Lares Highlights Tour: Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu (9 Days)

We will take you to Lima airport in the morning for your flight to Cusco. Our representative will be waiting for you in the arrival hall of Cusco airport, holding a sign with your name on it. After welcoming you to Cusco, they will take you to your hotel. You are free to relax and explore this fascinating city for the rest of the day, as well as acclimatise to the high altitude.

Cusco is not only the oldest continuously inhabited city on this continent, but also a hub of the South American travel network! The city attracts people from all around the world, who come not only to visit this unique destination, but also to experience a culture that differs greatly from 21st-century Western life. You could easily spend a week exploring this site and the surrounding area. Inca-built stone walls line most of the central streets, and other major Incan ruins are close by.  This is a city steeped in history, tradition and legend.

Every year, Cusco is visited by thousands of travellers who come to delve into its noble yet tragic past. The city is the perfect base for exploring the surrounding area and enjoying a range of outdoor activities.
Without a doubt, the most important monument in Cusco is Qorikancha, the Golden Temple and the main temple of the Incan Empire, Tawantinsuyo. It was here that the Sun God was worshipped.

Cusco also has numerous colonial churches. The most important of these is the cathedral in the main square. Construction of the cathedral began in 1559, and it took 100 years to complete. The cathedral boasts the city's largest collection of colonial art. Just past the entrance is a vault containing the remains of the famous Incan historian, Garcilaso de la Vega. Other churches worth seeing include La Compañía, La Merced and San Francisco.

One of the most spectacular days of the trip will take you through the lush agricultural region of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which was and still is the main source of food for the people of Cusco. On this tour, you will experience the contrast between imposing archaeological sites and modern-day life in the area first-hand.

Our adventure begins with a visit to the impressive Pisaq complex. Here, you will have the chance to take a two-hour optional hike (approximately 5 kilometres) to fully appreciate this huge ancient Inca city, which is located high in the Andean mountain range. After descending from the peaks, we will explore the town's vibrant craft market, which is undoubtedly a unique space and the perfect place to pick up souvenirs!

At noon, the tour will take us to Urubamba, a beautiful town and the heart of the Sacred Valley, for an essential stop. Here, we will take a well-deserved break to enjoy an exquisite buffet lunch featuring the rich and varied local Andean cuisine. Please note that this meal is not included in the tour price.

After lunch, we will continue our journey to the picturesque town of Ollantaytambo. This town is famous for its majestic archaeological site, whose main ruins are recognised as the finest surviving example of Inca urban planning and engineering. The town itself enjoys a good location, offering spectacular views of the Urubamba river valley. We will spend the night here, as the next morning we will embark on one of the best excursions to Machu Picchu: the challenging yet beautiful hike through the Lares Valley.

We leave Ollantaytambo early in the morning, travelling by bus through the Sacred Valley of the Incas until we reach the town of Lares. There, we relax in the medicinal hot springs for the rest of the morning. Later, we embark on an immersive hike through the valley, reaching the indigenous community of Wacawasi in time for our first night under the Andean sky.

On the second day, we cross the challenging 'Condor Pass' (4,100 metres above sea level), which boasts stunning vistas of the majestic Mount Veronica (5,750 metres above sea level). After reaching this altitude, we slowly descend to the shores of beautiful Lake Ipsaycocha, where we will set up our final high-altitude camp.

On the third day, we follow a beautiful trail downhill, passing spectacular viewpoints of the Willoc community. We then arrive back in Ollantaytambo, not to tour the town this time, but to board the night train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo). We will spend the night there, resting peacefully in the comfort of a hotel.

On the morning of our last day of the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu, we prepare for our long-awaited encounter with the Lost City of the Incas. Today, we only walk a couple of hours until we reach the entrance to this historic site. There, we will begin our guided tour, during which our guide will recount the history of the site and describe its various features. To ensure you have the best possible experience, we will adhere to the current regulations.

• Complete exploration: The main tour should ideally be taken on Circuit 2, as this is the only route that allows you to explore the archaeological site completely and in detail.
• Alternative routes: If the classic circuit is unavailable due to high demand, you can choose to visit via Circuit 1 or Circuit 3, which offer equally spectacular views.
• After the tour, you can climb the peaks to see the Inca citadel from above. Please note that if you wish to visit Huayna Picchu, you must book the Circuit 3A ticket. Alternatively, if you wish to climb Machu Picchu Mountain, you will need the corresponding access for Circuit 1A. Please note that these activities incur an additional cost and must be booked well in advance.

In the afternoon, we will take the train back to Ollantaytambo station (or Poroy station, if you prefer). Our van will be waiting there to take you back to Cusco in comfort.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Today is a rest day, so you can explore the fascinating former Inca capital, visit its markets, buy souvenirs and take part in optional activities, as well as preparing for your last night in the city.

There are many excellent museums to explore, such as the Inca Museum, the Qoricancha Museum, the Archaeological Museum (which also houses a small art exhibition), the Regional Historical Museum, and the Religious Art Museum.

The city is also the perfect base for the more adventurous, offering a range of outdoor activities such as white-water rafting on the Urubamba River, horse riding around the nearby archaeological sites of Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambo Machay and Puca Pucara, and mountain biking to Maras, Moray and the Salineras salt pans, with the option of visiting Incan sites along the way.

Take a flight from Cusco airport to Lima.

Service ends here.

Starting The Lares Trek

Day 1 - 2: We will pick you up from your hotel at 06:00 and take you to the Lares community and hot springs. Then we will continue the hike to the Huacawasi camp on the Lares Trek. The next day, we will wake up early and start the trek to Lares. We will enjoy the views of Ipsacocha Lake and the beautiful landscapes of the high mountains. You can choose between a homestay in Patacancha or camping.

Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

Day 3: We have breakfast at a homestay, where we experience Andean culture. In the afternoon, we will take the train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu guided Tour

Day 4: We wake up very early and continue our trek to the Lost City. We take a guided tour of Machu Picchu, and in the afternoon we take a train to Ollantaytambo, followed by a bus to Cusco.

• Welcome by our representative upon arrival;
• All airport arrival and departure transfers;
• One domestic flight: Lima – Cusco
• Accommodation: Three-star hotels (five nights), campsites (two nights) and a hostel (one night);
• All entrance fees according to the itinerary;
• Professional bilingual tour guides as per the itinerary;
• A cook for the Lares Valley trek;
• Mules and llamas to carry food, camping and cooking equipment, as well as 6 kg of each passenger's luggage, during the Lares Valley trek;
• Meals: - 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners and 3 afternoon teas during the Lares Valley Trek
• Camping equipment for the Lares Valley Trek, including personal double tents, sleeping mats, tables, chairs, a dining tent and a toilet tent
• A cooking tent with cooking equipment for the Lares Valley Trek
• A sleeping bag (for temperatures down to -5°C) for the trek
• Transport by private van during tours and local transfers
• A return journey by tourist train (Expedition Service) between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes

• Pre- and post-tour accommodation
• Last flight from Cusco to Lima
• International flights and airport departure taxes
• Travel insurance
• Meals not mentioned
• A shuttle bus between Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes
• Tips and baggage portage for local staff (please note that it is customary to give tips in Peru, but not obligatory)
• Optional tours
• Other extras not specified

Meal budget: Please budget between USD 100 and 150 for meals that are not included.

Single room: Please note that if you have booked the 'Single Room' option for this tour, you will have your own single room for all nights and your own single tent for the Lares Valley Trek.

Local flights: One local flight is included in the cost. In order to process all air tickets, it is very important that we have your passport details at the time of booking. Each internal flight ticket is issued locally and will be given to you before your flight departs!

On day 3, the camping equipment for the Lares Trek will be returned to Cusco. You will need to give your sleeping bag and mattress to the chef.

A double tent will be provided on nights 1 and 2.

A double room in Aguas Calientes town is provided on night 3.

This Lares trek includes the carriage of 5 kilos of personal items by horse. You will need to carry a daypack containing your camera, water bottle, snacks, cold-weather clothing, a poncho (in case of rain, which is unlikely in the dry season from May to October) and anything else you will need before lunch, as the horses will not be walking alongside you.

You will meet up with your bag at lunchtime, after which it will be waiting for you in your tent at the campsite.

The bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes is included in this trek, and a guide will be provided on day 4.

The highland region of Cusco experiences distinct winter and summer seasons. Winter days (June to August) are sunny and warm, but temperatures drop to near freezing at night. The rainy season is from January to March. December and January are two of the best months for trekking, with only the occasional shower and lots of flowers in bloom.

Luggage and backpacker for you trekking

Generally speaking, you should pack as lightly as possible. The horses will carry your luggage from Lares on the first day to Patacancha on the second day. On the three-day hike, you will take your luggage by train to Aguas Calientes. You are expected to carry your own luggage for up to 10 minutes. We recommend keeping the weight under 5 kg (10 lb). You will need to carry clothes and a sleeping bag.

It is very important that you take the best backpacker cover, because the weather on the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu changes every day and we cannot predict whether it will rain or not. If you don't have one, we recommend putting your clothes, sleeping bag and other personal equipment inside a plastic bag.

Wear appropriate clothing on this hike to the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

During the day, hiking trousers and T-shirts are recommended, along with sweaters, fleeces and waterproof jackets. It is advisable to keep light rain gear in your daypack, such as a rain poncho, rain jacket and/or rain trousers, as the weather can change suddenly and it can rain unexpectedly. At night, you will need warm clothing; down jackets are useful for this, otherwise a fleece and a jacket will suffice. On the third day, if it is sunny, convertible hiking trousers are useful as they can be switched into shorts if necessary. Machu Picchu has a warm climate, only getting cold at night. The rest of the necessary items are included in the 'What we recommend that you bring' list.

What to bring to Lares trek to Machu Picchu?

• Passport original
• Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount)
• Cash in soles no dollars
• A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek
• Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
• Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended
• Sandals or jogging shoes for a higher comfort while at camp
• Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping
• Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
• Camera and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
• Sun block
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
• Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – no malaria risk has been reported
• Handkerchiefs
• Toilet paper
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc. Please note that we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. This recommendation applies for all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it is not included in our selection
• Water container and water for the first morning. Important notice: plastic water bottles are no longer allowed into Machu Picchu. Plastic water containers (ie. Nalgene) or metal ones are recommended
• Optionally: water- sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far
• Small towel
• Swimsuit (if you wish to go to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
• Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required in order not to damage archaeological sites).