Lares Trek

After an early pickup from your hotel, we will cross the Sacred Valley and drive 3 hours to the village called Lares where you can delight and relax at the local hot springs. Here lunch will be served. We will head over to the trailhead 20 minutes away, to meet the horse and llama driver for our hiking adventure to Huancawasi. Today you will have the opportunity to delight in wonderful andean scenery and meet local villagers along the way.

Today we will ascend to the highest pass during the steep 2 1/2 hour hike: Ipsaycocha (4,658m or 15,282 ft above sea level). Impressive snow-capped mountain views from Lake Ipsaycocha will be our reward. We will continue hiking along a river and descending through a jungle-like ecosystem to the village of Patacocha, to camp.

Today’s hike will be about 7 hours long.

An easy 4-hour hike along a river will take us to Willoq, to the Pumamarca ruins and later we will arrive in Ollantaytambo, a well-preserved Inca village where we will have time to explore the town before boarding the train to Aguas Calientes. There, you will have the chance to enjoy hot springs, or simply wander around town trying to find the perfect souvenir to take home.

We will be one of the first groups to enter this inca citadel so that we may appreciate the sunrise. Your 2-hour guided tour will take you to all the main areas and later you will have free time to explore on your own. If you managed to secure entrance tickets to hike to Huayna Picchu, this is your chance to do so. The ascent takes about 45 minutes. This is additional and optional. Later you will return to Aguas Calientes by bus where you will meet your guide to return to Ollantaytambo by train, and later to Cusco, by bus.