| Lares Trek 4 days 3 nights |
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From: Pick up at Hostel
To: Lares Trek, Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes; Back to Cuzco
Departure time: 05:00 am
Returning time: 20:30 - 21:00 pm
*LARES TREK BRIEF: Our guide will meet you at your hostel/hotel 1 or 2 days prior to your departure date at 6:00 p.m - 7:00 p.m. Please let us know where you are staying and at what time you would like to meet our guide for your brief.
This trek is a great alternative for people interested in authentic views of life in the country. On our way to Lares we will pass through the Peruvian highlands where people still live as the Incas used to live. They still live in thatched stone houses shepherding their llamas and alpacas below the snow capped mountains. This trek offers you variable mountain scenery, glacier lakes and fauna and flora. We offer enjoyable camping at these great places with fascinating views. |
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Day 1: Cuzco - Quisuarani- Cuncani (3700m). Today we leave Cuzco early in the morning to journey by road for 3.5 hours to the small community of Quishuarani. The trek will last 8 hours, at the beginning zigzagging up to the first pass named Willkak'asa were we will be rewarded with excellent views. Along the way we will pass glacier lakes with abundant wild life like birds, chinchillas, foxes, etc. The campsite is located at the bottom of this mountain in Cuncani Community were we will visit some friendly families and see how they live in harmony with mother nature. |
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Day 2: Cuncani - Ipsayccocha (4400m). After an early breakfast we leave camp and set out on our 8-hour trek which will take us over Cuncani Pass and then on to Ipsayccocha Pass and campsite (the highest part of the trek at 4,400 meters). Here we will camp near the lake in an area filled with wildlife such as llamas and alpacas and surrounded by native crop plantations. |
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Day 3: Ipsayccocha - Ollantaytambo (2800m) - Aguas Calientes. Today we will hike through the open valley and have the chance to see the native crop plantations up close until we reach the Patacancha Community. Here we can visit a school and observe the education system in the Peruvian Highlands. From here, we'll take a bus to the Ollantaytambo Train Station and then take a train ride to Aguas Calientes town where we will spend the night in a hotel. In the evening we will have free time to wander around town and relax in the hot springs or catch up on your sleep. |
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Day 4: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu (2450m) - Cuzco. We will have breakfast at 5:00 am then catch the one of the first busses (05:30 am) to Machu Picchu (25-minute ride) in order to appreciate the magnificent city as the mist dissipates at sunrise. A walking tour (approximately 2 hours) is given by your guide and after this you can explore the mysterious city by yourselves. If you still have energy you can also climb Huayna Picchu (2720m/8890ft)!!! It takes 45-60 minutes to reach the top (this is an extra walk, please talk to your guide for arrangements to climb this mountain prior to your arrival to the archaeological site. Tickets can be purchased to access Huayna Picchu before entering the site). You will meet your guide in Aguas Calientes which can be reached by bus or on foot for lunch and to receive your train tickets for the return trip back to Cuzco. The train usually leaves at 15.55 and we will arrive back in Cuzco at about 20.20. *If desired, an extra night in Aguas Calientes town can be arranged. (Please let us know whether you would like to stay an extra night when booking your tour.) |
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MACHU PICCHU GUIDED SITE VISIT: The one and only, the most spectacular (and not to mention most popular) archaeological site in all of South America. Your guide will take you on a 2-hour tour of Machu Picchu walking you through the most important sites and covering the history of the place (if you haven't already heard it all during the Inca Trail Trek). Then you will have free time to explore on your own and take pictures at your leisure. When you decide to head back down to Aguas Calientes, there are buses departing every 15 minutes from the entrance or you can take the walking trail down if you feel like another 1 hour stair stepping downhill to Aguas Calientes town. |
Machu Picchu was (relatively recently) "discovered" by American historian, Hiram Bingham, in 1911 while searching for the legendary "lost city of the Incas". Hiram Bingham and his local guides stumbled across the site which was then covered in thick vegetation which was later cleared revealing the magical mountain-top archaeological site and opening up the possibility for archaeologists to conduct research on the site by 1915. |
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Whether arriving via Inca Trail or entering from Aguas Calientes don't miss the excellent photo opportunities from the following spots: Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock (a restored building with a thatched roof), Sacred Plaza with views of the Cordillera Vilcabamba in the distance and Rio Urubamba below. Hike up the steep (and sometimes muddy) peak named Wayna Picchu* (45 - 60 minutes) for unforgettable views of Machu Picchu from a coveted perspective (you must purchase a ticket before entering the site in order to do the hike - note: there are only about 200 tickets available for the 7:00am and 10:00am entry times to Wayna Picchu.) For 2 other views of the site, walk out to the Inca Drawbridge (30 minutes) and Inti Punku (45 - 60 minutes).
*If you are coming from the Inca trail, speak with your guide regarding purchasing a ticket for Wayna Picchu since they may sell out early. |
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AGUAS CALIENTES: Have a delicious lunch at any restaurant you desire and then head over to the hot-springs to soak your sore body in the rejuvenating waters. There are internet cafes, cafes with board games and cards, plenty of shops and places to relax. Visit the local marketplace right next to the train tracks where you can shop until the train whistle blows signaling your return to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo, you will take a bus for the last section of highway to Cuzco arriving back around 10:30pm. |
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WHAT IS INCLUDED?
• Pre-departure briefing at your hostel or hotel.
• Hostel/Hotel Pick up in Cuzco.
• Tourist class transportation Cuzco - Quishuarani (starting point of trek) and Patacancha - Ollantaytambo.
• Round trip tourist class train ticket Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo.
• Tourist class bus from Ollantaytambo to Cuzco and drop off at hotel.
• Round trip Tourist class bus Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes.
• Camping equipment, we provide 4 people capacity tent for two people.
• Inflatable Mattress
• Sleeping bag
• Professional Trekking Poles
• Dining room tent, kitchen tent, seats, tables
• Accommodation: 1 night hotel in Aguas Calientes town.
• Entrance fees to Machu Picchu archaeological site.
• Meals: 3 breakfasts / 3 lunches / 3 dinners / last lunch in Aguas Calientes.
• Professional cook and assistant cooks.
• Professional English/Spanish/Quechua Speaking Guide.
• Horses to carry camping equipment and personal items (Limit 7 kg per person).
• First aid kit and emergency oxygen bottle. |
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DOES NOT INCLUDE:
• Breakfast on the first day
• Entrance Fee to the thermal hot springs.
• Tips for guides, cooks, horsemen.
• Bottled water (NOTE: you need to bring your own bottled water on the first day. You will have access to boiled water during the trek. We recommend bringing water purification tablets and an aluminum water bottle so you can drink water at any time during the trek).
SUGGESTED PACKING LIST: Bring or Rent in Cuzco: sleeping bag, hiking poles, rain pants, rain poncho, trekking boots, sandals, warm socks, sweater, thermals, hat, gloves, sun hat, sun block, sun glasses, flashlight/torch, camera, extra batteries and memory card, charger (electricity available on night 3), waterproof bags for your camera, hand sanitizer, personal first aid kit, water bottle, water purification tablets or filter. Bring extra cash for snacks, water, gatorade which doubles or triples in price along the trail. Bathing suit for hot springs in Santa Teresa and/or in Aguas Calientes town (these activities are available at an additional price).
DON'T FORGET THE ESSENTIALS: Original Passport (and student card if applicable), insurance card, personal medications
*Tips are recommended for porters (20 soles per person to be divided by the porters - not 20 soles per porter) and for your guide (20-30 soles per person for the guide). These amounts are only suggestions and would be a nice gesture for the hard working porters and guide.
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