LARES VALLEY TREK TO MACHUPICCHU

Day 01: Cusco – Lares – Wacawasi.

To start our adventure in Lares Trek, you will be picked up from your hotel around 5 am. and then we will board the transportation that will take you to Lares community.

During this bus ride, you will be able to see the sacred valley of the Incas, as well as beautiful villages along the way.

The scenery on route is actually spectacular, so we highly recommend bringing along your camera, as well as some snacks for the little Andean kids that you for sure will find along the way.

This bus ride will take about 3 hours. Upon arrival in Lares (3250 m / 10662 Ft), we will visit the hot springs located some kilometers away from the village.

At the hot springs, you may relax in its waters (30ºC- 35ºc), and afterward, we will have lunch. Soon after lunch, we will start to hike towards Wacawasi,

This is a small community located at 3600 m. a. s. l. (11810 Ft). The hike to Wacawasi will take about 3 hours and the trail is a bit steep.

Upon our arrival, we will take a good rest in our tents, and then we will join our guide for dinner, we’ll camp next to one local house. Finally, we will go to rest in our tents.

Day 02: Wacawasi – Ipsay Pass – Patacancha

On this second day, we will get up early for breakfast, and then we will start to ascend a steep path for about 3 or 4 hours till we reach an elevation of 4350 m. (14435 Ft).

Along the way, you will enjoy one of the most amazing Andean sceneries, as we will walk along huge mountain slopes and will walk across little farming areas, where natives still employ traditional ways of life,

a place where Spanish is a second language, and where Andean men still live in harmony with mother nature.

We will stop at a nice spot for lunch, and we will start to descend towards Patacancha, a small village located at 3800 m (1246 Ft).

Here we will pitch up the tents and then will have dinner at the local house. Overnight at the Patacancha campsite.

Day 03: Patacancha – Willoq – Ollantaytambo – AguasCalientes.

On this day of Lares trek to Machu Picchu, we will have to get up early too, and after breakfast we will continue descending, passing the community of Willoq.

Colorful villages that stand out for preserving a culture alive, a natural zone where Andean families still produce their own clothing, rear their own animals, and believe in their own gods.

After a long walk of about 4 hours, we will reach the village of Ollantaytambo, located at 2850 m. (9350 Ft). At the village of Ollantaytambo we will have lunch, and afterward, you will have free time to explore this great Inca settlement.

In the afternoon, we will catch the train towards the town of Aguas Calientes (town of Machupìcchu). Aguas Calientes is a popular resting place for those who do the Lares Trek.

Here you will rest in the hostel provided by our Agency, also you can go to relax at the Hot Springs (thus its name Aguas Calientes) located on the upper section of the town.

Aguas Calientes has developed quite well in the last years, thus, today you can find here internet access, a bunch of restaurants and pubs, ATMs and souvenirs shops utterly everywhere.

Overnight at the designated hostel at Aguas Calientes.

Day 04: Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Cusco

After breakfast, we will start to go up walking – 1 and a half hours to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, (It is a good idea to go to the ruins early, to have option to see the sunrise).

Once here, our guide will show you the most important sectors of this great Inca City. The guided tour in Machu Picchu will last about 2 hours.

Afterward, you will have free time to explore the ruins on your own, and if you wish, you might climb the Wayna Picchu Mountain, the huge mountain that appears in the background in every classic picture of Machu Picchu (You can ask for availability)

It takes about one hour or so to get to the top, following very steep stairs, though is a little hard, at the top, you will be rewarded with one of the most impressive views in your lifetime.

Later on, we will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, where we have free time for having lunch and also where we catch the train back to Ollantaytambo (02 hours) and from here by bus to Cusco (1 ½ hour). Cusco, approximately 10:30 p.m.

Included:

• Briefing: A day before your tour departure we brief you with the most important information about the trek, this will be in our office at 18:30 hrs. We are flexible with this schedule, we understand you would like to enjoy Cusco, so if you are on a tour and arrive after do not worry.
• Pick up at your Hotel: We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco (If it is located around a street where our minibusses can not reach, our guide will go to your hotel and take you to where the bus is.).
• Transport: Transportation for our groups To go from Cusco to Lares (3 hours), This is provided in a private car only for our group and our staff.
• Camping Equipment: Tents for sleeping (4 seasons) with capacity for 4 people, where only get in 2 people in each (so you have more room inside), Dining and Kitchen tents, tables, chairs, and also a camping mattress.
• Meals: 03 Breakfasts, 03 Lunches, 03 Dinners + Wake Up Coca tea in each morning at the campsites (Vegetarian and vegan option with no extra cost).
• Professional Tour Guides: All our staff of guides is English-speaking, well-trained and with a lot of experience in this route and Machu Picchu, they are ready to create a great experience for you and will have you arrive in Machu Picchu safe and sound.
• First aid kit: Our guides carry some basic medication and oxygen for any trouble in the trail.
• Support Staff: Auxiliary Tour Guide when we go more than 12 people, Cook and Assistant (They are specialized in cooking on the mountains).
• Horses: They will carry all camping equipment and food supplies and 6 kilos per passenger, where you can put your stuff.
• Entrance fee to Machu Picchu: We will book and getting ready your ticket for this very important trek.
• Round Trip Train Tickets: Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo (VOYAGER TRAIN – INCA RAIL or EXPEDITION TRAIN- PERU RAIL).
• Transportation: From Ollantaytambo to Cusco, this service is provided with minibusses of 15 or 20 people (Renault Master or Sprinter Mercedes-Benz).
• Taxes: All taxes are included.

Not Included:

• Entrance fee for Waynapicchu Mountain: This is an extra hike of 2 and 1/2 hours from Machu Picchu Citadel, it has an extra cost of US$ 55.00 You have to ask for availability.
• Entrance fee for Machu Picchu Mountain: This is an extra hike of 3 and 1/2 hours from has an extra cost of US$ 55.00 You have to ask for availability.
• Bus tickets to go down from Machupicchu to Aguas Calientes: All the group goes walking if you want to take some of those busses you can buy the tickets there (US$ 12.00).
• Sleeping bag: (US$ 20 the rental for the tour).
• Walking sticks: (US$ 20 the rental for a pair).
• Meals: First breakfast, last lunch, special snacks.
• Travel Insurance.
• Tips: All gratitude is really welcome.

Important:

• US$ 29.00 Off for people who belong to The Andean Community group (Perú, Colombia, Ecuador y Bolivia).
• US$ 25.00 Off for those students with Under graduated student card, (this ID must be made in PVC material, and it must have the next requirements: university information, personal student information, student picture, and expiration date valid only for one year, its year must coincide with the year that student visits Machu Picchu, the discount until 25 years old.), the ISIC cards are not valid anymore.
• Discount of US$ 25.00 for under 18 years old.
• According to the new regulation of Sustainable Use and Tourist Visit for the conservation of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu 2019, the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu is valid only for a single entry to the park (this means: The passenger enters, walk around, go out and can not re-enter again), usually, all people stay between 4 and 5 hours into Machu Picchu, if you would like to stay a longer time, you must buy another ticket (US$ 50.00 Extra), the park is open until 17:30 hrs.
• Prices are for tours in shared service (group tour), groups of 10 to 16 people per guide, also you can see our rates in a private tour.
• We can organize trips every day, please inquire availability for the date you want, we can open a new departure with 4 people.
• To start this trek, you have to be at least one day before in Cusco (02 days recommended).

Upgrade:

• Private Transportation to return: From Ollantaytambo to Cusco US$ 20.00 (Per way, per person); This gives you a pleasant trip without waiting and picking up other people of the group tour.
• Train returning at 16:12 hrs. TRAIN 360° Inca Rail (From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo) US$ 30.00 (Per Person); This is another class of train with Taller and wider panoramic windows and an outdoor observatory wagon with bar, this has an excellent schedule, you will arrive in Cusco around 20:20 hrs.
• Train returning at 16:43 hrs. TRAIN VISTADOME – Peru Rail (From Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo) US$ 35.00 (Per Person); This is another class of train with panoramic windows located beside and above your seat will bring you close to nature unlike anything you’ve experienced before, this has an excellent schedule, you will arrive in Cusco around 21:00 hrs.

What you need to take:

• Standard backpack (45 to 50 liters, the idea is you feel very comfortable with what you are carrying).
• Warm clothes (jacket, Thermals, fleece, gloves, scarf and beanie), this is for the cold nights.
• Waterproof clothes (jacket, pants, and gloves) If you don’t have those, you can buy in Cusco a Rain Poncho, the weather on the mountain is very changeable.
• Comfortable Hiking shoes (waterproof, the better).
• Comfortable clothes as 3 or 4 T-shirts, 2 or 3 pairs of longs pants (leggings works), 3 or 4 pairs of Trekking socks or wool socks, Short (Optional, remember there are mosquitos).
• Sandals (optional, to be chill out at the campsites).
• Shorts, t-shirt, trekking boots, sandals, socks.
• Hat or cap.
• Sunscreen.
• Flashlight.
• Water purification pills.
• Camera or video camera.
• Mosquitos repellent.
• Rain poncho.
• Extra money in soles.
• Optional (Sunglasses, walking sticks).

STEP 1: SEND YOUR INFORMATION

Complete the booking form down here or send data of all the travelers to info@inkatimetours.com like full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, or a copy of passports, indicating the exact date of travel; Our privacy policies are strict, INKA TIME will use this information exclusively to nominate the reservation tickets, we never share this information with third parties.

STEP 2: MAKE A DEPOSIT

You can book and pay for the tour from our website if you are booking via email, you must choose the best way to pay and make a deposit, for this hike the payment at least is 50%; There are 03 ways to pay: payments via “PayPal“, with debit or credit card Visa or Mastercard (these last two options have an 8% fee), or wire money by Western Union any extra commissions or fees charged must be assumed by the customer; when you send your information you have to specify the payment method you would like to use, then when we mail you back We will send you a request for payment through the platform you chose.

STEP 3: TOUR CONFIRMATION

If you make the reservation on our website the confirmation will be automatic, if you do via email, upon receipt of all passenger(S) data and once we received information of your payment, we will send you your receipt (VOUCHER OF RESERVATION), at this moment your reservation will be guaranteed 100%. (this will be sent at most in the next 8 hours, considering our business hours GMT – 5).

TOUR IN SHARED SERVICE

This service in a GROUP TOUR means that you will do the tour with other people, This standard service has 10 to 15 participants, that doesn’t mean you have to get that quantity of people to do the tour, we have confirmed departures every day, so, If you are only one or two people do not worry, you can join some of our groups.

“BEST PRICE PER PERSON: US$ 539.00”

TOUR IN A PRIVATE SERVICE

This service is an exclusive way to make this trip, where the service is very much where the service is much more personalized, prices vary according to the number of people in your group:

2 PEOPLE: US$ 1050 PER PERSON
3 PEOPLE: US$ 980 PER PERSON
4 PEOPLE: US$ 880 PER PERSON
5 PEOPLE: US$ 750 PER PERSON
6 PEOPLE: US$ 650 PER PERSON
7 PEOPLE and +: US$ 550 PER PERSON

1.- I am just one person, can I join some group tour?

Yes, you can, you can ask for availability on the date you want.

2.- We don’t like to go in a big group, can we arrange a private tour?

Yes, you can, in the Lares Valley Trek to Machu Picchu, our group tours go with 12 or 15 people, but if you want, you can also arrange a private tour, we have different rates for it depending on how many people you are.

3.- I will travel with my family, we have two 55 and 65 people, do you think, can they make it?

We had people on this trek of 60 and 65, but they were in good shape to walk, they were well custom to walk, the difficulty is more for the altitude.

If that is the case with your family, everything will run normally. If you think they are not too fit to do it, we recommend taking a Private tour, that will be a perfect plan to do the tour quite easily and smoothly.

4.- We want to take the tour included Wayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain, do we have enough time to do it on the same day tour of Machu Picchu?

Yes, On this tour you will sleep in Aguas Calientes (Town of Machu Picchu) so you can take some of the first busses, the park opens at 6:00 am. Suppose that you will get in at 7:00 am.

First, you can climb the Mountain (2 or 3 and 1/2 hours hike) until 10:30 am. Then, you can go out to use the restroom or eat something and rest, then you can start the guided tour around the citadel (Around 2 hours) until 14:00 hrs.

Then you will have free time to continue exploring on your own, the park is open until 5 pm. You will have like 10 hours to be there, the train departure to return is at 19:00 hrs.

5.- How about my luggage, I know I can’t take all my stuff?, where can I store it?

All stuff you will not use on the trek can be store at your hotel, all accommodations in Cusco have storage, so if you book the night when you can back from Machu Picchu, you can leave there.

Also, if you want you can leave your stuff in our office, for that you can write to our email.

6.- How about the altitude, are going to pass by other places higher than Cusco?

Cusco city is located in 3350 masl. (10990 Ft.), on this trek, on the 1st and 2nd day you will pass by higher places like Wacahuasi Community (3820 m. / 12532 ft.) and Ipsay Pass (4400 m. / 14435 ft).

Then all the rest is lower altitude than Cusco, Aguas Calientes 2050 masl. Machu Picchu is located in 2450 masl (8038 Ft.).

We always recommend having at least one or 2 days in Cusco to acclimatize; altitude sickness is very different for everyone, sometimes you don’t have any problem.

7.- What is the best season to do the Lares trek?

The best season to hike from the Lares trek to Machu Picchu is during the dry season, which generally covers the months of May to October. During these months, you will experience more stable weather conditions and less chance of rain, which makes the hike more comfortable and safer. On the other hand, if you don’t want a lot of people on your trip, you can go from November to March and find more exuberant landscapes.

8.- How far in advance should I book the trek from Lares Valley trek to Machu Picchu?

It is recommended to book the Lares trek to Machu Picchu at least three months in advance, especially if you plan to travel during the high season. However, if you plan to travel during the low season, you may be able to book less in advance.

9.- Do I need extra money for the trek?

Yes, it is advisable to bring extra money for the trek from the Lares trek to Machu Picchu to cover unforeseen expenses, buy souvenirs or pay for additional services that may arise during the trek. As another tip we recommend you to bring cash and preferably soles, since most locals only accept soles and not dollars.

10.- What is the weather like during the trek from Lares trek to Machu Picchu?

During the trek you will experience a temperate and cold climate with minimum temperatures of 0°C (32°F). When you are in Machu Picchu you will experience a tropical climate with temperatures of 24°C.