This tour combines the best of the Lares Valley with visits to the fascinating Inca archeological remains of Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu. Our first stop is the colonial town of Lares, where we bathe in the medicinal hot springs and then start the four-day trek through the spectacular Urubamba Range. Every day is reasonably paced with ample time to enjoy the incredible scenery, waterfalls, and appreciation of the life of the Andean farmer. On the fourth day, we arrive to Ollantaytambo, considered a living museum because its stone dwellings continue to be inhabited. We will continue our tour, taking a short train ride heading to Machu Picchu, one of the oldest and most important cities of the world.
We leave Cusco by bus on the way down to Pisaq in Huaran stream (2950 MASL – 9676 FASL). Here we begin to walk up a small valley that tapers gradually upwards, on an original Inca Trail, enjoying a variety of flora and fauna. After a few hours of walking, we arrive at the Cancha Cancha community (4000 MASL – 13192 FASL) where you will be greeted and have the opportunity to share a glimpse of the traditional lifestyle and culture of this Andean community.
After breakfast, we ascend slowly to Accopata, an extension of Cancha Cancha community where shepherds live in chozas (huts) made of stone and roofs of typical Peruvian Ichu (tussock grass). We must begin a steep ascent to Pachacutec pass (4697 MASL – 15406 FASL), surrounded by views of the beautiful lakes like Suerococha and Azulcocha. We follow a trail that descends slowly with an amazing view of snowy peaks from Colque Cruz, Pitusiray, and Sawasiray. We will continue walking through the Collaycocha Chacon Mountains , reaching a waterfall near the community of Quiswarani (3902 MASL – 12798 FASL) where we will camp and enjoy the scenery and the traditional lifestyle .
After having breakfast, we leave our camp to start the climb to the Huillquijasa pass (4457 MASL – 14618 FASL) and see the Colque Cross, glaciers, and lakes filled with Amdean geese and ducks! The highest point of this day is at 3886 MASL / 12746 FASL, and then we go downhill until we reach the community of Cuncani, a picturesque village similar to our previous campsite. This was the last refuge of the Royal Panaka, an Incan sect. In the afternoon, we will continue on the path along highlands, lakes, and agricultural areas until reaching Cuncani 3 hours later, where we will have dinner and camp.
We leave at 8:00 AM from Cuncani to walk through a fertile valley with lush vegetation, crops, and agricultural communities. Along the trail, we will see native flowers, such as begonias and wild orchids. After a walk of about two hours we arrive in Lares (3261 MASL – 10696 FASL), the capital of the district of the same name and a large village whose principal attraction is its hot springs where we can enjoy a refreshing swim. After lunch, we will board a private car to take us to Ollantaytambo. From here, we continue three more hours by car to Ollantaytambo to continue our trip toward Machu Picchu. From Ollantaytambo, we take a breath-taking train ride through the Andes and cloud forest to Aguas Calientes. We spend the night in a nice hotel there.
Today we arrive at the long-awaited finale of our trek, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu! We will wake up early after a refreshing night at our hotel to beat the crowds to the top of Machu Picchu and enjoy its serenity in the soft morning light. The Machu Picchu entrance check point is open from 06:00 AM until 17:00 PM. We will hike up to Machu Picchu (a bus ride is optional for $12.00) and enter the hidden Royal Citadel of the Incas. Here we will have a 2-hour guided tour through this incredible ancient city to visit temples, terraces, palaces, priest’s houses, the sundial, the industrial sector, and the farming fields. Be amazed at the engineering ingenuity of the Incas which was so far ahead of their time and still partially a mystery today! Without having modern tools or even steel and iron to work with, the people who built this city were genius in organizing this community in a sustainable and beautiful way on the side of a mountain, even bringing water in canals through its streets for the people to use. When a Peruvian guide showed this site to Hiram Bingham, it was almost unrecognizable, covered in thick vegetation and in a state of disrepair. It has since been cleaned and restored and is now protected and treasured by the world at large! After this tour, you are free to climb up to Huayna Picchu (2 hours) or Machu Picchu Mountain (3 hours) (Be sure to book in advance to get tickets for these!). Another lower-impact option for which you do not need an extra ticket is to trek to the Sun Gate, the main entrance from the Inca Trail (this takes about 2 or 2.5 hours round-trip). Another option is walking to see the Incan Bridge. You will be able to stay and enjoy this magical city for plenty of time before hiking back down to Aguas Calientes (or taking the bus). Most people are ready to take the bus back to Aguas Calientes around 1pm where you can have lunch in one of the many restaurants (not included). While waiting for the train, you can visit a museum, more hot springs, cafes, etc. in the town. You need to be at the train station 30 minutes before your scheduled train departure time. There will be transport waiting for you in Ollantaytambo to bring you back to Cusco. Rest your feet and your body now, but we can assure you your heart will still be soaring for weeks and years to come!
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