Lares Trek To Machupicchu 4 Days

Introduction:

People of Lares

Take the untouched trail to machupicchu! avoid the crowds and experience the beauty of the lares trek.
Programme: 4 days / 3 nights ( at 7:00 pm tour orientation the night before your trekking)

Itinerary

Day  01: Cusco -Calca totora canyon - Lares hot springs – Huacahuasi .

Meet at the plaza regocijo near cusco´s main plaza de armas at 06.00 am, where you´ll meet your group and guide, before boarding the bus. always carry a copy of your passport and your isic student card ( which you scanned through with your booking) please cooperate so as not to alter the ecosystem and respect the local customs.

Me journey through pisac to calca for about 2hrs where we stop for breakfast. from here you will observe beautiful views of the famous sacred valley of the inkas and the farmed terraces of pisac. just after passing machacancha thermo-medicinal springs we will start a nice soft hike for 2-3 hours through an old inca road of totora canyon, which is good for acclimatization to the altitude, from this point we can see the stunning ranges of the snow capped vilcanota mountain range. there is an abundance of local flora and andean medicinal plants along this trail such as molle, retama, muña, marku, kuñuco etc. then our private transport will take you to lares hot springs to relax and enjoy lunch. after lunch we will walk for 3 more hours to huacahuasi ( 3,700 mts ), where we will make our first camping near this community. we can inter-act with the local people especially with the kids dressed in colourful andean clothing. bring very warm clothes for the nights camping and dinner. ( walking distance approximately 8 km.)

Day 02: Huacahuasi – Ipsaychocha pass 4,400m – Ipsaycocha lake-Patacancha

Thermal baths of Lares

Wake up at 6:00 am for an early breakfast so we can start walking around 7:00am. we will stop for a short visit of huacahuasi community, where your tour guide will help you to understand better the traditional lifestyle andes. he will explain to you about the ancient customs and traditions, ancestral secrets for farming activities, how to preserve their products, the modus-vivendus of their villagers , the process of weavings with their significances .

Those who have bought some school supplies for the children will be able to give them at this point. moderate climbing until we arrive to the pass, where there are wonderful views of the mountains and stone houses and enclosures lie scattered along the valley bottom. then we continue climbing for 3hrs ½ on to ibsaycocha pass ( 4,400 meter ) from here the views are again fabulous and for the first time we have a clear view of mount veronica standing at 5682 mts. we then begin the descent to ipsaycocha lake for our lunch and then we have to continue for 3 hrs more to get to the patacancha community. as we walk we pass children herding llamas and alpacas high in the mountains near our second night camping.(3,700.meters). ( walking distance approximately 11 km 5-6 hours .)

Day 03: Patacancha – Willoq – Marcaqocha – Ollantaytambo- Aguas calientes

After breakfast we have a 5hr walk down to ollantaytambo ( 2900 m) passing local farmers tending llamas, alpacas and their famous terraces of crops. we enjoy lunch in the pumamarca or ollantaytambo. willoq is famous for her people clothed in the famous red ponchos, the first porters for the inca trail ages ago and most of them they only speak quechua the language of the incas.

After lunch we board the train and have a wonderful, scenic journey to aguas calientes (approx 90 minutes journey.) on arrival we check into our hostal for the night with hot showers! or we can enjoy the hot springs before buffet dinner in the same hostal. ( walking distance approximately 12 km.)

Day  04 : Aguas calientes – Hot springs machupicchu – Cusco

Machu Picchu

Erly breakfast (05.00 am) before taking the early bus directly to machupicchu at (06.00am).

Optional for those still able to walk!: leave 04.30am and walk up to machupicchu arriving approx 06.00am. it´s still 15 mins walk up from here to the famous view from the terraces at the end of the trail. early tour of machupicchu with your guide who will unfold the mysteries of this magic place , showing you the best of it, especially temples and special sectors for about 2 hours relating to you interesting and amazing stories. your tour of machupicchu should finish between 10:00am and 10:30am and you have free time to take your photos before the 10:30 crowds arrive. also opportunity to climb huayna picchu (min 90 mins), inca bridge or sun´s gate. we provide you a box lunch in machu picchu so you can have plenty of time to enjoy.

Then the walk down to aguas calientes it will take you between 45 mins to an hour. optional bus down to aguas calientes. us $6 train return to cusco with arrival back in the plaza regocijo in cusco approx 9pm

Extra Information: 

• Sleeping bag rent for 4 days $ 10 hollofill or holofiber weigh 2 kg minus 4 degress celcius
• $ 12 down sleeping bag 1.8 kg minus 10 degress celcius
• Mattress included weigh 800gms. 

The bag and matress will be returned to cusco for you on day 3 as you have hostal accommodation with bed and bedding provided in aguas calientes.
Unless you hire an extra porter you need to carry your back pack, sleeping bag and the mattress

Porter to carry up to 9 kg = $30 up to 18 kg = $60 for the tour from cusco to ollantaytambo.: 

Regarding porters who carry personal items. you will need to carry with you a daypack with your camera, water bottle, snacks, a fleece or something warm and a poncho in case of rain (unlikely in dry season but as a precaution) and anything you will need before lunch as porters do not walk alongside you. you will meet up with your bag at lunch and then it will be waiting for you in your tent at campsites.

Best to put everything up to 20kgs in one backpack for the porter so that you donït have 2 large backpacks in your tent. we can provide you with a big rice sack but it is better to use a backpack so that it is easier for you to bring your stuff back on the train etc from aguas calientes.

Take extra money for the bus down from machupicchu to aguas calientes $6, if you don´t want to walk down the trail so it is optional , tips for porters etc. You need to take at least 150.00 soles emergency money that you hope to come back to cusco with.

Note: there are no atm¨s in aguas calientes and higher commission on travellers checks.

Hints for a fantastic hike: altitude sickness:

Itïs possible you will feel the effects of altitude on arriving in cusco, ( 3,400 mts) especially if you fly from sea level, eg lima. it is best to wait at least two days before setting out on the trail, don¨t drink alcohol, smoke or take sedatives. drink lots of water and coca tea. drink at least two litres per day, especially on the second day pass. in high altitude you breath rapidly and shallow causing you to dehydrate more quickly. drink extra water or coca tea to avoid this as coffee also tends to cause dehydration. always purify water you take from the trail waterfalls and streams. you can purchase purification tablets (eg micropur) from any pharmacy. you must leave micropur tablets in the water for at least 90 mins before drinking. iodine only 20 mins. if you have any medical conditions, allergies or special food requirements etc. please write this clearly in the registration book.

Water: We suggest you take a 1 and a ½ litre bottle of water on the first day and then you can refill this on the trek. we boil water each night which is available after breakfast each morning for your water bottles. we still suggest you take water purification tablets or filters for any unboiled water you take directly from streams or waterfalls etc. you can buy bottle water from the 3rd afternoon in ollantaytambo and onwards.

Regarding temperatures during the day...if you are walking in the sun it is very hot and feels like 26 degrees celcius, but when you walk through the forest or in the shadow of a mountain it can feel like 14 degrees almost immediately. at night it could get to -5 degrees celcius if you are really unlucky but more likely just freezing ! main hint for dealing with the temperatures is to try and keep your body temp as regular as possible by using layering of clothes so when you feel cool put on an extra layer before you get cold and if you start to feel warm take off a layer before you perspire which will leave you with a chill later if you don´t take care.
The weather from dec through to early march is usually the wettest on the trail.
somedays it may be drizzly all day or you may have a burst of rain and clear skies for the rest of the day or it could be wet off and on all day. you need good rain gear for walking as well as something to protect your pack. We have dining tents for all meals so you are protected at this time.

Other. tipping of the porters

As for all american countries, tipping is normal and it is apart of the experience. generally groups prepare a collective tip at dinner on the last night which is shared out between the porters and cook on the last morning at breakfast. tipping of porters who carry your personal items is separate and you are asked to tip an extra porter directly. the recommended minimum is $12 - $15 for 18kg.
return options from machupicchu (aguas calientes)
The package includes: return by backpackers train (approx 4 pm) to cusco or with private bus connection from ollantaytambo both arriving about 9pm to the cuzco plaza.

Suggestions of what you need to take:

• Backpack & daypack :
• 8 c sleeping bag :
• Hiking boots ( sneakers or runners shoes are not recommended )
• Walking poles
• Warm clothes : layers for variable temperatures specially at night.
• Flash light :
• Camera and extra film & batteries
• Sunprotection : sunscreen : sun hat : sunglasses
• Thermals : wool socks : and woolen hat for cold nights:
• Insect repellent :
• Rain poncho : a good rain jacket :
• Toiletries / toilet paper / small towel
• Bathing clothes for the hot springs.
• Gloves / scarf : trekking pants or similar.
• Water bottle : water purifying tablets :
• Personal medical kit :
• Original passport and original isic student card if applicable :
• Extra money for souvenirs, drinks & tips.
• Optional : little presents for kids of communities along the trail such as school supplies, second hand clothes, etc.

PRICE:........350US$