Urubamba – Lares – Machu Picchu4D/3N

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: Duration: The traditional trek is 4 days/3 nights. If you want a shorter hike, try one of the Lares 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 Comfort Camping or Huayna Picchu Mountain.

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

Day 1: Cusco – Urubamba –Paqchaspata.

To start this tour, we pick you up from your hotel and ride 2 hours to Urubamba, where we stop to have our first breakfast (not included in the tour). We then continue for some minutes in the van to the starting-point of the hike. The first part is through farmlands, and as we hike higher, we will experience a variety of microclimates, with the weather and vegetation changing every 30 minutes. You will see one of the most important types of vegetation in the Andes, which is called qeuña woods (polilepis). After about an hour of walking, we will arrive at the campsite.

Day 2: Paqchaspata – Cuncani _ Lares

You will be woken up at 5 am. With a wakeup call tea after 30 minutes, we have our comfortable breakfast to star our hardest and longest day, with four hours ascending, observing some lagoons on the way. We will also enjoy a beautiful sun rise on the that casts fascinating shadows on the mountains (just in dry season).  Upon reaching the pass, we will have impressive views of the surrounding area. We will then begin our descent, stopping at one of the lagoons along the way. Continuing down, we will pass the Cuncani community, with their unique rock-enclosed houses. We will follow the Cuncani and Trapiche River until we get to the hot springs, where we will spend the night, enjoying a well-deserved, relaxing shower.

Day 3: Lares – Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu town

Refreshed and relaxed, we will have our breakfast and then take our private transportation to Ollantaytambo, passing by nice landscapes and communities along the way. Arriving at Ollantaytambo, you have the opportunity to explore this Inca leaving town and have lunch before taking the train to Machu Picchu town. Here, you will get your accommodation in a hotel and make the plan to visit Machu Picchu. You will also receive the explanation on returning, via train and bus, to Cusco, which is included in the tour.

Day 4: Machu Picchu Sanctuary – Cusco

Finally, it is time to visit the most wonderful architectural heritage that the Incas left for us. You will come to know better the history of this magnificent civilization, exploring the wonderful citadel of the Incas. You will pass by narrow streets and impressive constructions for approximately 2.5 hours . After the explanation, your tour guide will tell you good-bye, leaving you with free time to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (to do any of this 2 hikes  you must buy separate ticket very in advance) explore the ruins on your own.

What’s Included?

• Private transportation to Urubamba (day 1), train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (day 3), train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (day 4 ), and bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco (day 4)
• Horses to carry all the camping equipment, food and fuel, cooking equipment, and 5 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 a double room if you wish a single accommodation there will be an extra cost)
• 1 dinner in Machu Picchu Town in one of the best restaurants.
• 1 lunch on the last day in one of the best restaurants of 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 ($ 30 if you want to rent)
• Walking sticks.($ 20 pair if you want to rent)
• Chocolate bars, dried fruit, other snacks
• Back pack ($15 if you want to rent one)
• Alcoholic drinks, laundry and any other personal expenses
• Optional Tips (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 3  people, typical group size 7 – 8 people

SUGGESTED ITEMS:

• Insect repellent (20% 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.