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4-day Lares Trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu
Juventino, your IFMGA-certified guide, takes you on an amazing and wondrous 4-day trek in and amongst the incredible and mystical natural beauty of Peru, starting in the town of Cusco and winding along the classic Lares Trek to the world famous and truly special Machu Picchu.
Highlights
Hike the awesome Lares Trek to the world famous Machu Picchu!
Admire some of the epic and amazing views over the Peruvian countryside
Learn about the history, customs and traditions of the Andean people
Be amazed by the awe-inspiring ruins of Machu Picchu
Description
I will guide you on this magnificent and superb 4-day trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu via the Lares Trek, an absolutely stunning and gorgeous trekking route that takes in towering and majestic mountains and high passes, huge tracts of valleys and fields, mesmerizing lakes and waterways, a wide array of flora and fauna, and ample opportunities to learn about the ancient culture, customs and traditions of the local people.
The Lares Trek is a high altitude trek to Machu Picchu in the region of Cusco, Peru, and is popular as an alternative trek to the immensely more famous, but much busier and more populated Inca Trail. It is home to many local farmers and traditional weavers specializing in textiles, and many exotic bird species such as Andean ibises, Andean geese and flamingos inhabit the area.
Our journey begins on the 1st morning in Cusco, and from there we drive to the starting point of the trek, the village of Cuncani. This day is spent hiking up to our campsite in Huacawasi via some tranquil lakes and countryside, and that night we will learn more about the local Andean culture, and how the people live.
Day 2 is the most strenuous day of the trip, with plenty of uphill hiking, and along the way we will be exposed to some epic views of the mountains and scenery, before stopping at a nearby lagoon and heading in to a forest containing much of the beautiful flora and fauna of the region.
The penultimate day is a slightly more gentle affair, as we walk through many of the farmlands the Andean people still work in, before visiting a couple of archaeological sites and then heading onwards to our hotel near Machu Picchu.
The final day is spent exploring the world famous and truly splendid Machu Picchu, a place that takes the breath away and lets you marvel at the magic of the Incan culture and region.
Taking the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu is a truly special and beautiful trip – book now to tick this off the list!
For those who want a little extra time trekking to Machu Picchu, try our 5-day Lares Trek option, here!
Details
Accommodation Camping for first 2 nights, hotel for the 3rd night. |
Meeting point Cusco, Peru |
Photos
Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Cuncani – Yanacocha – Huacawasi
At approximately 6am we will pick you up at your hotel to Lares Trek – Wacawasiset course to the village of Lares where we take a beautiful route to go to Cuncani village where will be Our starting point of the Lares trek we can his journey we will make a stop in the village of Calca, where you will be able to visit the local market and buy breakfast or other supplies you forgot. Your guide might advise you to buy some bread to hand out to the children you will meet during the trek. In our first day we are going to appreciate de llamas, alpacas, vigognes and Guanacos all the famous Andean camelides, also we can appreciate de typical Andean communities as Cuncani After the first pass we are going to arrive to Yanacocha we have our lunch around this beautiful lake after lunch we will start our hike towards the first campsite in Huacawasi (3600m/11811f). During 5 or 6 hours you will walk gradually uphill so that you get a good training for the next day when we will reach the highest point of the trek. The first night we will spend the night in our campsites where our horsemen who are joining us on the trip. This is the perfect opportunity to know this little town a little better, as well as its Andean culture. At arrival your tents will be ready and you will receive popcorn, sweets and some hot thee before having dinner.
Day 2: Huacawasi – Sondor – Huacawasi C’asa Pass – Aruray Cocha – Yurak Cocha – Mantanay – Pucara
After a nutritious breakfast we will start hiking towards the highestLares Trekking Pass – Cusco Peru point, the pass of Huacawasi at 4500m or 14763 feet. The hike will take about 4 hours and will be very steep uphill. Of course an emergency horse will accompany us so that everyone will certainly be able to reach the top. During this trek you will be able to enjoy enormous mountains, a patchwork of agricultural lands and breathtaking views. Be aware that we will reach great heights and the weather can be very cold. After reaching the highest point we will descend and pass beautiful lagoons and we’ll stop for having lunch. You will be able to recuperate while our cooks prepare a delicious lunch for you. Next we will descend further through a forest where you will be able to enjoy the “Queuñas” (Polylepis – a typical three from Peru), flora and fauna of this wonderful park. Thereafter we will continue descending until we got our camping spot at Pucara (3000m/9842f), a private camping place where you will have tea time and some snacks upon arrival before having dinner.
Day 3: Pucara – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
Today will be another spectacular day we take the channel to continue walking to the Yanahuara Inka terraces where we can see the agriculture places where the Andean people still work in the famous corn of giant grains of the sacred valley called MAIZ PARCAY. from there we continue to Pachar where we are going to take the Inka trail to Ollantaytambo over the Inka terraces but in the way we are going to see one small archeological site call it Choccana to our lunch in from of the Ollantaytambo Inka town , where we visit the town. Before to take our train at 13:00 to Machupicchu town in the afternoon you will have time to visit the hot springs in Aguas Calientes to relax
Day 4: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco
We will leave our hotel after breakfast at 5:30 am.Machu Picchu by Lares Trek and head for Machu Picchu (2400m/7874f) by tourist bus. We will arrive at the citadel around 6:00 am. After a guided tour around the archaeological site, including information about life and culture of the Incas, you will have enough time to enjoy Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu (2750m/9022f) on your own. We will leave Aguas Calientes by train either at 2:55 pm or at 6:10 pm. Until then, you will have time to have lunch in one of the nice restaurants. Moreover, you can visit the hot springs in Aguas Calientes to relax a bit.
About the guide
IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide from Peru.
He was born in 1960 in Huaraz / Peru. With his 15th Age he learned the world of trekking and mountaineering know by he accompanied his father on trips with his clients.
To this day he is still working as a mountain guide and tour operator. For many years he was able to acquire a lot of knowledge about the mountains, making it one of the most experienced certified mountain guides.
He runs a family travel agency based in Huaraz, which was founded by his father, and is now managed by Juventino and his son, Eric.
What people are saying about Juventino Martin Albino Caldua
Tony Hoffman
5.00
September 2020
Mrs Erin Leigh Hardy
5.00
August 2019
We are a group of friends and a mountain club, we have made trips with Eric since 2007, we have done the most classic tours in Cusco: Ausangate trek, Choquequirao trek, Salkantay trek, all tours always with Machu Picchu ending, the Inca culture is very interesting and if you travel to Peru you must visit it - and not missing Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. In Huaraz we have running out the tours: Santa Cruz trek, Alpamayo trek, Huayhuash trek, and the climbs, and Nevado Pisco trek, Nev. Vallunaraju, Tocllaraju, Alpamayo and Huascaran. Every year our club members go from 15 to 20 people to Huaraz, and in Cusco culture we have groups from 18 to 30 people, and all these trips are made by our partner Eric and Juventino in Peru. And friends always return very happy with the services they perform on the tours we sell. We recommend them to make a quality and safe trip, they have about 30 certified guides working for them, Juventino is the head of the company and is a member of UIAGM - IFMGA. They also have a family Hotel called \"Alpamayo Guest House\" this is in Huaraz, and every time our group ends their trek, climbing or expedition trip, the Juventino family invite us to a special dinner called (Pachamanca) as a very Inca Traditional food, this meal is prepared by JUVENTINOS wife Dina, she is a typical person of the area and they live in the Unchus village, this is an unforgettable dinner for all group participants. Next year we will extend our trip with mountain bike MTB around the Huascaran and the Huayhuash mountain range, and we will also have new trips from Lima: Nazca Lines, Arequipa Cañon del Colca, Cusco Inca Trail, Puno Floating Islands Lake Titicaca and the Tiawanaco culture peace.
Mrs Erin Leigh Hardy
5.00
August 2019
We are a group of friends and a mountain club, we have made trips with Eric since 2007, we have done the most classic tours in Cusco: Ausangate trek, Choquequirao trek, Salkantay trek, all tours always with Machu Picchu ending, the Inca culture is very interesting and if you travel to Peru you must visit it - and not missing Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. In Huaraz we have running out the tours: Santa Cruz trek, Alpamayo trek, Huayhuash trek, and the climbs, and Nevado Pisco trek, Nev. Vallunaraju, Tocllaraju, Alpamayo and Huascaran. Every year our club members go from 15 to 20 people to Huaraz, and in Cusco culture we have groups from 18 to 30 people, and all these trips are made by our partner Eric and Juventino in Peru. And friends always return very happy with the services they perform on the tours we sell. We recommend them to make a quality and safe trip, they have about 30 certified guides working for them, Juventino is the head of the company and is a member of UIAGM - IFMGA. They also have a family Hotel called \"Alpamayo Guest House\" this is in Huaraz, and every time our group ends their trek, climbing or expedition trip, the Juventino family invite us to a special dinner called (Pachamanca) as a very Inca Traditional food, this meal is prepared by JUVENTINOS wife Dina, she is a typical person of the area and they live in the Unchus village, this is an unforgettable dinner for all group participants. Next year we will extend our trip with mountain bike MTB around the Huascaran and the Huayhuash mountain range, and we will also have new trips from Lima: Nazca Lines, Arequipa Cañon del Colca, Cusco Inca Trail, Puno Floating Islands Lake Titicaca and the Tiawanaco culture peace.
Mrs Erin Leigh Hardy
5.00
August 2019
We are a group of friends and a mountain club, we have made trips with Eric since 2007, we have done the most classic tours in Cusco: Ausangate trek, Choquequirao trek, Salkantay trek, all tours always with Machu Picchu ending, the Inca culture is very interesting and if you travel to Peru you must visit it - and not missing Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. In Huaraz we have running out the tours: Santa Cruz trek, Alpamayo trek, Huayhuash trek, and the climbs, and Nevado Pisco trek, Nev. Vallunaraju, Tocllaraju, Alpamayo and Huascaran. Every year our club members go from 15 to 20 people to Huaraz, and in Cusco culture we have groups from 18 to 30 people, and all these trips are made by our partner Eric and Juventino in Peru. And friends always return very happy with the services they perform on the tours we sell. We recommend them to make a quality and safe trip, they have about 30 certified guides working for them, Juventino is the head of the company and is a member of UIAGM - IFMGA. They also have a family Hotel called \"Alpamayo Guest House\" this is in Huaraz, and every time our group ends their trek, climbing or expedition trip, the Juventino family invite us to a special dinner called (Pachamanca) as a very Inca Traditional food, this meal is prepared by JUVENTINOS wife Dina, she is a typical person of the area and they live in the Unchus village, this is an unforgettable dinner for all group participants. Next year we will extend our trip with mountain bike MTB around the Huascaran and the Huayhuash mountain range, and we will also have new trips from Lima: Nazca Lines, Arequipa Cañon del Colca, Cusco Inca Trail, Puno Floating Islands Lake Titicaca and the Tiawanaco culture peace.
Norbert from Austria
5.00
June 2019
There were bad conditions for the first mountain we wanted to climb, so we had to search for other mountain, which was possible to climb with the bad conditions. NO PROBLEM for Eric and his team. Eric made within 1 day another program for the following 2 weeks. I really want to say \"thank you for this expedition\". I enjoyed the whole trip/expedition, because of his professional competence. Hope we see us soon!
Emmet
5.00
June 2019
Eric and Juventino are family and they treat each one of their clients as family. It\'s truly a fun time being out in the mountains with them! I did with them many tours throughout Cordillera Blanca, Including Pisco, Chopicalqui and all of the lakes.
Veronika
5.00
June 2018
I can warmly recommend Eric and his company Peru Expeditions Tours. Eric and his team are very professional. They speak fluent English and Eric speaks German. They answered very quickly to questions before the trip. Eric helped me to organize an excursion to the high camp of Alpamayo. He also helped me to rent the right equipment. I also enjoyed ten fantastic days trekking Cordillera Huayhuash and climbing Nevado Pumarinri (5465 m) and Nevado Diablo Mudo (5350 m) with Eric and his team. The organization and the equipment (tents etc.) of the trekking were perfect and the team surprised me with a birthday cake at the Cashpapampau Camp (at 4500 meters) and they also prepared delicious vegetarian food for me on the hike. After Huayhuash we climbed Mount Tocllaraju (6034 HM), organized by Eric and Peru Expeditions Tours. All the guides who work for Eric are local people with a lot of experience and education in the mountains, they speak perfect English and try to do everything to make the clients happy! Thanks to Peru Expeditions Tours I really enjoyed the time in the mountains around Huaraz. I am looking forward to more treks and climbing with you in the future!
John Farris
5.00
May 2018
5 star guide. Nothing but the best.
Nicole et Catherine
5.00
April 2017
A very, very sympathic guide, who knows all the secrets of the places and itinerarys the most beautiful ; organization top ; food excellent too ; marvellous souvenirs.
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The hike was canceled. We didn’t go anywhere. Didn’t even get into the country.