This is a unique Lares trek as it takes you off the beaten path and through a trail not used by any others. You will pass isolated communities like Cancha Cancha, so high in the mountains that there is no road to the village. You will see stunning lakes and scenery and then enjoy a private, guided tour in Machu Picchu. This is a small-group tour including hearty and gourmet meals, the best camping equipment and the hot springs in Lares. You will be able to interact with the locals along the trail and be amazed when you visit the magical ruins of Machu Picchu.
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ Cook and cooking equipment
✔ Licensed guide fluent in English, Spanish, and Quechua
✔ Lunch
✔ Boiled water to fill in your bottles
✔ Dinner
✔ Breakfast
✔ Transfer back to Cusco
✔ Expedition train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Caliente
✔ Private transportation from the hotel to Huaran - Trail head
✔ First-aid kit including emergency oxygen tank
✔ Provision of a horse in case of emergency (With helmet)) such as illness, to ensure trek can be completed by all participants
✔ Private guided tour in Machu Picchu
✔ Horseman and mules, to carry all camping and personal equipment (7 kilos of your personal items such as extra clothes, sleeping bag will be carried by our mules)
✔ Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
✔ Rain poncho
✔ Pretrek briefing with your guide
✔ Chef and cooking equipment and kitchen tent
✔ 4 person Igloo tents (for 2 trekkers), foam mattress and camping pillow
✔ Hotel with private room and bathroom, hot shower, wifi, storage and buffet breakfast
✖ Sleeping bag rental (US$20)
✖ Hiking poles (can be hired locally for approximately US$15)
✖ Energy snacks such as chocolate bars, dried fruits (recommended)
✖ Last lunch and dinner on day 4
✖ Optional upgrades (hotel or train - Vistadome Train to Cusco instead of Expedition Train (additional US$47 per person)
✖ Trips for your guide, chef and horseman
Pickup Locations
1. Hostal Cusco De Tus Suenos
2. Usgar San Pedro Boutique
3. Hospedaje Estrellita
4. Hotel Warari
5. Hotel Museo Cusco
6. Casa Andina Standard Cusco Catedral
7. Casa Esmeralda By Katari
8. Amanecer En El Sol Hotel
9. Casa San Blas Exquiste By Xima
10. Hilton Garden Inn Cusco
11. Inkayra Hotel
12. Hotel San Agustin El Dorado
13. Andenes del Sol
14. Cusco Hotel
15. Hotel San Pedro Plaza
16. Casa Andina Premium Cusco
17. Del Prado Inn
18. Inka Home Boutique Hotel
19. Hostal Colla Wasi
20. Ninos Hotel Meloc
Additional Info: At the airport, please look for your driver with the SAM Travel Peru sign. For hotel pick ups, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby.
Itinerary
Cusco – Huaran – Cancha Cancha
1
Huaran
After pickup at 6am, you will travel by private bus to Pumahuanca (2,840 m) located in the Sacred Valley between Pisac and Urubamba. Huaran is the start of the trail. Meet the horsemen and start trekking towards the north, on an uphill trail that is parallel to the small Cancha Cancha River. After a 4-hour trek, you will reach the small village of Cancha Cancha (3,800 m) where you will spend the night. Total walking time on this day is 6 hours.
Cancha Cancha – Quishuarani
1
You will leave Cancha Cancha and head east up the valley, hiking for about 3 hours when the path flattens. Then, you will start climbing up for 2 hours to reach the highest pass called Pachacutec Pass (4,758 m). From here, you can admire amazing views of Pachacutec Lake and the snowy peaks of Pitusiray. Continue hiking for one more hour to reach a narrow ridge and then head down into a secluded corrie filled with glacial lakes. You will stop for lunch here and head to the next valley passing waterfalls to the village of Quisuarani (3,700m). You will camp by the lake for the night. Total walking time on this day is 7 hours, reaching an altitude of 4,550m/15,017 feet.
Duration: 0 minutes
Quishuarani – Cuscani – Lares (Hot Springs) – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
1
Lares
On this day, you will hike up for about one hour and then follow the river valley downhill for about 3.5 hours. Before arriving to the town of Lares, you will have the chance to enjoy a soak in the open air thermal springs (bring a swimsuit). Then, you will reach the town of Lares (3,100 m) and have lunch at 1pm. Then, you will take the bus to head to Ollantaytambo. There, you will have time to rest and see the town. You'll have dinner and then go to Aguas Calientes by train where you will spend the night at a hotel.
Duration: 0 minutes
Machu Picchu to Cusco
1
Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu
After an early breakfast, you will take the bus to Machu Picchu. Once there, you will enjoy a guided tour of the ruins and have plenty of time after this to explore the site on your own. You can take photos and climb Huayna Picchu Mountain (must be booked in advance), or head up to the Sun Gate. Then, you'll head up to Aguas Calientes and take the train back to Ollantaytambo in the afternoon. From there, you will take a private bus to Cusco.
Note: Meals are prepared by the cook accompanying the group. You can expect omelettes or pancakes for breakfast, snack packs of fruit or chocolate to eat mid morning, a two course lunch of soup and meat with pasta or rice, afternoon tea on arrival at camp with biscuits and popcorn and a three course dinner.
Duration: 0 minutes
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
Additional info
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
• Important: If you want to climb Huayna Picchu mountain, you must book this at the same time as your trek or tour to Machu Picchu. Only 400 people can hike Huayna Picchu per day. You will climb it on your own after the tour in Machu Picchu around 10am. Please contact the local tour operator upon booking to arrange this
• Horses and mules carry the food, camping equipment and your belongings up to 7 kg
• During the trek to Machu Picchu your main luggage will be stored in Cusco and you will receive a small duffel bag (on the day of your briefing) to pack clothes for 3-4 days. Your team of porters will carry these bags together with the food and equipment for the trail. Please note that you will not have access to these items until the end of each day as the porters will always be ahead of the group, you should therefore bring a day pack in which you can carry personal belongings such as your camera, water and sunscreen. By Peruvian law the duffel bag carried by the porters must not weigh more than 7kg (14 pounds). You can either store your luggage at your hotel or you can leave it with the tour operator
• Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
