to Ollantaytambo, a town in the Sacred Valley famous for its well-preserved Inca heritage. We will stop for lunch in this historic environment.
At 1:00 p.m. we will board a train to Aguas Calientes. The afternoon is yours to explore this picturesque city. We recommend a visit to the natural springs of Aguas Calientes to relax and rejuvenate. After a day full of stunning views and hiking, we will retire for the night at a local hotel.
We will get up very early this morning to visit the famous Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. This complex is considered a jewel of Inca architecture. It is a complete town with different neighborhoods, squares, alleys, buildings, astronomical observatories and terraces. The city was rediscovered on July 24, 1911 by the American researcher Hiram Bingham. We will have a guided tour to see and learn about the site of Machu Picchu, a Wonder of the World. After the guided tour, you will have free time to take photos and discover this magical place for yourself.
For those who have previously selected to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain, they will do so at the designated time (1st group: 6am to 8am, 2nd group: 9am to 11am).
In the afternoon we will return to Aguas Calientes. We will have some time for lunch (not included), which is the perfect opportunity to explore local restaurants. Then we took the train to Ollantaytambo, leaving at 2:55 p.m. On the way back we can enjoy the incredible landscape of the Sacred Valley. Upon arrival at the train station, our transfer staff will pick us up and drop us off in Cusco.
We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and easy as possible. In this section you will find quick answers to all those questions you had about lares hike 4 days to Machu picchu in one place. Please read the following information carefully; will help you with any questions about our services.
All briefings take place at your hotel at 6:30 p.m., one night before the tour begins. If you cannot attend, you must coordinate another schedule at the (Peru Travel Luxury) offices. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes and there they will give you a small canvas bag, in which you will store all the belongings that you intend to take on the walk and that will not be in your backpack.
You will receive a canvas case or duffle bag during the briefing. The muleteers will carry them along the road and deliver them to you when you arrive at each camp. They measure 66 cm / 2 feet long x 36 cm / 1 foot wide.
A maximum of 8 kg is allowed per canvas bag, in which you can put your clothes or personal items that you need to do this hike.
The trek has to be paid for in full by at least 7.30 pm two days before departure. For example, if your tour departs on a Wednesday, then you must come to our office before 7.30 pm on Monday.
It would be much appreciated if you pay the trek balance in cash US dollars or local currency. You can withdraw some money from several ATMs along Avenida Sol (either in US dollars or local Peruvian Soles). You can pay by credit card or PAYPAL online, but you will have to pay an 8% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. We do not accept bank checks or payment of the balance by traveler’s checks.
Of course! During the travel, your main luggage can be stored at our office(you can organize briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment that you are not going to need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags, put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (In the unlikely case of theft many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing all the items). Best put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.
Peru Travel Luxury company can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it’s in the Historic Center of Cusco. The pickup time will be coordinated with your guide in the briefing. The pickup time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic. Cusco is a very old city, therefore, it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. We strongly recommend that you book accommodation with good access.
Group tours are made up of different types of people. Physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route. It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, it will be the guide who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if said modifications can be made.
Strikes and demonstrations are usually frequent in Peru and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your excursion as planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date. Under these circumstances, tours may also be cancelled. In case of changes or cancellations, all situations will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority and our decisions will be made to protect it.
You’re responsible for your objects during the tour. Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our trucks, tents, or restaurants.
It was an incredible experience, our guide Alex taught us a lot, the views and freedom we had on the trip were unmatched, the chefs fed us 3 times a day as if we were in a restaurant, we made great friends with the peru travel luxury group it will be a trip I will never forget.
