Lares´ Trek 4 Days – 3 Nights USD 400

DAY 1: CUSCO – LARES´ THERMAL BATHS – WACAWASI

ACTIVITIES: Trip aboard a vehicle, from Cusco to Lares, Thermo-medicinal Baths of Lares, and hike to Wacawasi.

DAY 2: WACAWASI – MISKI UNUYUC

ACTIVITIES: Hike (5 to 6 hours), Wacawasi Mountain Pass, observation of fauna and flora, Lake Auroray, and camping in Miski Unuyuc.

DAY 3: MISKI UNUYUC – YANAHUARA – OLLANTAYTAMBO to MACHUPICCHU PUEBLO

ACTIVITIES: Hike (3 to 4 hours), Yanahuara Valley, and train trip, from Ollantaytambo to Machupicchu Pueblo.

DAY 4: MACHUPICCHU PUEBLO – MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO

ACTIVITIES: Guided visit of Machu Picchu, and train trip to Ollantaytambo.

DAY 1: CUSCO – LARES´ THERMO-MEDICINAL BATHS – WACAWASI (4 to 5 hours)

At 6:00 a.m., we´ll pick you up at your respective hotels, to transfer you, aboard a vehicle, to the village of Lares. On the way, we´ll cross a mountain pass, at an altitude of 4,265 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l. – 13,992 ft.). From there, we´ll contemplate the imposing mounts Pitusiray and Sawasiray that still conserve their glaciers, on their peaks.

After traveling during 4 hours, aboard our transportation, we´ll get to Lares´ Thermo-medicinal Baths, where our support staff will be waiting, with mules and horses, to carry our luggage, together with the camping and kitchen equipment.

Meanwhile the Chef is preparing a delicious lunch, we´ll have a chance to take a dip in the thermal baths, known, worldwide, for their healing properties of a variety of illnesses, aches and pains.

After lunch, we´ll start hiking, at an altitude of 3,207 m.a.s.l. (10,251 ft.), to Wacawasi, where we´ll be camping, and will reach 3,800 m.a.s.l. (12,467 ft.). During our hike, we´ll observe a broad diversity of animals and birds, like, for example, lamas, alpacas, hummingbirds, eagles, etc.

DAY 2: WACAWASI – MISKI UNUYUC (5 to 6 hours)

Today, we´ll get-up early, to have breakfast, at the campsite, and then, we´ll go on walking, more motivated than ever, given that we´ll have to face a difficult trail that will reward us with the natural wonders it offers us, on a very special ecological level, on which some farmers, descendants of the Incas, still work the land, the way their ancestors used to, and produce a good variety of crops.

Besides, we´ll have chances to observe animals and birds, such as the highland ibis, ‘wallatas’ (Andean geese), vizacachas, the Andean cara cara, etc. After about four hours of hiking, we´ll get to the Wacawasi Mountain Pass, at 4,600 m.a.s.l. (15,091 ft.).

Then, we´ll descend to Lake Auroray, where we´ll have lunch and, right after, we´ll hike, downhill, to our campsite, in Miski Unuyuc, at 3,800 m.a.sl. (12,467 ft.), where we´ll have dinner, and will spend the night.

DAY 3: MISKI UNUYUC – YANAHUARA – OLLANTAYTAMBO – MACHUPICCHU PUEBLO

(3 to 4-hour hike)

In the morning, we´ll wake-up with the sound of birds, to go on our trek to the Yanahuara Valley. On the way, we´ll contemplate splendid landscapes, and will pause, to have lunch. Afterwards, we´ll continue, on a bus, from Yanahuara to Ollantaytambo´s railway station, where we´ll board a train, for a 2-hour ride to Machupicchu Pueblo (ex Aguas Calientes).

In Machupicchu Pueblo, the other members of your group and yourself will have dinner at a restaurant, where your guide will give you all the information on the visit to Machu Picchu, the following day. Then, you´ll spend the night, at a hostel, with private bathroom and hot shower.

OBSERVATION: it is possible to do the Lares Trek, without visiting Machu Picchu, and to return to Cusco, from Yanahuara.

DAY 4: MACHUPICCHU PUEBLO – MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO

For the visit of Machu Picchu, there are two shifts: The first is from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and, the second, from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. However, we´ll go up to Machu Picchu, in the first shift, to enjoy the sunrise, followed by a guided visit, of about 2 hours, in the archaeological complex.

NOTE: If you are interested in going up Mount Wayna Picchu, get in touch with us, at the moment of booking the program, so that we might inform you whether there are available spaces, on the date of your visit to the Incan City.

After having gone down to Machupicchu Pueblo, on a tourism bus, you´ll have lunch and, in the afternoon, you´ll board the train bound to Ollantaytambo, where the staff, in charge of your transfer, will be waiting for you, to take you back to Cusco.

Included:

• Transportation, from Cusco to Lares.
• Professional guide, cook and support staff, to take the camping gear, loaded on mules, together with 5 kg (11 pds.) of luggage, per participant.
• The camping equipment.
• Regular food, or indicate if you want a vegetarian option (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners).
• Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
• Train, from Ollantaytambo, to Machupicchu Pueblo.
• Train, from Machupicchu Pueblo to Ollantaytambo.
• Transfer, from Ollantaytambo´s railway station, to Cusco.

Not included:

• Entrance ticket to the Lares´ Thermo-medicinal Baths.
• Sleeping bag.
• Personal insurance.
• Tips and personal expenses.

Information:

Departure and arrival schedules are subject to variations.

Campsites are subject to changes, in accordance with the guide´s criteria, and the group´s evaluation.

The programs can be designed and organized for special interest groups, groups of friends, couples, on Honey Moon, or groups and families.

NOTE: If you want to do a high season last minute booking, and there is no availability for the return train, we can organize your return, by bus, from the Hidroeléctrica Railway Station, to Cusco.

If you want to go up to the Summit of Mount Wayna Picchu, or Machu Picchu Mountain, contact us, upon booking the program, and we´ll inform you about space availability, for that activity.

What we need, when you make a booking:

• Your full name, as it is written on your passport.
• Your passport number.
• We request a 40% Visa deposit, on the program´s total value.

What to bring:

• A light medium-size backpack.
• 4 full changes of clothes.
• Rain gear, or plastic poncho (you can buy one, in Cusco, for USD$ 1.00).
• Mountain hiking shoes.
• Personal hygiene kit and towel.
• Wide-brim hat and sunglasses.
• Sandals, or another pair of light shoes, to walk around the campgrounds.
• Jacket, t-shirts, polar, chullo (Andean wool bonnet that covers your ears), gloves and scarf.
• Thermic clothes, for cold nights.
• Sleeping bag that stands low temperatures.
• Flashlight, with extra batteries.
• Photo/video camera, with extra batteries.
• Light binoculars.
• Sunblock lotion, mosquito repellent, recommended with 20% DEET, although there is no risk of malaria.
• Toilet paper, in a plastic bag.
• Snacks: Crackers, energy bars, fresh and/or dried fruit, etc.
• Canteen, to carry water along.
• Personal medication.
• Swimsuit and towel.
• Extra cash, in Nuevos Soles (PEN), for personal expenses, drinks and souvenirs.
• Original passport.
• Hiking sticks, with rubber tips.