DAY 1 – CUSCO – CALCA – LARES – HUACAHUASI
The Lares Trek and short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu begins with pick up from your hotel in Cusco at 5:30am.
After a 1-hour drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, you’ll briefly stop in the town of Calca to visit the local market and take breakfast. From there your private transport will drive you a further 2-hours through a picturesque Andean valley to the town of Lares at 3,100m / 10,170 ft. Here you will be greeted by our chef and horses man who will accompany you throughout the hike. You will also be treated to a relaxing dip in the thermal baths of Lares, where the volcanic water reaches temperatures of 34 ° C. Allowing its therapeutic waters to rejuvenate your body and mind.
The first day of the trek will start with an opportunity to acclimatise along a 2-hour stretch of flat trail to the bridge of Vilcabamba. Delightfully, your chef will be waiting there with hot tea to warm your chilly bones and a delicious lunch to re-energise you for the afternoons’ trek.
After lunch you will continue along the trail for a further 3-hours, gradually ascending to camp in Huacahuasi at 3,750 m / 12,303 ft. Along the way, you will encounter a number of local communities and herds of their resident alpacas. The local Andean residents will be wearing the traditional clothing of the mountains and will speak in the native Quechua dialect, offering you a rare insight into the native way of life in the Andes.
In late afternoon you will arrive in the majestic village of Huacahuasi to set up camp, enjoy a hearty dinner, and sleep under the starlit Andean sky.
- Food : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- Estimated walking time : 5 hours
- Total distance : 11 km
- Accommodation : Camping
- Altitude of accommodation : 3,750 m / 12,303 ft
DAY 2 – HUACAHUASI – SACSALLAULLY PASS – YANAHUARA
Day 2 of the tour to Machu Picchu will be the most challenging. Therefore you will awake with the first light of dawn for a freshly cooked breakfast amidst the backdrop of the surrounding mountains.
The trail begins ascending through sweeping Andean landscapes, dotted with colourful native flora and herds of grazing alpacas and llamas. The sacred creatures of the Inca empire, were once sacrificed in honour of the Inca Gods. However these days they tend to serve the local people of the region, who keep them for clothing, food, fuel and transportation.
After traversing up the valley for 3-hours, you will reach the highest point of the tour, the Sacsallaully Pass at 4,646 m / 15,242 ft, where the mountains seem to touch the sky. At the viewpoint on the summit, you will be treated to spectacular views of the valley below and the glistening waters of Laguna Auroraycocha at 4,470 m / 14,665 ft. Here you can take the souvenir photos you have been waiting for, before descending for an hour to the shores of the Lagoon to appreciate a well earned lunch.
The afternoons’ hike consists of a 4-hour descent through magical cloud forests, woodlands of Queuña (tree of the Incas) & alongside another stunning lagoon named Yuracocha. Upon arrival at the cosy settlement of Yanahuara at 2,780 m / 9,120 ft, you’ll find rest and a hot dinner at the campsite for the night.
- Food : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- Estimated walking time : 8 hours
- Total distance : 18 km
- Accommodation : Camping
- Altitude of accommodation : 2,780 m / 9,120 ft
DAY 3 – YANAHUARA – INCA TRAIL – KM 104 – WIÑAYWAYNA – MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES
Day 3 of the Inca trail to Machu Picchu will begin with an early breakfast at camp in Yanahuara. After which your private transport will drive you to the train station in Ollantaytambo where you will board an early train to Kilometer 104. The 1-hour train journey will take you to the start of the hike at Km 104 at 2,200m / 7217 ft.
After crossing the bridge over the Willkamayu River (Sacred River in Quechua), you’ll arrive at the first checkpoint of the Inca trail. Here you will show your Passport, Registration Card or National Identity Document, to pass into to the national park. The first archaeological site of the day, Chachabamba (valley of the trees in Quechua), is a 15 minute walk away, inside a pristine semi-tropical Andean forest, surrounded by fertile land and lush vegetation.
Once you have had chance to explore the ruins of Chachabamba, you’ll begin the 3-hour climb up the mountain trail to Wiñaywayna. The hike is tough but steady, and will treat you to spectacular views of agricultural stepped terraces, cloud forests and glistening waterfalls. Along the trail you will also get to know the local collection of flora and fauna that is unique to the region. Such as the Wiñay Wayna orchid, the Molle shrub and the Qeuña (Polylepis racemosa).
At around midday, you’ll arrive at the impressive archaeological site of Wiñayhuayna. The name means Forever Young in Quechua and is inspired by the beautiful orchids that surround the site. Located at 2,650 m / 8,694 ft , the complex is situated upon the steep slopes of the hillside, amongst 40 levels of agricultural stepped terraces, overlooking the Urubamba river. Built by the Emperor Pachacutec in the 15th century, the citadel is one of the most famous sites within the sanctuary of Machu Picchu, and was once an important venue for agriculture, religion and administration. Here your guide will take you on a journey through its history and provide you with an opportunity to rest and eat the lunch box we have prepared for you.
After lunch in Wiñayhuayna , you’ll begin the afternoons’ hike to the Inti Punku Sun Gate. The Andean path and stone steps will be a challenge to the best of us, but after enduring the climb for an hour or so, you will be greeted by the most breathtaking, panoramic view of Machu Picchu. At 2,720 m / 8,923 ft, the sun gate is strategically located to welcome noble visitors of the Inca citadel, acting as a control gate for its elite visitors. As well as offering one of the most stunning views of the sanctuary and its surrounding mountains, the sacred site is also famed for framing the sunrise during the winter solstice in June.
With a camera full of photos of that unforgettable view, you will follow the trail onward to Machu Picchu. Descending for 45 minutes, to the gates of the Lost city of the Incas at 2,490 m / 8,169 ft. Your first encounter with the citadel will be a relatively short one, but since our arrival will be late in the afternoon, there will be few tourists around to share it with.
As there will be plenty more time to befriend the Inca city on day 3, you and your guide will take the 30 minute tourist bus from Machu Picchu entrance to the town below, Aguas Calientes.
Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes) is situated at 2,160 m / 7,086 ft, 300m lower than Machu Picchu, and will be your resting place for the night in one of our recommended hotels. It is also home to a public ATM, a collection of thermal baths (hot springs) and a multitude of bars and restaurants. Once your guide has accompanied you to your hotel for check in, they will also direct you to the restaurant where you will be treated to an a la carte menu that evening, and possibly a celebratory drink.
*If you wish to relax in the thermal baths (hot springs), they are only a 10 minute walk from the town center and are open for visitors until 8pm. Entrance fee is 20 soles (optional extra cost).*
- Food : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- Estimated walking time : 8 hours
- Total distance : 13 km
- Accommodation : Hotel
- Altitude of accommodation : 2,000 m / 6,561 ft
DAY 4 – AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU TOUR – CUSCO
After taking breakfast in your hotel, your guide will meet you at reception and escort you the bus station where you will board the tourist bus to Machu Picchu. The scenic route from Aguas calientes takes you on a 30 minute bus ride up the mountainside to the entrance of the Inca citadel. Once inside, you will be taken on a 3-hour tour of Machu Picchu, journeying through its rich history, as you make your way through the Inca city with your personal tour guide. Aswell as visiting the famous sites of the temple of the sun, the central plaza and the stepped terraces, you will have plenty opportunity to take the bucket list photos you came for atop the panoramic viewpoint of Machu Picchu. Before boarding the bus back down the mountain, your guide will also allow you time to explore the mysteries of the sanctuary alone.
Once you have regrouped with your guide and taken the bus back to Aguas Calientes, there will be time to take lunch in one of Machu Picchu towns’ many restaurants (optional extra), before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo. There you will be greeted by your guide and private transportation who will take you on the 2-hour drive back to your hotel in Cusco. Arrival time in Cusco is approximately 6.30pm.
*There will also be time to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain in this tour after your guided tour of the Inca citadel. However please be aware, this will be an extra cost of $75 USD per person and will involve an extra 2-hours hiking. Return to Cusco will therefore be aboard a later train and arrival time in Cusco will be approx 8.30pm.*
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