TREK DE LARES

We detail here the program of the trek day by day if you organize it through an agency.

Day 1: Cusco - Calca - Lares. Transportation usually leaves early, around 5:30 am. You have breakfast in Calca (2,940 meters), still in the Sacred Valley, and then the road starts to climb. You will then pass by Totora and Maucaupata. After about 4 hours of travel, you will arrive at Lares (3,200 meters) where you can enjoy the thermal baths (entrance fee S/ 15). After lunch, you will start your walk and after about 4 hours of walking, you will reach the camp of Wacahuasi at 3 600 meters.

Day 2: Wacahuasi - Ipsaycocha - Patacancha. After breakfast you will start the trek towards the second camp. You will climb to the highest point of this trek, 4,450 meters, and will be able to observe the peaks of Pitusiray, Sawasiray or Chicon. You will arrive at the lagoon of Ipsaycocha where you will have lunch at 4,100 meters. From this point on, the rest of the trek is a long descent. Then, in the afternoon, you will reach Patacancha. Here you will meet communities that will show you their hand woven costumes. Patacancha is a community open to rural tourism. They also have homestays and weaving workshops. The agencies sleep in tents, a little away from the village.

Day 3. Patacancha - Willoq - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes. You will pass by the archaeological remains of Qochapata and Punamarca. You will walk on a rocky road with little traffic and will also take some remains of the Inca Trail. At the end of the morning you will reach Ollantaytambo and join the flow of tourists taking the train to Aguas Calientes. The trek is really 2 days/2 nights, the last day you will do very little walking. Lunch included and train ride.

Day 4. Machu Picchu. Visit the site and return by train to Ollantaytambo or Cusco.

Mountain Lodges of Peru has also set up its luxurious lodges here, which allow for a very comfortable trek. The 5 days-4 nights formula costs between 1990 and 2 650 US$, it includes the visit to the archeological site of Pisaq, the night in their lodge of Lamay, the trek of Lares with night in their lodge of Wacahuasi and finally 2 nights in very comfortable hotels of Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, full board, visit to Machu Picchu and train of return A 7 days version allows to explore more the Sacred Valley and the villages and landscapes. Infos : mountainlodgesofperu.com