We have designed this fantastic 5 day itinerary of Lares trek & Short Inca Trail, as the perfect option to blend parts of the two popular treks: the classic Lares trek to Machu Picchu and the short Inca Trail hike. This wonderful trek goes through the astonishing mountain scenery and enables you to enjoy all the interesting rural life of the locals on the mountains of the Andes.
During the second part of this trip, you will have the opportunity of taking the short Inca Trail hike and explore the magical sites of the Incas along the trail. You will spend two nights in hotel and 2 great nights in tent. Travelers will have the chance to enjoy the afternoon vistas around Machu Picchu and the popular Sunrise the following morning. This stunning Lares valley gives you the chance to hike up to Huayna Picchu with train return to Ollantaytambo in the afternoon.
Pick up from your Hotel in Cusco. Our private van leaves Cusco at 6:00am for a scenic drive through the Sacred Valley, passing through Chinchero with a short stop in the town of Urubamba, (2,800 masl) for a toilet break and also you have chance to buy any last minute suplies, water, etc,. Departing from Urubamba you will have a further 20 minutes’ drive to the trail-head at Pumahuanca Valley. This is the place where we will meet our horses and wranglers, (arrieros). All of our camping equipment will be loaded on mules and horses.
We begin the hike through this beautiful Valley in the Andes with lots of native forest . 2 hours walk to the Inca complex of Pumahuanca, where the guide will talk about the Incas. Hiking one one more hour uphill along the same valley we will reach our lunch spot near to the village of P`accha surrounded with some native trees of qeuñas, elder-berry, and the spectacular mountain landscapes, herds of llamas, alpacas, sheep and goats. Then final 2 hours further we will pass by a series of small waterfalls and beautiful area named Cuyoc will be our campsite for the night at 4,000 mts.
Early wake up with a cup of coca tea, then after a good breakfast we will start the second day of Lares valley trek with scenic views of the mountains around. This is the challenging part for our trip, there will be 3 hours uphill hike along the picturesque path with some stone steps to arrive to Pumahuanca Pass. located at 4,580 masl (a holly place with lots of stone piles, made by pilgrims as a symbol of respect and gratitude to the Apus). After we got the summit there will be time to enjoy the amazing views of Pumahuanca valley and parts of Moray, Maras and Salineras.
Then we have to continue the downhill for 2 hours along a stone road with breathtaking views of some tall glaciers and beautiful Andean lakes. Along the way to Cuncani we will meet some local campesinos (people of the local village) dressing bright colorful clothings as is traditional with all villages around Lares valley. Also there will be chance to see some llamas and alpacas grazing on the hills.
Cuncani is one of the main communities in Lares Valley. Located at 3,750 masl where our cook will provide us the second day lunch. Local women will meet us at the lunch spot, they are eager to sell us their great hand-made textiles. In the afternoon we will have 1 hour hike to arrive to our campsite and overnight at the beautiful place of Chanca.
Some of the villagers usually come in our stops to meet us. The locals of this area are incredibly welcoming and are just as eager to learn about you as you about them, this is the opportunity to give them any gifts you’ve brought for the local people or just to buy some of the locally made alpaca products that the region is famed for.
We will leave the our last campsite. It is just 1 hour hike to arrive to the excellent hot springs of Lares Valley. Following a beautiful valley, we get to pass small villages. Lunch is around the thermal baths.
After a relaxing dip in the hot springs we’ll be driven back to the Sacred Valley. In the evening you will have chance to explore Ollantaytamboto (Inka town).
After an early breakfast at the hotel you will walk 10 minutes to the train station in Ollantaytambo. Here you board the Expedition train, travel by train for 1 hr and 45 minutes to Km 104 (start of the trek). At Km 104 after submitting passports at check control point, we began to walk softly around meters Vilcanota River then gradually to walk up around 600 mts . Starting the hike we will see the ruins of Chachabamba a beautiful Inca site , After visiting Chachabamba , we continue the path south and started a gradual hike to the mountain , before entering a cloud forest , overgrown area. After walking 3 hours, the road will take us to a nice area with a beautiful waterfall, then get to the bottom of the ruins of Winaywayna . Our expert guide will tells us all the history of this charming site.
After lunch at Winaywayna , we will continue hiking following the last portion of the classic Inca Trail trek , filled with native plants as the orchids and ferns . As we walk the last part of the trail to the popular Sun gate, there is a place where we climb 50 stairs before you reach Inti Punku. From here, you can see and observe this magnificent place . Then descend for 45 minutes to get to the famous viewpoint to watch the sunset and take pictures. Descend to the gate of Machu Picchu where we board the bus to Aguas Calientes. Accommodation and Dinner included , rest, plans and arrangements for the next day.
After an early breakfast we board the bus to Machu Picchu at 05:20, the citadel opens at 6:00 am. We have a guided tour of Machu Picchu, this enigmatic and mysterious city is explored for about 2-3 hours explained by your expert guide , you will visit the most amazing places as the Royal Mausoleum , the Temple of the three windows , the main temple , the Sacred Plaza , the famous Intihuatana where Incas determinated the winter solstice in June , stairways , plazas , fountains, etc. Then you will have free time to explore more places on your own. Optional walks to Inca Bridge and Huayna picchu MT (check availability at your booking time).
After to finish our masterful visit to Machu Picchu, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes. Here you can have lunch before to board the train back to Ollantaytambo. Then our transfer will take you to Cusco hotel by car.
US $30.00 discount on the above prices to students with a valid International Student Identity Card (ISIC) and to children under the age of 16. (Scans of your ISIC card or child’s passport must be provided at the time of paying the trek deposit in order to qualify for the discount). International Youth Travel Cards (IYTC card), Youth card or other forms of student identity are not acceptable for the Classic Inca Trail or any other hike
Important Note: We will book your short Inca Trail trek permits using the names passport numbers, nationality, date of birth, and sex. That you send us with your trek departure date.
You must bring the same passports with you to Cusco and take them on the trek. If you plan to renew your passport between making the trek booking and actually starting the trek please visit our web page. At www.topperutrips.com
If you book the Inca Trail hike at the student price, you must send us a copy of your ISIC card at the time you pay the trek deposit.
If you fail to bring your ISIC card on the trek the government authorities will not allow you to start the trek and you will not have chance to pay the extra and finish the trek.
