DAY 1: CUSCO – LARES VILLAGE-QUISHUARANI

For the Lares trek we leave our hotel in Cusco at 5:30 am heading to the Sacred Valley of the Incas where we will have a small stop at the local market in the province of Calca, where we will visit the market and see the traditions of the Andean markets, also our professional cook can buy some things that are missing for the trek, if you want this is the place where you can buy some things for the children that we see along the trek, then for two more hours we will arrive in the small town of Lares , then you will enjoy the thermal baths of Lares that are medicinal thanks to the different types of minerals that it has, after enjoying we will go in the transport for 30 min to the starting point of our adventure, where we will have a walk of approximately 3 hours to our quishuarani camp.

Distancia de caminata: 10 km / 7 millas aprox.
Elevación del campamento : 3,850 metros / 1,2631 pies
Clima : frío

DAY 2: QUISWARANI – PACHACUTEC PASS -CANCHA CANCHA

On this day the awakening will be around 5 am by our staff who will provide you with hot drinks service, where you will have spectacular views of the colorful lake and the Kiswarani valley, Breakfast will be served once you have finished packing your equipment, and then fill our water bottles, we will organize snacks it will be a three or four hour climb to reach the top of the mountain, this top is called Pachacute or Paso Cóndor, we will climb in a zigzag to compensate for the steep uphill. The views of the area are impressive you will see lakes, waterfalls, llamas and alpacas, Once you reach the pachacuteq pass you will be above the clouds, above the mountain peaks and the surrounding 360 degree views are astonishing. In front of you will be the beautiful mountain of Pitusiray which is 5,700 m / 18,700 feet high and the pachacuteq pass is 4,680 m / 15,354 feet high. take advantage of some phenomenal photo opportunities and begin our descent.

You will begin the one hour descent downhill to the Mirador (Point of View) where you will enjoy lunch and we will see some llamas grazing nearby. After lunch you will walk the last three hours downhill, with fantastic views of many lakes, llamas and alpacas before arriving at your campsite in the village of Cancha Cancha, which is the only village that does not have modern technology that is located at (3,750 m / 12,303 ft), where people still practice the original Inca traditions. In this Inca village 85 percent of the houses are still built with ancient construction methods such as stone and thatched roofs You can bring anything you would like to give these Quechua speaking children that you think they could use for school or home, when you are done your guide will take you to one of the local family houses where you will learn about the lifestyle From the locals, you will see how their guinea pigs are raised and learn about traditional hand-woven textiles made from llama and alpaca wool. In the evening you will enjoy hot drinks and dinner.

Walking distance: 14 km / 8 miles
Elevation gain: 830 meters / 2,723 feet
Camp Elevation: 3,750 meters / 12,303 feet
Cold weather

DAY.3.-CANCHA CANCHA-HUARAN-SALT MINES OF MARAS-MORAY-AGUAS CALIENTES.

On this day our staff will wake you up with a hot drink, and then have time to prepare your things in the duffles and then have our last breakfast and thus continue with our trip to Machupicchu, with two hours of walking until we reach the town of Huaran where we will say goodbye to our muleteers and cooks, where we will take our transport to go to explore the salt mines of maras, After visiting the salt mines we will board our private transport for a 45-minute trip that borders the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo that It is the only Inca town alive and intact, it still has many water channels, Inca houses and walls. Your guide will take you to see this small town until dinner time which will be at a local restaurant. Then we will take the 7 pm train to Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu (train times may vary, depending on availability). Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will check in at your hotel and spend the night.

Walking distance: 9 km / 6.2 miles
Aguas Calientes Elevation: 2,000 m / 6,562 ft
Climate: cold in the morning, warm in the afternoon. Beware of mosquitoes this day.
Accommodation: hotel

Day 4.-Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

After breakfast we will board the bus which will take us to the biggest energetic center of the Incas, “Machu Picchu”. As part of our itinerary the same professional tour guide from the Lares trek; will teach you about all the history of this mysterious and mystical place. We will visit the Sun Temple, Royal palace, Main Temple, Three Windows Temple and Sun Dial. It will be an unforgettable experience. After the guided tour, you will have free time to explore on your own.
If you have booked Wayna picchu, you will need to coordinate with your guide for Machu Picchu visiting depending on your scheduled time to the mountain, for people not hiking any of the mountains there are some other optional activities on your own (not included in the price):
Visit the Sun Gate: You will have an opportunity to walk (approx. 2 hours up and down) up to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) to see Machu Picchu from a different angle.
Hike to the Inca Bridge: The Inca Bridge offers a dose of adventure for your next Machu Picchu visit. However in this case, the adventure is a little less strenuous, but a lot more death defying, not for people with vertigo.
Train back to Cusco: In the afternoon you will return to the train station in Aguas Calientes for the trip back to Ollantaytambo. Upon your arrival to train station you will be transferred by car to your hotel in Cusco.
Lowest Elevation: 2,040 m/ 6,691 ft
Highest Elevation: 2,440 m/ 8,052 ft

INCLUDED:

• Trek briefing with your guide
• Professional local guide (on hike)
• Second tour guide for groups of 9+.
• Private transport and professional driver (to the starting point of hike)
• All entrance tickets and permits for Lares hike
• Pick-up from hotels
• Transfer in bus to Lares (starting point of the trek)
• 2 person per tent Igloo tents (new, spacious and comfortable)
• A roll pad mattress
• Dining and cooking tents with tables and chairs
• Excellent tour guide (2 guides for groups over 12)
• Full board meals: 3 Meals per day, snacks each afternoon
• First-aid kit including emergency oxygen tank
• Chef and cooking equipment and kitchen tent
• Food includes pancakes, omelets, soups, fresh fruit, avocado, pasta, chicken, fish, meat, and rice, all rich in carbohydrates and suitable for trekking (Vegetarian, vegan or special diet meals upon request)
• Horses or mules and Indigenous horsemen to carry camping equipment: client tents, dining and cooking tents, table, stools, cooking gear, stove, gas container, cutlery, plates, food and fresh vegetables.
• Hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes
• Boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning
• Expedition Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
• Expedition Train return from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and private transport to Cusco
• Entrance fee to Machu Picchu Archaeological Complex
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu
• Hotel in Aguas Calientes (double or triple accommodation)
• Porterage of 8 Kg per person.
• Round Trip Bus Tickets
• Meals: 4 Breakfast, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners
• Tea time before dinner (tea, coffee, coco, biscuits, popcorn)
• Oxygen Tank & First aid kit
• All local taxes

NOT INCLUDED:

• Sleeping bag
• Water on Day 1, just half day
• Energy snacks which can very useful such as chocolate and granola bars and dried fruits
• Breakfast on Day 1, Lunch on Day 4
• Wayna Picchu Mountain (Walk to the top without a guide. The trail is well marked.)

** Tips for porters, cooks or guides are optional and are NOT included in price. However our advice is that you tip our staff based on their performance, service and knowledge. Our guidelines for tipping our staff is: porters  150 Soles. Assistant cook 200 Soles. Main Chef 380 Soles. Assistant Tour guides can be tipped collectively by the members of the group. Main guides are tipped on a one on one basis.

Bring for the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

• A good daypack: Eagle Creek Afar Backpack –appropriate packs to carry your personal belongings.
• Original passport with the migration Peru card (for Trains, Machu Picchu Park, and Hotels)
• Travel insurance (strongly recommended but not required).
• Swimwear for the hot springs of Lares
• Lighter trekking boots (with good ankle support)
• 3 pairs of trekking pants (not jeans): 1 hiking, 1 cotton–which is just enough. Please spray both pairs with an
• insect repellent before the trip.
• Layers for variable temperatures especially at night.
• 1 rain jacket: The first night the temperature can be as – 5 degrees Celsius/41 degrees Fahrenheit. The rain
• jacket can be helpful, because there are rainy days even if we are in dry season!
• 1 warm/Winter jacket
• Thermals: wool socks, gloves, scarf, and woolen hat for cold nights.
• 4 pairs of underwear, 5 pairs of socks (Bamboo or cotton/nylon-blend socks dry faster than 100 percent cotton, which lose their softness when air-dried). It is nice to have a couple of extra pairs of socks to change into at night when you’re not hiking. Also, we recommend bringing both really heavy hiking socks and lighter socks because the weather is variable, so you want to make sure you’re not too cold or overheat.
• 4 t-shirts, 2 long sleeve shirts.
• 1 good sleeping bag liner that is super lightweight and easy to pack. Definitely does its Job!
• Travel-size tissues and wet wipes–The air is cold and damp so your nose is going to run a lot. Everyone seems to run out of tissues by the end of the trek. Also, most bathrooms do not have toilet paper (if you even get a bathroom), so wet wipes are key.
• Iron tablets and pills for altitude sickness. Several people on the hike have varying degrees of altitude sickness and both of these remedies (in addition to the coca tea) are very helpful in alleviating the symptoms.
  Sun protection cream (SPF 45 or higher recommended).
• Bug spray with 30% DEET in it–which you need, but it doesn’t work very well. The issue with Cusco outdoors is that most of the bugs are not mosquitoes. They are these small flies you can’t even see that leave weird bites that first look like you pricked your finger and then blow up into itchy red bumps. Unfortunately, these bugs seem to bite you no matter what kind of spray you put on, so an anti-itch medication could be helpful.
• Re-usable plastic or metal water container or a hydration pack such as Camel back
  Water (only for first day hike).
• Then we will provide you with water throughout the hike.
• Camera and film
• A headlamp to navigate camp in the evenings and pre-dawn mornings with spare batteries.
• Bandages or moleskin.
• Flip flops to change into at night–your toes will thank you!.
• Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste/floss, shampoo/conditioner, brush/comb, Vaseline (for feet great for potential blisters), feminine hygiene products, deodorant, nail clippers/file/tweezers, spare glasses and/or prescription, mini-eyeglass repair kit, contact lenses if required and supplies, hand sanitizer etc.–and whatever else you need, but pack light.
• Medication (Imodium AD or something for your stomach. Some people get an upset stomach on the trek. With 8-10 hours of hiking each day, you need to get over whatever the day throws at you quickly, so bring some meds.
• Plastic bags for dirty and wet clothes.
• Something to read in the evenings.
• Extra money for souvenirs, drinks, & tips to your staff.

Additional Notes

Gift for Andean children “Optional”
Lares Trek. We recommend bringing: Coloring books, crayons, pens, notebooks, pencils, stickers, clothes, toys, etc. but not candies or chemical products. . Children will love to receive these gifts when we pass through Andean communities which have schools.