Lares trek from Cusco

Route

What’s the plan?

Day 1: Cusco – Lares Hot Springs – Wacawasi

We depart at 6:00am from Cusco by private bus, picking you up at your hotel. We travel through the Sacred Valley to the hot springs of Lares, where we’ll enjoy a great lunch. Then we start out two hour hike to our campsite in Wacawasi where in the evening dinner is served.

Day 2: Wacawasi – Epsaycocha

After breakfast we go to the first activity of the day: observation of Alpaca fabric weaving. Then we start our climb to the pass of the Condor (approximately 4100m.a.s.l.). Here we will enjoy the incredible view of Mount “Veronica” at 5750 m and recharge to continue our hike to Lake Epsaycocha, where we have lunch. Then we will do the final hike to Patacancha where we set up our camp and have dinner.

Day 3: Epsaycocha – Patacancha – Wylloq – Pumamarka – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

After breakfast, we start walking downhill to Pata court, where we will observe traditional textile and weaving practices. Then we continue to Wylloq for a brief rest & lunch. Afterwards we walk for two hours to Pumamarka and enjoy the Inca terraces. Then we depart to Ollantaytambo to board the Expedition Train Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes between 7pm and 8:45pm. When we arrive in Aguas Calientes, we bring you to your hotel and have dinner.

Day 4: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Today we get up early for the bus to Machu Picchu after breakfast. We start with a 2.5 hour guided tour of the different sectors of the archaeological complex. If you want to climb the mountain of Huayna Picchu, there is an additional cost and you have to reserve at least 3 months in advance due to limited availability. After the tour you will have some free time to explore the sites or visit the hot springs in Aguas Calientes. You must make your own arrangements to be back at the Aguas Calientes train station for the train back to Cusco. We will board the 18:20 – 21:50 Expedition from Agua Calientes back to Ollantaytambo and it’s recommended to be at the station at least 30 minutes in advance. In Ollantaytambo our bus awaits us to return to the Plaza Regocjio (one block from the Plaza de Armas), Cusco.

What's included

Included:

√ Pre-departure briefing
The evening before the trek, you will have a briefing between 5pm – 7pm in Conde Travel’s office, explaining all tour details from the guide.

√ Transport
Private transportation from your hotel, Cusco – Lares, and bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.

√ Train tickets
Train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo are included.

√ English speaking guide
A professional bilingual guide specialized in the Inca Trail will accompany you during the whole trek.

√ Entrance Fees
Entrance fee to Machu Picchu are included.

√ Transfer back to Cusco
In Ollantaytambo there will be a private bus waiting to bring you back to Cusco.

√ Accomodation
We will provide you with tents for 2 and mattresses. Moreover we include chairs and dining tables, and a roomy dining and kitchen tent.

√ Porters
Horsemen and horses to carry all the luggage camping.

√ First-aid kit

√ Meals
A private cook and assistants will accompany us during the trek and will take care of the meals. Meals as indicated in the program are included: 3 lunches, 3 dinners, 3 breakfasts (and snacks daily).

Excluded:

× Accommodation in Cusco including breakfast
Before and after the trek you have to take care of your own accommodation.

× Sleeping Bags
Rental sleeping bag: 0 ° C = USD 15 and -10 ° C = USD 25

× Breakfast on the first day, lunch and dinner on the last day

× Travel Insurance Including Repatriation
Your international travel insurance is your own responsibility. It is important that your travel insurance also covers adventures at a high altitude. Discuss your itinerary with the insurance company before you travel to Peru.

× Tipping
Tips for guides and porters are exclusive. You decide what you want to tip, but be generous.

x Personal expenses
All personal expenses such as snacks, souvenirs, and other similar expenses are for your own account. Personal care ítems are not included either.

x Huayna Picchu
Entrance ticket to Huayna Picchu, only if booked at least three months prior (USD $70).

x Horses
Horses to carry your luggage or to ride are not included.

Accommodation

Accommodation

Campsites
During you trek, you will stay in tents at campsites along the route. You will sleep in tents for two people that we will provide, together with sleeping mattresses. Sleeping bags are not included. In order to make the stay more confortable, we also bring along chairs and dining tables, and a roomy dining tent.

Packing List

Packing List

Essentials

– Valid, original Passport (a copy will not be accepted)
– Immigration Card (given to you on the plane as you enter Peru)
– Trekking boots (light, comfortable and broken in)
– A good quality daypack (light, small and comfortable)
– Water storage for at least 2 liters; either a camel bag or water bottle(s)

For your daypacks

Below is a list of items that we highly recommend you keep with you at all times in your personal backpack. Remember you will be carrying this with you everyday of the trek so we recommend you bring a good quality daypack which is both light and comfortable. It is important to note that due to local regulations, your backpack should not exceed 25L. All larger backpacks can not be taken into Machu Picchu and will need to be stored outside the gates.

– Hat and sunglasses
– Rain gear
– Warm layers (fleece / long sleeved tops)
– Sun cream, bug spray
– Hand sanitiser
– Toilet paper
– Personal medication
– Band aids, moleskin
– Camera, extra batteries
– Head torch
– Extra snacks, power bars, chocolate
– Extra money for souvenirs, drinks & tips (small change is useful for paying to use the -villagers’ toilets on the first day)

For your backpack

– Sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
– Some light, comfortable shoes for the camp
– Warm jacket, hat and gloves
– 2-3 t-shirts (wicking t-shirts are best)
– 1-2 hiking pants / trousers
– 4 sets of undergarments
– 4 sets of hiking socks
– 1 Fleece
– 1 Warm, down jacket for the coldest nights
– Quick dry towel
– Soap
– Toothbrush and paste
– Face moisturizer
– Power pack / battery charger
– Plastic bags to keep wet or muddy clothes separate

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Best Season

The best time to hike the Peruvian Andes is from April to October when the weather is relatively warm. In the months of June, July and August the nights are cold and a four season sleeping bag is recommended. The rainy season lasts from November to March, with February as the highlight. In this month the Inca Trail is closed for maintenance. Rainy season or not, prepare for sun and rain. The mountains make the weather pattern unpredictable.

Dry season (April – October)
Day: 20’C – 25’C / 68’F – 77’F
Night: -1 – 7’C / 30’F – 45’F

Rainy season (November – March)
Day: 17’C – 22’C / 62’F – 71.6’F
Night: 4’C – 7’C / 39’F – 45’F

Tipping

On the Inca Trail and other Peruvian trials, it is normal to tip guides. Opinions on how much are divided. We advise you to bring along an amount of 60 to 120 Nuevo Sol for tips. That is equivalent to USD 25 to 50. This is often given by the group in a pot, towards the end of the trek.

Training

Do you make it to your destinations as planned? Often this depends on the unpredictable weather in the mountains. However, it can also depend on your own physical condition.

One sure way to get fit for trekking and hiking in Peru is to, you could have guessed it: hike more. Do you like walking, have you done trekking at an altitude before and do you sport twice a week on average? With a little extra training, you’ll soon be ready for this beautiful trekking in the Peruvian Andes.

Is this the first time that you are trekking at altitude? Make sure you are well prepared. This is important for your safety, but also for that of your team. Make sure you start six months in advance with an hour’s hike twice a week. Read this blog post and get fit for trekking in Peru.

Safety

Safety is of the utmost importance to us. That is why this is an area in which we simply do not compromise when it comes to keeping the cost of our trekkings low. Our guides have been selected on the basis of their technical competence, proven safety performance, impeccable judgment, friendly attitude and ability to provide useful and expert instructions. They are also very professional and well trained in first aid and personal protection equipment. First aid kits are available on all treks. In addition, the routes are ideally designed to give you enough time to acclimatize.

Altitude Mountain Sickness

If you’re keen on Machu Picchu, you’re obviously headed to Cusco. Once you’re in the city, particularly if you’ve flown in, you’re likely to find yourself huffing and puffing just scaling the stairs to your accommodation. For this reason, it’s recommended you give yourself time to acclimatize to the thin air before setting off up the mountain. If you want to know everything about AMS while trekking in Peru, please read our extensive blog post. For now, keep the basics in mind. Make sure you are hydrated properly, avoid alcohol before your trek, and if you are a smoker, you better at least quit for a few days, or else you are going to have a lot of trouble making it through.

Trekking in the rainy season

The wet (rainy) season lasts from November to April. The mountainous terrain around Cusco means the area is prone to flooding and landslides after torrential rain. It’s always better to go in the dry season. You can’t? At least you won’t be fighting the crowds. Please be prepared and read everything about this season in our blog post.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu Tickets
To conserve the Machu Picchu site, the Peruvian government has limited the access and gives out a limited amount of tickets. There are different sorts of tickets and availability.

Machu Picchu Only
This type of ticket allows you to visit the citadel of Machu Picchu which has as main attractions: Intiwatana Temple of the Three Windows, Sun Temple, Temple of the Condor, Main Plaza, Agricultural Zone. The maximum capacity to enter to Machu Picchu is 2500 people per day.

Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Mountain
Huayna Picchu is part of a set of related with the Salkantay, mountains known as the Central Cordillera of the Andes. Huayna Picchu, “Young Mountain“, is located opposite the mountain of Machu Picchu “Old Mountain” and has a height of 2,693 meters. It can be accessed by following a steep and narrow path with steps carved into rock; It covers an elevation of approximately 360 meters. The tour on this mountain has an approximate duration of 3 hours, in what it concerns to rise and to go down, it is an extraordinary adventure. The maximum capacity to go up to Huayna Picchu group is 200 people per day.

Machu Picchu + Old Mountain
Machu Picchu Mountain is located 3,082 meters. In it, is seated the Inca city of Machu Picchu, and every day more people decide to venture to it, possibly by the energy emanating earth, considered sacred to the Inca civilization. Its summit was used by Inca priests to perform rituals on special dates and it was the place of worship of the Apu Salkantay.

The ascent depends on the physical condition of the individual and can take anything between 2 and 3 hours.The maximum capacity to enter Machu Picchu Mountain is 800 people per day,

Your trekking company provides the bus tickets and the Machu Pichu only entrance tickets. If you wish to do climb the Huayna Picchu or the Old Mountain it will cost you $35 dollars extra. This needs to be reserved in time.

Conde Travel

Conde Travel

We are a pioneer company in adventure tourism, located in Cusco Peru, with more than 12 years of experience in the field of tourism. We organize adventure tours and treks through different routes like the Inca Jungle, the Salkantay trek, the Inca trail, the Choquequirao trek, among others. Our aim is to offer the turist varied options in the area.

How To Book

How does it work?

On Bookatrekking.com you can find and compare the adventures of your dreams. Is this trekking adventure your match? In that case you can proceed to booking. At Bookatrekking.com you make a deposit of 15% of the total amount. You pay the remaining amount on location prior to the trek directly to the trekking company.

Bookatrekking.com uses only the safest payment methods. Once your booking has been received, your place is reserved, your place is safe and you can look forward to your chosen trekking.

After you have made your booking, you will receive an e-mail confirmation with all necessary information and the contact details of the trekking company. If you have any questions or if you want to clarify something, you can obtain information directly from the right person. Of course, you can also always ask us your question. Send us an e-mail on support@bookatrekking.com

The trekking company will also receive your details and can therefore always contact you and provide you with extra information.

Cancellation Policy

You wish you didn’t have to, but there is no other way: You find yourself having to cancel your plans. In this case, you lose your deposit, but since you haven’t paid the large sum yet, you at least save that. Please do let us know if you cannot make it. A no-show can be a small disaster for your trekking provider, who did its best to block your dates. View our complete cancellation policy here.