Lares Inca Trail

Today we will wake up around 5 a.m., and have breakfast, while enjoying the beautiful incredible views of the colorful lake and the Quiswarani valley. We will see local people walking their llamas and alpacas to graze. Breakfast will be served as soon as you finish packing your equipment. Then we will fill our water bottles, organize refreshments and start walking. It will be a three or four hour climb to get to the top of the mountain. This step is called Pachacute or Condor Pass. We will climb zigzag to compensate for the steep slope. The views of the area are impressive. You will see lakes, waterfalls, llamas and alpacas. We will have an emergency horse to travel in case you are tired. Once you arrive at the Paso del Cóndor you will be above the clouds, over the mountain peaks and the surrounding 360 degree views are amazing. In front of you is the majestic Pitusiray mountain, which stands at 5,700m / 18,700ft, and the Condor Pass is at 4,680m / 15,354ft. Afterwards, we will enjoy the service of hot drinks that your doormen will carry. We will take advantage of some phenomenal photography opportunities and begin our descent.

The descent will start for an hour towards El Mirador (Vista Point), where you will enjoy lunch. Maybe there are some llamas grazing nearby. After lunch, you will walk the last three hours downhill, with fantastic views of many lakes, llamas and alpacas, before arriving at your camp, the village of Cancha Cancha, which is the only town that does not have modern technology. It is a village located at 3,750 m / 12,303 feet where people still practice traditions of the Incas. In this village, 85 percent of the houses are still of original, old construction, made of stone, with thatched roofs. Unlike any other town in the Valley of Lares, this town has no electricity or cars. You will have time to meet with local children. We provide them with food and school supplies, so we invite our travelers to share this support in the education and health of this hometown. You can join us and bring everything you want to complement the lives of these children who speak Quechua. Then your guide will take you to one of the local family houses, where you will learn about the lifestyle of the locals. You can see how they raise their guinea pigs, and you will learn about traditional textiles, hand woven, made of llama wool and alpaca. This is the best day of your walk. In the evening, you will enjoy hot drinks and dinners.

Walking Distance: 14 km / 8 miles

Maximum Altitude: 830 meters / 2,723 feet

Camping Altitude: 3,750 meters / 12,303 feet

Our porters will wake you up with a hot drink and you will have time to pack your bags and enjoy breakfast. After breakfast, you will have time to explore the village and visit the local primary school. Once you are ready, you will begin the last stage of your trip to Lares. They will spend four hours walking downhill, along this beautiful path, where they will spend more llamas and alpacas. We will go through farms where they grow potatoes, beans and many other traditional tubers, in the traditional Inca style. This is a great opportunity to learn about Peruvian agriculture because people still cultivate by hand with traditional Inca farming tools. Now, we will begin to descend to the warmest area, the Sacred Valley. You will begin to feel the microclimatic changes and begin to see crops that are different from the high mountains. Around the Sacred Valley they grow corn, quinoa, kiwi, peaches, avocados and other types of fruits. Of course, this area has a lot of Inca history. You will finish the tour in the small town of Huaran, in the Sacred Valley, at 2,700 m / 8,858 feet, where you will bid farewell to your horses, riders, chef and porters, as they will return to their homes.

From Huaran, we travel a short trip by car to the valley to visit the salineras of Salineras, in the city of Maras. Here, at 11,000 feet above sea level, a source of salt water gushes and spills down the side of the mountain. More than 3,000 evaporation chambers have been created that have been in use since pre-Inca times. It is said that salt has healing properties because it is loaded with natural minerals, some of them even turn pink. Local families each of these pots, and earn their living by supplying salt to the cities in the area. There is a small shop in the place, if you mind taking a little salt home. After visiting Salineras, we will go to our hotel in Ollantaytambo to spend the night at the hotel.

Walking distance: 9 km / 6.2 miles

You will have an early breakfast and then you will go to the train station for the train at 6:10 a.m. at the beginning of the best 2 day Inca Trail tour. The train follows the Urubamba River, until reaching Km104, where we will start our trek. First we headed to Chachabamba (2270m / 7448f), where our guide will inform us about the previous function of this archaeological site. From then on, we will arrive at Wiñayhuayna (2650m / 8694f), the most important archaeological site, besides Machu Picchu. After that, our trail continues towards the Puerta del Sol "Inti Punku", a beautiful viewpoint from which we can enjoy the nightfall at Machu Picchu (2400m / 7874f).

A great advantage of this hike is that by the time we get to Machu Picchu, most of the travelers of the day will have returned home, so they will have the area for you. After taking pictures, we took the bus to Aguas Calientes and went to his hotel, where we had dinner and went to rest early, to make the most of the next day.

We will leave our hotel for Machu Picchu after breakfast at 5:30 am by bus. We will leave very early, because at that time there are fewer people and in the morning at a good time to enjoy the tranquility and the ancient spirit of the most well-known archaeological zone on the continent. After our arrival at the citadel around 6:00 in the morning, our guide will give us detailed information about Machu Picchu and the history and culture of the Incas. From then on, you will have enough free time to enjoy and explore the site on your own (for example go to the Puente del Inca, explore the variety of buildings or climb Waynapicchu for an incredible panoramic image). A bus will take us back to Aguas Calientes. Here you have the possibility to join the hot springs of the city (soles S / 10.00 soles). In the afternoon, you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo, and then a bus to Cusco, where you will be taken back to your hotel.

• Pre-briefing (Our guide will be visit your hotel a day before the trek for your briefing);
• A tourist van to the head trail of the Lares Inca Trail trek;
• Entrance fee to the hot spring of Lares;
• Entrance fee to Machu Picchu and Inca Trail permits;
• Meals: 4x Breakfast, 4x Lunch, 4x Dinner, 3x afternoon´s hot beverages (If you are a vegetarian, please advise us in advance. A vegetarian meal option is for NO extra cost!);
• Accomodation: Camping (2 nights) and Hotel (02 night)
• Experienced bilingual Tour Guide (a group up to 8 participants has 1 Tour Guide, a groups over 8 participants receives 2 Tour Guides);
• A professional trekking chef;
• Muleteer during the hike in Lares;
• Horses to carry food, camping, cooking equipment and and 5 kg of each passenger's stuff;
• Two radios will be used to communicate with the towns of Lares and Ollantaytambo. Our guide and chef will stay in contact throughout the hike;
• Camping equipment: Eureka Mountain Personal double tents (4 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks);
• Inflatable mattress (Term-a-Rest Mattress);
• A sleeping bag (for up to -5°C);
• A blanket per person;
• A pillow;
• Water every day (excluding the first 4 hours of the trek when you need to bring your own);
• Tables and chairs, cooking tent with cooking equipment, dining and toilet tents and bottled gas;
• Rain Ponchos;
• Duffel bag (for your personal belongings);
• A T-shirt of the Machu Picchu;
• 2 Ticket Train one way to Km 104 and return from Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo;
• A shuttle bus to Machu Picchu (up and down);
• First aid kit and oxygen ball.

Additional Activities:

In Patacancha, our Responsible People Foundation has created an experience to share with the families of our local porters. Our guide will introduce you to their family, and you will have a brief visit and an introduction to Andean life.

• Breakfast on the first day and the last lunch in Aguas Calientes.
• Huayna Picchu tickets (U$80).
• Travel Insurance (It is mandatory to present your travel insurance, as this trek is a high-altitude experience).
• Tips for local staff.
• Other extras not mentioned.

OPTIONAL SERVICES TO BE HIRED

• Walking sticks or trekking poles USD 20 for both
• Personal shared horses: Tierras Vivas provides a porter duffle bag for your belongings/equipment at the briefing time the night before of your tour. Foam pad roll mattress, Therma- rest mattress, blanket, pillow and rain poncho is provided to each trekker and need to be carried by your porter. it is more comfortable. *Equipment as sleeping bags, backpacks, duffle bag, pillow, blanket, rain ponchos,water bottles must be organised in advance at the time of your booking or send us an e-mail.

EXTRA INFORMATION

The camping equipment of Lares Inca trail will be returned to Cusco on day 3rd, you need to give to chef the sleeping bag, mattress.

• Camping (double tent) provided in nights 1st, 2nd, 3rd
• The bed (double room) provided in Aguas Calientes town on last night

This Lares Inca Trail included 7 kilos of personal items in the tour price carried by horses. You will need to carry with you a daypack with your Camera, water bottle, snacks, cold weather clothing and a poncho in case of rain (unlikely in Dry season May to October)- but as a precaution) and anything you will need before lunch as horses do not walk alongside you. You will meet up with your bag at lunch and then it will be waiting for you in your tent at campsites. The bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes is included in this trek and our guide will provided on day 3th.

TIPPING & EXTRA MONEY

• It’s very important to take EXTRA MONEY. You need to take at least 100-200 soles emergency money: The local people built the small markets in the route and you can find the water, snack, chocolate, cola etc. Your first breakfast, last lunch no included.
• Tipping in Lares Inca Trail: If at the end of your trek you felt your trekking guide(s), and staff did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference: however as a guideline we suggest each hiker contributes USD 50 per person to a collective tipping pool, more is always appreciated.

During the Lares Inca Trail we spend three nights full-service camping, meaning that our camp staff will erect and dismantle the tents, cook, and do all camp chores for you: you need only carry your day pack. There will also be dining and toilet tents and bowls of warm water are provided both morning and evening for washing with.

Our tents are of the brand Eureka Timberline Outfitter 4 person designated for 4 seasons. We provide with 4 person capacity tents; however, just 2 trek participants use it! In this way, we provide you more space and comfort. In case of a single traveller, we provide with a 2 person capacity tent.

Single Supplement: If you are traveling on your own, and would prefer to share a tent, we'll pair you with another trekker of the same gender and there will not be an extra cost. If you prefer to have a tent to yourself a surcharge of USD 50 will have to be paid. If you want an upgrade any service to the train or accommodation or do you want to stay extra night in Machu Picchu, contact us directly to info@tierrasvivas.com for this to be done and confirmed to you.

Luggage and backpacker for you trekking

Generally speaking you should pack as lightly as possible. The horses carry your luggage from Lares (1st day) to Patacancha (2th day). 3 day hike, you will take your luggage by train to Aguas Calientes. You are expected to carry your own luggage (max 10 min). We recommend keeping the weight under 7 kg/14lb. You will need to carry clothes, sleeping bag. If very important your take best cover backpacker, because the weather in Inca Trail Lares trek is change every date, we can’t predict it raining or no. If you don’t have, we recommended putting your clothes, sleeping bag and other personal equipment inside the plastic bag.

Appropriate clothing along this hike

Hiking pants and T-shirts are recommended during the day, complemented by sweaters, fleeces and waterproof jackets. It is very convenient to have light raingear available in the daypack (rain poncho or jacket and/or rain pants) as the weather changes easily and rains can suddenly occur. At night, warm clothing is required, down jackets can be useful, otherwise a fleece and a jacket. During the third day (if sunny) and in Machu Picchu, convertible hiking pants are useful, as can be switched into shorts if necessary. During the best 2 day Inca Trail tour, the climate will be warm, getting only cold at night. The rest of necessary implements are included in the “What we recommend you to bring” list.

What we recommend you to bring?

• 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
• Hhydrating 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 for best 2 day Inca Trail tours: plastic water bottles are no longer allowed into Machu Picchu. Plastic water containers (ie. Nalgene) or metal ones are recommended

Optional: 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); walking sticks (rubber covers required in order not to damage archaeological sites).