Traditional Lares Trek

We'll pick you up from your hotel at 5am to start the famous Lares Trek to Machu Picchu. You can be picked up from any hotel, condo, or apartment in the cities of Cusco, Urubamba, Huaran, or Pisaq. It's a 3-hour drive along the beautiful scenery of the Sacred Valley and through the Andes. Once we arrive at the Lares hot springs, you'll have your first breakfast with views of the Andes. Then you'll enjoy the hot springs, which are divided into pools ranging from icy to hot. They're all made up of pure volcanic water, which has medicinal benefits and is said to be good for bones, stress, muscles, and headaches.

After lunch, our riders (llameros) will perform a ceremony with the llamas, showcasing these beautiful animals. Llamas were considered sacred by the Incas and were fundamental to their economy. Our llameros will introduce you to these animals and discuss their importance and why owning one was a sign of privilege. Today, they are disappearing for many reasons. We hope to continue the tradition of the Incas by giving some of the llamas work to support the community that protects them. Llamas are pleasant to walk with and are friendly animals. Just don't get too close—they might try to kiss you!

You'll also have time to explore the village and visit some local homes, where you can learn about the lifestyle and ancient traditions of the local people. If there's time, we'll visit the schoolhouse where the children still speak their native language, Quechua. You can bring toys, notebooks, or school supplies to donate and might even be able to teach them a few words of English. After another 2 hours of gradual ascent, we'll reach the campsite, where our trekking staff will pitch your tents. We'll enjoy some hot drinks as the sky darkens and the stars begin to appear. Finally, enjoy a delicious dinner prepared on the spot. You can continue stargazing or head to your tent for a rest.

After soaking in the pools, it's a 20-minute drive to the trailhead, Punta Carretera, at 3,300 meters above sea level. Here you'll meet your horses and riders and hand over your rucksacks. You'll then begin your expedition to Machu Picchu with a 2-hour gradual ascent. We'll reach our lunch spot at the first village, Kiswarani. This part of the trek is known as the Potato Valley because of the many varieties of organic potatoes grown here. Your guide will also point out some of the local medicinal plants growing along the way. When we arrive at our lunch spot, you'll enjoy your first home-cooked meal prepared by our trekking chef.

Today you'll be woken at around 5am with a hot drink. You'll have spectacular views of the colourful lake and the valley of Kiswarani. You'll see the local people out grazing their llamas and alpacas. Breakfast will be served once you have finished packing your equipment. Then we'll fill your water bottles, organise snacks, and you'll start your expedition to Machu Picchu. It's a 3 to 4 hour climb to the top of the mountain. This pass is called the Pachacute or Condor Pass. We'll zigzag our way up to compensate for the steep climb. The views are stunning; you'll see lakes, waterfalls, llamas, and alpacas. We'll have an emergency horse to ride if you get tired and can't walk. When you reach the Condor Pass, you'll be above the clouds and mountain peaks, able to enjoy the amazing 360º view. In front of you is the beautiful mountain of Pitusiray, which is 5,700 metres high, and then there's the Condor Pass (4,680m).

Afterwards, we'll enjoy a hot drink served by your porters and take some great photo opportunities before we start our descent. You'll then start the 1-hour descent to El Mirador (Vista Point), where you'll have lunch while watching some llamas graze nearby. After lunch, you'll hike downhill for the last 3 hours. You'll have fantastic views of many lakes, llamas, and alpacas before arriving at your campsite. This is the village of Cancha Cancha, the only village without modern technology. Situated at 3,750m, where people still practice original Inca traditions. In this Inca village, 85% of the houses are still built using the old construction methods, including stone houses with grass thatched roofs. Unlike any other village in the Lares Valley, there is no electricity and no cars. Here you'll not only enjoy the wilderness, but your porters will also pitch your tents.

You'll have time to meet the local children and provide them with food and school supplies. We invite our travellers to share this support for the education and health of this indigenous village. You can bring anything you would like to give to these Quechuan-speaking children to use at school or at home. When you're ready, your guide will take you to the home of a local family to get to know their way of life. You'll learn about the traditional hand-woven textiles made from llama and alpaca wool. In the evening, you'll enjoy hot drinks and dinner.