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Trekking tours around Cusco
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu, 6 days/ 5 nights Program
Day 1: Huaran to Cancha Cancha. We pick you up from your hotel between 08:00 and 08:30 and travel by private bus for the 1½ hour ride to the village of Huaran (2840m) located in the Sacred Valley between Pisac and Urubamba. Huaran is the start of the trail. As a more comfortable alternative you can arrive one or two days before to our charming Urubamba Boutique Lodge, perhaps straight from the airport to do a Sacred Valley tour and stay an extra day to get used to altitude, just resting or doing some horseback tours or short alternative walks in the Valleys beautiful surroundings.
We'll meet up with the horsemen and pack the horses. Leaving the Sacred Valley behind us we head northwards following a gently climbing trail that runs parallel to the small Cancha Cancha river. It’s a 4 hour trek to our destination, the small village also named Cancha Cancha (3800m) where we’ll spend the night. (L,D)
Day 2: Cancha Cancha to Pachacutec pass and to Quisuarani. Leaving Cancha Cancha we continue north east up the valley, passing small thatched stone houses. After ½ hour the path flattens out before climbing steeply for the 2½ hour trek to the first pass, called Pachacutec Pass (4458m). From the pass you’ll be rewarded with superb views of Pachacutec Lake and the snowy peaks of Pitusiray. The path continues for an hour along a narrow ridge until dropping down into a beautiful secluded narrow valley filled with glacial lakes and rich in birdlife. The trail descends into the next valley, following a series of cascading waterfalls to the village of Quisuarani (3700m) about 1 hours’ easy walking from the pass. We’ll camp here for the night. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Quisuarani to Huillquijasa Pass and to Cuncani. Heading west up a small valley you’ll arrive at a lake at the head of the valley and start a steep zig-zag climb up a narrow trail to the top of the second pass known as Abra Huillquijasa (4200m), about 3 hours’ from Quisuarani village. Below you lies a series of stunning turquoise lakes. We’ll drop down and have lunch beside the lakes before continuing on for the short trek to the next village of Cuncani (3750m) in the bottom of the valley (1½ hour from the pass). Arriving early in the village we’ll set up camp and you’ll have time to explore the surrounding hills. (B,L,D,)
Day 4: Cuncani – Huacawasi – Ipsaycocha pass and camp
Rising early we have the opportunity to see the morning activities of this highland farming village and enjoy breakfast served up by our cook before resuming our trek.
Departing Cuncani we climb steeply reaching an altitude of around 4300m to reach a beautiful and silent lake surrounded by impressive deep valleys and high mountains in the horizont. The place is ideal for a short resting stop and to enjoy the lanscape. Starting again, we walk down into a spectacular deep and long valley plenty of stone enclosures for alpacas and llamas, passing the Huacawasi village (the Sacred House) with scattered thatched roof stone houses at 3820m and continue upward reaching an altitude of around 4400 m before stopping for lunch near Azul Cocha at 4275 m. Surrounded by the peaks of the Andes – including the snow capped Mount Veronica – the scenery is quite breathtaking. Climbing steadily once again, the open landscape is often dotted with herds of alpaca and llama. A tough but rewarding final push brings us to the highest point of the trek, the Ipsaycocha pass at 4450m, from where the spectacular views give a feeling of being on top of the world. As this is the most challenging part of the trek.
After time for celebratory photographs, we descend through the heartland of the traditional Quechua people to our last campsite at Ipsaycocha lagoons – home to Andean Geese, Puna Ibis and other water birds, as well as large alpaca herds. (Approx 8 hrs walking. (B,L,D).
Day 5: Ipsaycocha to Patacancha, Pumamarca, Huilloc and to Ollantaytambo. Train to Machu Picchu.
The final section of our trek is a descent to the valley of Patacancha. A steady 3 hours walking brings us to the town of Patacancha, a long-established textile community with strong ancient Quechua traditions surrounded by stunning scenery. Little visited by tourists this area gives a privileged insight into the lives of the Quechua inhabitants and their welcome is warm. Departing Patacancha by minibus we head towards the extensive Inca ruins of Pumamarca which stand sentry on the hillside overlooking the Ollantaytambo valley. Clinging to the hillside, Pumamarca is remarkably well-preserved Inca fort thought to have been built to protect the Sacred Valley. Continuing down to the town of Huilloc, we visit the handicrafts center of this quite well known traditional textiles community. Finally we reach Ollantaytambo where we visit the famous Ollantaytambo temple and fortress, and the small Inca museum and have time to wander through the delightful streets to see many of the original Inca walls and doorways on which the modern town has been built.
We then catch the evening train to Aguas Calientes (named after its nearby hot springs), the starting point for tomorrow’s visit to the astounding lost Inca City of Machu Picchu. (B,L,D)
Day 6: Machu Picchu - Cuzco
Rising early we take the first bus up to Machu Picchu (7.00am) to beat the thronging crowds which arrive mid morning. After a 2 and a half hours guided tour, you will then have plenty of free time to explore this mystical Inca city, perhaps climb the vertiginous Huayna Picchu (Young Mountain) which overlooks the site or visit the Inca Bridge. Returning to Aguas Calientes by bus we then catch the late afternoon train back to Cuzco.