Overview
If you don’t like the crowds, Lares trek is what you may be looking for, but also it offers the remote communities living in the mountain tops that managed to preserve traditions dating back to the time of the Incas. On this Lares trek to Machu Picchu, PERU by LOCALS Travel will take you on a journey to meet local Quechua people and experience real culture and traditions. Your guide, who is indigenous to the area, will introduce to you the culture and traditions. On the second day, before you start hiking, you will visit their home and join the family for breakfast. This experience is as authentic as you will get in Peru… walking into the home of a rural pastoral family will just make your heart pound because it is like taking a big step back in time into the days of the Incas.
Details
Itinerary
Day 1: Hot springs and llamas
Your day begins with early pick up from your hotel in Cusco to be transported to the Lares Valley for about three and half hours, where your Lares Trek to Machu Picchu begins. Along the way you will stop at the local market of the towm of Calca where you will be able to purchase the last minute supplies such as coca leaves, fruit, wooden walking sticks, water or snacks for the Lares Trek. We will arrive at the Lares hot springs by 10am, where you will be able to spend some time soaking up the thermal warmth. After you enjoy the springs, you will have lunch around the pools at the hot springs. Your hike begins by noon towards your first camp through a lush valley ending in grassy land at Huacahuasi community (3,800 m / 12,467 ft), and along the way you will be able to see llamas.
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Distance covered: | 8 km (4.9 miles) |
| Time: | 3 to 4 hours |
| Lowest elevation: | 3,100m (10,170 feet) |
| Highest elevation: | 3,800m (12,467 feet) |
| Level of difficulty: | Moderate |
Day 2: Experience the culture and the highest pass
Early in the morning you will have a wakeup call with a nice cup of coca tea in your tent, and after a delicious breakfast you will visit a local family and learn about their culture, traditions and take pictures. Some of the most magnificent weavings in Peru come from this area so if you are interested to purchase souvenirs, do it here and support the local economy. You will be able to learn more about this expertise and techniques handed down over the generations to create stunning ponchos, blankets and other woven items.
You will start ascending slowly to the highest pass of your trek, Iqsayqocha pass (4,450 m / 4,599 ft), which will take for about four hours. Along the way you will be able to see snowcapped mountains of Pumahuanca, still considered as “Apu” or Mountain God. After reaching the pass you hike down to the Iqsayqocha lake, a stunning place to have lunch and of course a small nap. The last descend to the next camp is 2 more hours of trekking, with the view of the tallest mountain of Waqaywillca in the Urubamba mountain range. You reach our final camp of the day at Patacancha by 4pm.
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Distance covered: | 13 km (8 miles) |
| Time: | 7 to 8 hours |
| Lowest elevation: | 3,700m (12,139 feet) |
| Highest elevation: | 4,450m (14,599 feet) |
| Level of difficulty: | Moderate to demanding |
Day 3: Down to Pumamarca and Ollantaytambo
On day tree after breakfast you will take a local van to Pallata community where the trek begins. You will hike then for about one hour towards the Pumamarka archeological site. This important Inca site is located within a fertile river valley surrounded by breathtaking mountains and abundant wildlife. Here your guide will give a tour for forty minutes about the site, and then you will hike following the original Inca Trail for about 2 hours towards the town of Ollantaytambo.
From Ollantaytambo we will take a train to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you will spend a night before the Machu Picchu tour the next day.
| QUICK FACTS: | |
| Distance covered: | 13 km (8 miles) |
| Time: | 5 to 6 hours |
| Lowest elevation: | 2,700m (8,858 feet) |
| Highest elevation: | 3,800m (12,467 feet) |
| Level of difficulty: | Moderate |
Day 4: Machu Picchu tour
This day you may want to have very early wake up in the hotel for taking one of the first buses to Machu Picchu and get the sun rise – you take an early bus up to Machu Picchu where you will have two and a half hours guided tour. Afterwards you will have time to enjoy Machu Picchu at your leisure or climb Huayna Picchu mountain.
When you are ready to leave Machu Picchu, you will take a bus down to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town), where you will catch the train back to Cusco which will mark the end of your Lares trek to Machu Picchu.
Services
SERVICES INCLUDED
- Transport to and from your hotel in Cusco
- Organic meals on Lares trek to Machu Picchu
- Entrance tickets to the Lares hot springs
- Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu (does not include Huayna Picchu)
- Horses to carry all the equipment (food, tents, chairs, table, etc)
- Emergency horse in case we need it
- Cook
- Boiled drinking water from day 2 to the end
- Trekking guide (knowledgeable in history, traditions and wildlife)
- First Aid Kit, carried by your guide
- Equipment (sleeping tent, dining tent, kitchen tent, table, chairs, air mattresses)
- Duffle bag if needed
- Bus round-trip tickets from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
- Train tickets from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and from Aguas Calientes to Cusco (Expedition)
- One night basic hotel accomodation in Aguas Calientes (hotel Terrazas)
SERVICES EXCLUDED
- Sleeping bags (can be rented from us)
- Lunch on day 4 at Aguas Calientes
- Tipping porters and guides
- Huayna Picchu tickets
Packing list
- Original passport (if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both)
- Down sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
- Clothes (trekking boots, warm fleece jacket, few t-shirts, socks, sun hat, warm underwear, light long pants, gloves, rain jacket)
- Bathing suit
- Toiletries (toilet paper, wet wipes, personal towel)
- Sunscreen SPF 35+ recommended
- Head lamp
- Sunglasses
- Camera with spare batteries (batteries run down faster at high altitudes)
- Book to read (you will have some spare time at every camp to read your favorite book)
- Trekking poles (recommended especially for the descents, can be rented from us)
- Bug repellent for Machu Picchu day
Important information
OFTEN ASKED QUESTIONS
How long before should I book this tour?
This tour does not require to book permits with long in advance but Peru by Locals still needs at least booking a week in advance to put everything together.
What is the weather like during the year?
The Cusco area has only 2 well-defined seasons: the wet season and dry season. The wet season starts in November and ends in March. During this period, it rains almost every day for three or four hours, but also there are several sunny days. The dry season begins around March and lasts until October. June and July are the coldest months. Paradoxically at noon the temperatures can reach 23 °C (77°F), the annual highest temperature.
Should I tip to the guide and driver? If I do, how much I should I tip?
Our guides are paid fairly according to Peruvian labor laws – that is why, we don’t force our clients to tip the crew. However, most of our clients want to give them an appreciation for the work they do and the service they receive so, if you feel like giving them an appreciation or tip them, feel free to do it at the end of their work. If that’s the case we recommend to tip with 15% of the total cost.
Is there any age limit?
In this tour there is not minimum age or limit,- any person can join this tour including a person in a wheelchair.
Peruvian Currency
The Peruvian sole is the currency of Peru, and usually fluctuates in the 3.3 to 3.8 Nuevo sol to 1 US Dollar.
Language
Spanish is the national language of Peru, also a 20% of Peruvians speak Quechua (Inca language) Our guides are fluent in Spanish and English.
Why Peru by Locals
- Peru by Locals offers tailor-made treks and tours and we cater to your interests when we plan your tour
- We are committed to providing world-class tours based on exceptional customer service.
- We are a locally owned and highly experienced travel company based in Cusco, Peru.
- Our staff consists of members which have decades of first-hand experience in the Peruvian tourism sector.
- All the management and staff in Peru by Locals speak English, Spanish, and Quechua (the language of the Incas).
- Our guides and staff members are professionally trained and educated in the history of the Incas, Peruvian history, culture and traditions, first aid in the wilderness, guiding treks and tours, the fauna and flora of the region, and tourism management.
- We are committed to protect our environment.
- We are committed to creating Jobs and empowering local people. We believe in fair labor practices and honor and treat all our employees with dignity.
- We have programs to help with the development of the porters’ families and communities, such as planting trees and buying school books and school equipment for poor local communities.
- We honor native communities that have stewarded the land you visit
- We have also started an Education Fund to support the education of the children of porters. A percentage of income from every tour and trek goes to education of needed once.
- Our trips are designed carefully to your needs and we create diverse unique itineraries from 1 to 15 days in length, a we offer wide range of tours and treks and all the tours. We guarantee you the experience of a lifetime!
- Peru By Locals organizes free worry trips for you to enjoy fully.
Peru small group specialists
Our tours are designed for those who love adventure, want to explore new places, experience the local culture, love food, like history or photography for all ages whether you are traveling alone, with friends, in couples, family. At Peru by Locals there is not
Small groups are the best and the average tour or trek group is around 4 to 8 people. Why is this great? Well, have you ever waited in line while 40 other people get a coffee in the morning? Believe it or not, it is not fun. Taking small groups allows us the flexibility to take you on an adventure to places that nobody else goes.
Prices
| Terrazas del Inca 2* | Casa andina 3* | Sumaq hotel 4 * | Pueblo hotel 5 * |
| $670 | $790 | $1440 | $2380 |
Note:
Students: discount of $20, but you have to supply us with a copy of your ISIC card when booking the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu with us.
Children up to 15 years of age will be considered as students, under the condition that you supply us with a copy of the passport at the booking time.
BOOK NOW
In order for us to reserve your spot on this Lares Trek to Machu Picchu, you are required to send us the following information: full names, passport number, age, gender, nationality and make the relevant deposit of US$200 per person using PAY PAL as indicated below:
When you have sent us the information of each person, made your deposit using PAYPAL and once we have both, we will confirm your tour. Thank you so much for choosing PERU by LOCALS.
If you have any questions, send us an e-mail to: info@perubylocals.com
