This is our Cultural Trek that will take you through Andean communities where people still live the ancient way! We reach Aguas Calientes via Train and go up to Machupicchu for sunrise!
Duration – 4 Days |
Difficulty – Medium |
This is our Cultural Trek that will take you through Andean communities where people still live the ancient way! We reach Aguas Calientes via Train and go up to Machupicchu for sunrise!
Duration – 4 Days |
Difficulty – Medium |
Day 1 | Cusco – Huaran (Sacred Valley) – Cancha Cancha |
Day 2 | Cancha Cancha – Quishuarani |
Day 3 | Quishuarani – Lares (thermal springs) – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes |
Day 4 | Machu Picchu! – Cusco |
* We can arrange a customised itinerary for you to include the Lares Trek, contact us for more information.
This trek is our cultural trek! There are no ruins enroute but you will be taken back in time traversing through the beautiful Lares Valley.
You will pass by many rural farming communities and see how the Andean people still live the way they did 100 years ago! You will see lots of llamas and alpacas and a get a true feel for the Andes! We end our trek in one of the Worlds Wonders, Machu Picchu.
We pick you up from your hotel and travel by bus for the 1 hour to the village of Huaran (2,840m) located in the Sacred Valley between Pisac and Urubamba. Huaran is the start of the trail. We will meet up with the horsemen and pack the horses. Leaving the Sacred Valley behind us we head northwards following a gently climbing trail that runs parallel to the small Cancha Cancha river. It is a fairly tough 4 hour uphill trek to our destination, the small village also named Cancha Cancha (3,800m) where we will spend the night. (Lunch, Dinner)
Leaving Cancha Cancha we continue up the valley, passing small thatched stone houses. After an hour the path flattens out before climbing steeply for the 2 hour trek to the first pass, called Pachacutec Pass (4,450m). From the pass you will be rewarded with superb views of Pachacutec Lake and the snowy peaks of Pitusiray. The path continues for an hour along a narrow ridge until dropping down into a beautiful secluded quarry filled with glacial lakes and rich in birdlife. The lip of the quarry descends into the next valley, following a series of cascading waterfalls to the village of Quishuarani (3,700m) about 1 hours easy walking. We will camp here for the night. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Heading south through a small valley, walking around 3 hours downhill surrounded by beautiful landscapes, we will arrive to the road that will bring is to the town of Lares (3,100m). From the town we walk for around another 20 minutes extra to finally arrive at the hot springs of Lares. Here you will have the opportunity to enjoy a soak in the open air thermal springs (bring a swimsuit). At about 1pm our transportation will pick us up and depart for the town of Ollantaytambo where you will have some time to explore and see this amazing site (entrance not included to Ollantaytambo ruins) before going to Aguas Calientes by train late in the afternoon. Overnight in Aguas Calientes. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
It is an early start to Machupicchu to see the sunrise over this magnificent ancient city! We take the first bus up to the ruins of Machupicchu and have a fully guided tour of around 2 hours. After the tour you have plenty of time to explore the citadel on your own, and maybe even climb Huaynapicchu or Inca Bridge. Afterwards you can come back down to the town for lunch. Your extra time in the citadel is dependent on your return train time. In the afternoon we take the train back to Ollantaytambo where our driver will be waiting to transfer you back to Cusco in Private Transportation leaving you in your hotel. (Breakfast)
Permits are required for either of these hikes – you must book in advance!
Huaynapicchu: Currently the more popular hike as it’s a little shorter. This hike is around 1hr steep ascent – there are sheer drops on the side, so if you are afraid of heights, this is not for you! Coming down will also be around 1hr approx. There are 400 permits available per day and split into the following departure times:
Machupicchu Mountain: Less known than Huaynapicchu but certainly not to be ignored. This hike is slightly longer taking around 1.5hrs up and same down. From the top you will also get a birds eye view of Machupicchu. Many of our guides prefer this hike as its less crowded. There are 400 permits available and there is one entrance time slot:
The cost to add on either excursion is US$ 25 per person payable in advance. Please note your permits are with your name and passport details and are non- transferable and non-refundable
GROUP SERVICES
Join other travellers : US$ 760 per person
Group Discounts : please enquire
PRIVATE SERVICES
Close your group for only you and your family and friends! Add on $100 per person to close your group
*Please consult with us if you are a large group and/or would like private service for discounted rates*
STUDENTS/CHILDREN 15YRS OR UNDER
Less $20 per student/child
Optional
Our approach to travel is defined by our motto “Constantly in Pursuit of Excellence”, as we strive to provide top quality tour or trek options.
Please review our FAQ’s and if you do not find the answer to your question there, we would love to hear from you, so please contact us with your questions, comments or suggestions through our Support System and we will get back to you as soon as possible.