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This fascinating 4 day Lares trek to Machu Picchu is a great alternative trek to the Classic Inca Trail and it has been specially created for those people who love to experience the authentic lifestyle in the Andes, away from the regular tourist routes, especially to see the traditional Andean communities on the mountains.
The Lares trek to Machu Picchu offered by Peru Classic Tours allows you to enjoy the culture of the Quechuas. The authentic native people dedicated to agriculture, Alpaca farming and textiles weaving, all this combined with the amazing natural environment makes to Lares trek a fantastic journey in the magic land of the Incas. Finally after visiting the hot springs in Lares valley, hikers also will connect with the major spiritual center of the Incas” Machu Picchu”.
At the scheduled time travelers will be picked up from the hotel, we then drive through the Sacred Valley to arrive to the village of Pumahuanca which is the beginning point of our Lares trek. We’ll gently make our way up one of the side valleys, covering about 4 hours of hiking we will stop at the village of Cuyoc. On our way up we’ll visit the small Inca ruin of Pumahuanca and learn about the native plants, flowers and birds that inhabit this region.
This particular route for the Lares trek to Machu Picchu is not commonly used by many other travel companies so we can enjoy the peace and tranquility of the valley without distractions or disturbance, only a few travelers visit the area, so there is a good chance to see the wildlife (hummingbirds and Chinchillas). after lunch the trail lead us through a dense vegetation until we reach the campsite for the night, at Sutoc (4100m / 13451ft); this will be the coldest night in the whole Lares trek , sometimes you can expect snow and frost during the dry season. So warm clothes are definitely recommended.
After breakfast we will set up from the campsite, 3 hours of slow hike will let us to arrive to the highest point of Lares trek, for many people this is the hardest section because the altitude but is the most spectacular day!; a magical feeling after you reached the highest point of the trek and surviving one the highest passes on this mountain range. After we enjoy all the wonderful and scenic views it’s time to head down to the village of Cuncani for approx. 3 hours. .
As we make our way to Cuncani we’ll see some snowcapped peaks high above us, beautiful mountain lakes (Yanacocha – Black lake) and get to meet the local people dressed in their traditional bright red clothing. Hiking the Lares trek, we will experience the real Peruvian countryside, the people in this region are descending’s of the Incas so the culture is totally different from any other place in Peru. They are Quechua spoken families. So you should ask your guide to teach you a few Quechua phrases that you can interact with the local people.
Early in the morning the local people come in our campsite to meet us. The people of this region are incredibly welcoming and are just as eager to learn about you as you about them, this is the opportunity to give them any gifts you’ve brought for the local people or just to buy some of the locally made alpaca products that the region is famed for.
Continuing our Lares trek to Machu Picchu You will leave Cuncani, it’s just a few hours of walk until we reach the hot springs of Lares. Along the way we’ll pass through several small villages and see the people growing a variety of crops such as Quinoa and beans, we’ll have lunch around the thermal baths. After a relaxing dip in the hot springs we’ll be picked up by our transfer and driven back to the Sacred Valley, we then have train connection to Machu Picchu town.
In the morning after breakfast we will board the bus which will take us to the biggest energetic center of the Incas “Machu Picchu” where a professional tour guide will transmit us all the history of this mysterious and outstanding place ( sun temple, royal palace, main temple, three windows temple, sun dial and more). After the guided tour, free time to explore more places on your own or you can do the optional hikes around Machu Picchu like:
In the afternoon we will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch, we then take the Train back to Ollantaytambo. After your arrival to the train station you will be picked up and transferred to the Hotel in Cusco.
We will book your Machu Picchu entrance ticket using the names & passport numbers, nationality, date of birth, and sex; which you send us with your trek departure date.
You must bring the same passports with you to Cusco and take them on the Lares trek. If the name or number in your passport is different from the name and number on the ticket, the government authorities will not allow you to enter in Machu Picchu and you will not be entitled to a refund. If you plan to renew your passport between making the trek booking and actually starting the trek please visit our web page.
You can hire some additional things with us – please contact your Travel Consultant / or our booking forms for the current rates.
DISCOUNTS
Student Discount (with valid university card) – $25
Under 18 Discount – $25
Lares trek booking