Best Lares Trek & 2 day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Package

ITINERARY

DAY 1: CUSCO CITY TOUR

Upon your arrival to Cusco, you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred to the hotel. There, you will receive a short briefing and the rest of the morning enjoying some leisure time to rest and acclimatize to the altitude.

In the afternoon at 1pm, we will pick you up at the hotel and we will begin your tour of the Imperial Cusco City, a living example of the mix of Andean and Spanish cultures. Continue our journey visiting the Santo Domingo Convent built over the Temple of the Sun (Koricancha), as well as the Ancient Inca Palace and the main worship center of the Sun God.  We proceed to visit the archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman, which dominates the city. Finally, we go to the fascinating ruins of Qenqo, Puca Pucará and Tambomachay, located in the north east of the city. Afterwards back to your hotel in early evening.

• 3* Accommodation: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Hotels
• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel Hotels

Day 2: Cusco – Huaran – Cancha Cancha

Your Andean Mountain adventure through the Lares Valley to Machu Picchu begins early with your pickup at 5:00am from your Cusco hotel. Then we drive to Huaran, we meet your horsemen and horses. Time to get ready, boots on, and begin our first 3 hours gradually ascending towards Cancha Cancha. Along the way, lunch will be served next to the river, replenishing your energy for the trek ahead with a delicious meal prepared by your trekking chef.

Cancha Cancha (3,900m/12,800ft) is one of the most isolated and traditional communities, self-sustaining as it has been for hundreds of years. There is no road to the community and they were recently connected to electricity in December, 2019. After settling into your tents and having afternoon tea, you will have the opportunity to visit a local family. You will learn all about life in a traditional Andean village, with your guide as your interpreter. After dinner, your guide will show you the Inca’s constellations on which they depended for their agricultural guidance and still do to this day.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea & Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities with comfortable tents, blankets, pillows
• Time: 6hrs approximately
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 3: Cancha Cancha – Quishuarani

Feeling all revved up to begin our second day, after another delicious breakfast, we begin our 7 hour hike northeast. It starts out as an intense walk, accomplishing high passes on our way to the highest point of our trek at Pachacutec Pass (4,500m /14,800ft).  Motivating you along the trail for this intense part of the trek are the views of glaciers, remote lakes, alpaca herds, rugged valleys and spectacular mountain vistas. Keep your eyes on the sky for the Caracara falcons and Andean geese.

After enjoying the summit, we descend for 3 hours until we reach our campsite located by the Quiswarani community, (3,700m/12,139ft). On the way, we will be taking an isolated trail where we will see indigenous highland people in their traditional outfits herding their llamas and alpacas. The local indigenous people will  interact with you in  Quechua (the Incas’ language). Your guide will act as your interpreter to translate and teach you some Quechua language. When you arrive at the spectacular seven waterfalls, you are almost to the end of the trail!

Finally we arrive to Quishuarani, where your afternoon tea is waiting for you. Enjoy a hot drink and appetizers before you settle into your tents to rest before dinner.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea & Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities with comfortable tents, blankets, pillows
• Distance: 14kms/10.3 miles
• Time: 8hrs approximately
• Difficulty: Challenge

Day 4: Quishuarani – Cuscani – Lares – Ollantaytambo

Your adventure continues as you begin the most memorable day yet!  We begin our ascent for 3 hours until we reach the Hullkiccasa Pass, (4,200m/13,779ft) getting a bird’s eye view of the reflections of the mirror images of the glacial lakes. Time to descend for 2 hours through the high Andean farmlands and pristine lakes to the Cucani community. Connecting with the local indigenous children, we will visit their school and share in some quality time with the students. Later when SAM Travel van arrives, it’s time for our goodbyes for our remarkable chef and horsemen.

We are welcomed at the Lares Hot Springs, here we enjoy a relaxing soak in the mineral waters, have lunch and take a siesta. With the body relaxed, we enjoy a gourmet lunch at the hot springs, then drive to Ollantaytambo.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea & Dinner
• 3* Accommodation: Andenes del Inca Hotel Ollantaytambo
• There are no 4* hotels in Ollantaytambo
• Distance: 15kms / 9.3 miles
• Time: 6 hrs approximately
• Difficulty: Moderate

Day 5: Ollantaytambo – KM 104 – Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes

We start this exciting day early; your guide will pick you up at 5:30am. When you arrive at the train station, receive a lunchbox to add to your daypack. Your train departs Ollantaytambo at 6:10am and you will have just over an hour on the train to enjoy the scenery and have breakfast (not included). The hotel can provide you a picnic breakfast to take with you or pack your own breakfast.

Get off the train at the famous Km104, where your trek begins! (2,000m/6,560 ft. above sea level). After crossing the Urubamba River on a picturesque foot bridge,  show your passport at the checkpoint and visit the first Inca site nearby. The first hour and a half are a gentle upward climb. Along the way, you will stop at several outlooks where you have an expansive view of the Urubamba River.  Pass through several microclimates, including cloud forest, so be ready for damp or even rain at any season of the year. The next hour and a half are a slightly steeper uphill with a beautiful waterfall as your reward at the end of the hike!

When you cross the bridge below the waterfall, be sure to take some time for photos and as you do you will find yourself gazing up at the spectacular Wiñay Wayna! (2,600m/8,500ft above sea level) These amazing Inca ruins have a fascinating history and some parts are still hidden by the dense jungle. This close to Machu Picchu, you are hiking through lush sub-tropical jungle. The guide will tell you all about the ruins, plus the incredible flora and fauna of this microclimate and answer any questions you have before the short 5-minute walk to your lunch spot.

After lunch, you have a mostly flat walk to the Sun Gate, from which you have the first view of Machu Picchu! Though the hour-long walk is a gentle rolling up and down, it does end with a set of steep stairs carved directly into the bedrock by the Inca.  As you turn the corner from the Sun Gate, you will enjoy your first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. So, take some time to savor the moment and take photos. The last 60 minutes down from the Sun Gate provide many opportunities to take more photos of Machu Picchu from this unique vantage point. There are also a couple more important Inca sites between the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu, so ask your guide questions about these historical places on the last part of your hike to Machu Picchu.

Once you reach Machu Picchu, you will have time to take more photos from the viewing platforms above the site (Guard House), where you can take the famous postcard pictures of Machu Picchu.  Arrive in the afternoon, as the archeological area starts to empty of tourists, which gives you the opportunity to take beautiful photos in the afternoon light with fewer people in your shots. Take time to enjoy this magical experience before you take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to check into your hotel.  Have a delicious dinner, then have time to walk around this picturesque little town, visit the hot springs or just go to your hotel to rest after such an exciting day.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch & Dinner
• 3* Accommodation: Ferre´ Hotel Machu Picchu
• 4* Accommodation: El Mapi or Tierra Viva (superior room)
• Distance: 13 kms/8 miles
• Time: 6hrs approximately
• Difficulty: Moderate

You will leave an overnight bag at the Ollantaytambo train station to be sent by train directly to Aguas Calientes.

Day 6: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

This is the day you’ve been waiting for! After an early breakfast at your hotel,  take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu to witness the sunrise. It is a truly extraordinary site and not something you’ll want to miss! The guide will give you a tour, which takes about two hours. See most of the important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel. Learn about how Machu Picchu is divided into three sectors: agricultural, residential and religious.

When you have had your fill of the exceptional views of Machu Picchu, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Depending on your train departure time, you may also have time for some shopping, sightseeing or a visit to the museum or hot springs.

The Vistadome train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:55pm, 3:20pm, 4:22pm or 6:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater.  See Wiñay Wayna from the train, if you look up high on the steep canyon wall! Back at Ollantaytambo, the driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to the hotel in Cusco in our private vehicle. You can expect to arrive at your hotel between 8pm and 10:30pm.

Please note: In the rainy season, January through April, the Vistadome Train only runs to the Ollantaytambo station. We will drive you from Ollantaytambo to your hotel in Cusco.  

• Meal included: Breakfast at your hotel
• 3* Accommodation: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Qorikancha
• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel Hotels

***IMPORTANT:

After your tour, those who have booked in advance for the extra hike up Huayna Picchu, this tour is without a guide.

• On the 2-day Inca Trail, we will be doing the circuit #3 and there is no way to do another circuit unless you buy an additional entrance to Machu Picchu.
• Early trains can be organized by requested and it has to be done by booking time.

Day 7: Departure & Transfer to Airport

Our incredible journey ends here. Airport drop-off is included and it can be done at any time.

• Meals: Breakfast