Tour Lares – Ollantaytambo 4D/3N

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Highlights: When you hike into the Lares Valley, you can enjoy the colorful and typical dress of the communities. There are also spectacular high alpine lakes and wildlife.

Location: Calca and Urubamba provinces.

Duration: The traditional trek is 4 days/3 nights. If you want a shorter hike, try Uchuyqosqo options with Machu Picchu, or for a longer trek, the 6 day/5nights full Lares trek with Machu Picchu.

Level: Moderate to challenging.

Adventure Rating: This trek can be quite popular in high season but still has very few tourists.

Departure Dates: Any day with two people. We offer affordably-priced tours for 2 people so that you can depart whenever is best for you. This trek can be done in both the dry and rainy seasons.

Acclimatization: Minimum 2 days at altitude recommended.

Combos & Upgrades: Combine with one of our tours for a best experience in Cusco, and get free Huayna Picchu Mountain.

Trekker’s Dream: If you want to form your own tour group, please see Trekker’s Dream. Your group can be also advertised on this page. Maximum group size: 12.

Day 1: Cusco – Lares – Huacahuasi

To start this tour, we pick you up from your hotel to ride 3.5 hours to the town of Lares, passing different and colorful villages surrounded by the massive snow-capped peaks of the Andes. We then arrive at the Lares hot springs, where you can enjoy the baths. After lunch, you will hike approximately 5 hours up the valley, hearing the natural singing of the river, until you get to the Huacahuasi community, our first campsite.

Day 2: Huacahuasi – Patacancha

We day begins with a gradual hike, during which we observe nice waterfalls of the Andes. We’ll appreciate lamas, alpacas and other animals herded by little boys and girls dressed in colorful clothes. We continue climbing until we reach Ipsayqocha pass (over 4000m), after which we descend to Ipsayqocha lagoon. Here, we will have lunch, observing the fauna of the surrounding areas of the lagoon. Then we continue descending to Patakancha, another colorfully-dressed community, where we will make our second camp.

Day 3: Pataccancha – Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu town

After an early breakfast, we will continue descending to Patacancha, and then follow the river until the district of Ollantaytambo. On the way, you will pass through the Willoq community, passing some archaeological sites and many corn plantations (during the right season). Late in the afternoon, you’ll take the train to Machu Picchu Town, where you will receive accommodation in a hotel.

Day 4: Machupicchu Sanctuary – Cusco

Today is the day to visit the wonder of the Incas, Machu Picchu. The guided tour lasts approximately 2.5 hours, as we explore this fascinating citadel. After the tour, you will have  time to  hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain independently (to hike any of this mountains you must buy separate tickets months in advance) before the return trip to Cusco you will have the last lunch in one of the best restaurants of Aguas calientes.

RECOMMENDATION.- to end with the hot springs is more relaxing than start whit it we suggest to start the hike in Ollantaytambo the opposite way

What’s Included?

• Private transportation to Lares (day 1), train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (day) (day 3), train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (day 4 ), and private transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco (day 4)
• Horses to carry all the camping equipment, food and fuel, cooking equipment, and 8 kilos of luggage per person that needs to be in duffle bag
• Meals during the trek. If you are vegetarian please let us know when you reserve the trek
• Expert bilingual guide in English, Spanish and Quechua
• Cook, horsemen
• Camping equipment, confortable tents for two people and mattresses
• Dinning tent
• Boiled water is provided during the trek
• First aid kid
• One night in a 3 start Hotel at Machu Picchu Town (the accommodation is in double rooms if you wish to have a single room its an extra cost)
• 1 dinner in one of the best restaurants of Machu Picchu Town
• 1 lunch in one of the best restaurants in Machu Picchu Town
• Round trip Bus tickets to Machu Picchu
• Entrance fee to the Machu Picchu sanctuary
• Entrance fee to the Lares hot spring

What Is Not Included?

• Breakfast first day (day 1)
• Hotels and food in Cusco
• Medical insurance
• Sleeping bag
• Walking sticks.
• Chocolate bars, dried fruit, other snacks
• Back pack ($15 if you want to rent one)
• Alcoholic drinks, laundry and any other personal expenses
• Gratuities for the (guides, horsemen, cooks, etc)

When to book a trek: trek permits are not required for this trek. Departure dates depend on availability of the group.

Group size – Minimum: 2 people. Typical group size: 7 – 8 people. Maximum 12 people

SUGGESTED ITEMS:

• Insect repellent (50% deet)
• A duffle bag to transport your belongings
• Sleeping bag
• Hiking boots, strong footwear
• Trekking poles: poles with metal tips are allowed on this trek.
• Layers for variable temperatures, especially at night
• Wool socks and woolen hat for cold nights (-3 -5 c)
• T-shirts and trekking pants that zip off to short pants for a confortable day hike
• Flash light or torch and batteries
• Camera and extra batteries (batteries are consumed rapidly under cold conditions)
• Sun block, sunglasses, and hat to protect you from the sun
• Personal medical kit
• Rain jacket or poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
• Toiletries, toilet paper, small towel
• Two liter water bottle: disposable bottle are not recommended
• Original passport
• Extra money for drinks, tips, souvenirs etc. (soles or dollars) and emergency money
• Bathing suits optional
• Thermal rest inflatable mattress
• Snacks, biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, fruit, etc.