Lares Trek Short Inca Trail To Machu Picchu 6 Days

Early in the morning, we’ll pick you up from your hotel. We will then drive for about 3 hours and 30 minutes to get Lares hot springs 3,200 m / 10,496 ft, on the way, we’ll stop in Calca a small town in the Sacred Valley, to visit its typical market and get some items for the trail. Upon our arrival at the hot springs, we’ll meet our muleteers and get ready our rucksacks to start the adventure. The trail starts going up the highland valley gradually. Today we’ll have our lunch at about 1:30 pm on the halfway to the first campsite. After lunch, the adventure goes on, along this section of the trail we’ll see some herds of llamas and alpacas, and we’ll reach our first campsite located in Huacawasi village 3,800 m / 12,464 ft. At the campsite after our arrival, we’ll have our tea time and dinner. Today, we’ll have an option to swim at the hot springs before our hike starts, whose cost is 10 PEN (not included), or just start hiking to the first campsite instead, as the most hikers do, this will be managed by you and your trek leader. Lunch and dinner included (except breakfast which is supplied at your hotel).

• Hiking distance: 8 km / 4.97 miles.
• Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours.
• Lowest elevation: 3,200m / 10,496ft (hot springs)
• Highest elevation: 3,800m / 12,464ft (camp site)
• Highlight: Hiking in the Andean valleys with pretty scenic views, interact with local people (children), llama and alpaca herds along the trail, and camping in a highland village.

Today, we’ll wake up early in the morning and a great nutritious breakfast will make us ready for the challenging day. After having breakfast, we’ll hike up to the highest point on the trail called Puerto pass at 4,420 m / 14,498 ft, for about 4 hours from our campsite. On this section of the trail, we’ll still see some herd of llamas and alpacas close to us, and pretty scenic views. When we arrive at the highest pass, we’ll take a deserved break while savoring great views around and a perfect time to offer some Coca leaves to the Andes spirits making an Apacheta (mound of stones piled up as a memorial or to mark a boundary or path). We’ll then hike downhill to reach our lunch spot located close to a beautiful lagoon, where we’ll enjoy just prepared fresh meals and hot drinks. After lunch, we’ll continue descending to our second campsite located in Mantanay valley, a valley with beautiful Andean trees called Qeuña (a typical tree from the highlands of Peru that grows up between 3,400m / 11,152 ft trough 4,300m/ 14,104 ft, polylepis “Rosaceae” is a genus of low trees with rugged scaly bark). In the evening we’ll take our hot drinks and dinner. All meals included.

• Hiking distance: 14 km / 8.69 miles.
• Hiking time: 7 – 8 hours.
• Lowest elevation: 3,700m / 12,136 ft (camp site)
• Highest elevation: 4,420m / 14,498 ft (pass)
• Highlight: Llama and alpaca herds along the trail, reaching the highest point, beautiful lakes along the trail, and camping in a highland valley.

Another great day awaits us and a great breakfast makes us ready for it. After taking our breakfast, we’ll descend for about 3 hours to Yanahuara, a village located in the Sacred Valley, where we’ll have our last lunch and say goodbye to our muleteers and cook. After having lunch,stay this overnight at a hotel .

• Hiking distance: 7 km / 4.35 miles.
• Hiking time: 2 – 3 hours.
• Lowest elevation: 3,050 m / 10,004 ft (The end of the trail)
• Highest elevation: 3,700m / 12,136ft (camp site)
• Highlight: Hiking through the highland forest, train journey to Aguas Calientes town,  hotel in Aguas Calientes town.
• Train schedule: It can be at 3:37 pm or a later train in expedition class (depends on the availability).

By this stage on your trek, you will have really gotten into the swing of things. Fully motivated and raring to go, early in the morning we take our train for two hours to 104 km (2,100m/6,927ft), Cusco-Machu Picchu way. With the exhilaration starting to lock in we begin our trek, passing the first checkpoint. Afterwards we initiate a moderate climb for three hours to the magnificent archaeological site of Wiñayhuana. (2,650m/8747ft). Once there, we notice the weights lift off our shoulders, as we take in the spectacular views of the Urubamba Canyon, the stunning Inca sites around us, and the connection to the traditional four day Inca Trail. We continue onward towards the Sun Gate, (2,730m/9,007ft) where we take flight with excitement as we get our first spectacular view of Machu Picchu in all its brilliance and its majestic monumentality. Your destiny awaits you, just one more hour downward, to the Citadel of Machu Picchu, taking the bus to Aguas Calientes, where we will spend our last night in our hotel.

• Meals: Box lunch & Dinner.
• Hotel: La Cabaña Hotel  3***/ Inti Punku
• Distance: 13 kms/8 miles
• Time: 6hrs approximately
• Difficulty: Moderate

Bursting with excitement on your final surreal day, we take the first bus to Machu Picchu archeological site, making sure we tour every nook and cranny of this New 7 Wonder of the World and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The Citadel of the Incas, Machu Picchu, what an unforgettable experience. Your guide will expertly direct you through the energetic ruins and its diverse main streets. Then on your own, you can wander around the town squares of the world’s spiritual center of esoteric wisdom, as well as climb the intricately carved stairways made of stone. Or you can stay still and find the peace within as you sit in the pure delight of the moment.

If you wish to indulge in a few of the following activities on your own you can (not included in the price):

Climb up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain to appreciate the beauty and magnificence of Machu Picchu from the views above (additional cost)
You will be given some time to walk to the Sun Gate or Inti Punku. (Free of cost)

Other optional activities in Aguas Calientes include a visit to the new local museum or to the hot springs (will be an additional entrance fee).

When you are ready, you will descend to Aguas Calientes, have a leisurely lunch on your own, and later on board the train at 2:55pm or 18:20 pm for the return trip to Cusco with the Expedition Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo station (Cusco), where you will catch our private van back to Cusco .

Meal: Breakfast
Hotel: San Agustin Internacional 3*** or  Rumi Punku 3***