Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days
CREATING AUTHENTIC TOURS IN PERU
Explore the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 days in Peru
CREATING AUTHENTIC TOURS IN PERUExplore the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 days in Peru
Trip OverviewTrip Overview
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu. It is placed on the mountain rage of Urubamba (on the east) crossing part of Sacred Valley.The Lares trek route crosses typical zones from the mountains of Peru.This tour combines the best of the Andean traditions and original indigenous villages. Valley of Lares takes you truly to remote locations and unknown destinations. This trip takes you to the heart of the Andes where few tourist have ventured, mountain forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and all the time enjoying majestic views.
Embark on an incredible Cusco Andean exploration through Lares trek with a taste of the iconic Incas Culture. Take a guided tour through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, stopping at a women’s weaving in Calca, before beginning your hike. The Lares Trek might not be as touristy but it’s no less breathtaking with scenic views of lagoons, the snow-capped mountains of Chicon,Sawasiray, Pitusiray, andean flora, and opportunities to meet local Quechua people along the way.
INCLUDEDINCLUDED
INCLUDED IN THE LARES TREK TO MACHU PICCHU 4 DAYS:
- Private transportation Cusco to Lares
- Private Transport Urubamba to Ollantaytambo Train Station
- Transfer from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
- Licensed guide fluent in English and Quechua.
- Round trip train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- Bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
- Ticket to visit Machu Picchu circuit 2-B (If there are no more spaces for this tour, tour 3-b will be purchased.)
- Private guided tour in Machu Picchu
- Hotel in aguas calientes
- 4 person Igloo tents (large and comfortable) and thick confortable mattress.
- Delicious meals (3 lunch, 3 dinner, 3 breakfast)
- Cook and cooking equipment
- Horseman and mules, to carry all camping and personal equipments (5 kilos of your personal items such as extra clothes, sleeping bag will be carried by our mules)
- First-aid kit including emergency oxygen tank
- Water to fill in your bottles
NOT INCLUDED IN THE LARES TREK:
- Sleeping bag ($ 20 usd)
- Trekking poles ( $ 20 usd)
- Therm-a-rest inflatable sleeping pad ( $ 20 usd)
- Huayna Picchu mountain ($ 80 usd, it depends of the availability)
- Lunch & dinner on the last day
- Tips for the crew: guide, cook, horseman
- Travel insurance
Trip HighlightsTrip Highlights
- Take the ultimate cultural vacation to ancient and mystical sacred citadel of Machu Picchu.
- Gain an intimate understanding of centuries-old customs and traditions with expert local tour guides
- Visit historic sites in the Sacred Valley of the Incas
- Discover the rich artistry of the Lares region’s weavings
- Explore the best museum of interpretation of the pre-inca cultures of Peru, Inkarry museum.
- Visit rural communities preserved in rich Incan culture
- Learn more about the Inca's religion and ceremonies with coca leaves.
- Enjoy a train ride, with rapid changes of landscapes from the sacred valley to the cloud forest.
ActivitiesActivities
The Lares Trek to Machu Picchu has two hiking levels, Vigorous (the first two days will be challenging) and Moderate hikes, participants should be able to hike 3–6 hours (up to 8 miles) without major discomfort over terrain with some steep grades. For vigorous hikes, participants should be strong hikers in excellent shape and able to hike 6–8 hours (5–10 miles) on trails with steep ascents and descents. Much of the trip is between 11,000’–15,000’ in elevation, making activity more challenging.
We highly recommend a conditioning regimen consisting of activities such as hiking, jogging, stair climbing or cycling beginning several months prior to departure to get in shape for the adventure. The better shape you are in, the more you will enjoy all this trip has to offer.
The first two days will be a very steep terrain with little oxygen, and very cold temperatures. The third and fourth day is the tour by bus, train and short walks.
AccommodationsAccommodations
- Confortable camping tents ,02 nights.
- Hotel in Aguas Calientes Town,01 night.
ItineraryItinerary
- Lares Trek - Hiking in the Andean valleys with pretty scenic views, interact with local people (children), llama and alpaca herds along the trail, and camping in a highland village.
- Lares Trek - Ancashmarca Ruins, Photo stop viewpoint
- Lares Trek - Thermal baths of Lares
- Lares Trek - Observation of the sky, where you can learn about the astronomy of the Incas
- Lunch, Dinner
PACKING LISTPACKING LIST
PACKING LIST FOR THE LARES TREK TO MACHU PICCHU 4 DAYS
When packing for your Lares trek, you should keep in mind that it is best to dress in layers due to the weather variation. The variety of clothes that you must pack to dress in layers is key to your walk, from the morning when it is quite cold until mid afternoon when the temperatures rise and reach their peak and then freeze again at night. Stratification is also useful as you ascend high passages that are exposed to winds or descend into shady valleys.
Effective stratification only works if each layer allows moisture to pass and escape into the external environment. In fact, the best layered clothing, such as wool, promotes moisture transfer through its absorbent properties. Cotton and denim absorb moisture and, therefore, should be avoided.
warm jackets
Hydration bladder
wool socks
camera
scarf
first aid kit
hiking shoes
Dry bags
Trekking Poles
sun cream
Snack
sun hat
bathing suite
rain coat
Sandals
insect repellent
Passport
Down Jackets
toilet paper
daypack
Wool cap
head lamp
gloves
sun glasses
cap
extra cash
Trekking pantsFAQFAQ
ALL ABOUT THE LARES TREK TO MACHU PICCHU
Lares trek is not a little known route. But, it comes to captivate every visitor. During the tour you will be able to appreciate natural wonders; like waterfalls, rivers, beautiful landscapes, thermal medicinal waters and snow-capped mountains; as well as, you can find cultural attractions.
The Lares trek 4 days and 3 nights, is a trek that you should not miss, one of its main reasons is the diversity of attractions that you will be able to appreciate during the 4 days, thus being the fourth day one of the most anticipated, since that this day you will visit one of the wonders of the world, Machu Picchu!
Lares Trek is located to the north of the city of Cusco, about 98 kilometers by road (almost 3 hours 30 minutes by car).
Lares village is also 45 kilometers from the town of Calca, the most important in its vicinity, which also offers tourist attractions to visitors. Geographically the town of Lares is 3,150 meters above sea level.
Lares is one of the eight districts that make up the province of Calca in Cusco. It has an Andean geography with beautiful landscapes and close to lagoons and snow-capped mountains. Its main tourist attractions are its thermal baths and the hiking route known as the 'Lares trek to Machu Picchu' (4-day route).
The town has a total area of 74,467 square kilometers. According to statistics taken in 2017, it has 5,743 inhabitants. The town is located in a small valley surrounded by the high snow-capped mountains: Sihuasiray, Chicón, Sirihuani and Capacsaya.
In the Inca era, according to Martin de Murua in his work "History of the Incas", he states that before the arrival of the founders of the Inca empire, the Cusco valley was inhabited by three partialities; The Laris, Poqes and Huallas; that they were people of low and poor social status who had dominated the entire area that now constitutes the province of Calca; these were belligerent tribes that integrated the communities that inhabited these fertile valleys. Thus, the Laris would have formed the Lares culture in what is now the Lares district, and the Hamp'as would later become the current Amaparaes community.
With the expansion of the Inca Empire, this very productive valley was conquered by the Inca Wiraqocha, who dedicated great importance to these lands, so he built an Inca capital in the city of Calca, from where he controlled the production of fruits, coca leaf , and maiz.
The Lares district previously seems that the capital or center of the Lares culture has not been the current capital of the district because in it there is no trace of ancient cultures, nor in the urban conformation that is completely Spanish, nor in the walls and foundations of the buildings, it is thought that the center of the Lares culture was the population of Choquecancha, already displaced from the citadel of Antawala.
In the Colonial era (1535-1824), the entire area of Lares, therefore Choquekancha, was not exploited by the Spanish because it was located in a completely uneven terrain, they only maintained relations for the trade of some products.
In the Republican era (1824 to the present), the region acquires its greatest splendor as part of the Province of Calca, Department of Cusco, Lares acquires the category of District by virtue of the Law of October 22, 1,892, with its capital the current town of Lares.
Etymologically, the word "Lares" comes from that other word of Aymara origin "Laris" which means maternal uncle and sometimes, all relatives on the mother's side.
ESSENTIAL TRIP INFORMATIONESSENTIAL TRIP INFORMATION
ESSENTIAL TRIP INFORMATION ESSENTIAL TRIP INFORMATION
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
View Essential Trip InformationBest Season to TravelBest Season to Travel
The best time to visit Peru is during the dry season, between May and November, when the weather is dry and bright, with more frequent rainfall occurring between November and April.
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PRICE & AVAILABILITY
To book this tour, a minimum of $ 200 USD per person is required, the remaining balance will be paid upon arrival in Peru, at the Cusco office.
Any other additional information, please coordinate with your travel agent.
Choose your preferred departure date to proceed.
What to expect from our
Treks in Peru
Nothing gets you closer to a country than walking through it, and we’ve got trips to suit walkers of all levels and interests.
How fit do I need to be?
All our Walking trips are graded from ‘Easy’ through to ‘Challenging to Tough’. On our online trip itineraries you’ll find a chart showing the daily walk distances, timings and information on the route including the terrain, altitude. Generally, no specific training is needed but you might feel more comfortable if you’ve got out walking a few times in the lead-up to your trip.
What will the group be like?
As with all our trips, every group is different but the ‘average’ group consists of roughly half couples and half solo travellers - all sharing a passion for exploring the world on foot. You’ll always have someone to keep you company along the route, but you don’t always have to walk together. Wherever possible your Andean Great Treks leader will allow everyone to walk at their own pace, regrouping regularly along the route.
Will I need to walk every day?
Mostly of our hikes in the mountains in Peru and Cusco like the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Ausangate Trek, Lares Trek, Ancascocha Trek, Salkantay Trek , involves an average of walking hours of 7-8 hours per day, this timing includes stops for taking photos, lunch, breaks for recovery the energy, and the most important we adapt to your walking pace. This relaxed style of trip involves to know all the attractions in greater depth.
What about the logistics?
On nearly all our Walking trips, porters or mules will carry all the camping equimpent, so your main luggage will be transported for you. We recommend walk with a light rucksack, you will carry water, snacks, a camera, a small first aid kit and any extra clothing or sun protection. On more remote or challenging treks, additional guides are there to assist the leader tour guide and provide support to the group.
ANDEAN TREKS FAQS
HOW MANY DAYS OF ACCLIMATIZATION DO YOU RECOMMEND BEFORE STARTING A PROGRAM?
The acclimatization period is very important for our travelers to enjoy the experience. We suggest a minimum of 3 or 4 days of the previous stay in Cusco city, the Sacred Valley of the Incas or Machu Picchu. We recommend you check the acclimation programs we have prepared for you on our website.
WHAT ARE THE ALTITUDES IN THE CAMPING SITES ?
The average height of our camps in the trekking circuits is 3,500 masl. In fact, one of the circuits where you sleep at the highest altitude is the Ausangate Trek, where you will have days to set up the tents at a height of 4,300 meters. Remember that Peru has snowy peaks that reach up to 6,700 masl.
HOW CAN ALTITUDE AFFECT ME?
From 3,000 meters above sea level, the symptoms of "altitude sickness" vary according to each person, and may even not occur. However, among the most common are a headache, dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite and insomnia. Therefore, upon arriving in the city of Cusco, located at 3,400 meters above sea level, we recommend our travelers to take a good rest, drink plenty of water, eat light meals and take slower walking. Also, it is necessary to avoid alcoholic beverages and cigarettes. The symptoms can be alleviated with high mountain medicines such as DIAMOX or similar products, but we suggest you consult with your doctor before the trip.
DO I HAVE TO CARRY MY OWN LUGGAGE?
While on the trail, hikers will need to carry a daypack (camera equipment, water bottle, extra layers, rain gear, and other accessories you might need on the trail.) Horses and llamas will carry your duffle bag to the next camping site.
WHAT ARE THE SECURITY MEASURES IN THE TRAIL?
The company makes the greatest efforts to provide a safe and unforgettable experience, for this reason, the trekking guides are constantly communicated with the central office through satellite phones, ensuring the welfare of each passenger. Our guides are trained in rescue techniques and first aid in emergency outdoor, these courses are developed annually and have the standards of the wilderness first respond. At all times we have oxygen and first aid equipment. In case of any eventuality a medical director will answer our questions 24 hours a day. In addition to the animals who carry the luggage we have horses to help walkers tired or eager to ride. We recommend getting a travel insurance.
ANDEAN GREAT TREKS TOURS DIFFERENCE
UNRIVALLED KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE
Every Andean Great Treks holiday has been thoughtfully planned and crafted by our specialists. They draw on their own extensive travel experience and the guidance and expertise of our local partners to create superb holidays. Our specialists are committed to making every aspect smooth and enjoyable; they genuinely want to ensure that the holidays they create leave you with wonderful lasting memories.
AMAZING TOURS & AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES
Every Andean Great Treks traveller is accompanied by an experienced tour guide, you will be immersed in Historic cities, ancient ruins and unfamiliar landscapes are all brought to life by our carefully selected local guides. They want to share their expertise and help you make your own discoveries too; their sole mission is to ensure you enjoy every moment.
FLEXIBILITY & CHOICE
Giving you the freedom to make your holiday even more memorable. We know how much our customers look forward to their holiday and we pride ourselves on the choice and flexibility that we offer to enhance every aspect of your experience. Whether it’s getting to the airport, upgrading your room or booking an additional excursion, we can help.
GUIDED BY THE LOCAL GUIDES, TRUE EXPERTS!
Our guides are the stars of the show; it is their unrivalled knowledge, passion and expertise that will transform your tour experience from good to truly extraordinary!
Because the have grown up in the area and know it like the back of their hand, so they can help you experience whichever aspects most interest you. They’re passionate about sharing their corner of the world with you, and as you explore together, they’ll open your eyes to the intricate details, provide background to enhance your understanding of what you’re seeing, and share stories that will bring everything to life.
ALL OF OUR NATIONAL TOUR GUIDES...
- Have at least five years guiding experience
- Are fluent in English
- Are born and raised in Cusco, Lima, Manu Jungle, Puno
- Go through rigorous and ongoing training programmes
- Are at your service 24 hours a day
OUR TRAVELS SHAPE YOURS
“Your inspiration for a trip can be a single word or a highly evolved outline, but it's the conversations we have that help us understand the experience you're looking for. Meanwhile, I'm looking back on the time I spent at the destination.
‘The great thing about working with a specialist at Andean Great Treks is how they take your complete jumble of ideas and turn them into something absolutely spectacular.’
As you begin to share your ideas with your specialist, it will connect them immediately back to a time in their own travels. Conjuring a picture of the rest time they made that same discovery, reminding them how it felt.
Your specialist understands that, when the journey is right, it has the power to excite your emotions in the most profound ways after all, that was the effect on them.
They carry a treasure box of moments, captured over many journeys, into every suggestion they’ll share with you, as they ask you how you want to feel on your trip.
MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES, REAL CONNECTIONS
EXPERIENCES THAT CALL TO YOU
It’s what you do in a destination that helps bring it to life. It’s why we strive to choose experiences that help you connect to a place, absorbing a little of its complex character. Wherever your passions lie, we’ll recommend experiences that speak to you, and we’ll recommend the guide or local expert who’s most qualified to help you explore. Packing your holiday full of special experiences means some early starts and long days, but you can be sure that you’ll return home with many incredible memories! Read our Tours and check the Physical Ratings to see if the pace and activity levels are right for you.
STAYS WITH DIFFERENCE
We know that where you stay is a cherished part of your travels. So, we go to great lengths to find places to stay that exceed expectations, or go above and beyond the ordinary, whether in their character, hospitality, or location. Over the years, we’ve discovered the very best properties, trying and testing them, so we can choose the right one for you. We’ve nourished long-standing relationships with these establishments and the people who founded them, and we’ve stayed there many times often, we’ll even know which rooms have the best views (and reserve them for you).
TRAVELLING THE RIGHT WAY
Our style of travel — authentic, thoughtful, and focused on building meaningful connections to the people and places you visit — is inherently respectful and considerate of the destinations we love. We design each aspect of your trip exactly as you want it, which includes its sustainability. That might mean choosing a train journey instead of a flight, staying at eco-friendly wildlife lodges, or opting for experiences that give back to the communities you’re visiting. The choice is yours.
Responsible travel has always been at the heart of what we do. First and foremost, because it gives you the best experience, but, also because it helps to preserve the communities and landscapes you visit. This isn’t new for us we collaborated with local communities and outside experts so we can grow to be better ambassadors.
The most authentic and interesting experiences often directly benefit the local people. We prefer to buy local products that are produced in the organic farms of the Sacred Valley, we also have alliances with local artisan organizations who provide us with souvenir items for our clients, your money directly benefits the local economy.
Our style of travel — authentic, thoughtful, and focused on building meaningful connections to the people and places you visit — is inherently respectful and considerate of the destinations we love. We design each aspect of your trip exactly as you want it, which includes its sustainability. That might mean choosing a train journey instead of a flight, staying at eco-friendly wildlife lodges, or opting for experiences that give back to the communities you’re visiting. The choice is yours.
Responsible travel has always been at the heart of what we do. First and foremost, because it gives you the best experience, but, also because it helps to preserve the communities and landscapes you visit. This isn’t new for us we collaborated with local communities and outside experts so we can grow to be better ambassadors.
The most authentic and interesting experiences often directly benefit the local people. We prefer to buy local products that are produced in the organic farms of the Sacred Valley, we also have alliances with local artisan organizations who provide us with souvenir items for our clients, your money directly benefits the local economy.
WE EXPLORE WITHOUT AFFECTING THE ECOSYSTEM
We want travel to change us, and not the World
‘There’s a saying: we don’t inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. When we show you our country, this philosophy guides everything we do. It’s our responsibility to preserve the environment and wildlife, and support communities. That means using slower modes of transport, like cycling, employing local people, and working with communities who’ll benefit directly from your visit. This also gives you the best, most authentic impression of the places we want to share with you.
We prefer to buy local products in ecological bags, to avoid the use of plastic bags, likewise we teach the use of soaps and ecological products in each tour that we organize. We also work on reforestation projects with local communities who take care of landscape resources such as communal reserves, national parks.
We want travel to change us, and not the World
‘There’s a saying: we don’t inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. When we show you our country, this philosophy guides everything we do. It’s our responsibility to preserve the environment and wildlife, and support communities. That means using slower modes of transport, like cycling, employing local people, and working with communities who’ll benefit directly from your visit. This also gives you the best, most authentic impression of the places we want to share with you.
We prefer to buy local products in ecological bags, to avoid the use of plastic bags, likewise we teach the use of soaps and ecological products in each tour that we organize. We also work on reforestation projects with local communities who take care of landscape resources such as communal reserves, national parks.
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