A trek through dramatic Andean scenery and a rich variety of cultures, centered on the magnificent Lares surrounded by magnificent snowy peaks and many hot springs. You are going to visit highland villages where life goes on much as it did centuries ago and local inhabitants perpetuate the Inca customs of their ancestors: original clothing and traditional farming, alongside llamas and alpacas helping to produce the best qualities of corn and potatoes around the world.
From those elevated, open spaces we descend into the lush forests around Machu Picchu, enjoying a wide variety of flora, fauna, wildlife and spectacular panorama, our trip ending with a magnificent sunrise and visit to the famous 'lost city'.
This trek is ideal for travellers in search of alternatives taking you through rural communities in the breathtaking Sacred Valley of the Incas.
At 5:00 am our guide picks you up from your hotels and we drive through the Sacred Valley turning at the town of Calca to head to Lares village – the drive takes around 3 hours. Once we arrive in town we go up to the Hot Springs where we can relax and enjoy these beautiful outdoor hot waters. Lunch is provided here. Our bus waits for us during this time and we then continue our journey for around 20 minutes to the start of the trail known as Pascana.
Here we meet up with our horsemen and pack the horses and llamas. We are ready to start our hike to Quishuarani for around 3 hours. When we get to our campsite everything has already been set up for us. In the free time we can come across some of the locals and appreciate their weaving techniques.
This is a lovely day filled with great landscapes and the opportunity to visit several Andean villages. Beware as the temperature drops at night so you should be ready with warm outfit.
Meals: Lunch - Tea Time – Dinner
After a delicious breakfast we leave Huacawasi. This is going to be our longest day on the trail as we continue north east up the valley, passing small thatched stone houses. After ½ hour the path flattens out before climbing steeply for the 2½ hour trek to the highest passage, called Auroray Pass (4758m). From here you are rewarded with superb views of Auroray Lake and the snowy peaks of Pitusiray.
The path continues for an hour along a narrow ridge until dropping down into a beautiful secluded corrie filled with glacial lakes. We have lunch in that beautiful lake. We then keep on following the lip of the corrie descending into the next valley, and we pass by a series of cascading waterfalls until we reach the village of Mantanay. We are camping here for the night.
Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Tea Time - Dinner.
After a delicious breakfast we start our easier hike of the day following the small River. It's a 4 hour trek to our destination, the small village named Yanahuara. From here we take a local transport to the town of Ollantaytambo, a beautifully well preserved Andean town you have some time to explore before boarding on the 3:00 pm train to Aguas Calientes. We spend the night in a nice hotel in Machu Picchu Pueblo.
Optional: you can give an early night visit to the Aguas Calientes' Hot Springs where the entrance fee is US $4.
Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Tea Time - Dinner.
We have breakfast and then take the 6:00 am bus up to Machu Picchu to enjoy the beautiful sunrise. A walking tour of approximately 2 hours is then given by your tour guide, after which you can explore the mysterious city all by yourselves.
If you got your Waynapicchu entrance ticket (entry limited to 400 people daily for an additional cost of US $ 15.00 so you should better get it when you book your tour) you can also climb the neighbour mountain Huayna Picchu (2720m/8890ft). Keep in mind that it takes about 45 minutes to reach the top so you might seriously reduce your time on the prestigious site.
Once you are filled with those mystical vibes, we take the bus back to Aguas Calientes to get on the Expedition train back to Ollantaytambo followed by a bus to Cusco. We are in Cusco at around 10:30 pm.
Meals: Breakfast.
The itinerary and campsites are subject to change depending on the time of booking. It can also vary depending on the climate or the health status of the trekkers. The train (to and from Ollantaytambo) included in every tour is the Expedition Service. Train times will only be confirmed near the time of the trek; thus if you join a group later we cannot guarantee you will be travelling on the same trains as the rest of the group. Train times are also subject to change depending on the train company timetables or availability.
Hotel in Lima, Cusco or other cities in Peru can be booked for the kind you prefer (Standard, Economy, First Class, Luxury). Ask us about this service! We have confidential rates of each hotel in Cusco to be able to get you a good deal.
This famous andean trek will take you from Sacred Valley....
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